Galatians 5:1
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
As the representation of the doctrine, MOGs are tasked with ensuring unity (submission)—this is most visible in the fixation on regulating a church member’s outward appearance. As mentioned earlier; this exerted ‘control’ is on a spectrum of intention & forcefulness: ranging from those honestly trying to enforce ‘platform standards’ to honor God, to an insatiable need to rule over people’s lives entirely. Unfortunately, both ends of the spectrum commit the same error regardless of intention.
I recognize that this can be a challenging topic to address, especially when your identity in Christ may be closely tied to how you present yourself outwardly. Nevertheless, I choose to begin here, as it is one of the most tangible, daily forms of control imposed on congregants.
Do not be deceived—God examines the heart, and your outward appearance holds no value to Him. If your heart is in Christ Jesus, the fruit of your life will be evident both inwardly and outwardly; a skirt does not reflect the state of your heart—your actions performed with love do. God does not care whether you wear a skirt or pants; He is concerned with what transpires in the secret place where no one can see. This is not an opinion—scripture is clear on the matter.
Matthew 23:25-26
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean
Jesus is not a fan of would-be “MOGs” focusing on the outwards, to say the least.
These “holiness standards” are a pure control mechanism—a thermometer by which the MOG gauges a congregant’s submission and perceived level of “spirituality.” They serve as a clear signal for the MOG—and by extension, the entire group—to distinguish who is deemed “controllable” and who is considered “out.” The MOG frequently asserts that these “standards” reflect the true condition of your heart rather than a genuine aspect of salvation. Yet, every woman in the UPCI understands that these measures are an implied test of her salvation (or, as you might deceptively hear, “being right with God”).
Instead of explicitly stating that “your skirt is your salvation,” the MOG employs a more clever concept of “submission” as a loophole (Without submission to the MOG, how can you ever be right with God?). Every woman burdened with this legalism has worried, “What will the MOG think?” about her outward appearance not meeting standards—as opposed to the far weightier matter:, “What would God think of my heart?”
This false teaching is the cornerstone of a control system that must be torn down in every believer’s life. It is used to placate a congregant’s false sense of security regarding salvation. “If you adhere more closely to the standards, you are closer to God’s will.”
Furthermore, it causes immense harm if left unchecked—especially to young women raised within these systems—by forcing them to focus exclusively on their outward appearance. This focus plants a virus in their minds that burdens them with body image, appearance, and social conformity issues. If you are raised with minimal alternative guidance from your parents, you will have been effectively programmed to discard your self-identity in the name of “submission.”
What does the bible say? First off; let’s quickly point out the manipulation of the verses used to place burdens upon you:
Romans 14:1-23
v4…Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand ….
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This chapter completely tears down any “convictions” (judgement) placed upon you by others (a la skirts, jewelry, makeup).
Read the chapter entirely—it is completely freeing you of any legalistic burden related to today’s “holiness standards”. It also invalidates the cover of “it’s not for your salvation; but for your submission to the MOG which God has ordained” that we see today. Lastly, the verses help us learn the err in judging others for the way in which they honor God in faith. While the discussion in Scripture was describing internal debates on the traditions surrounding fasting—the intention of the text is to correct the foolishness of judging others based on their own individual honoring of God.
1 Timothy 2:9
Likewise, also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire,
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This Chapter is instruction to Timothy on how a church should behave and what the focus should be when assembled(cf. 3:15).
- Firstly, we should pray for all people.
- Secondly, “I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling”
Notice how Paul is addressing a specific issue with the men in the church - he is not saying the ’lifting of hands’ is required to pray properly, he is literally saying when they DO lift holy hands in prayer, it is to be without anger or quarreling
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Immediately after, Paul shifts his instruction to the women. They should:
- Adorn (make yourself more beautiful) by wearing respectable apparel. (Should dress in a manner respectable given the context— probably not respectable to wear a swimsuit to church?)
- Adorn (make yourself more beautiful) through modesty and self-control. How do we do that?
It’s NOT with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire as the ways to make yourself more beautiful. It is with good works that a woman should adorn herself with.
Paul is clear—THIS is the way in which a woman is to place her beauty. Paul never said NOT to wear braided hear, gold, pearls, costly attire. He simply is instructing: this outward focus is not where a woman’s perception/definition of beauty should be placed within the context of church.
I wanted to make sure to highlight the fact that we often conveniently see the omission of the immediate instruction that follows: the prohibition on allowing women to teach men within the assembled body. This selective cherry-picking of which principles to follow—and how to apply them—exposes the true intention behind these precepts.
Deuteronomy 22:5
A woman shall not wear a man’s garment, nor shall a man put on a woman’s cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God.
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This is pretty cut and dry - no arguing against that! Oh wait - so is:
- You shall not wear cloth of wool and linen mixed together. (v.11)
- “If a man is found lying with the wife of another man, both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman. So you shall purge the evil from Israel." (v.22)
- “If there is a betrothed virgin, and a man meets her in the city and lies with her, then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death with stones" (v. 23-24)
It’s curious that in v5, pants aren’t specifically mentioned, yet wool and linen are mentioned in v11. The common explanation you hear is that men wore robes or skirts at that time, so the text remains purposefully non-specific to accommodate various cultural norms.
By that logic, the argument says that when women transitioned from predominantly wearing skirts and dresses to joining the workforce during World War II, it marked a point when our culture supposedly became ungodly in its gender mixing.
This reasoning is a logical fallacy. It supposedly permits flexibility in cultural norms while simultaneously establishing a definitive “cut-off” point in the 20th century—beyond which such cultural flexibility is no longer acceptable. And if that’s the case, what about T-shirts? Sneakers?
When examined; it is difficult to justify the “cherry picking” used to determine what law supposedly applies to believers now vs. what doesn’t.
1 Peter 3:1-6
Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.
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Peter reinforces what we discussed in 1 Timothy. He never prohibited braiding your hair, wearing gold, or altering your clothing. Instead, he instructs us that true adornment—making ourselves beautiful—should come from within, from the hidden person of the heart. A gentle and quiet spirit is described as imperishable beauty;very precious in God’s sight.
v5-6:“For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.” (Notice how ‘holiness’ is actually related to the inward emphasis?)
As clearly explained to us in scripture, your outward appearance is not where you should place your definition of beauty as a woman. Does this mean you are ordered to NOT take any steps to make your outward ‘beautiful’ as you see fit? Of course not! If your focus and value of beauty is in the things mentioned here (internal)—you are adhering to the true “biblical standards”!
The cutting of hair is an important topic in and of itself as well; for brevity I will attempt to provide the main discussion points for further examination in your personal time. This topic is debated across many fundamentalist denominations, so I encourage you to study this topic in your studies to ensure proper application.
1 Corinthians 11:2-16
v3: But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God
v4: Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head,
The pagan tradition of covering your head to pray dishonors Christ (the head of every man)
v5: but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven
If a wife prays/prophesies in public while not honoring her marriage (her head covering), she dishonors her husband (the head of the wife). Also bring attention to the fact that Paul was specifically addressing wives who were praying/prophesying—not all women, nor all wives.
v6: *For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head
If a wife refuses to honor her husband, she may as well shave her hair as a signal of her intention. Since it was disgraceful within the culture to shave a woman’s head and pretty dramatic; it would be better for her to cover her head (honoring marriage), thereby honoring her head (husband).
v15: but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering.
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Paul is teaching of conduct related to worship, prayer and prophesying while in the context of assembly of others (1:10, 11:17). The entire letter is a response from Paul regarding the church in Corinth having divisions and immorality. It is not coincidence that Paul decides to discuss the dynamics of marriage with the same language as having to do with literal ‘head coverings’ prevalent in first century culture—an indication of marriage much like our wedding rings are today. I encourage you to study this topic and chapter deeper in context of what Paul was aiming to address: learn of the cultural norms prevalent in first century Corinth, the behavior of the church in Corinth prompting Paul’s response, and apply the principles we will dive into next to properly surmise what Paul was actually intending.
Now, let’s get into why this legalism is of no value and actually attempts to usurp Jesus’ sacrifice
Colossians 2:23
If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
Romans 9:30-32
What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone,
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Sounds sort of like the UPC, huh? This phenomenal passage explains how the Jews foolishly pursued righteousness as though it were based on works (a la, wearing a skirt) as opposed to pursuing righteousness by faith
Romans 10:1-4
Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
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Paul is speaking of the unbelieving Jews here—isn’t it ‘a little odd’ how closely this aligns with what we are discussing right now? Consider all the self-righteous talk of “godly righteousness” shouted from pulpits with immense zeal (“We are apostolic to the core!”)
I encourage you to read the entire tenth chapter of Romans, as it entirely encapsulates the simplicity of Christ’s salvation and directly contrasts it with false teachings similar to those that burden us today.
ch10:8-12: It is with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved (NOT by following ’the law’). How does faith come, then? See v. 17: So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
This underscores the importance of the actual Word of God—not some distorted view passed unto you from any pulpit.
No matter how a MOG may try to deceive you, these “holiness standards” are an illegitimate law imposed by man today.
God’s Word is clear on this matter: You are free from this law. Christ has fulfilled every law entirely, and you are no longer bound by it. You are under the law of love, which perfectly fulfills any law:
Matthew 22:37-40
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.
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For New Testament believers, it is crucial to understand this, so we must take the time to tear this “holiness standards” teaching down to the ground as it pervades many of the illegitimate teachings we continue to see propagate.
The New Testament epistles consistently warn against the improper application and undue emphasis on any law/tradition; all while explaining how the law has been completely fulfilled through Jesus.
For a comprehensive tear-down of these “holiness standards,” let’s rapid-fire through Galatians 5 where Paul is providing advice (paraphrased with my emphasis—please read Galatians in its entirety for a complete defense of justification by faith alone!):
Galatians 5:1
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:2-6
(By following the law in this manner) You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; fallen away from grace. It is through the Spirit by faith where we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
Galatians 5:7-12
The church in Galatia was doing well in the faith, until they were hindered by the false teaching of the law. This persuasion was not from the Lord.
“A little leaven leavens the whole lump” (a small amount of something can have a big impact - meaning even just a little false teaching can pervert the entirety of the church body). Paul was not opposed to circumcision as a practice, his opposition was when it became a condition of salvation.
Galatians 5:13-15
You were called to freedom (from the law). Do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”**. If you do not love in this manner, you will most likely consume one another.
Therefore, the ceremonious ’law’ is not what provides these precious “guardrails” for us as is often taught to us today. To the contrary - it actively encourage mutual destruction.
God has provided all the “guardrails from the world” for us in the Holy Spirit. God has already drawn “a line in the sand against the forces of Hell” as we are so oft explained by our MOG.
Galatians 5:16-17
Walk in the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh - as these are directly opposed to each other.
More assurance that you do not need a law any longer to protect you from your fleshly desires.
Galatians 5:18
If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law
Galatians 5:19-21
The works of the flesh are evident; those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:22-24
The fruit of the Spirit; against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Those who manifest these fruits are fulfilling the law.
Galatians 5:25-26
If we indeed live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. We keep in step; by not adhering to the works of the flesh (becoming conceited, provoking one another, envying one another).
Galatians Chapter 5 serves as a clear rebuke and example against the rampant legalism masquerading as “righteousness” today; perpetuated by the spirit of MOG.
It is a tragedy that we have only heard these verses used in the context of justifying “holiness standards” in self righteousness as opposed to their original intent -> the complete destruction of legalistic righteousness.
Galatians 5:1
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
This post is part of the “Law To Grace” series, a multi-part exploration of how man-made authority and false doctrine has shaped our faith—and how God’s grace and truth can overcome these man-made shackles. Whether you’re reading in order or joining the conversation midway, each article provides insights to help you discern truth from deception and embrace the unconditional love of Christ.
This work represents my personal views and interpretations and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representative of any organization, including the United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI) or any other religious institution. The content is intended for discussion and personal reflection. Any references to organizations, doctrines, or teachings are made for informational and analytical purposes.