Regular readers of this blog may recall some earlier discussions of ‘New Pentecostal’ craziness, among them ‘Australian Prayer Network: Pentecostal Fortune-Tellers‘ (16 Jul. 2005). That article looked at the charismatic gift of prophecy while this one deals with kids’ clothes, but we’re in the same neck of the woods.

Helen Deveraj contributed a piece entitled ‘Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing’ to the December 2006 issue of Salt Shakers Journal (pp.16-17). (Salt Shakers is operated by Baptists heavily influenced by the wilder variety of Pentecostalism). According to Helen:

All may not be what it seems in the clotheswear department. This article deals with my experiences with boyswear and my thoughts about it.

Back in 2005 Helen visited Target and bought her son some ‘World Industries’ and ‘Piping Hot’ jeans and tops. She was happy with her purchases until she started reading two books called Protecting your Home from Spiritual Darkness and Deliver Us from Evil.

The first of these books was written by ‘Apostle’ Chuck Pierce (with Rebecca Sytsema) while the second is the work of ‘Prophet’ Cindy Jacobs. For some background on these individuals, see the item mentioned above.

Back to Helen Deveraj’s article:

After reading these books I gradually became aware that many of the items my son was wearing could be of concern: the World Industries clothing had subtle markings which on closer examination appeared to be pitchforks and devil heads … Not a good look for a Christian!

But worse was to come!

Less subtle was the applique cartoon character performing a satanic salute!

Apparently you perform a ’satanic salute’ by raising your left arm while holding your long and ring fingers down with your thumb - although it’s a bit hard to tell as the cartoon character in the illustration only has three fingers. I tried it a couple of times and my dog barked so maybe there’s something in it.

Anyway, Helen tried to get rid of all ‘dubious’ accoutrements, but without success:

… [T]he jeans studs ha[d] what appear to be devil heads on the inside of the jeans.

Rather than have her son wandering about in public with purified jeans around his ankles, Helen binned them and turned her attention to the tops:

The Piping Hot top has dragons on it. I probably would have avoided this purchase if I’d been more familiar with what the Bible says about the dragon. For example, ‘The great dragon was hurled down - that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray’ (Revelation 12:9)

Next came some footwear:

… [M]y son’s green Dunlop Volleys have skulls on the innersole (or soul?) [Helen, this is a particularly bad pun, even for a Salt Shaker!] I wouldn’t have purchased these if I was more familiar with biblical references to the skull. It’s mentioned in the gospels … as ‘Golgotha, the place of the skull’, where Jesus was crucified.

Now some people might think: ‘Yes, isn’t it strange that Jesus happened to be crucified near somewhere called “the place of the skull”. Almost looks like something a story-teller might have made up.’ But not Helen:

Maybe it’s better not to wear something associated with death, when Jesus came to give life.

Going through the shoe-rack, Helen found something else to worry about:

My son also had an OMNI brand pair of shoes, which appear to have the ‘evil eye’ on the back of them.

Here’s where it starts getting creepy:

Getting back to boys’ clothes, in more recent times I’ve noticed that some boys’ clothes have been marked with bears, lions and eagles. Could there be a connection to the beast(s) referred to in Daniel Chapter 7 or Revelation Chapter 13?

Well, Helen, I’ve just remembered an important meeting so I might be moving along …

New torn clothing is marketed as a ‘cool thing’. Is this torn clothing designed to oppose the Bible’s ‘Rules for Priests’? Priests were not allowed to tear their clothes (Leviticus 21:10). New Testament believers are described as a royal priesthood … [s]o perhaps we should avoid buying or wearing torn clothes …

Gosh, Helen, is that the time? I really must be going …

My solution to buying boyswear now is to pray regarding my son’s needs prior to going shopping …

Door-handle seems to be stuck … Oh, here’s the key, thank …

I shop alone to allow for a thorough examination of the clothing from all angles!

Very wise. Well, thanks Helen. Don’t mind me breaking into a bit of a run as I head for the gate. Bit of exercise, good for the heart …

Since doing this I have been able to clothe my son in a non-offensive manner …

Bye Helen, byeee …

Filed in: Pentecostalism