Modesty
Modesty is a very important issue, for men
and for women. Brothers, we must not dress in such a way as to show off muscles
or to try to entice a woman. While women are not as visual as men, we can cause
a woman to stumble in this area. Sisters, you may not completely understand,
but men are sexually aroused at the mere sight of skin. It doesn’t usually
matter what the woman’s character is, God has designed him to be visual and
physical, and that’s a good thing for his allotted work and being the stronger
of the tow sexes. A leader needs to be very visual and be able to see things to
protect; yet he also needs strength to fight the battle. Within the context of
what you wear, please realize that just because your body “is covered” doesn’t
mean that it is modest. How tight is the clothing? In addition, the way a woman
walks, talks, and her facial expressions can tempt a man and be immodesty, of
the heart.
As we approach this issue, we must
approach it again from the perspective of:
Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; The
elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity. 1 Timothy
5:1-2 (KJV)
Let me provide one example in my own
life. I have to be very careful about what I watch. These days, commercials and
action series and movies depict women in little to no clothing. Porn is
everywhere today: Victoria Secret commercials, laundrie ads—that are sent to
the house!—, exercise shows, beaches, Botox or weight loss advertisements, and
even in the store—magazines will depict titles like “10 sex tricks to play on
him,” undergarments are placed on the end of aisles, posters of “models”
feature food products, and more. Men, we have a battle on our hands. We must
build defense walls and flee even giving occasion for temptation. Maybe with this brief description, the women
reading will understand one of the reasons why Christian men often do not like
the mall.
I have to watch myself, it is so easy
to look lustfully at an advertisement in Walmart, the woman walking by (even in
churches these days), and television when I want to just enjoy a show with the
family and rest (i.e. my guard is down). I do believe that what women wear
plays a factor in temptation. For example, I have watched the Love Comes Softly series with my mother
(which isn’t as bad as Pride and
Prejudice is) and was not tempted at all by the women in the shows. Why?
The women were modestly dressed. They did not wear tight clothing and behaved
in a meek fashion. I was able to focus on the story, see their beautiful (yet
fictional) character, and walk away enjoying a good film. I’m not saying that
women need to necessarily go back to wearing the dresses they did back then;
although I will remind you that clothing styles remained very similar for
hundreds of years throughout history (look at the clothing of pilgrim women vs.
Oregon Trail women—pretty similar). Today, the public undressing of America has
gone from “exposing” an ankle (which isn’t necessarily immodest) to wearing
undergarments in public (ie bikini’s, short-short’s, tank tops, etc…).
I am not trying to legislate rules, nor
condemn Christian women who are trying to be modest. However, I must as a man,
say that there is a big problem in the Church of Jesus Christ today. Many men
are wearing pants that are about to fall off and walking about with a lustful
eye; and many women are wearing either too tight and too short of clothing,
exposing their chests, wearing hole-filled jeans that are designed to arouse a
guy’s desires, and flirting with their eyes and body language.
In addition, it is not funny (contrary to
what the culture may say) when men and women dress up as the opposite sex—it is
an abomination.
Scripture verses on modesty:
The woman shall not wear that which
pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all
that do so are abomination unto
the Lord thy God.
Deuteronomy 22:5 (KJV)
In like manner also, that women
adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with
broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becometh women
professing godliness) with good works. 1 Timothy 2:9-10 (KJV)
Whose adorning let it not be that
outward adorning of plaiting
the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not
corruptible, even the ornament
of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 1
Peter 3:3-4 (KJV)
Likewise, ye younger, submit
yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of
you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God
resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
1 Peter 5:5 (KJV)
And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and
subtil of heart.
Proverbs 7:10 (KJV)
I counsel thee to buy of me gold
tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou
mayest be clothed, and that the
shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that
thou mayest see. 19 As
many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door,
and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him,
and will sup with him, and he with me.
Revelation 3:18-20 (KJV)
