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Our society is intoxicated with the idea of physical appearance and beauty. Millions of dollars
are spent each year on diets, cosmetics and clothing to make us look "good." While there is
nothing wrong or sinful in taking care of our bodies, problems do arise when man places care
of his physical body above his spiritual body. This is obvious to all who have witnessed the
increasing near-nudity and immodesty in our land.
Some would say, "Come on preacher, this is the 21st Century. No one cares about modesty anymore!" This statement is probably true, in part. This subject is rarely being written about today. But God's truth is eternal and does not change with the times. "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. But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works" (1 Tim. 2:9-10). The apostle Paul and the Holy Spirit penned this command almost 2,000 years ago. It has not been abrogated by God. It still applies to all on this planet. God wants Christians to be "in the world but not a part of the world". "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1 John 2:15). Our world is filled with practices the Christian should not be a part of, including immodesty. God has never wanted His people to "follow the flow." "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil" (Ex. 23:2). The "herd mentality" in this country is overwhelming, especially for the young. Fashion decrees immodest dress to be the norm and many follow their dictates blindly. But Christians are to be examples to the rest of the world in behavior. "Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 5:16 ASV). "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety..."(1 Tim. 2:9). In his letter to the evangelist Timothy, Paul gives inspired commands concerning worship. Among them he passes on the duties of women as members of the local congregation. Women were to "adorn themselves in modest apparel" or dress orderly and decently, not just neat in appearance. Paul goes on to describe what "modest apparel" is:
Lust has become an acceptable behavior by much of our society. "Everyone," we are told, lusts and it is prudish of us to deny or attempt to speak against it. Some even look upon lust as emotionally healthy and "normal." But the Bible strongly condemns lust. Notice the following passages: "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain-glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" (1 John 2:16 ASV). "Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery: but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matt. 5:27-28 ASV). The Christian should leave lust behind and serve God. "And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lust thereof" (Gal. 5:24). Lack of modesty can lead to lust. Less than modest clothing by one can lead those of the opposite sex to have an improper, strong desire for the other. Both are doing something that God considers wrong. In Genesis 3, God considered the scant clothing of fig leaves Adam and Eve had made themselves inappropriate. He made them "coats of skins" to cover their nakedness. In Genesis 9, Canaan the grandson of Noah, was cursed because his father Ham looked upon Noah's nakedness while he was drunk. In Genesis 39 Tamar, daughter-in-law of Judah dressed as a prostitute in order to seduce Judah. Along with the Ten Commandments listed in Exodus 20 God shows His concern that the nakedness of man should not be exposed. For example, concerning an altar made to worship Him, God says, "Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not uncovered thereon" (Ex. 20:26 ASV). Luke 8 records the story of Jesus healing a man who was possessed by demons. The man lived among the tombs and wore no clothing (Luke 8:27). Jesus casts out the demons into a herd of swine. There is a marked contrast between the man when he was possessed and afterwards. The curious onlookers found the man, "sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind" (Luke 8:35). Is it purely coincidental in this account that one difference between having a "right mind" and being out of his mind was the presence of clothing? We should consider this when we try to "ape" the immodest fashions of our age. Second Samuel 11 and 12 record the adulterous affair between King David and Bathsheba, wife of Uriah the Hittite. David, who previously had been called a man after God's own heart, saw the beautiful Bathsheba bathing on her rooftop. David allowed the lust of the flesh to entice him to commit the sin of adultery (Ex. 20:7). This sin was compounded by the murder of Bathsheba's husband Uriah. Those who try to minimize the consequences of immodesty and lust should study the digressive nature of David's sin:
Perhaps the number one question the Christian should ask in anything we do should be, "would I want Jesus to see me doing this?" Jesus does want us to be a positive influence in this world (Matt. 5:16). But immodest dress hinders that influence if not extinguishing it. Another question to consider by the Christian involves temptation. Does my clothing cause others to be tempted to lust? Granted, lust can be entirely one sided. But the Christian should not throw a stumbling block in the way of the weak. "But whoso shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble, it is profitable for him that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depth of the sea" (Matt. 18:6 ASV). The Bible describes how the child of God should make himself attractive and it is not the sex appeal approach of the world. Speaking of women Peter wrote, "Whose adorning let it not be the outward adorning of braiding of the hair, and of wearing of jewels of gold, or of putting on apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible apparel of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price" (1 Pet. 3:3-4 ASV). And let us not have a double standard in regard to modesty. God's standard applies to men and women, boys and girls. We must not make the mistake of teaching our young ladies that they must be modest in their dress while allowing their brothers to expose their bodies without shame. Christians must strive to obey all of the Lord's commands (John 14:15). We must not allow our consciences to become seared to sin by the media and our society. We are being bombarded by immodesty on every side and many have come to accept it as the norm. The Christian should understand the Biblical principle of "reaping and sowing." "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting" (Gal. 6:7-8). |