Well, this is the 3rd part, of a 4 part series on modesty. Dig in…
- Modesty is about behavior and attitude, not just clothing.
When Paul says that women should wear “respectable apparel,” the term “apparel” is probably translated a bit too narrowly, because it’s a term that encompasses not just clothing, but one’s whole demeanor, including attitude, and actions. Ultimately, what should adorn a woman is not just her clothing but “good works.” As Christians, God is remaking us for good works…
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Eph 2:10 NLT.
It’s so easy for us to consider modesty as something purely external, and to fall into legalism. I did that for years. But when I came out of legalism, I realized that a list of do’s and don’ts is actually easier to follow. Modesty is much, much harder, and much, much more. It’s a desire to bring God glory and bless others. Immodesty is more than wearing a short skirt or low-cut top; it’s the act of drawing undue attention to yourself. It’s pride on display by what you wear. And that can be pride in your looks, your taste, or your purchasing power. That name brand item, could it be about status and pride, not functionality? Immodesty focuses on self, where modesty focuses on others. Modesty is not simply about what we wear, but how we act, how we communicate, and how relate to others.
So after considering all of these aspe
cts of modesty what would be a practical definition for the 21stcentury woman? Modesty is being free from our culture’s unattainable definition of beauty and obsession with being sexy. It’s born out of a hatred of sin and a sincere desire to draw attention to God, not to oneself. But it’s not looking frumpy either. It’s dressing and behaving in a way that lets people know that I’m more than a body. I like who I am, who God created me to be, and I want to please Him more than anyone. You won’t find this one in any dictionary, but I think it sums up modesty pretty well.
GUIDELINES
I started this lesson with a trip down memory land. But I’m not teaching a lesson on modesty in an attempt to swing the pendulum all the way back to my holiness days. I was set free and I’m not going back! I really don’t want to stand up here and tell you what you can and cannot wear. But let’s face it; we live in an immodest world. I mean, we’ve got stars letting it all hang out on the red carpet, girls wearing sports bras and short-shorts at the gym, bikinis everywhere at the pool and beach, cleavage and miniskirts at church, and pictures of it all plastered all over Facebook for everyone to see. I’m grieved by what I see. So although I don’t want to tell anyone what to do, I feel like I need to be “momma” here for a few moments and remind all of us that how we dress is a biblical issue. My guidelines here are basically just a few suggestions to make us think about what we wear so we can make godly choices in our wardrobes and demeanors.
- When it comes to the subject of modest clothing, the first question we should ask ourselves when we head to the closet is: What am I trying to accomplish by what I wear? Am I trying to draw attention to my body? What’s more important to me…my body or my personality, spirit and mind?
Comments are closed.