What a lot of Christian women are missing…

Modest, decent, virtuous, chaste, wholesome, proper, humble, obedient, pure, etc. are terms that have been used by parents for centuries as they attempted to teach their children morals to live by and virtues to uphold. These terms are likely still used as few Christian parents (at least in America) continue to teach their offspring biblical standards for Christian conduct. However, the idea of modest behavior taught in the Bible has somehow taken on a relatively new meaning in the church as dictated by corrupt worldly standards. Scripture gives the true definition, along with a call to obedience of God’s holy standard for women claiming godliness. The world today, as always, has set a different standard and provided its own alternate definition for these virtues. The church has somewhat embraced the standard set by the world and is busy trying to keep up with the latest trends in the fashion world. You can walk into a worship service at any given church and see women that profess godliness look nothing like their profession (who they claim to follow) but a whole lot like the world. The very thing Jesus told us NOT to do (Romans 12:2).

Legalism is generally cried out when this subject is approached. However, adherence to the law is not an undesirable quality, if it were so Paul would have never written the verses that address how we are to conduct ourselves throughout the NT. Keeping the Law of God must be our delight because by undeserved grace we are saved, the law does not save us, but testifies to the authenticity in our prefession of faith. If Christians were not to adhere to the law given through the apostles, what makes us so different than the rest of the world? If there is no standard to live by then all of the NT was written in vain and rendered utterly useless. Even civil law is established by our all wise God and is beneficial not only for those who observe and respect the law but also for the disobedient (Rom. 13:1-7). The moral law of God was given not only to Israel but to all mankind and His requirements have not changed. God called us to be a holy people, set apart for Him in every area of our lives. God does not “recommend” but He commands how His children are to live. Each command of God has its own divine purpose; morality and decency are divine requirements. It was so in the OT and we see it comfirmed in the NT.

 Paul writes…1 Tim 2:9 “Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments,”

 In this passage the word modesty is aidous in greek (Strong’s 127) meaning a sense of shame, bashfulness toward men and toward God; awe, reverence and shamefacedness. Shamefacedness refers to meekness. This is the state of the heart which is revealed by the way we conduct ourselves in behavior. A modest woman dresses in order NOT to call attention to herself and cause other men to sin but to be pleasing to her Lord and her husband (if married). A modest woman is careful in the way she interacts with men. She does not maintain prolonged eye contact with a man other than her husband and the attitude of her heart (her shamefacedness) overflows in her interactions with other men. She is careful neither to disrespect her Lord and shame her testimony nor malign her husband’s name by her conduct. This modesty speaks of an awe toward God. Can we honestly say the way we dress represents our awe toward a holy God? We as women are to relentlessly pursue God in order for Him to change us from the inside out. Modesty has even escaped our churches. If an unbeliever were to walk into our church (corporate worship) would they see the holiness of God displayed in how godly women are dressed? Mmmm… convicting, isn’t it? Women that profess godliness don’t wear spaghetti straps, show cleavage or wear clothes 2 sizes too small. This is not legalism beloved; this is the call of every woman that professes to be godly. If this was not expected from us as the bride of Christ, Paul would have never passed along the command. I can hear some of you say, well that was because Paul was addressing some rebellious women at the church of Ephesus…that doesn’t apply to us today. To you, I say…so you pick and choose what applies to us today and what doesn’t? Does the gospel of grace apply to us today? Does discipleship apply to us today? Do the 10 commandments apply to us today? You simply can’t pick and choose what speaks to you and what doesn’t. You either believe the word of God is transcendent and it applies to us just as much today as it did 2000 years ago, or you pick and choose out of it what applies to you and what doesn’t, giving your opinions and choices the ultimate authority; rendering the Bible obsolete. 2 Tim 3:16 “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;” It applies to us today as much as the very day it was written, and should Christ withhold His return long enough for us to buzz around in our little space cars, it will apply then!

 The word discreetly is sophrosunes in greek (Strong’s 4997) meaning sound mind, self-control, sobriety. What is to be discreet? Our clothing. This not only applies to church but wherever we go as we don’t leave our testimony at church on Sundays. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6-19-20) thus must be clothed discreetly and modestly with all self-control. Just ask yourself: would I dress the Holy Spirit like this? I know it may be an odd question but it puts things in perspective for us. If you were to die today in a car accident and were standing before God what would your first reaction be? To be quite honest there have been times in my life that even as a Christian my first reaction would have been to run and hide just like Eve!

 Eve found herself naked, ran and hid in the trees and there was nobody around at that time other than her husband. Of course God was watching and her awareness of that caused her embarrassment and fear (reverence). Wouldn’t it be great today if those who bare their bodies would as quickly take steps to get out of sight of public view? Yet hiding from God remains impossible. Now as before it should be an embarrassment to be seen even partially naked but our culture has desensitized Christian women to the point where they don’t see anything wrong with dressing like harlots instead of daughters of a King. There is no embarrassment in showing cleavage at church or wearing clothing that is so tight everyone can see what you had for lunch! The carnal eyes have a way of adjusting to the dark and it seems that society ( along with many professing Christian ladies) no longer have the propensity to feel embarrassed. Not only that but have replaced what the Lord sees as precious and of value for what the world deems valuable and praiseworthy. But may I suggest that God has not changed and that He is a HOLY God.

 The word adorn in this verse is kosmeo in greek (Strong’s 2885) meaning to order, or arrange. The passage goes on to state how we are to order or arrange ourselves as women professing godliness.

 1 Pet 3:3-5 “Your adornment must not be merely external– braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands;”

 This passage is not suggesting that we do not wear any jewelry or braid our hair for it states “must not be merely external”, if that were the case the passage also forbids wearing dresses which would be absurd. This is where the focus of a godly woman lies, a quiet and gentle spirit. This passage tells us what is truly important to God. God regards a woman that possesses a quiet and gentle spirit as precious in His sight, this woman who is found precious in God’s sight is not concerned merely in the outward appearance but her focus is the inner beauty in turn her outward appearance radiates her beautiful heart. She is not worried about looking fashionable to the world but to first and foremost please her Lord . She is not carried about with every new trend but is well arranged or put together to honor both her God and her husband (if married). Women are to seek to be feminine in their appearance in a tasteful and modest manner.

 Paul writes…Titus 2:3 “Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.”

 This passage outlines what older women are to be teaching younger women. Do we really see this happening within our churches? Hardly. Why? I don’t have every answer as to why but I have an idea from what I have seen and experienced in my walk with the Lord ( a little over 7 years now). It is the purpose and plan of God for older women to have walked with Him in a lifelong journey, they would have raised godly offspring as the bible suggests and they would have been married for a long time as well. These older godly women are to be an example of godliness to the younger women by the way they lived their lives and the testimony of faithfully serving the Lord, their husbands and children. How many of these women can you find today in your church? A handful you say? That is sad but accurate, and in some cases, a stretch. I will propose that I have met young ladies that have much more self-control, modesty in appearance and sober mind than many older women I have come across. These younger women should be teaching the older women how to behave in a modest manner that pleases the Lord. Yet, this is not the way God intends things to be; living in a fallen world things are not always, or should I say hardly ever the way God intends them to be. My prayer is that God will raise up godly women regardless of their age that will display the Gospel as their lives become a testimony of their professed godliness.

 This is a great example of how God feels about modesty and decency.

 Even when the ceremonial law was being followed and sacrifices were being offered in their proper order and for specific purposes God did not ignore decency. When the blue print for the altar of stone was given not only was the proper material required but also the manner in which it was to be constructed. One of those requirements was for the purpose of decency. They were to approach the place of worship in a proper manner.

 Exodus 20:26 “And you shall not go up by steps to My altar, so that your nakedness will not be exposed on it.” If decency did not matter why would the Lord direct them to be careful about their approach to the altar during worship? This is the will of God, that all immodesty and indecency, and whatever tends to create impure thoughts and stir up unclean lusts, should be carefully avoided in his worship. Thus, not only was the approach to be proper for the sake of decency, their attire was for the sake of modesty. Aaron and his sons were to wear proper clothing as they ministered to the Lord. One of the requirements of the priest’s garment included modesty. (Ex. 28:42) “And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach:…” It is obvious in these verses that the God of heaven was proclaiming His standard on modest apparel and that this standard was not to be neglected when coming before a holy God. The act of worship they were performing was ceremonial…but their appearance as they worshiped was moral. Although the act of worship for believers in Christ is much different than the ceremonial one for the house of Israel, the believer’s moral appearance not only in worship but in the daily living ( for if you only dress modestly for worship it is called hypocrisy) has not lessened in the least. The Holy One of Israel has not changed His moral standards because our “age” and fashions have changed. You may claim you live in “different” times yet God doesn’t adapt to ANY time, He was, is and will always be unchangeable. He doesn’t say, well times have changed. I guess I might as well do the same.

 The sad conclusion of the church today seems to be that Sunday evening and Wednesday evening services are not as demanding “spiritually” as Sunday morning services are. Thus the casual (often immodest) apparel is in order for these “less spiritually demanding” services. And don’t even ask about the rest of the week!

 The stupidity and ignorance of arguing that the “church” ( all born again believers) is no longer under the law in an attempt to exempt so called Christian activity from moral virtue is so full of holes that it wouldn’t even get damp at “Wet and Wild” in Orlando. To say we are no longer under the law but under grace only ENHANCES responsibility beloved. Jesus said. (Matt. 5:27) “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Why would any Christian woman want to give any man a reason to commit adultery in their heart? Yet many women of all ages who call themselves Christians walk around in what they believe is modest according to what the world calls modest without any apparent shame. It is not only immoral in the sight of God it is a great indicator of where we are spiritually. Paul addresses how we are to clothe ourselves in… 1 Tim. 2:10 or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.”

 Good works are the evidence of our salvation. The way we conduct ourselves testifies to the fact that we are saved, that our minds have been renewed and that we are new creatures in Christ or the contrary for some. Not that our lives will be perfect in every area but having evidence of Christ working in our lives and changing us from the inside out is a way to proclaim the gospel to an unbelieving world. In an attempt to show the world that Christians aren’t “different” we’re regular joe’s like unbelievers thus wanting to become more relevant, we have cheapened the gospel and the women in our churches look, behave and speak in a matter that is indistinguishable from unsaved women. We have allowed modern trends and the latest fashion become the priority in order to “fit in” EVEN in church. Yet Jesus called us to live in the world NOT of the world. If the gospel doesn’t call us to be different and to be set apart for Christ then what does it call us to do?

 Why do we not hear pastors preach on this subject? Why aren’t they actively driving home the issue of modesty and how the bible states a woman is to dress thus allowing the men he is responsible for be tempted IN the church? Well, because he will be accused of legalism in a plethora of emails from angry people (mostly women) that will lose their voices along with their self-control just to scream LEGALISMMMM! That would be my guess! Paul said…”Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). What a mockery it is of the word of God to claim the sacred position of leadership and throw modesty aside as if it were not important. If Paul were to show up to a Sunday morning service at any given church, I wonder if he would say something to the women with immodest apparel or if he would turn a blind eye like he didn’t take notice? I actually do not wonder, I know Paul would address it immediately.

 No pastor or preacher can expose his views on the matter of modest apparel without being aware of opening himself up for criticism. The opinion of man amounts to nothing at all apart from the direct command of God. If God leaves no doubt concerning His feeling about modesty it would do all of the human race good to heed His word and do His will. Especially those who profess the name of Christ. His word is indeed clear and direct in the area of modesty, decency, virtue, and chastity. It would do every believer good to examine their heart (motives) and their appearance in the light of God’s word. May God convict us and allow us as believers and members of the body of Christ to separate ourselves from the world in appearance and apparel; in fashion and fellowship. Paul was not simply passing the time when writing this corrective message to Corinth: (2 Cor. 6:17,18) “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

 And what to say about modern swim suit attire? Simply that it cannot be called modest dress by any stretch of the imagination. Yet many churches plan fun trips for youth that includes donning skimpy swim suits that leave little to the imagination. This is true whether it is men/women or boys/girls. The Bible does not give the size or shape of the garments Adam and Eve invented but I am sure it covered more than the garments many church members wear today even on the streets of America.

 Have you ever walked through the halls of your church on a Wednesday night and have gasped for air as you get a glimpse of what the youth is wearing? I mean, I have been in churches where I have met wonderful women that professed Christ and dressed beautifully and modestly only to be introduced to her daughter who is wearing shorts that are 2 inches long. It leaves me wondering what in the world is wrong with this picture?!!! Or have met Christian moms who dress like a teenager along with their teenage girls in clothing that if presented to Eve as an option from the leaves, the leaves would have been a lot more appropriate! What is going on is a generation of women who profess Christ and allow their daughters to look like harlots. Young girls walk around the church campus (if they wear this to church I would not want to see what they wear outside) looking like the very girls I do not want my son associating with. Sadly those are the examples that as a mom I will use to teach my son what NOT to look for in a woman. As a mother of 4 precious children, 2 boys and 2 girls I have a great responsibility of not only training my children but modeling for my children what a godly woman is. To my boys be an example of the kind of woman they ought to marry one day and to model the characteristics they are to look for in a spouse and future mother of their children. For my precious girls, to train them up to be a godly young lady, woman, wife and mother. I have the incredible responsibility to model for my girls what I want them to be according to God’s word. What God calls them to be. If we as moms instill in our little ones by example the truths of God’s word, you will not have the fights later on concerning what they ought to wear. When you train them up with shamefacedness they will be meek and refuse to be a stumbling block for any man. Their love for the Lord will be evident by their obedience ( John 14:15). Boundaries need to be set and these young girls need to be taught that modesty is a beautiful & precious quality in the sight of God. When you train a child to have an audience of ONE (God) , they will strive to please Him as the noisy world with their “this is what you ought to be” demand fades away and God takes center stage.

 The bottom line ladies, is that God knows our heart. God knows the motives you have behind what you wear. Even if you claim you put no thought into it, there is always an underlying motive for everything we do whether we are conscious of it or not. We obey the Lord because we love Him. We don’t keep the “law” because we have to, but it comes from a heart that wants to please God and see Him glorified more than anything else even if we do so imperfectly. The sanctification process is synergistic, meaning God working in you to produce the fruit of righteousness as you die to self and submit your will to His; this means He does His part, but you must also do yours! This is not a matter of keeping the law unto salvation but a matter of obedience to the Lord out of a genuine outpour of our thankfulness and love for Him. We may love to study theology and have extensive knowledge of God’s word yet when someone calls us into action (obedience to God’s word) we claim either legalism or that we are no longer under the law. What is wrong with this picture? We are no longer under the law but under grace! Praise God for such a gift, because He was so gracious and merciful to offer a plan for redemption; which is not the observance of the Jewish law. How much more grateful and obedient ought we to be in return for such gift? Are we to go on disobeying and disrespecting a holy God claiming grace? We must be careful and diligent, making sure that we don’t allow our liberty to become a license. What we are doing is shaming the name of the Lord while clinging to the very grace He freely gave in order that we may freely obey Him.

 2 Timothy 1:8-9 “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,”

 Modesty is a matter of the heart.

 Recommended reading:

Dressing to attract…

http://unplugyourfamily.blogspot.com/2011/09/dressing-to-attract.html

Hot mom syndrome

http://unplugyourfamily.blogspot.com/2011/05/hot-mom-syndrome.html