Spring is here and summer is swiftly approaching. This means that it is the time of year that many Christian men and women compromise their spirituality, integrity and purity and jeopardize their salvation for "comfort". Yes, we are referring to wearing clothing that is immodest.
MODESTY
"Modesty" can apply to one's salary, house of any number of things in the sense of that which is moderate, appropriat, humble or unostentatious. However, there is another important implication of the word having to do with one's moral convictions and the respect one has for his or her own body. In this sense Paul commanded women to "adorn themselves in modest apparel" (1 Timothy 2:9). The
Arndt-Gingrich
lexicon says of the word translated "modest" here that it means "honorable", "respectable". We understand Paul to be talking about wearing clothing that indicates the moral chastity, purity and sense of decency that Christians must have.
While both men and women ought to behave and dress modestly, it is noteworthy that Paul addresses this instruction particularly to women. It was not done accidentally. Biologically and psycologically men and women differ greatly.
WHILE THERE ARE SOME EXCEPTIONS
, men are more easily aroused and more aggressive sexually than are women. To deny this is absurd. The Lord understood this and warned about a
looking at a woman and lusting after her (Matthew 5.28). The prospect of a woman lusting after a man was so exceptional that the Lord did not deem it worthy of a warning!!! (What does that say about society today???) God's word indicates that immodest apparel is a problem pertaining to women, primarily.
It is a lack of modesty that causes a physically mature woman to un-blushingly be more undressed than dressed in public places. Women who wear scanty swimming attire, shorts and halter tops, mid-thigh-length skirts, low-cut and see-through blouses, skin-tight pants, and the like in public places are advertising their immodesty, whether they intend to ro not. It is baffling and heartbreaking to see the shameless display of skin exhibited by some of our women and teen-aged girls at public functions (4th of July parades, public beaches and swimming pools, school activities, etc...). Not only do we fail to comprehend how otherwise right-thinking girls ans women can think that it is in keep0ing with Christian purity to so expose their bodies. We cannot understand the husbands and fathers who would permit or encourage it!!! A wife's physical charms must be reserved for her husband alone and we can't appreciate the husband who wants his widfe to even
visually
share those charms woith anyone else. Further, how can a Christian father allow a teen-aged daughter to dress in such a way as to say, "Look at me, fellows. I'm just like all the other girls." Christian fathers and husbands could stip all such immodesty in one day if they wouold. We expect immodesty in people of the world, but for the ske of Christ, ought not Chnristians to be modest and decent (Romans 12.1-2)? Dub McClish - Pearl Street Church of Christ - Denton, Texas
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