Modesty...

I recently read an article about a Fashion Show geared towards covering up.  The title of the Fashion Show was, "What to Wear...According to the Word and not the World".   Then I read a post on a blog.  The post was titled, "Modesty: Still Missing From The Church".   And, these thoughts and ideas are coming from people that are not Apostolic Pentecostal as I am.  But from different denominations who have for years talked about how some Apostolic Pentecostal ladies are too strict on wearing skirts and modest attire.  But, what is sad to me is that some denominations are seeing the need for MORE modesty and some Pentecostals are becoming lax in their standards for modest attire.  But, I thought I'd share a few insights from this blog I read.

 "Whether I like it or not, people draw assumptions about me based on my physical presentation. As a Christian woman, I do not want people drawing the wrong conclusions about my focus. I believe that modesty is a major issue in our churches. While I cannot take ownership of someone else’s sin, I do accept the responsibility for being my brother’s keeper.

Do Christian women know when they are not being modest?

Some suggest that most Christian women know that modesty is a problem in the church, that we need to be more conscientious of our clothing choices, and that our physical presentation has the ability to negatively influence men. Yet if we are aware of these issues, why don’t we do something about it?

When discussing modesty, the major concern is the sin of lust in its various forms that has infiltrated our churches. Lust is often a sin that is poorly addressed among Christian men and women, and rarely is modesty addressed as a gateway to our declining moral standards concerning lust. To be clear, I am not letting men off the hook. Pornography is an ongoing problem with many Christian men (and a rising problem among women as well). If that is an unconfessed sin of a brother or sister, anything can “trigger” them spiraling down the wrong road.

On the other hand, spiritual maturity requires that I evaluate my heart. A godly heart is revealed through self-sacrificing actions that esteem others above myself. A sin-sick heart is centered on what is important to me — where my rights will always determine my actions. Let’s face it: We all want to look attractive. If the motivation is to look attractive at any cost with no consideration for others, however, there is a heart issue to confront.

I’m willing to give the benefit of the doubt that some women are oblivious as to when their attire is a distraction. I do not believe that most Christian single women chose their attire for the sole purpose of landing a man, or that most married women aim to grab the attention of men who are not their husbands.

With that understanding, I believe that the modesty issue is partially due to a lack of training concerning their physical appearance. Whatever happened to etiquette classes? And why are we not speaking against the deception that modesty is unattractive?"

~ I don't ever want to get to the place where I become complacent when it comes to modesty.  I have taught the importance of modesty to my kids since they were born.  I know that I have gotten some criticism to my face and behind my back concerning my strictness on modesty.  But, I would much rather lean toward being covered than to cut a hemline here or a neckline there and find out later that I was wrong and led people astray.  I believe that modesty started back in the Garden of Eden.  When Adam & Eve sinned and God had to make them clothes of animal skins, the Hebrew translation defines it as a tunic like garment that went to the wrists and down to the ankles.  I figured, if God thought that modesty was important enough in the beginning of time, then I should think it is equally important (if not more so) today.  I like what Sister Bobbey Wendell stated at a recent Ladies Conference I attended.  If you can raise your arms in praise and still remain modest and if you can bend over and dance around in worship and still stay modest then it is okay to wear.  And, in my opinion, If you have to keep tugging down your skirt when you are sitting to make sure it is covering your knees then maybe you should consider something  longer.  I recently heard someone say, "Women, you should dress how you would want other women to dress around your husband."  I thankfully have been blessed with a husband is concerned about how I dress and modesty.  I had a friend that recently told me, "I wish my husband was as concerned about what I wore as your husband is about what you wear."  

So, I will step down from my soapbox now.  But, in closing this post, I want to say that I am thankful for the Word of God and the instruction it gives on modesty.  I want to make a difference in the world around me.  And, if being modest is one way to do that, then I am all in...110%.

** For the record, I refuse to judge or criticize someone who may not feel the same way that I do about modesty.  I believe that if someone has a true desire to serve God wholeheartedly, He will show them and convict them of the things they need to change according to His Word.  Whether or not that person heeds to His gently nudging is between them and God.  :o)