I read an article the other day that said something like, “Ladies, we have to be modest because men are filthy dogs and if they see your cleavage they will want to have sex with you- immediately. ”
I have probably bought into that idea myself. I may have even taught that myself.
The thing is the bible never says that.
Men do tend to like sex. Men are visual. But do you know who is to blame for a man’s lustful behavior?
The man. Do you know who said that? Jesus.
Jesus said, “I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away.” Mt. 5:28-29
Jesus said if you can’t control your heart then control your eye. Did you catch that? Jesus said if what you see causes you to stumble (sin) the next step is to gouge out your eye and throw it away.
Jesus doesn’t say if you lust blame the women flaunting their bodies and throwing themselves at you. Jesus said, “Check your self brother.”
So what about us? What does biblical modesty look like for godly women today?
The bible does address modesty but I don’t think in the same way our cultural lens frames it.
The modesty that Paul addresses isn’t a lack of clothing. It is a lack of righteousness.
I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes…
Paul is telling us, via Timothy, exactly how to teach this subject.
Dress modestly? Yes.
How? With decency and propriety.
Is it about hair and jewelry? No.
What is it about? Good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. 1 Tim. 2:9-10
You see Ladies, modesty isn’t FOR men. It is FOR us. If we profess God and to be followers of the Christ, our time, energy and focus should be less about our outfit, our eye shadow and our hair style and more about how we are going to glorify him in the things we do, the people we serve and holiness we exude.
Will this benefit the men around us? Absolutely!
Peter even contributes this kind of life to have the power to turn wayward men’s hearts toward God.
“If any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” 1 Pet 3:1-3
That ladies, is more than a long enough skirt and high enough neck line. That is a potent, transformed life demonstrating the efficacy of Christ through a woman clothed with him.
Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 13:14
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