Modest dress?

Question

We are told in Deuteronomy and I Tim to dress for our own gender, not like the opposite sex, and to dress modestly. And that showing the thigh makes us naked in the eyes of God. That said, why do men and women choose not to dress according to scripture, with women wearing pants/shorts (or anything with a crotch), and men become more effiminate with earrings and such. NO arguements or name calling please.

Answer 1

The issue of modest dress is unfortunately contested by people worldwide because of the mistakes surrounding the scripturally unsound errors about clothes in the modern world.

What is defined as modest apparel? I will explain further what IS defined as modest apparel, friends. According to 1Tim 2:9, "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array."

This is defined the standard of modest apparel, my good friends. Rightly so, the Bible is scripturally sound on what is to be modest or costly. For instance, costly apparel would be defined as clothes that are provocative or tempting. A harlot's clothes would also fall into the category of costly apparel yet is brought into a negative light concerning the issue of whoredom which is not part of this topic. Forgive me, indie.

For modest clothing, it would define from those words in 1Tim 2:9, "... in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety;..." What then can be said from these words? It can only be said that the women (and men, yes) wear modest clothings WITH shamefacedness AND sobriety. That means in gender-specific issues of fashion on clothes, women must cover themselves from the head to the feet. For men, they must wear clothes from head to feet that neither tempt nor bring a woman to lust after him. If either gender lusts after one another, it is considered adultery.

What then defines adultery? Let's look at Mat 5:28, "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."

Lust, after all, is the driving force that is in league with costly apparel. With the costly apparel displayed among women or men, it is rightly so that godly men and women, if not careful, would fall into temptation and seek wrongly the things of the world. So adultery is defined in both the physical as well as the mental boundaries of lust.

Let's look at other verses in Deuteronomy that will shed some light on modest apparel, shall we?

Let's consider firstly the issue of cross-dressers, which is considered an abomination unto the Lord God. Why is it considered an abomination by God? In Deuteronomy 22:5, "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God."

The Lord God has said it is an abomination to gender-specific people to wear the opposite clothes. No man can wear a woman's clothes as a woman cannot wear a man's clothes. But, we did not shed some light on modest apparel, did we?

This may shed light concerning the issue of costly vs. modest. The issue of the women who are pulling their clothes' skirt line high up the thigh is considered nudity before God. With the world being conformed and catered to special interests as well as the delights of the world, take a look here at Isa 47:2-3, "...bare the leg, uncover the thigh.... Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man."

So if a woman revealed her thighs by buying costly apparel and tempting men to lust after her, this would be screaming full of shame. God has said uncover the thigh and it is declared nudity, the bare flesh of a woman or man revealed to others.

He has also said vengeance willl not be visited by God as a man. This could mean various but dreadful scenarios for women or men who may already have been in trouble without them realizing it. When men are tempted easily enough to find her pleasant and think of carnal desire, there's no question there will be something happening.

According to Psalm 31, there are words about coverings. This would also detail modest apparel. A woman is covering her entire body not because of tempting men but because of respecting what is right or wrong before God. The same would go for the man also.

What it all boils down to is that costly apparel is put into a negative light as said in Isa 47:2,3. No Christian should be expected to wear costly apparel just because it is the latest fashion, or that s/he wants to impress his/her date, etc. The Christian SHOULD wear modest apparel to respect her body in shamefacedness AND sobriety and the Word of God that defines it.

With the people who are not adhering to the scripture, they have been led astray into the world, delighting in pitiful albeit insignificant pleasure they may partake of, according to costly apparel. But, remember this.

No matter what, modest apparel is respecting the Word of God and others; but wearing tempting, provocative apparel is REALLY asking for someone or something unsavory to happen to you.

Don't be a victim of poor decision concerning the fashion of the world. Be right with God as He knows what is right and what is wrong.

CHOOSE MODEST APPAREL OVER COSTLY APPAREL ANY DAY.

I would! Would you?

Answer 2

I can't find that passage about "showing the thigh".

The closest thing I can come up with is the command that the priests serving at the altar of the Temple must wear "breeches" underneath their skirts (Exodus 28:42), which seems to imply that normally they wouldn't wear these. Likewise the command of Exodus 12:11 that they should eat the Passover "with their loins girded" seems to imply that normally they would have been eating without having their "loins girded".

Most of the standards of what constitutes "modest" clothing were established by the rabbis centuries ago. Scripture itself doesn't have that much input on the matter.

Beyond the command of the priests needing to wear "breeches", the "pants" design was more commonly used by women in those days (think of their monthly needs as the reason) while the men were more likely to wear "skirts". Modern western society has reversed the standards on these clothing styles so (except for Scotsmen) most men these days would consider it to be improper to wear a skirt.

Back in Biblical days it was not unusual to just wrap a sheet around yourself and go out in public. For example:
Mark 14:51-52 And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him: And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.

And for that matter, apparently it didn't raise any eyebrows for a workman like a fisherman to not wear clothing:
John 21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

Likewise, consider Mary thinking that Jesus was just the gardner. As you recall, all the burial clothing that he wore was back in the tomb, he hadn't yet ascended to his Father so he didn't get clothing from there. So, unless you are going to make the claim that he stole clothing from somewhere, then the movie The Passion was correct in showing him leaving the tomb naked. So it might not have been unusual for a gardner to lay aside his clothing while working. It keeps the clothing clean, clothe was expensive to make and wore out easily, so that makes a degree of sense.

The use of the term "modest apparel" in 1 Timothy 2:9 is in contrast to "costly array". What this is saying is that you shouldn't wear fancy clothing, it might even be taken to say that you shouldn't be wearing excessive clothing, but a more modest amount -- or that you should be humble in how you garb yourself. Likewise, one way to "humble" a person was to strip them bare.

The concept of shame entered the world with the sin of Adam in the Garden. Their reaction to the shame they felt was to make coats of leaves for themselves. And, while I have heard of Christian nudists who say that Jesus removed the shame of sin from them when they were born again, I don't think most Christians would take that consistant view in their interpretation.

Rather, study what the rabbis wrote about proper modesty and follow those rules. You will be better off for it.

Answer 3

Hi Indie,
I agree with the idea of modest dress. However, we risk being legalistic and judgemental when we toss aside the grace of Christ and try to force people to adhere word-for-word to OT law and period-appropriate verses from 1 Timothy.

Now, I'm definitely not saying that those laws are to abandoned. However, we need to look at:
1. The INTENT of the laws rather than the LETTER of the laws themselves (ie. would you deny a man entry to your church if he had a damaged testicle? No, obviously not. But it WAS an OT law so we need to look at the meaning behind it in light of their cultural context...)
But Also
2. The teachings about apparel thru the LENS of Christ (what did He have to say about it?)
3. The fact that there are many, many people who do not believe that the Bible is the authoritative Word of God; thus, they have no reason to live according to this book.

Here's the thing:
-I live in 21st Century Canada.
-There are currently 'standards' for modesty, definitions of 'masculine' and 'feminine' apparel/dress that differfrom standards of modesty, etc back-in-the-day.
-My culture still has expectations of modest and appropriate dress. Immodest dress still exists and it obviously existed back-in-the-day. The cultural context helps define these ideas.
-Modesty is concept that differs from person to person; we all draw different lines (ie modesty for you is to not wear pants, etc and modesty for me is to not wear short skirts/shorts). Neither is better or worse; we are each acting according to our own conscience.

NOW, another side of this discussion is that there are people who have a conscience about modesty but choose to abandon it in the interest of attracting dates, because of insecurity, etc. I'm not condoning this behaviour: It's simply a timeless reality.

Indie, I understand that you are simply asking a question out of genuine curiousity. I want to say, though, drawing black&white lines about what Everyone Should be doing nowadays with respect to fashion/apparel/modesty, is a form of judgemental legalism. I say this beacuse I believe it would grieve the Lord to think that we could not have fellowship because I wear pants... or because my boyfriend wears a pink polo shirt or has an earring.

Since God looks at our hearts, I'd like to encourage you to take the focus off of what Others are wearing and focus inwardly on your own motivations for what you do and how you can honour God by the way you live (and dress).

Great question, Indie!

I hope I have been helpful :)

Answer 4

I dress modestly in public (by today's standards anyway, considering shorts would freak out the bible writers) because it's really nobody's business what my private parts look like unless I choose to show them in private. That's why they're called PRIVATE parts. And anyone who needs to see your "goods" before going out with you isn't worth going out with in the first place.

However, I don't get the whole dress thing. They're freakin cold in winter and make it annoying when you have to pee. I dress for comfort & convenience, and I don't get why any religion should make women wear dresses unless it's so the men can have "easy access" or something.

Answer 5

This is a topic the Mormon gospel is very distinct on. We are taught to dress modestly our whole life. Also, after receiving our endowments in the temple, we wear garments that are basically modest underwear that help remind us to dress modestly. They are representation of covenants also, not just a reminder of how to dress.
It is sad that there is so much immodesty, what kind of message does it send to a young boy when he sees his mother's cleavage or worse???

Answer 6

People choose to dress this way because they do not believe the necessity for following such scripture. Simple as that.

Answer 7

Modesty is what God wants of us, but we have free will to be rascals and do what we want, but we will have to pay the piper some day if we don't be respectful of ourselves and others, including respecting God and how we look for Him. It is risky to not be modest in this crazy world just from a sex crime point of view, but others are often more interested in their freedom to be "exposed" "popular" "glamorous" "sexy" than they are in pleasing God or in their personal safety!

Many cultures use jewelry for men and women and it is not a transvestite or transsexual thing. Vedic artists show many many pictures with deities with incredible jewels and jewelry in their transcendental oppulence. It has to do with the MOTIVE of the jewelry wearing that we engage in.

Answer 8

People don't even know. who they are anymore. Modesty is a thing of the past, even in most churches.. We are so saturated with porn on the TV that people don't even know what is right. There are very few christians that live in modesty or understand holiness.
You see the answers that if we don't live up to God's standard then the standard of right and wrong needs to be updated to man's standard.. Man becomes his own God and worships himself.

Answer 9

Why did God not give me fur if he wanted me to cover up? People have egos and that is why we cover up not because of God. I like wearing shorts and pants I also like wearing skirts and dresses but my favorite way to be is the way God created me. Naked.
Love & Light
Sharon
One Planet = One People

Answer 10

NO arguements or name calling please - that disclaimer doesn't cut it when you ask stupid questions. You should be able to back up your opinion to anyone, if you believe in it so much. So you're just being a coward when you state that.

All that being said, the simple answer to your question is just because you believe in god and the bible doesn't mean everyone else does! In fact, there are lots of people around who think there is no god and that the bible is just a book. I'm one of those people, so I'll wear whatever I want, thanks.

Answer 11

Indiebaptist, you're right but, unfortunately, life imitates art sometimes. There are so many award shows and cable shows and magazines where celebrities will wear something and, before you know it, gullible teenagers are mimicking them. Sad but true. It doesn't leave anything to the imagination.