Whatever happened to Christian modesty?Didn't it used to be considered a virtue?

Question

Seriously after reading so many posts about Islam and Orthodox Jewish womens mode of dressing I have decided to ask this. I am a Catholic and hence neither of these faiths but I have recently read an article about Christian modesty and have felt called to follow it for the last 4 months. Why did we throw modesty out the window? Have you noticed that in the only in the last 100 years or so have women really changed completely the way we dress? What happened?

Catholic standard of modesty:"A dress cannot be called decent which is cut deeper than two fingers breadth under the pit of the throat; which does not cover the arms at least to the elbows; and scarcely reaches a bit beyond the knees. Furthermore, dresses of transparent materials are improper."

The Cardinal Vicar of Pius XII

Protestant Standards of Modesty

http://www.patriarchspath.org/Articles/Docs/Modesty_and_the_Christian_Woman.htm

Here is the link for the Catholic Standard as well.
http://www.catholicmodesty.com/Popesonmodesty.html

I am not advocating Burka for Christians LOL but a little modesty wouldn't hurt us.

For the first 2 ladies who answered: That is exactly what I am getting at.

Please pay no attention to the imposter behind the whynotaskdon avatar!

Dear Tasha are you perhaps Eastern or Greek Orthodox? I know that they believe in modesty.

Answer 1

Prostituting yourself to gain what you want, is the path many young women have choosen.It comes from bad parenting, where the parents will give their children cash, just have them leave, instead of actually talking to them.

So when they realise, they can get just about anything from prostituting themselves, such a simple task, they throw away their scrupples, and have no care as to how short their skirt is, how revealing their shirt is, or how many sins they have commited.

Answer 2

Unfortunately modesty is a relative term.

If you ask a pornstar to be modest they would consider a bikini modest. In islam, the degree of modesty has been derived from hadeeth which stipulates that women cover everything short of face and hands, like nuns and for man below the knees to above the belly button. Anything short of that is considered immodest. Futrhermore, both are commanded to lower their gaze...

It's hard out here for a pimp :)

Interestingly i think originally christians used to dress as such. for instance Mary, can often be seen covering her hair in movies. and and the bible stipulates that women cover their hair when praying not to mention nuns.

so i think the problem is in defining what is modesty.

Then there is also the pressure of society. we all know sex sells. Advertisements like coors girl, hell, all beer commercials, they can only get attention if there is skin involved. Consequently that effects what we percieve as acceptable and eventually our standards are lowered, then some people feel they too are not getting enough attention so they show their abs, and body further lowering the standard. So their is domino effect on what it means to be modest.

I can't mention how many times i have been places especially the gym and i hear people around me say .. "man look at that... **** ooo weee". Its these moments that i really cherish the virtue of modesty.

We need to differentiate between beauty and sexy. I think if you come off as sexy, you are probably not modest enough.

Answer 3

Many females have been ignorant of what you seem to be quite aware of over the last 100 years or so. Christian modesty is still a true virtue. However, the flesh and it's public display have been touted by the world as means to an end but the bible does not change. It STILL is written that "there is a way that seems right to a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death". This signifies that the continuous displays of the female body in public have resulted in the death of respect, reverence and proper regard for females in society. Hence, females have been reduced to being mere "objects of lust" in the minds of men, generally.
Some females even believe that this is the right thing to do.

Answer 4

I'm thinking by modesty you mean a sense of self respect in clothing and in action. Most Christians have no modesty, we can see this in the fact that most movie stars, singers and the likes are christians and do not have the least amount of modesty. I think christianity changes with the times. I was raised christian and I remember church being a place of "worship" so to speak but now its like a hook up spot. Women go to church with short skirts and their back out in many places and guys go to pick them up. Unwed couples not only live together before marriage but even sit up in church together and hold positions within the church. I'm not sure whats going on with the christians especially within the states but yes there were a time that christian held a little respect.

I think this is a very good question and I am really looking forward to the response of christian women.

Answer 5

Modesty is unfortunately one of those "out of the closets" that should have stayed in the closet, like so many other things over the last 60 years to be certain. We worship in a Mission Bible Church and our women still have long hair, the clavicle must be covered, the elbows covered, and the feet should not be bare - meaning sandles would not be acceptable footware to church. Even in our homes, since I have fibromyalgia and clothing is particularly painful for me and I find pajamas to be the most comfortable mode of clothing, I can still be modest by adding a sweater or house coat - I do wear sandals as I have to keep my feet elevated and cool. My pastor has caught me in such attire many times and I've apologized for not being more respectably dressed, but he says he'd rather see my heart ultimately respectful and know that I have feet just like everyone else! I do however, dress appropriately for church - it's not that hard to do. My Daddy and Papa are both retired ministeres but their philosophy was always that we were going to worship the King and wouldn't we want to be our most presentable? I think the charismatic movement and the relaxed atmosphere of it has brought about a lot of the immodest dress that we see so casually worn in church. My son has had to be excused before because he is a teen and the girls were dressed so slutty that it did not allow him to focus on worship but on the natural urges of a teenage boy. This is sad that one cannot even enter church to worship with out having to be faced with the carnal lust of the flesh. I'm sure it doesn't please God and if anyone has watched our comings and goings to our church any at all, then they know we are quite conservative in our dress. Our men still wear suits and ties! You don't see that on a lot of preacher's even anymore. I think as we lose respect for ourselves, individually or nationally, then it shows in how we present ourselves. That's what I think has happened.

Answer 6

I wonder the same things you do. We see in the Islamic countries the women wearing head covering (hijab) and sometimes a niqab. They cover there bodies and they are not out to be seen and lusted after.
Alot of people see them as oppressed but I believe They honestly follow there faith. Just like the Catholic Nun's who cover their heads and bodies.
I am not islamic nor Catholic, (i am christian) but I honestly adore the women of Islam and Catholic faith who cover themselves.

All I can say is America (in which I reside and am a citizen of) has became the Great Whore!
Of course there are other countries who are defiling there selves as well..
~and that is not saying everyone that resides in these countries is a whore~
I don't know. I personally don't believe in Jewelry and Makeup.. cuz
1 Timothy 2:9 says:
In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

and also 1 Peter 3:3 says...
Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

But we have become a generation of compromise and some will say that was meant for them people way back then cuz they use to wear high amounts of Jewelry like the egyptians in that time...
...I believe it means just what it says.. to NOT WEAR these things!

But that is just me!

Answer 7

Modesty is one of those things that changes with the times. For instance during the time of Christ, women weren't supposed to show their hair or wear it down or it meant that the woman was a prostitute. Bottom line is, as Christians we need to set the example and not follow the world's standards. Just cover up and don't show too much skin. You can still be cute without showing your navel and your cleavage.

Answer 8

Wish I knew! Personally I prefer a modestly dressed woman. (I'm a man--no, not a homo.) If she wants to show off she can do it when we have reached a level of righteous trust and intimacy where that's appropriate. On the other hand, I think that the full top-to-toe covering of some Arab women is a bit extreme.

Answer 9

I know you addressed this question to Christians but I hope you won't mind me answering.

Two doors down we have neighbors who are Pentecostal (I think). The females do not cut their hair, they wear no make up, and they wear long denim skirts. It's been hot this summer and they put a pool in--but the girls wear thin loose clothing instead of swimsuits.

I really respect this. Yes, I know they are probably considered a bit extreme in their dress, but I really think highly of them for sticking to what they believe. They are good neighbors and I am impressed with their devoutness to what they believe. Their beauty shines through--no "war paint" or revealing clothing is needed to detract from it.

I have been a polytheist for my entire life (and happy with it) so I know very little about Christianity. But to me, these people are admirable--inside and out.

Answer 10

The same thing that happened to most virtues; they're unfashionable.
Fornication, scanty attire for females and underwear as a fashion statement for males, living together without marriage, producing children without marriage, adultery, lying and cheating are all socially acceptable now.
It's up to each person to put his or her foot down and say "this is not acceptable behavior, I will not be a partner in this sin" and walk away.