A website textileindustry.net accessed 5 Dec 2023 indicated 11 reasons why we wear clothes – for protection, modesty, identity and personality, safety, comfort, fashion and style, professionalism and uniforms, hygiene, social norms, rituals and traditions, and functionality.
It is important to see what God has to say about modesty and that we should view it the way God views it. Sometimes, brethren may make comments about the scriptures talking so much about modesty with regards to women and not the men. It may do us good to pause and think about the following:
Will you not consider that God is omniscient such that He knows that women today will be faced with so many options of dressing as compared to men?
Will you not consider that God is omniscient such that He knows how men will think and perceive a woman who is scantily clad and hence the need for women to adorn themselves properly?
Isn’t the bible relevant today as how it was before?
The Bible indeed addresses both men and women with regards to the subject of modesty.
Let us consider first how God sees modesty.
In Genesis 2:23-25, Adam and Eve, being husband and wife, were both naked but they were not ashamed. It was only after they had eaten of the fruit which they were forbidden to do so that “the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked” (Genesis 3:7). As a result, they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. Even though Adam covered himself with fig leaves, he told God he was naked and hid himself from God (Genesis 3:10). Notice that God did not argue with Adam when Adam said that they were naked, but instead asked them who told them so (Genesis 3:11). The coverings which Adam and Eve made were not sufficient according to God’s standards and hence, God made them coats of skins and clothed them (Genesis 3:21). The Hebrew word for a coat or tunic means a long shirt-like garment and it’s generally from shoulders to knees. From this time forth, mankind was aware of modesty, nakedness and shame.
We consider also how God sees or views modesty with regards to the making of the priests’ garments under the Mosaic law. God told Moses that the garments were made for glory (dignity, reputation) and for beauty. We also understand that the priests were to be consecrated and sanctified (Exodus 28:40-41). Notice that we have this understanding that to be completely covered, one had to be clothed from shoulders to the knees (Exodus 28:42).
In the New Testament, we have instructions with regards to modesty as well. Let us consider what the Bible tells us for the women.
“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;” (1Timothy 2:9)
The idea that Paul conveyed was for a woman to beautify or adorn herself in such a manner that she does not draw undue attention to herself. Indeed, there are times we can draw undue attention to ourselves through our dressing – either wearing too much or wearing too little. In the public assembly especially (cf. 1 Timothy 2:8), the focus should not be on women and on them drawing attention to themselves but the focus should be on God. We should not be distracting each other from worshiping God and the attention given to God and His Word being preached. Instead, everyone needs to do what he or she can to make God the focus and help each other make God the focus during worship. Women should profess godliness and be great examples of good works (1 Timothy 2:10). The same can also be said of men (Matthew 5:16).
A meek and quiet spirit is highly valued in the sight of God (1 Peter 3:3-4). Thus, the character of a woman is what is special about her and not her external beauty. With Titus 2:4-5 in mind, let us note what bro. Don Blackwell wrote: “A godly woman is to dress in such a way as to avoid drawing undue attention to herself. She should have a sense of shame or modesty about her. She should be innocent and pure from carnality, and she should dress as a woman whose most important object in life is to please God.”.
In Matthew 5:27-30, Jesus talked about lust which can cause a person to sin. As men, we need to be mindful of the precious words of Jesus here, warning us of such a danger. Job understood that it was wrong to look at a woman in a lustful manner (Job 31:1). Likewise, should we encounter women who are not dressed modestly, it will do us good to turn our eyes away and not place ourselves in a tempting situation.
Sometimes, there may be women who say “it’s the guy’s fault and he should not look”. Let’s consider carefully the words of Jesus: “Then said he unto the disciples,“It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.””(Luk 17:1-2)
Jesus was talking about stumbling. It is important that I do not cause someone to fall and sin because if I do, I will also be condemned. As a Christian, we strive to please God and we do not want to cause others to fall. Instead, we should be helping one another to go to Heaven. David saw Bathsheba washing herself and she was beautiful to look upon. That tempting situation led to lustful thoughts and then sin on David’s part. Bathsheba was not aware that David saw her but it’s an example for ladies to note that men do look, lust and sin. As Christians who fear God, we do not want to put our brethren in such situations whereby we may cause them to sin. This applies both to men and women.
God wants us to present our bodies as a continual service to God and not be conformed to this world because we have a change of mind when we become Christians (Romans 12:1-2). We should not be behaving nor dressing in a manner which is not pleasing to God.
Some possible applications for consideration:
Please God rather than self. This will mean also that in considering my modesty, I will seek out what God desires and not what I desire. The spiritual well-being and needs of brethren and myself will be of great importance. As such, I will not dress in a way that will put others and myself in a situation whereby I make God displeased.
Remember that how I conduct myself as a Christian and my dressing reflects the church of Christ. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church saying that they would be living examples of what Christ taught and what Christians live for (2 Corinthians 3:2). We will be “known and read of all men”.
It is necessary to remember the importance of the inner man, the character, which is where the beauty should lie and the need to listen and follow what God wants for us to do - not to conform to the world but be transformed by the renewing of our mind so that we can prove what is that good, acceptable and perfect will of God. I want to be more and more like Jesus and I hope and pray that it is the desire of every Christian who reads this article.
Ask Yourself:
Where can we find God’s standard of modesty in the Old Testament?
What is God’s expectation of women’s modesty in public worship?
How can we deal with situations whereby brethren may be immodestly dressed whether in worship or in other settings?
Answers:
Genesis 3:21; Exodus 28:40-42.
Adorn with modest apparel with sobriety and shamefacedness, not drawing attention to oneself, profess godliness and be an example of good works (1 Timothy 2:9-10).
You may discuss this with the writer or your Bible class teacher.