MODEST APPAREL
By David J. Riggs
Intro.
A. We are living in a loose and lascivious age.
1. There is a swarm of immodesty on the streets, in the movies,
and on television.
B. Modest Apparel is one of those subjects that needs to be taught
often by all teachers and preachers of God's word.
1. A faithful older Christian once said, "There are some
subjects that we need a lesson on every year." This is
definitely one of them.
C. This subject is not one that is to be laughed at, scoffed at,
or made light of.
1. Not only should the preacher preach on it often, but also
the older sisters are responsible before God to teach the
younger. Titus 2:3-6
2. They should set a good example and teach the younger the
divine principles that relate to this subject.
I. THE WEARING OF CLOTHES IN PUBLIC IS NECESSARY.
A. After Adam and Eve sinned, they tried to clothe themselves.
Gen. 3:7-11
1. Their aprons of fig leaves apparently were not enough. Gen.
3:21
a. God intends that our bodies be clothed.
b. A Christian could not be a member of a "nudist" or
"near-nudist" colony.
B. Under the Old Testament they were to be fully clothed.
1. They wore long flowing robes. Deut. 22:11-12; Num. 15:37-
38
2. Men and women were to be distinguished from each other.
Deut. 22:5
a. It is a shame when our young men cannot be
distinguished from our young ladies or vice versa.
b. "Effeminacy" is condemned in the N.T. 1 Cor. 6:9
(1) "Effeminate" means "soft to touch...a male who
submits his body to unnatural lewdness" (Thayer),
"having marked womanlike traits of character"
(Webster).
c. Thus, men should avoid women's traits (clothing, hair
styles, etc.) and women should avoid men's traits
(clothing, hair styles, etc.)
II. THE NEW TESTAMENT REGULATES THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF CLOTHING.
A. The Christian woman should examine her clothing under the
following divine principles.
1. Chaste. 1 Pet. 3:1-6
a. A basic definition for the word "chaste" (vs. 2) is
"pure, holy, modest, decent."
b. The ladies are not to rely on outward appearance for
their attractiveness, but on the unseen virtues of the
heart. (Vs. 3-6)
2. Modest. 1 Tim. 2:9
a. The word "modest" means, "orderly, well-arranged,
decent, respectable." It is an outward sign of an inward
chastity or purity.
b. Thus, in choosing what to wear, the first question the
Christian woman must ask herself, "Is it modest"? If it
is questionable, she cannot wear it. Rom. 14:22-23
3. Shamefacedness. 1 Tim. 2:9 (Shamefastness, ASV)
a. The word "shamefacedness" means, "a sense of shame,
bashful, blushing, ashamed." Hence, she is conscious of
that which could bring shame or disgrace, and avoids it.
b. The godly woman would be ashamed if her clothing were
not right.
c. The Israelites in Jeremiah's time were at the point where
they could not be ashamed or blush. Jer. 6:16; 8:12
d. Clothing which exposes too much of one's body should
cause shame and blushing.
e. Our young girls need to be taught early in age what is
shameful and what is not; otherwise, they will not be
ashamed to wear immodest clothing.
4. Sobriety. 1 Tim. 2:9
a. The word "sobriety" means, "using good, sound
judgment; good sense."
b. There is nothing worse than a beautiful woman without
discretion. Prov. 11:22; 12:4
(1) A beautiful woman without good sense can cause
much embarrassment to the righteous.
5. Professing godliness. 1 Tim. 2:10
a. The word "godliness" means, "...to be devout; denotes
that piety which, characterized by a Godward attitude,
does that which is well-pleasing to God." (Vine).
b. One young lady said that she sought out the most godly
women she knew, and looked at what they wore, and
followed their example. We could reverse this--avoid
wearing that which the ungodly women wear.
6. Free from lasciviousness.
a. A basic definition of the word "lasciviousness" is,
"wanton, lewd, tending to produce lewd emotions;
having or producing unlawful sexual desires."
b. Lasciviousness is a work of the flesh. Gal. 5:19
c. If the clothing a woman wears draws attention to the
intimate parts of her body, she is wearing lascivious
clothing.
d. Shorts, halters, bathing suits, bikinis, transparent
blouses, very tight knit blouses, skin-tight slacks, the
mini shirts, and such like are apparel which draw
attention to the secret parts of a woman.
e. When Mary Quant, the designer of the mini skirt, was
interviewed, she said, "This apparel is typical of a
woman trying to seduce a man." (See Mary Quant,
mother of the mini skirt in McCalls, March, 1970).
B. Christian women must recognize and obey the divine principles.
1. If her clothing is not in accord with the divine principles,
she sins whether she has evil intentions or not.
a. She needs to realize that she lives in a world with men
and needs to know something about men.
b. It is true that when a man "looks" and "lusts," if he
does not repent, he will be lost. Matt. 5:27-28
c. However, if she encourages lust by her scanty attire,
whether intentionally or unintentionally, she sins. 1
Cor. 8:12; Matt. 18:7-9
d. Christian women, are you willing to be responsible for
the downfall of a man by exposing your body to him?
C. Bear in mind that the principles which apply to women
regarding modest apparel, also apply to men. Men's clothing
must be in accord with the divine regulations.
1. Men should be careful to dress in such a way as to not cause
lust.
2. Furthermore, the Christian man must stay away from night
clubs, beaches, corrupt movies, reading and looking at
certain magazines, and certain TV programs where
lasciviousness is running rampant.
a. Christian men, are you deliberately placing yourselves in
jeopardy? 1 Thess. 5:22
D. When men and women recognize the divine principles and put
them into practice, their clothing will be modest and free from
lasciviousness.
III. SOME OFT-HEARD REASONS FOR WEARING SCANTY ATTIRE.
A. "What may be modest in one country may not be in another
and vice versa."
1. Men of any country aren't that much different from each
another. Acts 17:26
a. They all know what parts of the body are sexually
appealing.
2. God's principles are not limited to geographical boundaries.
a. Some barbaric tribes may not dress properly, but as
soon as they learn God's principles, they will change.
B. "I can't help it if others have a filthy mind."
1. Of course, a man could lust after a woman and the woman
not be at fault.
2. However, if she is not following the divine principles, she
sins as well.
a. In reality, by her immodest clothing she shows that she
is the one with the filthy mind. She wants to make an
impression on others, but it has an opposite effect on
the righteous; she makes a degrading impression.
C. "The weather calls for it--it's more comfortable."
1. If it is lascivious in the summer, it is lascivious in the
winter.
a. If it would be all right at the swimming pool, it would
be at the church services.
b. The Bible knows no such limitations as place and time.
God's principle applies anywhere, anytime.
2. Women need to realize that if they are exposing their
bodies, men will be watching.
a. There is almost no privacy. For example, at Auburn
University, some college girls were nude-sun-bathing on
top of the girls' dorm and helicopters from a nearby army
barracks began coming over in great numbers.
D. "It is fashion; everyone else is wearing them."
1. Very small children begin making this argument. It is the
time for much teaching.
2. Christians are not to be "fashioned" according to this
world. Rom. 12:2; 2 Cor. 6:14-18
E. "My husband likes it."
1. Much of the blame for lascivious clothing can be placed on
the heads of the households.
2. The father is the head of the house (Eph. 5:22-23) and needs
to demand that his wife and children wear modest clothing.
3. A Christian husband can buy his wife "sexy" clothes if he
wishes. This is a part of marriage that the Bible encourages
husband and wife to enjoy. Eccl. 9:9 However, to insist that
she wear them in the presence of other men is sinful.
a. If a wife has a husband that requires this, she ought to
say, "I will obey God rather than man." Acts 5:29
Concl.
A. May our Christian women wear apparel that demonstrates a meek
and quiet spirit in all godliness and purity.
1. May they ever keep the divine principles before them and
obey them.
2. Proper clothing must be: chaste, modest, with
shamefacedness, with sobriety, processing godliness, free
from lasciviousness.
B. May our older ladies continually teach our younger.
1. Young ladies, if you have doubt concerning what you are
about to wear, ask that godly mother, aunt, grandmother or
whoever. They will not lead you astray.
2. Young men, if that young lady who you are dating comes
out in immodest clothing, say to her, "Please don't wear
that."
a. By doing this, you will be building a lasting, wonderful
relationship.
Chart #1
What Shall I Wear? #1
Consider the law of God:
1. Is my clothing chaste? 1 Pet. 3:1-6
2. Is it modest? 1 Tim. 2:9
3. Does it bring shame or embarrassment? 1 Tim. 2:9
4. Is it in accord with good judgment? 1 Tim. 2:9
5. Does it profess godliness? 1 Tim. 2:10
6. Is it free from lasciviousness? Gal. 5:19
Chart #2
What Shall I Wear? #2
Consider these divine principles:
1. Will it violate my conscience? Rom. 14:23
2. Will it cause others to lust? Matt. 5:27-28; Gal. 5:19
3. Will this action cause the weak brother to stumble? I Cor. 8:12;
Matt.18:6
4. Will it hinder my influence? 2 Cor. 3:2; Rom. 14:7
5. Will this action take me among evil companions? 1 Cor. 15:33
6. Does it interfere with my friendship with God? James 4:4
7. Would Jesus do it? Luke 9:23
8. How does this course of action seem after I've prayed about it?
Col. 4:2; Rom. 12:12
Chart #3
What shall I Wear #3
Some Oft-heard Excuses For Wearing Scanty Attire:
1. What may be modest in one country may not be in another.
2. What may be modest in one place may not be in another.
3. The weather calls for it; it's more comfortable.
4. It's the fashion; everyone else is wearing them.
5. I can't help it if others have a filthy mind.
6. My husband\mother likes it.