MODEST APPAREL
1 Timothy 2:9-10
(Originally by Randy Cavender, but reworked by John Cripps & David
Riggs)
Intro.
A. All right-thinking people understand we have a serious problem
in our society with indecent dress.
B. The problem of indecent dress worsened dramatically during the
permissive era of the late '60's and '70's and it showed no
signs of decline during the '90's.
C. The world often influences the church.
1. In this lesson, we intend to demonstrate that Christians,
whether men or women, have an acceptable standard of
dress, dictated not by Paris or New York.
2. It is heaven's decree which does not change with current
styles.
3. It will always be permanent. Psalm 119:89
D. What is God's Standard of Dress for a Christian?
I. Modest.
A. Definition - Primary meaning - "orderly, well-arranged."
1. Some argue that Paul simply instructed the women to dress
neatly. I cannot comprehend that Paul would condemn a
woman who would wear a baggy, though decent dress, but
exonerate a woman who would parade in public in a bikini!
B. Secondary meaning - "decent."
C. What is decent dress? Rather than a detailed list of such
clothing, three criteria of proper dress, each of which
pertains to the heart, i.e., attitudes.
D. Modest dress is important for it is a reflection of the heart.
II. With Propriety - shamefacedness.
A. The definition of "shamefastness" is "a sense of shame."
B. A person who dresses "with propriety" is directed by a sense of
shame, rooted "fast" in their character that prevent them from
dressing shamefully.
C. What is "shameful" dress? Nakedness - Rev. 3:18
1. Adam and Eve - "they knew that they were naked" Gen.
3:8-11
2. After they sinned, Adam and Eve hid themselves because
they were afraid since they were "naked."
3. While scantily clothed, the first pair were naked, both in
their own eyes and God's. Gen. 3:10-11
4. God covered them with tunics of skin.
a. "Tunic was a garment, meanings to cover [compare
3802]; a shirt...a kimono-like inner garment reaching to
the knees or ankles, as worn next to the skin. Both men
and women wore tunics made from cotton, linen, or
wool. ...The earliest of these garments were made
without sleeves and reached only to the knees. Later,
the inner garment extended to the wrists and ankles."
(Nelson's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Bible Facts, p.
482-482)
b. "This garment usually had long sleeves, and extended
down to the ankles when worn as a dress coat, and was
held in place by a girdle. Hard-working men, slaves, and
prisoners wore them more abbreviated--sometimes even
to their knees, and without sleeves--as shown on the
Behistun inscription." (The Zondervan Pictorial Bible
Dictionary, p. 225)
c. Covering of the thigh. Isaiah 47:1-3
D. Adam and Eve were shamefully, immodestly dressed, but when
God covered them, they were no longer naked.
1. Would God cover the modern swimsuits, short-shorts,
see-through clothing, skin-tight clothing and whatever else
that indecently exposes the body?
E. For a man to dress immodestly is lasciviousness, which is
"unbridled lust, excess, outrageousness, shamelessness." Gal.
5:19
III. Moderation - Sobriety.
A. "Good judgment, moderation, self-control, soundness of mind."
1. The judgment involved should be Biblically based judgment.
B. Aged women are to teach the younger to "be discreet" (Titus
2:5) which comes from the same root as the word "moderation."
C. Do you use "good judgment" in your apparel?
IV. "Not with braided Hair or Gold or Pearls or Costly Clothing.
A. Does the inspired writer forbid women to wear braids, jewelry,
or costly clothing?
1. The "virtuous wife" Prov. 31:10 "fine linen and purple"
Prov. 31:22
B. Paul uses a Jewish figure of speech, "the denial of the lesser
to emphasize the greater."
1. John 6:27; 1 Peter 3:3 - if literal, should not put on
apparel.
2. Women in Roman society, as today, were prone to wear
elaborate and expensive hairdo's, even braiding the hair
with gold or silver strands or lacing with gold, silver, or
jewels; to dress in outlandish, expensive clothes in order
to draw attention to themselves and to their wealth.
C. Paul and Peter simply teach women to place the emphasis where
it belongs.
1. On the hidden person of the heart. 1 Pet. 3:4
2. On good works - 1 Tim. 2:10
D. Young people, don't waste time primping. Don't misplace your
emphasis on designer labels, costly jewelry or fancy hairdo's.
Such gaudiness has no place for a Christian.
1. Spend time (and save your money) developing godly
character, true inward beauty, which is beautiful to God!
V. Proper for women professing Godliness.
A. Definition - godliness denotes "the fear or reverence of God."
B. The scriptures teach of two types of dress.
1. Proper. . .professing godliness. 1 Tim. 2:10
2. Not as an immoral woman - Prov. 7:5,10
a. Mary Quant who introduced the mini-skirt in 1964,
admitted: "Mini-skirts are symbolic of those girls who
want to seduce a man."
C. Brethren, is your clothing "proper. . .professing godliness" or
the "attire of a harlot"?
1. Questions to help determine the answer:
a. Would you want Christ to see you dressed?
b. Does your clothing cause godly men or women to be
tempted to lust? Matthew 5:27-28; Matthew 18:6
c. Does the way you dress hinder your influence as a
Christian? Matthew 5:16
d. Could you teach another concerning immodest clothing
dressed the way you are? Rom. 2:21
Concl.
A. "Dress like a clown, and you will feel like a clown." Dress
like the world, and you will feel like the world. Dress like a
Christian, and you will feel like a Christian.
B. Does your clothing reflect godly character, or does it cause
others to stumble and bring shame on God and His church?