I’m not sure why the modern church seems to think that Godly women can still follow the fads and fashions of the modern world and even ignore modesty and it makes no difference to God. I want to address the issue of modesty and fashion. As we are doing this Bible study I feel like an important point is to address some of the statements that are made in favor of following after the fashion of the world. Let’s look at the scripture first: 1Timothy 2:9 “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; But which becometh women professing godliness with good works.” Well! Doesn’t this give us an incredible picture? If we believe the Word of God – the Holy Bible to be in errant, then how can this scripture be ignored so often. I would venture to say it is one of the most often ignored scriptures in the entire Bible.
As I said earlier let’s begin with modesty. What constitutes modesty? Do the runways ofParis’ Fashion Week determine modesty? Ha! Or perhaps the corporate big shots for Walmart? Or perhaps the pastor’s wife? It makes you wonder doesn’t it? Wouldn’t it be nice if all of the pastor’s wives wore modest, Godly apparel to be a good example for the ladies of their church? I have to admit that some do, but sadly many don’t. Let’s define modesty:
Using the Strong’s Concordance:
Modest- 2887 - kosmios
1) well arranged, seemly, modest
Using several modern dictionaries:
marked by simplicity
humble; unpretentious; unassuming; simple; limited
decent
neither bold nor self-assertive
intended to avoid attracting sexual interest
I think these definitions really do give us a fairly good picture of what we are looking for here. (Please note number 5 from the modern dictionaries section and no, this was not from a Biblical dictionary but from a secular one. Interesting.) There are so many topics that we could take off on at the moment – rabbit trails really, but I want to stick to the main point. When we began our move toward a plain lifestyle, we wondered whether or not simple clothing was all that mattered. Actually we did try to just wear dresses that were fairly modest and unassuming. I had a wide assortment of simple jumpers and tee shirts for underneath. These seemed to cover, not expose the shape, and couldn’t have been more inexpensive to make. So they appeared to follow what I was after. Until one day when I went to the local bakery store. We had already started wearing headcoverings which will be discussed as part of this Bible study, and I had on a nice simple denim jumper with the long sleeve tee shirt underneath. As I went to the check-out counter, the lady looked at me very peculiar and said, “You wear the same clothing as everybody else but what is that thing on your head?” I was stunned. Not about her question on the headcovering, but more on her saying that I wore the same clothing as everybody else. Here are thought I had really made a change and made an evident statement in my modest jumper and simple shirt that I was different.
I was modest in the technical sense, but I was not modest in the Godly sense that I was after. The Holy Spirit had really convicted me that as a born again, Bible believing creation that I needed to be modest in the fashion sense as well. Now there’s no question that the fashion industry would consider a simple denim jumper and long sleeve tee shirt extremely modest, but I’m not trying to compare myself to their criteria. What I truly wanted to compare myself to was what the Lord saw as modest and unadorned. And truthfully, I don’t expect to ignite a fire of plain dressed women across America with this Bible study, but I do want to point out that even the world understands that there is a great deal of difference.
Let me take a little sidetrack at the moment and go ahead and address folks who say that what we wear has nothing to do with what is on the inside. They love to use 1 Samuel 16:7 –“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” Isn’t it amazing how clearly this seems to point to the opposite of what I have been saying? Boy, they really got me on this one. Ha! (Yes, that was being sarcastic.) The truth is this doesn’t really contradict with the idea of dress being unimportant. It is really speaking to the concept of people judging someone’s worth based on their appearance. And certainly I am not advocating that. This being said, we do need to realize that while we are not to judge others we are to make sure that our own appearance is appropriate as pertains to a child of God.
Several years ago when I was listening to a tape about a godly woman’s clothing, the speaker commented that whenever a woman’s shape was clearly defined underneath her clothing, this was considered immodest. If you think about it this way, this means that if the underside of a curve can be seen then you have a problem- that means the curve of the breast, waist, hips, and thigh. I encourage you to examine yourself in your clothing in front of the mirror. Bend over. You will be surprised at what you see.
Before I close this section to allow for comments let me speak on the issue of shamefacedness (Strong’s – 127 aidos – a sense of shame or honour, modesty, bashfulness, reverence, regard for others, respect) and sobriety ( Strong’s – 4997 s?phrosyn? –soundness of mind, self-control, sobriety). When I think of these two words I do not think of pink lipstick, Cosmopolitan magazine, skin-tight sweaters, chunky blond-streaked frosted hair, and skirts so tight that they require of slit so that you can walk. Shall we even mention rings on every finger and two or three holes in each ear lobe?