Introduction:
A daily question (or at least a daily decision) most everyone asks (or makes) is - What shall I wear today?
For mankind, when answering this question certain considerations come into play:
1. What’s the occasion?
- work
- dinner with the family
- sporting event
- date
- the occasion’s are endless
2. What’s the style or current trend in
fashion?
- would you wear bell bottoms today?
- a trend today is to wear baggy
pants, or even blue jeans with
holes in them!
- remember the time when baby boys
wore dresses?
3. What’s the custom?
- In many foreign counties it is the
custom for women to cover their
head and face.
- In some tribes found in remote
regions of the world, it is
customary for the people to go
with little or no clothing.
When Christians ask this question, the considerations mentioned above naturally come into play; however, for a Christian (man or women) the overriding consideration must be , “Is it modest and proper for those professing godliness?”
Foundational Text : 1 Timothy 2:9-10
With the overriding consideration for Christians being modestly and godliness, the challenge then becomes defining proper attire within the context of modesty and godliness.
Do the factors within society that define modesty change?
- at one time, it was immodest for a women
to expose her ankles!
- at one time, it was “ungodly” for a man to
come to church without a suit and tie (at
least within some congregations).
- at one time, it was improper for a women to
wear slacks to a worship service.
Do the factors within society that define modesty change? I think we have to answer yes?
So the question still remains, What Shall I Wear as a Christian without compromising modesty and godliness?
- Should a Christian woman wear shorts, mini-
skirts, low-cut blouses, tight skirts or
pants?
- What about dresses with the backs out or
sleeveless?
- What about a man, should he be concerned
about modesty?
- What about certain activities? Mixed
swimming, cheerleaders, or other activities
that require a certain dress?
I have to admit, there is no easy, simple guideline such as “no higher than an inch above the knee” outlined in the Bible. It is an emotional and often controversial subject. However, I strongly believe the Bible provides basic principles that can help any Christian in any culture. If we apply these principles above all other considerations (the occasion, the current style or trend, and even the custom) we can dress in a consistent, modest manner which exhibits godliness and Christian values! Let’s see what the Bible has to say:
I. Understanding the Origin of Nakedness
Nakedness is defined as: completely unclothed; bare, uncovered; exposed said parts of the body.
Man’s awareness of nakedness began in the Garden of Eden (cf. Gen 3:6-7). Notice again from the text what Adam and Eve did after sinning: being aware of their nakedness, THEY made clothes with fig leaves - specifically “loin coverings!”
The Hebrew phrase from which we translate “loin coverings” is chagorah (hag-ore) meaning a garment which covers the mid-section.
What would this garment leave “exposed?”
- most of the legs
- arms and shoulders
- parts of the chest (breast) and back region
Were these loin coverings sufficient in covering Adam and Eve’s nakedness? Were they in compliance with God’s standards? Notice Vs. 8-10. Why were Adam and Eve hiding? Because they were naked! But what about the “loin coverings?” I suggest to you that despite the "chagorah" Adam and Eve still felt naked!
What about God’s standard? Note Vs. 21.
God made “tunics” for them - translated from the Hebrew kethoneth (keth-o’-neth) which means to cover: shirt, coat, garment or robe.
Ary you starting to see the picture here? Evidently God was not pleased with the brevity of the coverings they had made.
II. Understanding the Shamefulness of Nakedness
I’m going to make a bold statement. I firmly believe that due to the overwhelming exposure of nudity (or partial nudity) in our society today we (including Christians) have become desensitized to it. After all we see it:
- Not only in most all movies rated above G
- It’s in most TV programs, including
commercials
- It’s on bill boards, in magazines, in video
games
- It can even be found in the church!
Don’t believe me? Consider the following facts:
- Number of new magazines in the U.S. in 1992:
679
- Number devoted to lifestyle: 60
- Number devoted to sports: 40
- Number devoted to crafts/games/hobbies: 35
- Number devoted to celebrities: 33
- Number devoted to sex: 97
What about television and the movies, let’s say, in the 60’s? Did you see nudity, or even partial nudity? Were products marketed by a beautiful girl wearing a two piece bikini? What would have been the public reaction then to such? So what’s changed from the 60’s to today? It’s our acceptance level! How many of us have:
- written to our government and complained
- written to the TV networks and complained
- disconnected our cable and satellite
services
- vowed never to watch a movie that’s R
rated, what about PG-13, what about PG?
Still not convinced of our desensitization? Let’s look at a Biblical example - Genesis chapter 9.
Remember the events that transpired after Noah’s departure from the ark? Noah began farming, planted vineyards, made wine, subsequently he drank the wine and became drunk and naked!
Notice closely again the sequence of events following Noah’s drunken state: Vs. 22-25. Are you are like me? Have you read this story countless times and asked yourself, “Why the curse? What’s all the fuss about? Ham sees his father naked and tells his brothers. Where’s the harm in that?”
When studying this chapter of Genesis for our Wednesday night class a few years ago, it hit me like a ton of bricks! There is a hard lesson for us here - our society has degraded our morals! You see nakedness was viewed much differently in Noah’s day. It was still considered shameful and ungodly.
Are you starting to understand the shamefulness of nakedness? Are you starting to see how far our society has digressed? I want to leave this particular subject with the reading of Leviticus 18: 6-18 (read it).
I hope by now we are starting to understand the shamefulness of nakedness, especially as it relates to God’s standards. But what about partial exposure? Is it shameful for a women to expose her ankles? What about her arms, shoulders, and back? How much leg should be exposed? What about her breasts? How much, if any should be in open view? What about a man? Should he expose his legs, or chest? Should he go without a shirt? Let’s dig a bit deeper in the Bible and consider the following:
III. Is it Shameful to Expose Certain Parts of the Body?
Look at Isaiah 47:1-3: Granted, the context of these verses, as well as the entire chapter, is a prophecy regarding the destruction of Babylon. However, notice how an accepted Biblical principal is used in forming an analogy.
Babylon is allegorically referred to as a virgin (cf. vs. 1). Notice though that she (Babylon) will not be a virgin much longer (cf. vs. 1b). I want us to take particular note to the attributes that will “shame” this virgin (cf. vs. 2):
- remove thy veil (doing so exposed the face
and neck)
- strip off the skirt (doing so exposed the
leg & thigh)
- uncover the leg (translated from the Hebrew
showq meaning hip, thigh, shoulder, or leg)
What was the result of exposing these body parts of this virgin? Your nakedness will be uncovered, your shame will also be exposed (vs. 3a).
Allegorically speaking, the exposure of certain body parts was not only a form of judgment, it was a point of shame!
This is but one of many allegories found in the Bible by which the exposure of body parts is associated with sin, lust and shame (cf. Nahum 3:5; Hosea 2:3; Jeremiah 13:26).
IV. Can our Dress Cause Another to Burn with Lust?
Look at Paul’s admonition to Christians in Romans 13:13-14. Granted, dress is not mentioned specifically; however, take special note of those things that are provisions for the flesh in regard to its lusts (vs. 14)
- carousing
- sexual promiscuity
- sensuality
Many of these provisions for the flesh which bring about lust are associated with certain body parts of the opposite sex. Do you remember the three categories of sin?
"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world" (1 John 2:16).
Two of the three “categories of sin” apply to our study: the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes. Can the way we dress excite fleshly lusts? I’ve always heard it said, you’ll catch more flies with sugar than vinegar! Consider the following:
2 Samuel 11:3-5 - what caused David to sin with Bathsheba? “He saw” (lust of the eyes). What was he lusting for? Flesh (lust of the flesh)!
Song of Solomon 4:1-5; 7:1-4 - would Solomon have been so deeply attracted to this women’s physical beauty had she not (we must assume) at some point removed her veil and other garments to expose herself to him?
Granted, we are responsible for guarding our minds from impurity (including lusts). Note the following passages:
Matthew 5:27-30 - I don’t know about you, but I believe it’s much harder to lust after something you’ve never seen. I read a survey stating that the majority of men are of the opinion that women are more attractive partly dressed - it leaves room for imagination (wanton lust).
Philippians 4:8 - outlines our responsibility for keeping our thoughts pure!
Proverbs 7:6-27 - teaches us that though lust is inexcusable on the man’s part (or woman’s for that matter), if the woman (or man) by her apparel, or conduct has encouraged it, she (or he) shares in the guilt!
I contend that if the clothing we wear encourages the arousal of fleshly lusts in others, then we have clearly crossed the line.
V. What Shall I Wear?
Considering our newly gained understanding of nakedness and the shame associated with it; considering the Biblical shame associated with exposing certain body parts; considering the opportunity for lust brought about by the exposure of certain body parts, along with the responsibility and guilt shared by both parties… the question at hand is simply, “What shall I wear?”
I think it prudent to go back to our foundational text (of which I think is applicable to both sexes) - 1 Timothy 2:9-10.
There are 4 key words in this text we need to fully understand:
- proper (relating to clothing) translated
from the Greek ko’s-mee-os meaning orderly,
well arranged,decent, modest. It carries
the understanding of behaving according to
a standard (in this case, the Biblical
standard we’ve just studied) of what is
proper, decent, pure, especially not
displaying one’s body!
- modestly (relating back to the clothing)
translated from the Greek aidos meaning a
sense of modesty,shamefacedness. It
carries the understanding of brevity of
clothing.
- discreetly (relating back to the clothing)
translated from the Greek so-fros-oo’-nay
meaning sobriety,discreetness, moderation,
prudence. It carries the understanding of
carefulness regarding our clothing,
considering the impact our actions may have
on others.
- godliness (relating to reputation)
translated from the Greek theh-os-eb-I-ah
meaning devoutness, piety, godliness. It
carries the understanding of commitment to
religious practices and standards.
Conclusion:
Although the Bible doesn’t provide specific guidelines regarding what we should and shouldn’t wear, it does provide us with sound principles by which, if we abide, we can be in harmony with God’s standard.
