THE MEANING OF MODESTY. "In females, modesty has the like character as in males (restrained by a sense of propriety, not bold or forward, not loose, not lewd-David Cloud); but the word is used also as synonymous with chastity, or purity of manners. ... Unaffected modesty is the sweetest charm of female excellence, the richest gem in the diadem of their honor" (Webster 1828.)
1 Timothy 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;" "Shamefacedness" means to know shame and to have a sense of shame. "Sobriety" means to be discreet, controlling all passions and desires that might cause a temptation to be immodest.
Titus 2:3-5 "The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." "Discreet" means to be sober-minded, self-controlled, or temperate. "Chaste" means to be modest and pure from carnality. (Definitions from F. William Farrow, "Was Jesus Concerned About Modesty?" Maranatha Baptist Watchman, August 1993)
Modesty is a Bible issue that God is concerned about. Most Christians are not concerned. Most Churches are not concerned. Most homes are not concerned. Most pastors are not concerned enough to preach about it. Yet, we find in the Word of God that God is concerned about our modesty. The doctrine of modesty is found throughout the Word of God, and we are to obey it, and receive "no other doctrine..." In every church I have ever been in, there are at least one or two females (women not ladies) who dress like the world. Many times it has been the main singer in the church, or who is involved in ministry. They are not naked but push the issue to the edge of nakedness. Instead of moving away from lust and error they move closer to it. Women not ladies will wear clothes that are to low at the top, to high at the bottom, to tight in all the right places, to sexy, or to loose. The problem with these women is that they are lost, or either they are spiritually immature. Our clothes are a language that is speaking volumes to those around us. They are a sign that shows us the spiritual condition of a person's heart. An immature Christian will want to wear the clothes of the world that reveals their body. A godly lady will want to be covered and pure not revealing her body, but revealing her inward beauty through her life. 1 Peter 3:3-5 "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:"
When Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden before they sinned, they were naked and they were not ashamed. Genesis 2:25 "And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed." After they sinned, sin revealed their nakedness, so they made themselves an apron out of leaves. Genesis 3:7 "And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons." They knew that it was not right to go around naked even though there was only Adam and Eve present at that time on earth. If it was okay for them to go around naked or partially naked wearing mini skirts, God would not have come alone and made them coats to cover up their nakedness completely. Genesis 3:21 "Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them." Their clothes did not cover them completely, so God became the first designer of clothes and made coats. He did not make mini skirts, shorts, pants for women, bathing suits, tight dresses, tank tops, etc. He made coats that covered their nakedness. They thought they were covered sufficiently, but God said no. He was not satisfied with their clothing, so He made His own. God's clothes simply covered their body. How hard is that?
Some women say it's the man's problem with lusting and I can wear what I want, and I agree partially. It is his problem when it comes to lusting, but it is the woman's problem in drawing attention to that particular part of her body by wearing tight dresses, mini skirts, low tops, etc. I Timothy 2:9 is a direct command from God to women to dress modestly. There are other verses for men not to lust. It is a fact that men (real men) are going to look at a lady, which is the way God made it. It is definitely wrong for a man to lust after a woman. I can speak only for myself, and from what I have heard others testify of. That it is hard enough not to lust after a woman without her helping the situation by dressing like a whore. I have heard of ushers while taking up the offering in churches having to quit due to the temptation of lusting after women sitting in church with mini skirts on. It's a crying shame for so-called godly ladies to dress like whores by showing their thighs off anywhere, but especially in church.
Modesty is not preached any more from the pulpit. It has been years since I've heard a sermon preached on modesty from the pulpit. It's not that it is not an issue or problem in our Independent Fundamental Baptist Churches. It is a big problem, just walk in the average IFB Church and you'll see what I'm talking about. Immodesty reveals the much bigger problem that we have in our pulpits, and that's the lace wearing, spineless, ear tickling, back scratching, pussy footen, yellow cowards that call themselves pastors. I today was reading a book called The Art of Pastoring by David Henry Sorenson. Overall it is a great book, but he is weak when it comes to preaching on sin. He mentions when a pastor has to deal with a sin issue he should "weave" it into a "general" type message. Unless I have misunderstood this brother, and I hope that I have, he is dead wrong. We are to confront sin from the pulpit, and not side step it, or weave it in so it is sugar coated. We are to call immodesty dressing like a whore for that is what it is. Whorish dressing is bringing attention to ones body parts to get attention. That's exactly what the "strange woman" does in the Book of Proverbs 7 "My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart. Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman: That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words. For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night: And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows. Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee. I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves. For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey: He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed. With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life. Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death." This is not the description of a Christian lady, or a virgin. I am not saying that every woman who dresses like a whore is a whore. I am saying that she is giving that impression that a whore gives when she dresses in like manner. If you don't like being called a whore, than don't dress like one. One old saying goes something like this: "If the shoe fits, wear it." To show you the last time I heard a message on modesty was when Dr. Jack Hyles was living many years before his death.
I know of preachers who once stood on this issue against immodesty and women wearing pants, but today they don't. They say it's no big deal, plus everyone is doing it. They once preached against such sinful practices but became spineless. They got tired of their wives fussing and their teenage daughters crying. Now their daughters go to church dress very much like a whore would dress with low tops that are see through. With skirts that are above their knees and very tight. All the while these preachers sit and smile because it's their daughters, soon to be their grand daughters. These preachers have a lot to answer for one day when they meet God. Preachers today will not dare say anything about this issue in any great detail, in fear of losing half their choir, or main singers, or big tithers, or possibly making their own wife or teenager mad. We need preachers that will "earnestly contend for the faith..." Where are they at? The Bible didn't change they did.
In order to have modest churches we need modest homes. My wife made her own decision to stop wearing pants without me having to beat her in the head about it. God was dealing with her about this issue as well as our three teenage daughters. One thing you have to understand, the pants that my wife and daughters wore were very loose fitting pants. All of their clothes were already modest and still are today. My wife since she lived at home with her parents allowed her to wear pants, but they had to be loose showing no figure. Girls in her high school made much fun of her because they were so big on her. We have always had the same standard with our girls concerning pants. They too have been made fun of by their neighbors, Christian friends, classmates, and cousins. My point is this, if you have a godly wife who wants to follow God's will for her life, spends time in God's Word, prays a lot, faithful to God's house, she want have a problem getting rid of her pants. If on the other hand you have a Christian wife that is worldly in her music, desires, dreams, friends, lifestyle, Hollywood, dress, who hardly prays, doesn't go to church regular, spends little or no time in God's Word, than she will fight you tooth and nail to keep her pants or to continue dressing immodestly. I thank God I have a godly wife that desires only to please the Lord with her life, who wishes only to present herself without "spot" to her Saviour one day soon. I thank God for our three teenage daughters who are like minded as their mother and her mother. 2 Timothy 1:5 "When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also." Our churches will be no stronger than our homes are. It is imperative that we have dads and moms who are dedicated to pleasing and serving the Lord Jesus Christ in every area of their lives. Modesty is an issue we must face head on in our homes and in our churches.
My friend in Christ, I try not to make you mad or upset. My only goal is to "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." Regardless of who dislikes it or likes it. This is a very unpopular topic for the modern Christian lady, and our modern New Evangelical Churches, but that's not my concern. My goal in preaching is to make God glad and the devil mad.
