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PROGRAM D-8348
I’m tackling a sensitive topic—that is, how we as Christian women are supposed to dress. I maintain that there is a Christian dress code—found in the Bible—and the code is that we should dress modestly, and with decency and propriety, as found in 1 Timothy 2:9-10.
Let me ask this question: What does it mean to dress modestly, with decency and propriety? Though styles have changed from generation to generation, modesty never changes. Modesty may take different looks but it will always be modest, no matter what generation we are in or what the current fashion may be.
Modest clothes do not exploit a woman’s body or features. Modest clothes will not display body parts for the purpose of drawing attention to them. Not only does modesty require that certain body parts should be completely covered, but also that the shape of our bodies should not be unnecessarily and immodestly emphasized with tight fitting clothes.
Dressing with propriety means dressing appropriately. It means there is a difference in the way we dress for a sports activity, for a casual event, and for more structured, formal occasions such as worship. However, all occasions call for modesty in our dress—whether we’re on the beach or sitting in church.
Modest dress will not say sex, pride, or money. But it certainly can say good taste, attractive, and pretty. A Christian woman should want to do the best she can with what God has given her. There is nothing to be gained spiritually by looking drab or dowdy. Our clothes don’t need to scream Christian. But they should quietly say modest, appropriate, and carefully chosen.
Modesty is not first an issue of clothing—it is primarily an issue of the heart. If you find yourself rebelling against the idea that there is a standard of dress required of you as a Christian woman, and if you want to wear those low-cut fashions that reveal cleavage or the tight pants or short skirts which reveal shape, then I would suggest you may have a heart problem, evidenced by the way you dress. Anytime we rebel against biblical principles, it is because we don’t want to obey God. We want to be our own god, if you please, and live by our own standards.
I realize that is a strong statement, but I believe it is biblically sound and, with all my heart, I urge the women listening to me now to think about your own attitudes toward what you put on your body. If you find yourself rebelling against God’s standard of modesty, are you willing to pray about it? That is step one.