Modesty. This is a hot topic, especially in Christian circles and it’s one that I feel very strongly about. According to dictionary.com, modesty means “the quality of being modest; freedom from vanity, boastfulness,etc; regard for decency of behavior, speech, dress, etc.” The main focus of this modesty argument has been yoga pants and leggings. Yes, some yoga pants can be very tight but an item of clothing is not to blame for lustful thoughts.
Something that people tend to push to the side is that intentions play a huge part in all of this. Modesty is not just about what someone wears but it is also about behavior and attitude as the dictionary.com definition stated above. It’s the intention behind it all. When you get dressed in the morning, what are your intentions? Are you wanting to make men want to have sex with you or even just to want to be with you or are you dressing in what makes you feel comfortable, what makes you feel beautiful? When you look in the mirror before you leave, are you thinking “dang, I look hot, I’ll definitely get that boy’s attention!!”? It’s important to address your intentions when you are getting dressed each morning.
My biggest problem about this whole modesty thing is that it’s primarily focused on women and all of the things that we are doing wrong that “causes” our brothers in Christ to stumble but not many people focus on the reverse of that. Why are we not focusing on the fact that men can walk around without their shirts on or with obnoxiously tight jeans and not be accused of “causing” their sisters in Christ to stumble? I think it’s because the problem isn’t what we are wearing. Just like nobody can make you do anything, no item of clothing can make you stumble. No person is responsible for another’s sin. This guy says it best: “…the real problem is not yoga pants. The problem is our mind. The problem is our heart. The problem is me.”
Another component of modesty is sensitivity to sin. I am not going to go out with everything on display because I know that some of my brothers in Christ struggle with lust but on that same note, I am not going to wear floor length skirts and turtle necks every day. I am going to dress comfortably while still being aware that lust is a problem in our world and that there are things we can do to help our brothers and sisters in Christ. It is important to be sensitive to sin but still be comfortable.
As Christians, we should desire a significant other who loves our heart, not our body. As it says in 1 Timothy 2:9 “And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do.” For any guys reading this, you can always change women to men and it is pretty much the same concept!
Proverbs 31:25 “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” To me, a man who is clothed with strength and dignity and laughs without fear is extremely attractive. That is what I want, not a man who makes me drool when he isn’t wearing a shirt.
Just remember that modest is hottest.
-Saundra
Something that people tend to push to the side is that intentions play a huge part in all of this. Modesty is not just about what someone wears but it is also about behavior and attitude as the dictionary.com definition stated above. It’s the intention behind it all. When you get dressed in the morning, what are your intentions? Are you wanting to make men want to have sex with you or even just to want to be with you or are you dressing in what makes you feel comfortable, what makes you feel beautiful? When you look in the mirror before you leave, are you thinking “dang, I look hot, I’ll definitely get that boy’s attention!!”? It’s important to address your intentions when you are getting dressed each morning.
My biggest problem about this whole modesty thing is that it’s primarily focused on women and all of the things that we are doing wrong that “causes” our brothers in Christ to stumble but not many people focus on the reverse of that. Why are we not focusing on the fact that men can walk around without their shirts on or with obnoxiously tight jeans and not be accused of “causing” their sisters in Christ to stumble? I think it’s because the problem isn’t what we are wearing. Just like nobody can make you do anything, no item of clothing can make you stumble. No person is responsible for another’s sin. This guy says it best: “…the real problem is not yoga pants. The problem is our mind. The problem is our heart. The problem is me.”
Another component of modesty is sensitivity to sin. I am not going to go out with everything on display because I know that some of my brothers in Christ struggle with lust but on that same note, I am not going to wear floor length skirts and turtle necks every day. I am going to dress comfortably while still being aware that lust is a problem in our world and that there are things we can do to help our brothers and sisters in Christ. It is important to be sensitive to sin but still be comfortable.
As Christians, we should desire a significant other who loves our heart, not our body. As it says in 1 Timothy 2:9 “And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do.” For any guys reading this, you can always change women to men and it is pretty much the same concept!
Proverbs 31:25 “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” To me, a man who is clothed with strength and dignity and laughs without fear is extremely attractive. That is what I want, not a man who makes me drool when he isn’t wearing a shirt.
Just remember that modest is hottest.
-Saundra