Modesty, Purity and the Glory of God, 1 Timothy 2:9

“Likewise  the women are to dress  in suitable apparel, with modesty and self-control.  Their adornment must not be  with braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive clothing, 2:10 but with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess reverence for God.”

The world would have you think, “shake what your momma gave you”, or “if you got it, flaunt it”.  Where is that even remotely hinted in scripture?

For the Christian, we should beware, and take care to be ‘in  the world’, but not of it, following its philosophies and courses of destruction and disgrace on the name of Christ.

Our bodies are not our own; it was bought with a price.  Therefore, consider yourselves and how you “express yourself” as an individual, yet as a whole in the body of Christ- the church body (1 Corinthians 12:12).  How one presents themselves, both physically and personality, speaks of their character and what it is they represent.  How much more the Christian should consider themselves before the world, that they be an example of the image of God, who is holy.  We therefore are also called to be holy (1 Peter 1:14 Like obedient children, do not comply with the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance, 1:15 but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct, 1:16 for it is written, “You shall be holy, because I am holy.”1:17 And if you address as Father the one who impartially judges according to each one’s work, live out the time of your temporary residence here in reverence).

I’m not condoning carnal religiosity, but the Bible calls for God’s people to be set apart.  We should be different from the world and all it’s worldly desires.  It’s not about being totally separate as if living in a cave or just within a community of like-minded believers, but about treading carefully how you entertain yourself among non-believers that you are not just seeking to be “cool” as to fit in.  Being Christian doesn’t mean giving up “fun” or joy.  The Bible calls us to have joy, but our joys will vary as opposed to our non-Christian believer.  Sure, you will have things in common.  Most pagans love their family, take joy in playing baseball, gardening, riding bikes…  Those are the many blessings and common graces that God gives.  That’s not what I refer to.   Those are general things.  The Christian will take joy in godliness, and the pursuit of it, knowing that it brings us pleasure by honoring Christ.  The joy of fighting temptations, and the victory over it because Christ died for this.  The joy in the heart of a Christian should also be about setting an example that will glorify God in the midst of others; that when people see you, they see Christ- not your boobs.  The Bible teaches all over about our horizontal relationship, and how we should consider others.  I know all too well that this is a tricky thing, considering our sinful tendencies.

2 Timothy 2:21 So if someone cleanses himself of such behavior, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart, useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 2:22 But keep away from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and peace, in company with others  who call on the Lord from a pure heart.  Yes, Jesus spent time with sinners.  But He had a specific purpose, to share salvation with them, not just to hang out, have beers and cheer on the world’s passions.  They were not His best friends.

1 Corinthians 6:18 “Flee sexual immorality! “Every sin a person commits is outside of the body”  – but the immoral person sins against his own body. 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you,  whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 6:20 For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.”   Setting an example of godliness takes work, intentional thought and effort.  Are you luring and tempting your brother or sister so that you will fulfill some empty void, focusing on your own needs of self-indulgence?  Why are your boobs showing?  Why is your butt crack showing?  Are you drawing attention to your beautiful countenance or your sexual appeal?  Who are you trying to kid?  We are not that ignorant, are we?

We were created for good works and go about God’s work, we are not our own (1 Timothy 5:24 The sins of some people are obvious, going before them into judgment, but for others, they show up later.25 Similarly good works are also obvious, and the ones that are not cannot remain hidden).  This work is not for us to boast in, since we should only boast in the Cross.  But given 2 Corinthians 3:4 Now we have such confidence in God through Christ. 3:5 Not that we are adequate  in ourselves to consider anything as if it were coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, 3:6 who made us adequate to be servants of a new covenant not based on the letter but on the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”  Thanks be to God that we get to share in the joy of the  works of the Holy Spirit.

Protect your brothers, gals.  Luke 11:33 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a hidden place or under a basket,but on a lampstand, so that those who come in can see the light. 11:34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is diseased,your body is full of darkness. 11:35 Therefore see to it that the light in you is not darkness. 11:36 If then your whole body is full of light, with no part in the dark, it will be as full of light as when the light of a lamp shines on you.” 

(1 Thessalonians 4:1-9)  4:1 Finally then, brothers and sisters, we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction from us about how you must live and please God (as you are in fact living) that you do so more and more. 4:2 For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 4:3 For this is God’s will: that you become holy,  that you keep away from sexual immorality, 4:4 that each of you know how to possess his own body  in holiness and honor, 4:5 not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God. 4:6 In this matter no one should violate the rights of his brother or take advantage of him,because the Lord is the avenger in all these cases, as we also told you earlier and warned you solemnly. 4:7 For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness. 4:8 Consequently the one who rejects this is not rejecting human authority  but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

I urge gals, young and old, consider your apparel.  Be thoughtful & alert as you go about your day.  Does your shirt show your cleavage at all?  Does your expose your breast with the slight of bend?  Is your butt crack showing?  What about when you bend over?  Is your panty showing?  How about when you sit down?  Do you have to keep pulling your pants/skirt down?  Maybe it’s time to go through and purge your wardrobe.

Guys- are you presenting yourselves well, in respectable apparel?  Why are your boxers/underwear showing? Are you groping gals and lusting their bodies when you hug them?  I found this out in my high school years (before Christ) that when guys hugs girls, many times they’re really just trying to cop a feel.  I was naive.  Are you touching girls inappropriately?  Are you looking at body parts of girls that you shouldn’t be?  What the eye finds goes to the heart and mind. If you think upon God first, set your mind on lovely things (appropriate for its time), you can do well.  Lust is sin.  Fight your temptations.  Pray much, and often.  Let not the devil get a foothold!

Purity seems to be losing it’s virtue in the church.  The world slowly creeps in, and our children are being tempted.  Parents, are you protecting your children by teaching them, guiding their choices?  Children are not made to grow on automatic pilot.  They are given to us as gifts in which we must take special care to train them, and to do it well.  This takes diligent practice.  Yes, it’s a tough and arduous road, but well worth the calling.  Is it impossible?  If you know Scripture, you would agree it isn’t.  Don’t be bogged down by the daily chores, but do it all without the grumbling, counting it all joy.   Be blessed that you even have shelter to clean.  Don’t be fooled- mother’s, there is no greater joy, no greater call, than to care for your house and home.  This all inclusive!

Here’s an interesting and telling message adminstered by some awesome guys seeking God’s glory in their lives.  http://www.therebelution.com/modestysurvey/

Here’s another site that I can promote: http://momsformodesty.blogspot.com/2007/10/original-moms-for-modesty-mission.html

This is not legalism.  This is biblical.  I’m not condoning “doing” for the sake of your own puffing up or pride or ego.  It’s about considering yourself last, considering others before you.  It’s about honoring God, seeking first His kingdom.  That’s Christian.