The Christian and Modesty

I.  Christian Dress

A.  The Bible defines nakedness Exodus 28:42 “And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach.”  Covering the THIGHS!  That brings us to the neighborhood of the… ????  KNEES

1.  Adam and Eve realized they were naked so the made clothing to cover themselves 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.”

a.  The “aprons” (Hebrew word Strong’s # 2290 “Chagorah” – Garment covering mid section).

2.  God obviously did not approve he made a larger covering Genesis 3:21 “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.”

a.  The Hebrew word translated coats is Strong’s number 3801 “kethoneth” which means to cover.  This would be a garment that reaches the knee (Thompson’s Hebrew Word History Third Edition).

b.  The Hebrew word translated skins is Strong’s number 5785 “owr” means leather or hide.

B.  The Bible teaches modest dressing I Timothy 2:9-10 “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; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.”

C.  Nakedness results in lust.  Lust is a sin.  James 1:14-15 “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

D.  A biblical example of what “nakedness” can do and the ultimate result of un-repented of sin is more sin 

II Samuel 11:2-27.

E..  WHAT DOES THE ABOVE INFORMATION TEACH US ABOUT SWIMSUITS AND MIXED SWIMMING???  HOW ABOUT THE LATEST FASHIONS AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY???

 #1 Selling magazine on a non-weekly basis at news stands in America among men ages 18-45 is the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. – [Magazine Research and Placement Organization] July 1999.

A.  No evil talking Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”

B.  No dirty or filthy communication Colossians 3:8 “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.”

C.  The tongue can be a place of much evil James 3:8-18

D.  How about using the Lord’s name in vain (useless, meaningless, etc.).  Exodus 20:7 “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”  

1.  Do not use the Lord’s name unless in REVERANCE!  Psalms 111:9 “He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.”

E.  The Psalmist summarized this well Psalms 34:13-14 “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.  Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.”

III.  Christian Conduct

A.  Choosing the right company I Corinthians 15:33 “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”

B.  Choosing not to commit adultery in our hearts because we have allowed ourselves to see things we should not Matthew 5:28 “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”

C.  A question that always pops up – What about dancing?

1.  Dancing is not a sin (I.E. Exercising etc.).  Dancing can be sinful when:

a.  It is used in a way which could cause lust Matthew 14:1-11

b.  It is done in a wrong place (I.E. bars etc.) I Thessalonians 5:22 “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

c.  Two unmarried partners touch each other, this causes lust and the sinning only starts there.  For example a sly woman wants a man, what does she do?  A sly woman can be a tool of the devil to draw a man into spiritual death Proverbs 7:6-27

2.  Hear what inventors of dancing say:

Arthur Murray “People will go to all extremes to make themselves attractive to the opposite sex.   Hours are spent in the gym and millions are spent on cosmetics and stylish clothing just to gain a slight advantage in the dating game.  Unfortunately for these people, they will always have to take a back seat to a good dancer.  The best way to be noticed, in a favorable light, is on the dance floor.  A couple of lessons at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio is all you will need to turn your dancing and romantic life around.”

Interview with Arthur Murray: “Why has ballroom dancing declined?  Murray responds: ‘Since dancing is based on sexual flirtation and since young people have no problem with sexual flirtation; dancing has taken a back seat to the back seat’.  This only confirms what we all know, dancing leads from the ballroom to the bedroom – L.A. radio host Ervin Edwards [Big E.].”

Mark Weisner, Ph.D. in his article “When the Answer is Not Tonight” – “Think about activities that lead to sex.  A dark crowded room with whispers of delight, the dance floor, a proven place for the struggling couple.  A romantic dinner with a band, candles, and ‘the right foods’.” – Sound like prom to you????

3.  I use to teach a teenage class.  Prom was a question often.  One boy said that he was not at all affected by “slow dancing” with his girlfriend.  I asked if his friend could dance with her and the story changed.  God tells us to avoid because he knows that lust is an easy thing to occur with two people attracted to each other.  Lust leads to things parents do not want to think of…

4.  Dancing between two unmarried individuals might cause sin, and we can’t do things that MIGHT cause one to stumble and fall (lust etc.) Romans 14:21 “It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.”