Contemporary Issues

Modesty—Dress Appropriately

Church father Tertullian had to say about makeup: "Whatever is born is the work of God. Whatever, then, is plastered on that, is the devil's work." In Matthew 22:1–14, the man who arrives not wearing wedding clothes is thrown out because he was indicating his disrespect. Both men and women should bring glory to God in their manner of dress (1Timothy 2:9–10). Dressing well is not just for church; it is to be the standard for at all times.

Examine the attitudes and intents of the heart. Some would wear dress to draw attention to themselves. That person is a poor witness of the One who bought his/her soul by dying on the cross. If a woman dress in an immodest fashion, displaying her body for men to lust after, she causes her brothers in Christ to sin, something condemned by God (Matthew 5:27–29; Romans 14:13).

The woman’s heart condition is displayed by her manner of dress. If a woman’s heart is for godliness, she will wear clothing that is neither provocative nor revealing in public, clothing that does not reflect negatively upon her personal testimony as a child of God. She is wise enough to know that type of attention only cheapens her. Modesty in dress reveals a modesty and godliness of the heart, attitudes that should be the desire of all women (and men) who live to please and honor God.

Modest clothes do not abuse 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 the bodies should not be unnecessarily and immodestly emphasized with tight fitting clothes. A Christian woman should want to do the best she can with what God has given her.

If somebody want to wear the low-cut fashions that reveal cleavage or the tight pants that reveal shape, then that reveals the intention of the heart which is evidenced by the way of dress. We might wear leggings around the house but not to the grocery store

God invented clothes. He clothed Adam and Eve after sin entered the worid. It was the first effect of sin–shame and a need to cover up their nakedness. God’s dress code from the beginning has been to cover our nakedness. And God designed the clothing to cover the body, not just the private parts. Clothes were not for revealing the body’s shape or drawing attention to body parts; rather they were intended by God to take attention away from the body.

Though styles have changed from generation to generation, but modesty never changes no matter what generation we are in or what the current fashion may be. Mothers and fathers of young girls begin to teach when they are very young to dress modestly.

Men are scared to tell about immodesty because they feel women may not like them or that they’ll blame them and say, “it’s men’s problem, not theirs.” It is true that men are responsible for their thoughts and actions, yet God will hold women accountable when they knowingly dress immodestly for the purpose of attraction.