Modesty
Modesty
Texts: I Timothy 2:9-10
Teaching Service on Modesty
Scripture Passages:
I Timothy 2:9-10
Song of Songs 2:7, 3:5, 8:4 - NLT - until the time is right
Proverbs 31:30 - Beauty is fleeting
Genesis 2:20-25 - Adam first meeting Eve
Genesis 3:8-11, 21-22 - Covering up after the first sin
Genesis 3:16 - Eve longs for husband after the Fall
Matthew 5:27-28 - Jesus’ words on lust
Romans 14:13, I Corinthians 8:9 - don’t let freedoms become stumbling blocks
I might make you mad today - difficult topic - modesty in our clothing choices.
*Danger Against Speaking About Modesty
1. Accusation of Judgmental
2. Sexist - But men and women are created differently
3. It’s a cultural thing - keeping up with the styles
-consider the culture, styles of today
If It’s Just a Cultural thing, we should consider our culture:
-sex not limited to marriage
-pornography has grown acceptable and accessible
-even joked about and taken lightly - radio commercial (porn on the internet)
-there is an increasingly revealing nature to style
-especially in women’s clothing
-society is over stimulated - sexually- billboards, shows, magazine covers
The Setting of First Text:
-Church worshipping together
-Instruction to dress in a way that reflects condition of heart
-church could be divided - by immodest dress
-dress that draws attention to self
-can be emphasis on overdressing (diamond studded suits) - draws attention
Does it look like prejudice
-Prejudice - to make a judgment based on limited information
-Often illegitimate- skin color, disabilities
-because the color of skin says nothing about character
-because disabilities say nothing about the condition of a person’s heart
However, clothing is a choice (at least to some extent)
-maybe better say- appearance
-if I shave my head - tattoo a swastika - you will make assumptions about me
-if I spike my hair, dye it green, dog collar, perverse T-shirt- make a statement
We realize that dress can make an impression
-it reveals something about our heart
-although it may be limited, it does reveal our hearts
This message is not merely about short skirts and tight sweaters - but about heart condition
*Modesty
Avoids clothing that is extravagant, showy, revealing, or sexually enticing
*Immodesty- more than a problem of wearing short skirts
-is a matter of the heart, more than the clothes
-an expression of arrogance
-lacks humility
-draws undue attention to oneself
There is a struggle
-there is a fine line between admiring beauty (or taking care of Creation - stewardship_
-and immodesty (and its counterpart- lust)
*Comments on Beauty:
1. God created this world with beauty - Genesis 1 - God Saw, It was good
READ GENESIS 2:20-25 (NOTE CHANGE TO 25)
2. God created men and women to be attracted to each other
-see Adam and Eve - in creation
-this pleasure was to be limited to marriage
3. There are stumbling blocks associated with beauty (because of sin)
READ MATTHEW 5:27-28
-for men - tendency to lust
-sadly- we must confess it is a stain of sin that almost never fades away
-at least it is very prevailing
-refer to Council Survey
5 questions - distraction
2/3 said yes to every question
The rest only said no to one question
-one person said no to 2 questions
-these questions, asked of council members at our church
-above reproach? A reality.
-in the work world
Survey between men and women
Appropriate dress at work
-women thought knee length skirts - OK
-men thought mid calf at the extreme of revealing
READ GENESIS 3:16 - SPEAKING TO EVE AFTER THE FALL
-for women - possible to use beauty for attention
-Eve longed for her husband
-Is this still a pitfall for women in the 21st century?
-do you like the attention paid when you receive compliments?
-could that lead to desire to be more revealing?
READ PROVERBS 31:30 - BEAUTY IS FLEETING
4. Outer beauty is fleeting
-nice, but fleeting, vain, does not last
-and if we strive for outer beauty, we are chasing a fading dream
-for men - value in a woman - chasing a fleeting characteristic
-for women - it will not last - chase something better
5. God desires a beauty that results from an intimate walk with Him
Unfading beauty - is found in a gentleness of Spirit, integrity, character
-a modest heart reflects this beauty
-we’re not just talking about clothing
-we are talking about hearts
-we are talking about attitudes
TWO TENSIONS:
1. Tension between beauty and provocative
-a terrible cycle - men’s lust, women’s insecurity
2. There is a difference between beauty and sexy
-sexy draws the eyes and mind to the body - induces lust
-maybe not the intention, but is the result
*CHARGE TO MEN:
-don’t easily give in to lust
-it is a cop out to say - “you made me look”
-don’t look twice
-heed Jesus’ words - focus your mind on things that are God honoring
-serving Him,
-if your hand offends thee- cut it off
-avoid stores, web sites, television shows, going to the beach
-and focus on pleasing God- honoring spouse (if married)
*CHARGE TO WOMEN:
READ ROMANS 14:13
READ I CORINTHIANS 8:9
1. Exercise compassion for brothers in Christ
-they struggle with sin
-be sensitive to that
I do not believe most women who dress immodestly mean to entice
-but they are unaware of the struggle that many men have
-men are prone to look
-even decent men - can allow their minds to wander
READ SONG OF SONGS 2:7 - NLT SAYS UNTIL TIME IS RIGHT
2. What you win them with is what you win them to.
-do you present a sexy body
-or an admirable life
-if you have both, one can overshadow the other
3. Do not strive for physical beauty
-but for inner beauty
-striving becomes silly - complete or total makeover, surgery, etc.?
-imitate the characteristics you admire in others
4. If you don’t respect your bodies
-young men won’t respect your bodies
-they will look and ponder what you present
Assistance in evaluating clothing:
Is Clothing Modest:
-draws eyes away from face to other areas of the body
(flip side - are men’s eyes scanning the body)
Provocative
-bare shoulders
-open back
-midriff
-low cut dress
-tight and form-fitting
*Pastoral Comments on Modesty in our dress:
1. Should dress modestly
-not to provoke attention
-allow it to be a reflection of our heart
-This is about living for Christ - all we do reflects Him
2. Should gently correct and instruct each other
-Parent intervention is key
-Young ladies- when male in your life cautions you about dress
-father, brother, grandpa, uncle, other
-it is because they think you are beautiful
-and want others to see inner beauty, Proverbs 31 beauty
3. Should warmly welcome immature followers and visitors who dress immodestly
-this is a teaching to provoke self reflection
-how we dress
-where we focus our minds
-if you are thinking, I need to talk to someone about her clothing
-you have missed it - how does it affect you?
-we must be gentle in our rebuke - very careful
-this is a teaching for followers
-dress is not a sin, but a reflection of the heart’s condition