What are YOU wearing?? (Yup, modesty again)

I have had a heavy heart lately because of something that has become almost extinct: modesty. I have seen articles (which celeb has the best beach body? WHO CARES?!?!?!), spoken to people, seen with my own eyes how women dress… and it really bothers me. I’m not a prude, but I also don’t “flaunt what I’ve got.” I was talking to Janet Shrum this weekend at our Revolution Single’s Retreat about how women dress these days and she made a comment that perfectly described what I want women to know.

“Your body is a billboard. What you tell people by what you wear is what you will end up getting in return.”

Ladies….do you think you are not respected by men? Look at your wardrobe. If you are wearing revealing clothes, you leave nothing to the imagination.

Men..correct me if I am wrong, but a woman who “flaunts it all” isn’t as appealing as a woman who covers up, but still dresses nice, right? The men I’ve talked to think a woman who is modest (not prude) is “sexy” because of her confidence in who she is as a Child of God, not her physical appearance.

1 Timothy 2:9-10 (NASB) speaks to this with regard to women. Timothy says:

  ⁹ Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, ¹⁰ but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.

Another word for “discreetly” is TASTEFUL. Some synonyms for tasteful (if you still aren’t seeing it) are CLASSY, FINE, ELEGANT. Classy is another great word.

 I really don’t think Timothy is telling women they can’t braid their hair or wear jewelry, I think he is saying to not have that be your only value. Christ’s love can shine through the best cosmetics and prettiest jewelry.

Women of God do not have the need to dress to attract attention. The Light of Jesus will do that all on its own.

I keep harping on this subject because I see so many women dress trashy, thinking they will somehow attract men. Or they think they look good. I don’t even mean trashy in the sense of the girls who are in the club (although I wouldn’t be caught dead in those clothes!).. women who dress for the professional environment can be inappropriate in their clothing choices.

Alright.. the soap box is over with for the evening.

Ladies – keep this thought in your mind when you are getting dressed –  

Would I appear before Jesus wearing these clothes?

Would I feel embarrassed because: the neckline is too low; the skirt is too shirt; the shirt is too tight; there is anything too revealing in any way (about this outfit)?

If these answer to either or both of these questions is “YES,” then it might be time for a shopping trip.