"Modest Clothing"
Years ago, when I was in college (late 1960s, early 1970s), the congregation I attended was made up mostly of college students. More than a thousand young people gathered for worship every Sunday. One way that I often participated was by passing communion. One day when we were preparing to serve (which required more than twenty young men), a student asked to be excused. When asked why, he simply said that he found it difficult to be in the proper frame of mind when serving. What was the problem? The fashion of the day was very short skirts (miniskirts). He complained that there was no way to pass communion without being tempted to lust. We all feigned denial, but we knew exactly what he was talking about! He was simply trying to heed Paul's warning to Timothy to "flee youthful lusts" (2 Timothy 2:22). It was a shame when he had to stop leading in an important part of worship in order to do so.
Well, fashions come and go, hemlines go up and down, but God's will for modesty has not changed. I haven't served communion in years, but I'm sure the problem hasn't gone away. If it's not the short skirt, it is the revealing neckline. Christian men have an obligation before God to keep their hearts pure. Jesus warned that to look at a woman to "lust after her" is to commit adultery with her in your heart" (Matthew 5:27-28). It is a shame when it becomes necessary for men to avert their eyes just to be able to hand the communion tray to a sister in Christ! Paul was speaking specifically of the assembly of Christians when he wrote:
in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold and pearls, or costly clothing, but which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works (1 Timothy 2:9-10).
He established three principles for the way that one should dress: 1) modesty (decency); 2) propriety (translated more accurately "shamefacedness" in the KJV); Both Vine and Thayer define this word as a sense of shame as related to a lack of modesty; 3) and in moderation (showing a proper regard for their reputation and quality of life). Paul's point: The Christian assembly is not a fashion show! Immodesty can be shown through any kind of clothing that is designed to draw attention to oneself—particularly, one's appeal to the opposite sex.
It is certainly within the realm of elders and preachers to speak on the subject of appropriate dress for worship, but the issue of modesty goes beyond what one wears to church! It is the duty of older Christian women to instruct their daughters and other young women about the modesty that God would have them demonstrate in their lives—"that they admonish the young women to be discreet, chaste" (Titus 2:3-5).
I know what a tremendous challenge it is, in our society, to teach and encourage our young girls about modesty. The clothes available, even for pre-teens, are designed to accentuate the body in a "sexy" way. Young girls, many of whom are innocent and clueless about the effect their dress and behavior have on men and boys, need to be taught. Unfortunately, many of their mothers, who should be giving that guidance, dress in the same way!
No one is saying that Christian women must dress like Muslims to be modest, but we need to take an honest look at who we allow to dictate what we wear. We know what the world is about: "for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world" (1 John 2:16).
This is reflected by the fashion industry. Mary Quant, the London fashion designer who introduced the mini-skirt, unashamedly admitted the intention of her clothing designs were to "seduce men." Christian women are admonished to wear clothing "which is proper for women professing godliness." We cannot be "conformed to the world" when the world is walking in opposition to the will of God (Romans 12:2). Mature Christian women should stress the importance of dressing to please God. Christian husbands and fathers share in this responsibility, too.
It is said that "clothing makes the man." I'm not sure about that, but I do know that what we wear reflects what we are on the inside. Dressing immodestly may not mean that one has loose morals, but it definitely expresses that to those around you. Many young girls have been shocked and offended by men who have made improper advances toward them. Many young men have been equally shocked because that was exactly the impression they were given by the dress and actions of those girls.
[Editor's Note: Dana works with the Camden Avenue Church of Christ in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Only the material in the article is endorsed.]