Modest Apparel

Jeremy Northrop

      There is no doubt that what is acceptable in terms of culture is not always right in the eyes of God. One good example of this is the issue of what people should be wearing. The culture says one can wear as little as possible. The fact is some clothing people wear leaves very little to the imagination. As one person said, “Victoria does not have many secrets left!” The culture wants people to be chased by others. God wants His people to be chaste.

      When discussing any issue, the ruling of God must outweigh the ruling of man. It does not matter how many men get up and say that something is right. If God says it is wrong, then the matter is settled. Peter said, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Joshua made the decision long ago that he would obey God and not listen to any other god or what any man had to say (Joshua 24:15). Paul made it clear in Galatians 1:8-9 saying that the word of God has authority even over angels. The issue of modest apparel is no exception to this concept. Men must listen to God and not the false notions of man. This point is seen clearly in the book of Genesis. In Genesis 3:7, the Bible tells of Adam and Eve learning of their own nakedness in the garden of Eden. It says, “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.” Whatever those fig leaves did, it was not enough in the eyes of the Lord. In Genesis 3:21, the Bible says, “Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.” God’s standard was different from the standard of Adam and Eve and God made sure they were modestly covered.

      In 1Timothy 2:9, Paul said, “…in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing…” Modest defined by W. E. Vine is “orderly, well-arranged; decent.” It involves propriety and moderation. People need to be able to dress in such a way that if they are not dressed properly, they feel shame and have the ability to blush because of their embarrassing actions.

      The Federal Bureau of Investigation says mixed-gender swimming leads to crimes. More specifically, the clothing which is generally worn at a swimming pool or when people are involved in mixed swimming causes people to lust and think of others in ways that are not pure. This, in turn, will lead to various crimes like rape, abuse, violence, and sexual misconduct. The F. B. I. goes on to say that the crimes start out ‘small’ and generally lead to ‘larger’ crimes. In 2Samuel 11, the familiar story of David and Bathsheba is recorded. One can reasonably wonder if the events that transpired would have ever taken place if David had never looked on Bathsheba or had never been in a place he was not supposed to be in to begin with. Often times, people put themselves in situations where it is conducive to be involved in sin. The answer to this problem is simple: Christians do not need to put themselves in these kinds of situations. The sequence of events shows how David kept getting deeper and deeper into sin.

      In Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve learn of their nakedness they clothe themselves in verse seven. Research of the words used in this text indicates that Adam and Even used something like a loin-cloth to cover their nakedness. In other words, they were trying to cover the bare minimum. This is what people attempt to justify today. They will cover up the bare minimum parts of their bodies and claim it to be modest. The tunics of skin which God used to clothe Adam and Eve refer to something that would cover the body from the neck to the knee. This is God’s standard. This is what needs to be practiced today.

      Another good passage is Exodus 28:40-42: “For Aaron's sons you shall make tunics, and you shall make sashes for them. And you shall make hats for them, for glory and beauty. So you shall put them on Aaron your brother and on his sons with him. You shall anoint them, consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister to Me as priests. And you shall make for them linen trousers to cover their nakedness; they shall reach from the waist to the thighs.” God through Moses was establishing the priesthood. He wanted Aaron and his sons to wear special clothing and do certain things as the priests of God. Incidentally, one learns something about God’s standard of modesty. God wanted them to have tunics to cover their upper bodies. He wanted them to have trousers that would reach from their waists to their knees. What was the purpose of these articles of clothing? It was to cover their nakedness. God wanted them to be covered from their necks to their knees so that they would be modest. No doubt, the standard would be the same today in the 21^st century.

      One final point is the concept found in Matthew 18:6: “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” Christians have a duty to help others and not to cause anyone to fall or stumble. Christians need to be concerned with what they are wearing. They do not want to wear anything that might cause another to have impure thoughts. The issue of modest apparel becomes a personal matter of responsibility.