DCox: Cox - The Dress of a Christian Woman

Prov 31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

Perhaps the greatest problem in this matter of the Christian dress is that many Christians let the world dictate their morals to them in this matter. The carnal Christian lets his clothing standards be set by what is popular in the world at the moment. Normally the world seeks one of two things: (1) to be comfortable no matter what it is, or (2) to be “sexy” or attractive, as in attracting people of the opposite sex so that they will look at and desire the woman, or (3) to be “popular” and in fashion. We begin this study with some verses about how we should be orientated as Christians.

1John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

As a Christian, we ought to very clearly mark the division and difference between us as Christians, and the world. What the world proposes for the Christian woman is exactly these three things: carnal desire, the desire to be seen well looking, and vain things, things empty of spiritual and eternal values.

1Tim 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

The Christian has an obligation from God to be exemplary in his life, presenting to the world what is the good of God. For the spiritual Christian, she should not be moved by what is popular or in vogue, but what God wants of us. We should be different, distinct, and better (spiritually speaking).

Matt 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Jesus taught that we are the salt of the earth, and this speaks of stopping corruption from the world. But if the salt has “lost his savour” (no longer has its quality of fighting against corruption), then it “is good for nothing.” When a Christian models his life to the world, he has no good effect for God in others. A servant that doesn’t serve is useless, and for these people in the context of Matthew 5:13, that means going to hell. We conclude that inutile and useless Christians are not really Christians. No? The parable in Matthew 25:15-30 teaches us that he who thinks he is a servant of God and doesn’t make himself useful for God’s work and purposes, in the end, God says, “cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Mat 25:30).

If a friend works in a brewery, and he gives me a t-shirt which says, “Drink x (brand of beer),” and I put it on, my influence as a Christian has been destroyed by my clothing. I am supporting and promoting a brand of beer by my clothing. Equally women lose their testimony for Christ and their influence as Christian women by the type of clothing that they use. We seek not popularity but God’s will.

Matt 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

The influence of our dress and testimony can be totally negated by bad decisions about what we put on. How we dress is first above all, a matter of the heart. Modesty is a result of mental and spiritual purity.

B. We should voluntarily and with a good will sacrifice what is necessary for Christ.

1Cor 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

The person who cannot go any further than “their rights” (that which they have the “right” to do, always going to the edge, “Can I use pants?”) is not a mature Christian. If you think “How close to the world can I live and still go to heaven,” then you are a person who is not thinking like a true Christian thinks. The mature Christian is a person who seeks the will of God, (What should I do to please God?). This is the Christian attitude even if it means losing your “rights”, or is not the easiest thing to do.

Let’s look at it this way, what can you drink and still not die? Perhaps a little bit of chloride, a little rat poisoning, or a soft drink that a cockroach fell into or somebody spit into. You can drink these things and not die, but people in their right mind just won’t do that, will they? Sane and normal people think differently than that. It is not what you can do and still live, or do and not get violently sick, but people establish norms, and with these norms, it is set as far away from the edge of danger or ill affecting the person as they can make it. Normally when it comes to food, even if there is suspicion that “maybe” something happened to the food, we don’t eat it. Christians should hold their Christian standards this same way. Don’t ask what is the most worldly clothing you can wear and still go to heaven, but go the other way, what clothing is the most decent and correct for an educated Christian with good taste? Stay away from doubtful stuff. Ask yourself, am I dressing like a prostitute, or like some unsaved high school girl trying to attract boys for sexual reasons? Am I using causal clothing proper only in my bedroom to sleep in for going out in public, or worse to church and formal work situations?

1Cor 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. 23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

As Christians we should dedicate our lives to the Lord, and this practically speaking is to do everything in a way that would give glory to God. The quality and intensity is seen in this, but also the secondary effects in anything that we do, we do for the glory of God, and we should act worthy of being the children of the King of kings.

1John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

For the true, spiritual, and mature Christian, the commandments of God are not grievous, because she exceedingly loves God, and will do whatever God asks of her. There is always a thought of debt to God for our salvation. Therefore there is no sacrifice too great that we will not do, and we will do any sacrifice with great pleasure and happiness even though it may be difficult. To dress like a spiritual and pious woman is a tremendous sacrifice which reflects a Christian’s fidelity to God. Many women have to change little by little their wardrobe. She asks, what does my wardrobe say about my Lord when the world sees me? Does it say I am a Christian, or at least a religious and reserved woman? If I use pants, mini-skirts, deep cut blouses or transparent or tight clothing, doesn’t that tell the world that I am liberal, loose with my personal standards? Doesn’t it say that godly standards don’t really matter to me or worse, that I like provoking men to focus on the sexual parts of my body? What kind of Christian women allows this?

Phil 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

We should be examples of what is the good will of God, and we should show what is approved of God, and what is God’s will. We should not seek to always ride the line between what is correct and what is worldly, but seek to be very reserved and conservative, far from what is doubtful.

Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

For many Christians, the matter of pressing towards holiness is a disagreeable topic. They just don’t want to think about this. But we remember that without holiness, nobody will see the Lord. Apparently this holiness is something that we as Christians should be seeking here in this life, and it is not just for heaven.

Heb. 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Holiness is involved in not causing others to stumble into sin. Nudity is the revealing of parts of our bodies with a view towards lust. For the woman, this is the breasts, the hips, etc. Pants are a type of clothing that in themselves reveal and call attention to the legs, and the genital organs. The most conservative position for the Christian woman is to use clothes that hides, conceals (bulky), and does not call attention to the curves and cracks and bulges of the human body. If a woman uses a loose, bulky skirt that doesn’t accentuate her legs, hips, or sexual parts of her body, then it doesn’t cause a stumbling block calling attention sexually to the woman that a pair of tight jeans or shorts would do. Sometimes even the thickness of the clothe, or the colors of the clothes reveal underwear calling attention to what a Christian woman does not want men to think about when seeing her. There is nothing so distracting as seeing through a woman’s clothing. Equally a blouse that is very tight marking her breasts or revealing her underwear is very sexy, but why would a Christian woman want to walk around in public advertising her sexiness? The ridiculousness of our day is that what used to be only acceptable in the bedroom is now shown on the street corner. People used to wear a thicker robe when leaving their bedroom for other parts of the house, and now? Women of today even have gone so far as to go out in public in rollers and curlers, cream and lotions, looking horribly inappropriate for public viewing. These things should be limited to a person’s personal, private, intimate life, in their bedroom and only for their husband’s eyes (and in reality, they don’t want to see it either). But along with this degradation of our day, is the practice of many women and young girls wearing clothes that are extremely comfortable but sexually reveal their bodies, and this they wear in public. The unsaved have no problem with these norms, but a Christian woman should have great problems doing this, as it reflects negatively upon her Lord.

Rom 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

We are going to be judged for every stumbling block that we put in front of our brethren or the unsaved in the world. Indecent clothing and promiscuous behavior are simply causes for others to sin in their mind, inappropriately desiring. Moreover than causing stumbling blocks, other women may follow our poor example, going even a little more excessive than we go. Others watch us, and imitate us.

Matt 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

The bad influence that one causes is very serious, and Jesus even warned that we should not do anything that causes another to stumble or be tented by seeing what we do.

What many women do not understand is that women in general are more moved or attracted by things that are sentimental, emotional, and men are attracted by or moved by what they see (the eye gate).

Exo. 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

God wants each person to respect what is the property of others, and we should be satisfied with what is our own, and nothing more.

Prov 27:20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

Our sinful nature pushes us so that we are never satisfied with what God has given us. When women dress so as to pull the inordinate desires of men towards them, this works in combination with their carnal nature which simply causes disaster.

Mat. 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Through the sight, man sees, and then he desires, which when he sees and desires what is not his own wife, it is sin. Christian women have to understand that there things which lead up to a rape (actual or visual). Temptation and sin which cause this sin is the problem. With just one indecent piece of clothing, the chain reaction of seeing, desire, lust, and sin begins.

2Sam 11:2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

By seeing the nude feminine body, or even partially nude, this will provoke a man to sin and desire what is not his. This is lust. Remember that in many cultures (like the NT), to go around in underwear is the same as being naked. In other words, a person who goes out in public in even their underwear is considered to be “naked.” Actually the bathing suits of today reveal more than what underwear did in days past or even now does. To see the thigh or lower torso of the body and the curves of the rear end or the breasts of a woman is exactly the idea of being naked, whether you have cloth over it or not.

Job 31:1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

Some women are just plain evil desiring men to lust after them, but even pure and innocent women sometimes wear skimpy clothes and cause others to fall into sin. Other women see them and think it is okay to dress like that. Look at what Job understood was the stumbling block and temptation, the seeing. So why do Christian women allow themselves to a part of others falling into sin? Whether for fashion or comfort, godly Christian women think about this.

“You can be covered from head to toe, and somebody will still lust after you”, this is true. But there is immodest clothing that provokes and causes this much more easily than reserved and conservative clothing. Every Christian has the spiritual obligation to be as reserved as they can in their dress. If women think, they will see what is provocative, and they will conclude that it is wrong or doubtful to use that clothing. But when they want what they want, and don’t care the damage they do to others, or the example they set for others, then their clothing is a stumbling block to others and a sin.

Prov 6:25 Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.

“Strange women” – The Bible uses this expression for prostitutes or women who easily will enter into sexual relationships with men who are not their husbands, but the origin of this word comes from foreign women who were living in Israel, who did not have their faith in Jehovah, and they easily provoked the men to err from God in a physical way, provoking by sight.

Prov 5:20 And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger? 21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings. 22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.

The adulteress (somebody who leads men astray into a path of sexual lust following their idol and god) used external or physical enticement of their bodies to trap men and get them involved with them. There is a “look” that is distinctive to a woman who is loose with her morals. She emphasizes a sexual look, so that men are thinking along that line of things when they see her. Her actions go with this.

We should not ignore this “look” the Bible tells us about. Simply put, the woman that visually (or by her actions or speech) causes men to think sexually about her, in her beauty and sensuality, this is the strange woman of the Bible. She is a woman that causes men to err. She is condemned to hell, she is far from God, and every Christian should reject her (men from dealings with her or considering her as a mate, and women from being like her or fellowshipping with her). As a woman, do you want to be like her, or distinctively the opposite of her? Do you think that the pious women of the Bible walked about in mini-skirts, transparent clothing, clothes with gaping openings to see into it, splits in it to show their legs and more?

In Genesis 1:27, God made the man and the woman. Physically God made one different from the other, and this difference is for the purpose of sex and reproduction. In Genesis 3:16-19, God gave each one, man and woman, a different purpose and position in the home and world. God commands that we maintain these differences between men and women. It is to oppose God to do otherwise.

1Cor 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

For homosexuals and lesbians, they love to cross dress, using the appearance and clothes of the opposite sex, and even acting like the opposite sex in clear violation of what is God’s will. Within the environment of homosexuals, transvestites are common. The use of earrings, bracelets, and other feminine jewelry are signs between them of this orientation. They even use the opposite sex’s underwear, cosmetics, wigs, etc. With lesbians it is common that some take the masculine role, and even cut their hair to appear like a man at first glance (short hair is typically masculine, and long hair is typically feminine). So when people see a Christian, they should immediately discern by their appearance what sex they are, and their first glance should be obvious and surely what they are (what God made them when they were born).

For a Christian, it is not so much of a sacrifice to live a life different from the world. It is joy to the Christian to identify himself with Christ, and with the redeemed. But so why is it such a fight with some Christians over clothing? Where is their desire to please God?

Deut 22:5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

This prohibits cross-dressing as a sin. In order for there to exist the possibility of “cross dressing” as a sin, there has to exist a distinct kind of dress for men, and another distinct and different kind for women. Which is which? What is the clothing that distinguishes men as men, and women as women? Historically, women did not start using pants until the 1920s. This practice is new, only being seen in the last 80 years of our history. It is not usual for men to use skirts or dresses either (except for perverts).

In the entire world, there are signs indicating which bathrooms are for men or for women, and the universal sign for women is a skirt or dress, and pants on men. Likewise long hair is usually identified with women, and very short hair with men. If this was not obvious to everybody saved and unsaved, these signs would be confusing but they are not, because everybody except rebellious Christian women will accept these standards without a fight or discussion. Pants are the clothing identifying a person as a man, and a dress as a woman. So why do Christian women refuse to always wear dresses or skirts, and want to wear what pertains to men? If a woman sees a man with a skirt on, does she think it is a masculine thing? Or does she think he is a pervert of some kind? She will think that he is using a woman’s clothing and the cross dressing verse (Deu 22.5) would condemn him. So why doesn’t this work the other way around? When a woman sees another woman with pants, why doesn’t she think the woman is out of place, and cross dressing?

The Bible speaks of “britches” on the men in Exodus 28:42; 39:28; Lev. 6:10; 16:4; and Ezekiel 44:18. These references refer to pants on men. This was a special command for the priests because they regularly went up on a raised platform and when they lifted up the offering to God, their typically short clothing revealed their private parts (nudity), and God demands modesty. The instructions for britches on the priests was to cover their nudity. Men and women of Bible times used a kind of robe, but each was different to distinguish men’s clothing from women’s. While the robe was worn “down” normally to protect the legs from cold, in going to work in the field, the men would reach down between their legs, and grab the back flap, and pull it between their legs and tuck it in their belt up front. This formed a kind of shorts for the men so that their clothing would not get in the way of working or warfare. In Luke 12:35, “let your loins be girded about” refers to this custom of the day. This is like a kind of loose pants (loose in the sense that the sexual organs are well covered and not seen bulging out through the fabric).

Normally people in Bible times had 2 pieces of clothing on, an inner robe, and an outer robe. Even when they had just the lesser inner robe on by itself, they were considered “nude” (improper for people in a mixed company to see them). Men at times in a small group for work purposes would remove the outer garment (John 21:7 “he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, for he was naked”). Princes and kings used even a third or fourth coat or garment, usually used open, and this became common among those who could afford it. They always used a belt on these garments which held the garment close to the body and protecting the loose garment becoming entangled while working.

Women’s clothing was very different from men’s clothing in the details, but not really so much in the form. Even though both used a type of robe, for them any person of their day could quickly distinguish a woman’s clothing from a man’s. Deu 22:5 is based on this obvious difference, very visibly seen. The woman’s dress is always more adorned and more elaborate and longer and covering more of her body than a man’s. Veils covering even the other garments were also used to reduce what could be seen even more (except in the case of servants and very poor women). But prostitutes never used veils, nor clothes that covered their intimate parts, but always used clothing that revealed their sexuality, clothing that is always revealing or very tight against the body to accentuate their bodies sexually, or loose clothing that was open (low cut, side cut, etc always a “cut” to see in). The idea was to reveal what she is selling sexually.

Just because a garment is sold in the women’s section of a store does not make it appropriate for the Christian woman to use. If it is essentially like a man’s clothing, it is an abomination to God.

In 1991 in a secular fashion magazine, the statement is made that the use of pants on women is “for social rebels, or for temptresses who use men’s clothing in order to rebel against the feminist position that society imposes on them.”[1] At the heart of this discussion, the Christian woman has to contend with the use of pants as an element of her own rebellion against God, and God’s direction on her life and influence in society.

The heart of the issue of dress is not how you look, nor what you like to wear (personal comfort), but what is spiritually in your heart, and how you respond to God’s authority over the details of your life. In general the same women that reject Deu 22:5 are the same that reject that the women should be submissive to their husbands. They are not in agreement with that point either. With the woman, the issue is submission to authority over them, or pure outright rebellion. There is a saying, “Who wears the pants in your family?” meaning who is in ultimate authority? Wearing pants is related to authority, and they should be worn only by men, and when women wear the pants, it reflects on their spiritual submission to their man and to God. They are rebellious. For men, this rebellion is seen in men refusing to take the leadership, in homosexuality, men dressing and acting like women, or in sexual promiscuity. Christian women have no problem identifying this rebellion in men, but they suddenly become blind when it is their turn to show submission to God’s authority in their life.

The woman who invented the mini-skirt said that she did it with the purpose of igniting the sexual desires in men and promoting sexual liberty. Why is it even necessary to debate this with Christian women? Are not these things obvious? It is obvious if the Christian woman’s heart is right with God, but with unsaved women, you will never win this argument.

The unsaved author, Margaret Kent, in her book, “How to Marry the Man of your Choice”[2] gives the advice that women should use their clothing to manipulate men. She recommends that they use clothing as tightly against the body as possible, accentuating the curves of the body, revealing the sensual parts of her body. She says, “The power of the wardrobe… should be the principle factor in attracting men… it should ignite their sexual imagination without satisfying their curiosity about your body… pants are good because they are tight and follow closely the curves of the body. Blouses should be open in front with buttons that yell the sign of easy access.”

The whole point of this is to excite “the sexual imagination without satisfying his curiosity about your body.” In other words, it is supposed to create sexual interest in your body, without revealing everything. Because of this worldly attitude, we see all the sexual parts of the feminine body revealed to a degree, or at least focus drawn to it.

We should understand that the matter of immodest dress comes directly from the women’s liberation movement in the last years of the 1800s. These women are the same that promoted lesbianism, unisex, and attack God and the commandments of God. They reject that the woman has to be subject to God or to a man, and that the woman should dedicate herself to the home and instead of promoting their own careers and interests, or they should serve their husbands and families. There is even a version of the Bible that has come out replacing references to God from “he” to “her”.

Typical of the liberated women are the elements of not looking like a woman, the short “butch” cut of hair, they want men with long hair or pony tails, and exalt women which for all practical purposes look like a man (bugling muscles).

The appearance of men should be different from that of women. In hair style, in dress, in conduct, and even in vocation, men and women should be very different, obviously different.

1Cor 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. 7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

1Cor 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

It is sinful and shameful that a man has long hair. Equally it is sinful and shameful for women to have short hair. These things are what distinguish sexually men from women, and they are imposed on us by God, and it is seen in common sense (among people not so rebellious to reject it out of hand).

Question: How short is short, and how long is long? There are no exact definitions given in the Scriptures, but just ask any unsaved person on the street without referring to which is correct on a man or a woman, and a woman will look at one woman, and say her hair is short or long, and equally men will correctly identify long and short. Generally for the man, long hair is when it touches his ears or hangs down to his eyebrows in front. For women, short hair is when it doesn’t touch or cover her neck, or doesn’t cover at least partially her ears (if you let it fall down without fixing it up and pinning it up).

A certain man who edits magazines for a large corporation for all of his life did 14,000 interviews about employment and made some comments about men with long and short hair.

“They (with long hair) rejected self-discipline, authority, and regulation (rules), logic, and reasoning. They fall easily to popular opinions and propaganda. They have a tendency to accept and do whatever anybody suggests is fashionable. Many employers find that these are nothing but dreamers, and they are no so much workers, but the reverse is true of men with short hair. Why is it like this? Principally it is because (men with long hair) have a personality centered in themselves.”

“There was America, everybody entering adulthood with their unmovable principle of life: short hair is for men, and long hair is equally for women. Well we destroyed this conviction for them, and some more besides.”[3] – Paul McCartney of the Beatles

When we study the life of Absalom, and we see his arrogance and evil heart set against his country and his King (David his father). We see his evil moral character, and we observe something very curious, that his long hair went hand in hand with his vanity and poor character.

2Sam 18:9 And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.

2Sam 14:25 But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. 26 And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight.

Truthfully we have to give in to the obvious, that long hair on a man is related to vanity, arrogance, and rebellion.

1Pet 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

To adorn one’s self is to make one’s self such that others take notice of you. This comes from the Greek word, “cosmos,” and this is where we get the word “cosmetology”, the art of decorating or arranging and ordering the appearance of a person (usually women). In the Bible, the idea is to put in order as God wants and directs a person.

The adorning speaks of the total emphasis of the person. “Cosmos” is like his personal universe, the “everything” of his life that comes across as an impression when somebody first sees you. It is what you see first or that stands out in your appearance. Read Proverbs 31, the virtuous woman, and we see that the emphasis and focus of her life was not on external transitory beauty, but on an inward beauty that is spiritual, holiness and piety (also timeless, it just gets better and never decays).

Prov 7:10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.

Prov 9:13 A foolish woman is clamorous (makes a lot of noise, always in problems, complaining, scandalous, always calling attention to herself): she is simple, and knoweth nothing.

Women should not spend excessive time and effort (or money) on their external appearance, but should focus on and concentrate on their spiritual interior. This is not to say that they shouldn’t brush their hair, nor do anything, but rather that Christians shouldn’t go to extremes. Pentecostals many times condemn the use of cosmetics. If a woman uses too much cosmetics, she begins to look like a prostitute, or if she over uses them in a non-sexy way, she looks like a paid clown. Cosmetics are something feminine, and the complete lack of use of feminine hygiene and care, or to use it for her to look masculine is just wrong. Equally men should in general refrain from using cosmetics because they are feminine.

V. Modesty is the principle that we should follow and maintain above all else.

Gen 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

Adam and Eve felt that their nudity was bad, and they tried to cover their genital areas (“coverings” is a piece of clothing or covering that is in front of and covers embarrassment, one’s genital areas). The point was that this was not exposed to sight.

Later God covered Adam and Eve because after sin entered the world, the uncovered human body would cause problems in the minds of sinful men, and especially when there were more than one family, or when children of these first parents came along.

Gen 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

God had to provide adequate clothing for them because the clothing that Adam and Eve made for themselves apparently wasn’t sufficiently modest in the sight of God. In the first chapter of life, God made decent clothes for man who made unacceptable clothing for himself. A robe or tunic is something that covered more than the bare minimum (Adam’s “covering” or loin clothe), and is loosely covering everything. Even with a covering of their genital parts, God saw them as still being naked and immodest, so something more than just covering the barest of the bare is obviously the norm of God. When a Christian woman wears a bikini, yes, it covers the barest of the bare, but in God’s eyes, she is still immodest and naked. That is something to think about. God dressed them with “coats” that “wrapped around” (clothed) them. The idea apparently is that the minimalist nature of what Adam and Eve did to clothe themselves wasn’t acceptable to God. Leaves are poor choices for clothing because they don’t conceal very well. God had to kill an animal to cover their nakedness. A coat is something that usually hangs belong the genital area towards the knees. Modesty then is something that will cover the curves of the body, especially those which are related to our sexuality. This is God’s concept of modesty.

John 21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

Here we see that people used underwear in the Bible, and that they had an outer clothing (that usually was from the shoulders to the knees), and without this outer clothing, even if they did have the inner one, they were considered naked. In cases of work, the outer garment was taken off, or bound up in the belt, with most strenuous work environments having no women around. In this consideration of nakedness see Isa. 20:2-4; Mic. 1:8.

Equally it should be considered nakedness when a man goes around without a shirt on, or a woman without a blouse (even if she has something similar to underwear on under it). Wearing undergarments, or what amounts to undergarments, is not the same as being properly dressed; it is still nakedness for decent people.

Nakedness has always been identified with mental instability and pagan religious systems, Satanism, demon possession, and even grave sins against God, such as hedonism, eroticism, pornography, etc.

This speaks of revealing the sexual parts of the body, especially the buttocks areas, the inner or upper thigh, the belly (and anything in between these), and the breasts in the case of the woman. When your clothing is tight across these areas of the body, revealing what is underneath, or sometimes women wear a flesh colored blouse to momentarily cause men to think they have nothing on up top, these things are meant to provoke men to lust. Many times women will wear low cut, or floppy opening clothes that allow peeks into her private parts especially when she bends over, and this also has the same provocative effective. Christian women should be very careful about blouses, dresses, and skirts that button up, and when they are too small for that particular woman, they bulge open giving glimpses of her flesh or underwear. Also the movements of a woman can incite lust by bending over, squatting or sitting such that she opens her legs, or any other actions that cause even a brief focus of her body.

We should be clear here. The idea of nakedness is to reveal partially what is intimate. Today, little is classified as intimate any more. At times it is more exciting to see just a glimpse of flesh than total nudity. For this, a blouse unbuttoned one or two buttons down, or a blouse that is 2-4 inches too short showing belly causes sinful lust. Also transparent or semi-transparent clothing does the same thing. If somebody else can see the color of your underwear and read the label, your clothing isn’t covering enough. In general, conservative clothing covers your underwear and what’s under it. If you can see through it, or you see outlines of underwear or anything under it, it isn’t conservative or Christian. There is no problem using sexy clothing, as long as it is in your bedroom with your spouse, and nobody else sees it. But spiritual Christians don’t do this in public.

The great hanging out belly – As a blithe on our day, fashion is now such that many women, especially younger girls are showing their bellies (even if they are overweight). The womb is a sexual organ that goes up into the torso, and the belly to below the breasts. The idea is reveal this stomach area.

Mini-Skirts – These simply are not modest, and they reveal the legs and if a woman does anything except stand up in them, then she will fight to not reveal her underwear and everything else under her mini-skirt. If she sits normally in a chair, anyone sitting in front of her will see much too much of what only her husband should see.

Isa 47:1 Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate. 2 Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks (let down here hair), make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers. 3 Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man.

God uses the example of a promiscuous woman to describe the shame that God is going to cause to Babylon. God speaks of shaming Babylon as a man would shame a woman by revealing her nakedness. Speaking in this manner, God describes the nakedness of a woman and very specifically says the leg and the thigh. We should include legs and thighs (from the knees up) as part of a person’s “nakedness”, things that should be covered the same as their genitals. Hot pants, shorts, etc. are just immodest.

Prov 7:10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.

What is the attire of a harlot? How does a prostitute dress? She doesn’t cover her body but reveals all that she can, or at least reveals parts of her body to provoke interest in what she is selling and promote lust. Her clothing is always skimpy, see through, in a way, easy to remove, and always trying to reveal what is underneath instead of hiding it from view and consideration. At times their clothing is tight, skin tight, such that seeing the person “clothed” isn’t much different from seeing them totally naked. Tights and other such clothing that is also painted on would be typical of prostitutes, not Christians.

In this point, we should understand that clothing that accentuates (marks very clearly) the curves and form of the body is not acceptable for Christian women. Pants in general do this very thing, marking the division between a woman’s legs, separating her thighs and legs (even inner thigh) for viewing in “outline form”. Equally, tight blouses against the breasts are what modern women seek for their wardrobe, because it sexually arouses men. Here we can include skirts, dresses and any other type of clothing that is tight across the sexual parts of the body are immodest even though they are skirts and dresses. We can also include as immodest any long skirts that have splits up the leg revealing the upper leg and thigh, or loose blouses or those that have wide open arms or sleeveless blouses that allow glimpses of flesh or underwear. Christian women should also be very careful about bending over or stooping down with certain clothing that reveals flesh or underwear when they do those things.

As a special observation directed at Madonna, wear your underwear on the inside of your clothes, not outside. That is immodest as well as just stupid. It is pure rebellion.

So in general the clothing of a conservative Christian woman is not tight against her body, but it also is not going to open and give glimpses inside either.

Principle #3. Clothing with holes, transparent or semi-transparent clothing, or clothing with slits, gaps, or openings to reveal are not modest.

We should indicate that if others can see your underwear because of gaps, holes, lace, transparency or semi-transparency, it is not modest. Women with a strong light behind them shouldn’t make their dress seem to disappear (seeing everything under it).

Another element here that provokes men sexually is using clothing that has lace on it which on first glance appears like the woman’s underwear. Lace was originally used as adornment for women’s underwear. The idea is to permanently have an edge of lacey underwear showing. Why do this? To excite men. Some dresses have lace as decoration, and it is not necessarily like underwear, and I am not referring to those, but (for example) those that show just an edge of lace where normally a woman’s bra would be. Likewise any skirt, dress or anything else put around the waist that hangs so low as to see her underwear is unacceptable. It is simply indecent, and just because you are wearing a thong, don’t let the world know that. Thongs are valid underwear for a Christian lady? Covering is biblical, revealing is sinful. Which does it do?

1Tim 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

“adorn” means to arrange in an orderly and decent manner, the way things should be.

“modest apparel” – Orderly and decent clothing is correct and complies with the standards and circumstances of life. (1) It has the character or quality of provoking admiration, honor, or respect. It doesn’t provoke any ideas of indecency but nobility and properness. (2) It has to do with gaining approval, to be adequate, especially speaking of clothing of someone who has a special job, and his official clothing indicates this vocation, such as a policeman, a fireman, a nurse, etc. So this is what orderly and appropriate clothing is, it is representative of who you are. A Christian woman should use clothing that clearly indicates she is a child of God. Does your clothing do this?

“Shamefacedness” – This is the opposite of being common, profane, in the mainstream of fashion, i.e. “normal”; a great respect for the conventional and popular. Shamefacedness is having shame (being timid and reserved) towards others in calling attention to one’s self in some way. It is modesty for women, reverence and respect.

The idea of this word “sobriety” is thinking correctly, in such a way of thinking and acting as to be noble and right (recommendable), and not causing shame or criticism for unworthy actions. The idea is also to be hidden, not brought to the attention, to look down to the ground in humility.

Principle #4. The Christian woman should not dress according to modern fashion, but conservatively.

The Christian woman should not follow the fashions of the world, the novelties of unsaved women, but she should seek to be conservative. Unconventional things, such as wearing one’s underwear on the outside of their street clothes, is unconventional and just wrong. Anything scandalous, that calls attention to the Christian woman in her clothing or physical appearance is misplaced or sinful. Punk rockers for example will dye their hair ridiculous colors, or make spikes, etc. The Christian does not call attention to herself.

“Modesty, sobriety” – healthy and stable in the processes of thinking, rational, reasonable. This is being prudent, having judicious judgment, moderation, control of one’s own self, careful to exercise intelligence and wisdom in all circumstances. It is not modesty according to the standards of the world (modest pants for example), but modest according to God’s standards (modesty dresses and skirts).

The purpose why God clothed Adam and Eve was to hid and cover, not to reveal. They were already revealing everything, and knew in their hearts that revealing was wrong. A lesson many a modern woman should learn anew. God’s solution to man’s first sin, was a covering of that sin, and in covering, the entire concept of atonement in salvation is “a covering by God of what is improper and wrong”. Proper clothing is an outward reflection of our understanding of salvation; God covers us and our sinfulness (shamefulness). The unsaved has no understanding of this spiritual issue, of the problem of our sin before the holy throne of God. Why is it that our Christian women also don’t understand this or don’t care just like the unsaved?

Titus 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

“Discreet” – This means to be in control of one’s self, to have prudence, or be considerate of others. Typically this is a characteristic of public servants in Bible times, because they always should think in what is proper and correct, in what they do as their actions as public servants and its affect on others, and its impact positively or negatively others. This speaks of reserve in what one says and does for profound respect for God.

“Chaste” – To be pure and holy. Originally this refers to God and also refers all that pertains to God. It refers to things or people who are worthy of being in this relationship with God, because they have distanced themselves from sinful things, making a spiritual statement of rejecting these sinful things. This speaks of being reserved and conservative in your life. That one would take into consideration others, and remove anything in their life that causes others to stumble and sin.

This is that their whole presentation would only provoke respect, honor, and admiration, only things that are appropriate for a Christian woman. She should not provoke wrong thoughts such as having the appearance, actions, or speech of a prostitute, especially not revealing her private and sexual parts.

Principle #6. The Christian woman should reject and distance herself from foolish and vain things.

Prov 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

“Foolishness” is to be obstinate, foolish, somebody who derives the wisdom and discipline that comes from God, that has no shame, always fighting and rebellious, and in general uncontrolled (or not self controlled).

This is what pulls young girls so far from God, and their parents should deal with their youthfulness as trying to get rid of foolishness from their lives. If they cannot do this, then these youth will enter life far from God and salvation.

Prov 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

The discipline of wisdom is that first step towards God and salvation. But to give a child all he wants will only cause shame later on to his or her parents.

2Tim 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

“Youthful lusts” - literally means “wishes that pertain to youth.” Normally youthful things are void of real spiritual and eternal value. They are empty of what really counts in life (at least in God’s sight).

1Pet 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

“Meek” – humbleness, that which does not press the importance of one’s self, will, or personality (being). Gentleness and to be considerate, meek. To not presume, to not call attention to one’s own self or possessions, without a high estimate of promoting one’s self, but seeing one’s self as equal or below others, giving them the preference before one’s own self. “quiet” – To be quiet, orderly, not scandalous, or breaking out actions or elements which call attention to one’s own self and being. The Christian woman does not call attention to herself. She avoids the scandalous actions or clothing.

Prov 7:10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. 11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: 12 Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) 13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, 14 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows. 15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee. 16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt. 17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves. 19 For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey: 20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed. 21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. 22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; 23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life. 24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. 25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. 26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. 27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

Prov 9:13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.

The woman that displeases God is the woman that is usually or always calling attention to herself by doing foolish or scandalous things. We compare this with the woman that pleases God, and she has eternal worth, she focuses on her Christian and Christ-like character instead of transitory things like beauty, her body, etc. (Prov. 31:10-31). She has a clear focus of her life, and it is the spiritual.

1Pet 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 6 Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

Why women shouldn’t focus on the external physical? – Many women, even Christian women ignore what the Bible teaches, and they become worldly focusing on the external beauty, seeking to be sexy to attract a man to her. When they marry all this works against her. First she cannot keep her body looking like an 18 year old. As she ages, the basis of her marriage has been incorrectly (unbiblically) placed on physical appearance instead of inner, spiritual character. Her body cannot compete with each new batch of young girls, and her husband will go after the hot bodies, because his wife taught him to focus on this. The Christian woman focuses on Christlike character which she will develop much more than any young teenage girl can easily do. When the Christian woman enters menopause, has cancer operations on her breasts, and a multitude of other problems from wrinkles to removing her womb, the basis of her relationship which she has built up in the past with her husband will be extremely important. Spiritual virtue doesn’t go away with age, and you cannot operate and take it out, but good looks and sexuality does. When the woman puts her priority, emphasis, and focus of her life (and attraction for her husband) on good works and moral character, especially service to others (Prov. 31), then this is something that she can maintain all her life until death. Nobody can steal this from her, nor will it degenerate and be lost with age, quite the contrary, it will grow better with age. All of this focuses on a spiritual commitment with God, and faithfulness in that commitment, which is what will do her well when her husband responds to that commitment likewise. But this must be lived from the beginning by the woman, and seen in every aspect of her life.

[1] The Light, vol. 27, #5, p. 12.

[2] How to Marry the Man of Your Choice by Margaret Kent (New York: Warner Books, 1987)

[3] http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/modesty-is-still-in-bible.html