Modesty Becomes You: MODESTY

MODESTY

The Definition of Modesty and Nakedness

With the subject of modesty being frought with strong opinions and feelings, where shall we go for truth? The Bible. For the Christian, nothing else should be the 'end-all' source of our conviction and belief on the subject. So, what does the Bible say about modesty in regards to clothing?

First, let's look at the word itself. What does the word 'modesty' mean according to the Bible? The English translation 'modesty' appears only once (1 Timothy 2:9) in the King James Version. The use of the word 'modesty' in this verse is from the Greek term 'kosmios' which means: 'orderly, well-arranged, harmonious arrangement, adornment'. This Greek word is also found in the Old Testament (Ecclesiastes 12:9 )and is translated 'set in order' and is applied to Solomon's proverbs. Kosmios is derived from 'kosmos' which means: 'order, regular disposition, ornament, decoration, embellishment, adorning' and is used, among other ways, of the created world on which we live - the earth (Matt. 13:35, Mark 16:15). In 1 Peter 3:3, the word kosmos is translated as 'adorning' in regards to modest attire.

The word 'modesty' does not, as is commonly believed, merely mean to cover up private parts. Rather, Paul and Peter's writings on the subject have to do with gaudy dress and arrogance. Their readers would have known exactly what they meant by the 'arranging of the hair' and 'braiding' because they lived in the same culture as Paul and Peter and would have seen examples of exaggeration by some women in this regard. The gold and pearls could be exaggerated and help them put on airs. James 2:2 mentions 'gold rings and fine apparel' as being the clothing of a wealthy man, and says that in church we should not judge one who comes in filthy clothes (poor man) while giving the better place to the man with obvious wealth. In our culture today in America, however, gold is not worn by the wealthy only, nor are pearls or other jewelry. Many women today have some sort of gold or jewelry, and it is not a sign of wealth. It is almost a norm across social standings in America and even in other countries. Cultural context must be considered. Still, too much is too much. But who is the judge of exactly what is too much? We need to be careful not to place ourselves in His judges seat (James 4:11-12). Gold or jewelry are not completely forbidden. You can read more on gold, jewelry, and makeup on my other page: 'Are Makeup and Jewelry Worldly?'.

Even though the actual word 'modesty' does not merely mean to cover up private parts, 1 Timothy 2:9 still addresses the issue of covering up. Paul says we are to adorn ourselves with 'shamefacedness' and 'sobriety'. Shamefacedness comes from a word that means 'downward cast eyes, bashfulness, and reverence and awe'. Hebrews 12:28 translates the word as reverence: 'serve God with reverence and godly fear'. Sobriety means 'soundness of mind, sanity, to rein in the mind or feelings'. It is also translated as 'self-control' in 1 Timothy 2:15. Certainly, wearing clothes that do not fully and adequately cover up our private parts would not be shamefaced or sober-minded. The word 'revealing' or 'brazen'would fit such attire accurately.

So what about our private parts? What should we be covering up? What does the Bible consider nakedness, anyway? In the Bible when talking about privates that need to be covered, one of the parts of the body mentioned is the thigh. The 'uncovering of the thigh' and the 'lifting of skirts' were considered to be revealing one's nakedness. In John 21:7 when Peter went fishing with the disciples it says that he was 'naked'. When he went to shore to meet the Lord, he put his coat around himself. Peter was obviously bearing enough skin to be considered naked. Today, we would consider naked to mean that we have absolutely no clothing on at all, not even underwear, yet certainly Peter was not out there in the total nude fishing! That was not a common practice. Even in tribal communities around the world today, men who go without clothes always have something to protect their private parts. This is just good common judgment and caution. God judges Babylon in Isaiah 47 and says, "Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers. Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen." He did not mention the privates. He could have said something like: '...uncover the thigh, then uncover your genitals' (or whatever word they use for that part of the body. If uncovering the thigh is closely equated with uncovering nakedness, then it needs to be what we consider needs to be covered to some extent.

It is in Isaiah 3:17 that God talks about 'uncovering their naked parts' Notice that it uses the word 'uncover', meaning that at the time it was covered. Back then it was not the norm to show thighs or breasts/cleavage. This is what God is concerned about: the uncovering of naked parts. Most men will tell you that miniskirts and short shorts are sexy to them. Why? They both bare much of the thighs. . Even just a casual glance at the covers of most magazines and billboards aimed to sensually allure will show two prevalent female body parts: the breasts and the thighs. TheRebelution.com has a survey of men and boys and what is tempting to them in regards to women's attire and such.

Some believe that God created women's breasts merely for feeding an infant and that there is nothing sensual or private about them. Not so. In Genesis 2:24, after He designed Eve's body, the Bible says, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh'. Hmmm. What does that mean, 'become one flesh'. I think it is pretty obvious. So think about it - before God ever gave the word, 'Go, be fruitful and multiply', the breasts were for sexual pleasure alone (become one flesh). No babies yet to breastfeed. Just Adam and Eve and her body parts and his body parts. Most women will tell you that they are a source of sexual stimulation. Proverbs definitely mentions the breasts in a sexual way. God, in His sovereignty, also made the breasts to be used in feeding children (just like a woman's lower private parts would be used for delivering children). Still, Genesis and Proverbs clearly show us that by God's design, the breasts are also a private, sexually stimulated part of the body. Cleavage or near cleavage is not the will of God for a woman professing to be a Christian. (I have a page coming soon regarding other people groups who go topless as well as public bathing).

So What Else Can We Learn About Modesty?

As mentioned above, modesty has more to do with just the way we dress. It has to do with the way we act. A women can think so highly of herself in her plain clothes, drab colors, and no makeup and jewelry and yet not be modest at all! How so? Look again at what Paul says in 1 Timothy 2:9. Shamefacedness and sobriety are character issues. They have to do with how we behave. 1 Peter 3:4 says we are to let our beauty be 'the hidden person of the heart' and that we are to have a 'gentle, quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God'. In verse 5-6 he writes, 'for in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham...'. How many women are glorying in their 'plainness' and yet are not submissive or obedient to their husbands? They think themselves holy and Godly and judge a woman who wears some makeup or jewelry, yet wrongfully so. The Bible warns, 'If ye think ye stand, take heed...lest ye fall'. On the one hand, a woman who is overly sensual in the way she dresses or overdoes the jewelry and makeup adornment can reveal what is in her heart, but so can the plain woman who acts not with a 'gentle and quiet spirit', or who is arrogant and self-righteously judgmental in her heart.

Let me give you a couple real life examples. While visiting Tennessee - which is known for its many conservative Christians who wear long dresses, have long hair, and wear no makeup, as well as its many Amish and Mennonite families - I saw a young teen girl dressed in what I would call very 'modest' apparel. Her long hair, no makeup, long skirt and loose shirt made in impression on me. The friends she was with were not dressed the same, but rather in jeans, shorts, or such. I thought, 'Wow! Isn't it great that this girl does not cave in to pressure and dresses more feminine and modest.” Yet as I watched her, her behavior was just as loud and arrogant as 'less plain' friends. What an application of 1 Timothy 2:9 and 1 Peter 3:3-4. Another author witnessed several Amish girls 'touching' the private parts of each other while wading in a stream. These simple, plain, modestly dressed gals were certainly not modest in heart! I have also witnessed ladies, who in their attempt to not draw a man's attention sensually, dress in what is more like men's clothing, with very baggy jeans, drab old t-shirts, and sneakers. Dressing like men is just as forbidden in scripture as dressing immodestly.

In it's truest form, modesty comes from the heart. It is a heart issue. The reason we dress or act a certain way comes from inside. What is on the inside shows up on the outside.