If there is one Christian concept that goes unspoken and therefore remains pretty obscure, it’s modesty. If asked, I’m not even sure how I would explain the idea. Dressing nicely? Dressing appropriately? Instead, I recognize it when I see it and definitely when I don’t.
There aren’t a ton of sermons or articles about modesty, even on Christian sites, not in comparison to how much we discuss fear, faith, politics, and the like. Other ideas have fallen to the wayside in church, too, like gossip, laziness, and gluttony, but modesty is definitely close to the bottom.
Our neglect for this conversation shows. Porn is one of the most widely searched ideas on the Internet. Women on Onlyfans are making millions selling their bodies, men are enjoying the benefits of abortion and hook-up culture, and our society has redefined prostitution as “sex work.” We may think of these issues as outside of the church, but members of our congregations partake in this culture too. Sex before marriage is the norm. Many Christians support homosexuality, even transgenderism, to some degree. Then there are complaints in the church about women wearing clothes that leave little to the imagination or pastors who flaunt their wealth through jewelry, suits, and affairs.
Some of us have recognized this decline in morality and spoken out. One pastor in Utah posted a tweet that went viral just ahead of Valentine’s Day this year. In his message, he called for women to dress modestly. Certainly, this is a message for women, but a wake-up call for men as well. We as a society need to reconsider this idea of modesty.
There were people who appreciated the message and expressed support for the pastor. Others disliked the sentiment and antagonized him by sending hateful messages, even lewd photos. Pastors are supposed to admonish us, that’s part of their job. The question is, do we, as men and women, agree with what he said? If you don’t, then keep reading, here’s why every Christian should value modesty.
Why Every Christian Should Value Modesty
What is modesty? Simply put, modesty is the freedom from vanity or boastfulness. Oftentimes modesty is equated with sexual promiscuity, but modesty can be applied to non-sexual subjects, too, like money or manners.
The reason modesty is often a subject applied to sex and to women is because of the effect their beauty has on men, who are naturally more visually oriented. Hence why men are the primary consumers of pornography and prostitution. Women are more emotionally stimulated; men are more visual. This also explains why in Scripture, text mentioning modesty often cites women, not men. However, rest assured, the Bible tells us all to treat our bodies as “a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God?” (1 Corinthians 6:19). Therefore, whether the conversation is about how we dress, speak, or act, men and women alike can stand to learn the lesson.
For Christians, the question of modesty should boil down to this - does God desire modesty? Yes!
Even with just a cursory glance at Scripture, there are verses that speak directly to the idea. Pastor Brian Sauvé was not simply speaking from a place of personal preference about modesty. He has Scripture supporting his perspective. Here are a few verses to consider:
“Also, the women are to dress themselves in modest clothing, with decency and good sense, not with elaborate hairstyles, gold, pearls, or expensive apparel, but with good works, as is proper for women who profess to worship God.” (1 Timothy 2:9-10)
The Apostle Paul may have been addressing the old church, but the same concept still applies now. Christian theology suggests that we are to be mindful about what we wear. Similar to our words, and actions, our clothing reflects our relationship with God. Women are not called to be near-naked in their apparel, nor men decked from head to toe in the most elaborate fashion. Neither says to people that you follow Christ.
So, what are we communicating?
The verse also highlights what Paul refers to as “good sense” and “decency,” but when culture changes, so does our understanding of these words, which is why the church must discuss modesty. We need a consensus on what these words mean.
“Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30)
Women do receive praise for their beauty. Actresses like Gal Gadot and Scarlet Johansson are objectively beautiful. The same objective observation can be made of men like Leonardo DiCaprio, but beauty within any of us, man or woman, only lasts for a time. People that make a living in porn will one day be old and unattractive. When the flesh fades, will we also lose our worth? Or will we instead find our worth in God, not what we see in the mirror?
“Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Is God glorified in our clothing choices? The question may sound odd initially, but it’s an important one to ask. We consider gluttony a sin when we eat unhealthily, damaging ourselves, and dishonoring our temples. God doesn’t want us to overeat. When we consider our clothes, God doesn’t desire for us to dress in a way that causes people to stumble - lust, envy, etc. There’s nothing wrong with being pretty or showing skin in principle, but our motivations are what matter. God made us in our mother’s womb, but how we use that beauty makes all the difference (Psalm 139:13-14). Are we dressing provocatively to get a reaction or just donning something we were interested in wearing?
Photo Credit: Unsplash/Laurenz Kleinheider
3 Christian Responses to Immodesty
Know Why Modesty Is Better
Modesty communicates two important ideas: self-control and intention. Women who post racy pictures online are surprised when they’re unable to find meaningful relationships and settle down. This is no surprise. Men who value a self-controlled woman have been turned off, and men just looking for sex see her as easy picking. The same goes for men who have slept with countless women recreationally or for work. There are consequences to our actions, sometimes unforeseen and sometimes permanent.
When you wear modest clothing, you’re giving everyone who sees you a taste of your character. Ideally, when people see you, they’ll see someone showcasing Jesus not sex, greed, etc.
Get Creative in What You Wear
Some women complain that their clothing options have been made so limited that there is no escaping immodesty. However limited, there are certainly alternatives, as Jessica Rey points out. She found issues with how bikinis were designed to be alluring and decided to take matters into her own hands by creating a swimwear line, something that captures the old-timey feel of swimsuits from the 1900s while maintaining modern-day attractiveness and practicality.
God Desires Modesty
Convincing a nonbeliever of why modesty is important will be challenging. The same shouldn’t be true for fellow Christians. There’s practical value that comes from modesty, higher self-esteem, more respect from others, and then there’s holiness. God’s stance on modesty is clear. This does not mean women conceal all but their eyes as women do in some Islamic countries, rather, women are mindful about their presentation, seeking to honor God through their apparel. And men are seeking to honor God not through their social status, but through their faith.
There’s no need to dress like “a grandma,” as some would say; rather, we should dress as people who fear the Lord.
Why Modesty Matters
Modesty matters. For men and for women. When people say, “Mind your own business,” you can ask them why they are minding yours or why they’re posting content online. Public content is open to public opinion, supportive or otherwise. If a Christian says, “my body, my choice,” ask them for biblical examples. When women say that they aren’t responsible for men, that’s only partially true. Men are in charge of their own eyes and thoughts; however, we affect one another. Someone purposefully flaunting wealth can inspire jealousy. Likewise, someone flaunting their body intentionally can inspire lust.
Jessica Rey said something similar. "Bikinis really do inspire men to see women as objects — as something to be used, rather than as someone to connect with. So it seems that wearing a bikini does give a woman power: the power to shut down a man's ability to see her as a person, but rather as an object.”
As a church when we discuss modesty, before we enter into conversation, we should go to Scripture. In order to have a productive dialogue, we need biblical points to support our stances. Suggesting things like “The Bible’s old-fashioned” invalidates our faith entirely, or “I dress this way to get a spouse” ignores all the people who dress modestly and still end up married.
Our emotions on the subject shouldn’t cloud sound judgment. One way or another, we have to come to a consensus. If the church is divided on modesty, there’s no doubt others won’t look to us as an example.
What a society we live in when modesty is a controversial topic. Nonetheless, for Christians, the topic shouldn’t be controversial at all. Scripture speaks to the idea and offers us great insight. Will we heed the message?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Chiociolla
Aaron D'Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes to Salem Web Network’s Crosswalk platform and supports various clients through the freelancing website Upwork. He's an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo.
Get in touch with him at aarondanthony.com and check out his debut short story anthology Honey Dreams on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.