Modest Apparel

January 13, 2008

By Jeremy J. Main

     In terms of morality, does it really matter how we dress? In practice, celebrities answer this question daily by indecently exposing themselves in magazines, on television, and over the internet. The public answers by supporting them: wearing their clothing, purchasing their magazines, watching their programs, and visiting their websites. The basic function of clothing is to cover, yet how many wear apparel which fails to cover? Let us study what the Bible says about this subject.

    What qualifies one as being best dressed? For the world, the best dressed may be the one wearing the most expensive, endorsed, popular, fashionable apparel. A better question might be, best dressed for what? Sadly, apparel is often designed for soliciting illicit sexual interest.

    Lewdness is a work of the flesh, which causes lust (Gal. 5:19 NKJV). Lewdness (Gk. aselgeia) denotes “excess, licentiousness, absence of restraint, indecency, wantonness” (Vine 353). This sin is soundly condemned by the Holy Scriptures (Mark 7:21-22; Rom. 13:13; Eph. 4:19) and deplorably practiced by the world (1 Pet. 4:3-4). People should not be shocked by the way they are treated when they wear “the attire of a harlot” (Prov. 7:10).

    The Bible instructs women to adorn themselves in “modest apparel” (1 Tim. 2:9). The term “modest” (Gk. kosmios) is defined as “decent” (Vine 414). Two general guidelines for decent clothing are “propriety and moderation” (1 Tim. 2:9).  This type of apparel is “proper for women professing godliness” (1 Tim. 2:10). Consider what your apparel says about you (1 Pet. 3:3-4). Modest apparel encourages men to treat woman as ladies, rather than objects. Respectable apparel encourages respect!

    Modesty is a godly characteristic. It is a trait of godly women and men everywhere. The grace of God teaches us to deny “ungodliness and worldly lusts” and to live “godly” in this present age (Titus 2:11-12). Qualities of godly men and women include chastity (Titus 2:5), integrity (Titus 2:7), incorruptibility (Titus 2:7), fidelity (Titus 2:10), and humility (Titus 3:2). If our great God and Savior Jesus Christ returned this moment, would we be ashamed of our apparel (Titus 2:13)?

    Morality is the most important issue in matters of dress. Is God pleased with what we wear? The Bible teaches us to be “unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). Jesus has taught us to be “the light of the world” (Matt. 5:16). Can we “shine as lights in the world” while wearing immodest clothing (Phil. 2:15)? Are you inciting others to lust, by wearing indecent apparel (Matt. 5:28)?  In this world of darkness, we encourage you to be shining examples of purity!

Work Cited:

Vine, W.E. Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996.