Biblical Modesty
I am amazed by the similarities in the following verses:
1 Peter 3 in the KJB
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.
And then 1 Timothy 2:9-10 in the KJB which says,
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; 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
So in both the earthly prophetic program with Israel as well as the heavenly program with the Body of Christ, women are told to:
• Not worry themselves with expensive and immodest modern hairstyles. At that time really fancy braids in the hair was popular and a way to attract a lot of attention to their physical appearance. When it comes to hairstyles, Paul actually tells women in 1st Corinthians chapter 11 to wear a covering on their head when they pray and prophesy. And since we are to pray without ceasing, it makes sense to wear a headcovering all through the day. The most modest approach would be to wear your long hair up in a bun with a covering of some kind.
• Not be wearing jewelry, especially anything that is expensive. We are not to be showy, flashy or drawing attention to ourselves.
• Not wear expensive and/or revealing clothing. We need to focus more on having "the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."
In Genesis we learn that God clothed Adam and Even in coats of skin after the fall (Gen 3:21). These coats basically covered from the neck all the way to below the knees, as well as covering the upper arms. This should be the basis for all of our clothing, to cover those areas. If you show too much of your neck, shoulders, or back it is nakedness. If you are showing cleavage, your torso, your upper arms, your thighs and even you knees it is nakedness. Swimsuits should cover all of these area's as well (yes, they make more modest swimsuits now). The Lord Jesus Christ in the book of the revelation wears a long white robe that goes all the way down to the foot. Instead of us trying to get away with wearing as little as possible, it is better to cover ourselves up more. Even in heaven we will be fully clothed. The clothes that God gave Adam and Even represent us being fully clothed in God's righteousness the moment that we are saved unto eternal life. God doesn't leave us naked as believers!
If you just look at the stark differences between what the typical ancient Greece or Roman pagan women wore, verses what ancient Christian women wore you will see the difference between what modest and immodest is.
Of course through the ages, the styles have changed. So we can wear different styles of clothing but we must apply the same modest standards of dress.
Let's look at the verses again.
1 Timothy 2:9-10 KJB
9 In like manner also, [previous to this verse, Paul was admonishing the men to also live holy lives for the sake of the gospel] that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, [well, just think over what is modest? Paul gives a few examples of modesty...] with shamefacedness [if you ever felt like something you were wearing caused you or someone else to blush, then it's NOT modest) and sobriety; [this sobriety is about keeping God and His word in mind. What's our purpose as believers? To live for ourselves and our flesh? Or to live godly so that others might be saved?] not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; [these are just a few practical suggestions that Paul has - don't be focused on the outer appearance, rather focus more on allowing Christ to live in and through you. I also personally believe that we should not be concerning ourselves with expensive attire - even the broided hair was something that took a lot of time to do or you had to pay someone to do it for you. It wasn't a simple braid but was very elaborate and detailed sometimes even containing jewels in the hair] 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. [Again, allowing Christ to live in and through you].
Makeup isn't mentioned by Peter or Paul or the Lord Jesus Christ. However, it is important to note that the only time that makeup is mentioned in scripture, that I could find, was in reference to Jezebel! So, that makes you pause and think!
2 Kings 9:30
30 And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window.
Makeup was also used primarily by ancient pagan cultures for idol worship and for superstitious reasons (eyeliner was used by Egyptians, men and women, because they believed it protected them from evil). In modern times, makeup can also be really expensive and become like an idol for some women. In heaven we won't need makeup because we will have glorious bodies but also we won't have the sin nature to cause us to worry about such things! Not all women wear makeup just to attract men, we sometimes wear makeup so that we "look our best" in a culture that is always focused on how we look. I've even heard some Christian women say that wearing makeup is godly because it helps you present yourself at your best for others and then I've heard other Christian women say that makeup is ungodly and sinful. We each need to decide for ourselves what we think is right based upon our own understanding of God's word rightly divided and not just based upon what others say. For me personally, I am moving away from wearing makeup for the most part except for perhaps taking family photos or a special event and even then I only wear it very lightly.
Women should also dress like women. Deuteronomy 22:5
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."
In modern times this should be especially true for believers considering how much confusion there is today over genders!
I also believe that its important for us to be clean, well-groomed and smelling well as this is considered polite as well as healthy. This doesn't mean piling on layers of perfume, but just use a good scented soap, deodarant and perhaps a lightly scented body spray.
Also, modest, practical dress is important for evangelism, even towards an unbelieving husband. We win people over by allowing Christ to live in and through us as believers, not by dressing seductively or by any other fleshly efforts.
1 Peter 3 says
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; [a silent evangelism by allowing Christ to live in and through you as a believer] 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. [Notice it doesn't say that you will win your husband over to Christ by always dressing really seductively! All that will do is please his flesh! We have to keep their soul in mind! You don't have to be frumpy either, just modest] 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 Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
Paul said in 1 Tim 2:4, "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." God wants for all people to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. We have free will choice in whether or not to believe the gospel. Believers are to always keep the soul salvation of unbelievers in mind. This even includes us making mature decisions about how to dress as women, and how to conduct ourselves, that would help lead people to Christ instead of just drawing attention to our physical appearance.
Then, we are told what we SHOULD be more focused on instead of focusing on looking worldly (or putting ourselves under law to try and be "super modest") and this is important to really understand, which is:
• Having a meek and quiet spirit.
• Living godly, and doing good works (Christ living in and through us).
So, instead of being overly focused on the latest fashion trends, makeup, dieting and beauty products, we ought to be more concerned with living godly - getting sound grace doctrine in our inner man (mind and heart), believing it and obeying it. When we do this, Christ is living in and through us. With Christ living in and through us, unbelievers and fellow believers can see Christ living in and through us by us obeying the word and speaking sound doctrine, instead of them only noticing us for our physical appearance, our latest fashionable clothing, our jewelry, etc. It's also a way to not cause a brother in Christ to stumble.
Romans 14:13
"...that no man put a stumblingblock or
an occasion to fall in his brother's way."
If you are walking around church or anywhere else half-naked, you are putting a stumblingblock in your brothers way! But also, if you are all about the latest fashion trends and overly focused on diet, fashion and beauty culture it could be a stumblingblock for a fellow sister in Christ because she might start to think that she also needs to be more fashionable etc instead of being more focused on God and His word and setting our affection more on things above rather than on worldly things.
Colossians 3:2 says,
“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."
We are also teaching angels. What do I mean?
1 Corinthians 11:10 says,
“For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.”
1st Corinthians 11 is speaking about order in the home, church and in society (the doctrine of headship). The woman is to cover her head while praying and prophesying, keep silent in the church and obey her husband in all things. Women are to let men lead in the homes, churches and in society in general. One reason for the headcovering also is because the angels are learning from believers today about the "manifold wisdom of God " (Eph 3:9-11) by observing Christ living in and through us. When a woman wears a symbol on her head, it is showing the angels (and the world around us) that she is submitting herself to God's order of creation.
Here also are a few more verses regarding modesty and godly living to think over:
Proverbs 31:30 - Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Proverbs 11:22 - As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.
1 John 2:16 - 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.
