Modesty For His Majesty

the organ of ambition. Modesty has settled upon the
organ of conviction; where it was never meant to be . . . Nowadays the part of
a man that a man does assert is exactly the part he ought not to assert – himself.”

Think about it. The moment someone suggests modesty or even hints at the possible immodesty of another, how do we typically respond: “That is sooo Victorian.” “What, you expect me to be a prude?” “What’s so wrong with wanting to look attractive?” “I just wear what’s comfortable.” “It’s my body, nobody can tell me what I should or shouldn’t put on it.” “If everyone dressed modestly like that, we’d all be the same – that’s a suppression of individual expression.”

Do you notice any common strains in these comments? It’s all about the self and nothing about others. My rights, my comfort, my taste, my worldly reputation. You see, my friends, modesty is not about the hemline. It is NOT simply a matter of style, clothes, make-up or adornments. It is NOT about a connection to the eye. Modesty, even and especially in appearance, is an issue of the heart!
Similarly, it is NOT about devising or imposing laws and dress codes. Nor imposing legalism It’s about each individual believer applying an important Biblical principle to every area of their life. It’s about extending grace and blessing unto others, even at the price of restricting oneself.
To expand the principle of 1 Corinthians 10:31, which we read earlier, “whether you eat or drink, walk or sit, are casual or formal, at the mall, the office, or school, whatever you do, however you behave, however you dress or make yourself up, do it all for God’s glory!"
Modesty and immodesty in dress are not issues of fashion, but of blessing. Is your appearance designed to bring blessing to yourself or to others, before God? You see, even how we choose (and, yes, it is a personal choice) to appear is a reflection of our love for God and others! How much of our appearance decision-making includes consideration of how it expresses an absolute love for God or a sacrificial love for others?

Remember, through our modesty we may display His Majesty! I don’t expect anyone to take my word for it. Instead, please, join me in reviewing God’s Word on the issue.

A BIBLICAL OVERVIEW: God’s Reflections on Our Appearance

Genesis 2:25 - sinless Adam & Eve appear naked and “it is good”
3: 7 - sinful Adam & Eve make their own clothes, loincloths, as a covering (barely)
:21 - The LORD is not pleased with their choice of clothing/covering. He replaces their loincloths with clothes made of animal skins. A covering that is much greater and more ’modest.’ This, in spite of the fact they were the only 2 people on the face of the earth at the time – and married.

Note: Sin DOES change things! The cry that if God cared how we were dressed, He wouldn’t have said it was ’good’ when Adam & Eve were naked (as created) completely ignores sin! The world we live in today is a very different one, distorted and decayed from sin. It is the presence and temptation of sin that we acknowledge and fight through our modesty – or embrace in our immodesty!

Deuteronomy 22:5 - clothing to reflect separately created genders.

1 Samuel 16:7 - The choosing for anointing of young David. God