The Reading

1 Corinthians. 7:1-5

Hello brother Eric, how are you?I know that this issue is preached about CONSTANTLY, but here it goes. Why do Christians believe that dressing immodestly is a matter of opinion, when it clearly is not? How do we make it known to other Christians that by dressing inappropriately, we blend in with the world? It bothers me greatly to see Christians sharing pictures of themselves in short shorts, mini dresses, bikini's, leggings that cling to every part of their lower half, etc. How is this fair to other Christians, when the bible says that we should not be stumbling blocks to others, yet we wear revealing and tight clothing that leaves little or nothing, to the imagination? I cannot perceive that Christ would be okay with us preaching the gospel in short shorts and super tight yoga pants. I just don't. I'm sorry if I sound rude, or exasperated, but shouldn't we get it by now? Men can also dress immodestly, but here at Northside, I find that it is more so the women. I await your response eagerly. Thank you for your dedication and hard work to the Lord, it is a blessing. In Him. YoursAnonymous

I really, really, appreciate the question:Sister or brother, whoever sent me the question, I want you to know something too:SIMPLY, I DON’T GET IT!There is no answer in my mind of why people feel cool, sharing pictures of themselves almost naked, or showing great portions of their bodies in any activity that is not with the church, and they don’t even blush anymore, as Jeremiah the prophet complained!Also, if they are hanging around with other Christians, why do these Christians not say:Sorry you cannot come with us dressed like that!

This is not the first time that I have been dealing with this topic.For this reason, I believe the topic is easy simple and with plenty of information from God and His word!

Which one is the proper Attire?

Immodesty• This world is filled with

various temptations and dangers.

• Immodesty is one of those dangers.

• The morals of this world are in a constant state of flux; what was once risqué is no longer (Isa. 5:20). 14

Isaiah 5:20 20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and

sweet for bitter!

Immodesty• In fact, we are constantly confronted

with immodesty no matter where we go; even when assembling with the Lord’s people.

• Modesty is something that begins in our hearts (Pro. 4:23) and goes beyond clothing.

• But we want to focus this lesson on the subject of immodesty in regard to sexuality and in particular as it relates to our clothing.

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Proverbs 4:23 23

Keep your heart with all diligence,

For out of it spring the issues

of life.

Immodesty

• The Need For Modesty• Reasons For Immodesty• Principles Related To Modesty• Ways One Can Be Immodest

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THE NEED FOR MODESTY

Dangers that Northside can confront regarding modesty!

Why do Christians believe that dressing immodestly is a matter of opinion, when it clearly is not? How do we make it known to other Christians that by dressing inappropriately, we blend in

with the world?

The Need For Modesty

• In the garden, man and woman’s nakedness was acceptable (Gen. 2:25).

• Yet after sin, God covered man and woman’s nakedness (Gen. 3:7, 11, 21).

• God fully understood the sexual attraction between males and females and this is especially true when it comes to men and visual stimulation (2 Pet. 2:14; Job 31:1).

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Genesis 2:25 25 And they were both

naked, the man and his wife, and were

not ashamed.

Genesis 3:7 (NKJV) 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they

knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves

together and made themselves coverings.

Genesis 3:11 11 And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you

eaten from the tree of which I

commanded you that you should not

eat?"

Genesis 3:21 21

Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made

tunics of skin, and clothed

them.

2 Peter 2:14 14

having eyes full of adultery and that

cannot cease from sin, enticing

unstable souls. They have a heart

trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children.

Job 31:1 1 "I have made a

covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a

young woman?

The Need For Modesty

• Nakedness isn’t to be uncovered by anyone except our spouse  (Lev. 18:6; Pro. 5:19).

• Nakedness can and will stimulate sexual desire in another (2 Sam. 11:2; Pro. 7:10).

• Using sexual attraction to draw attention to oneself isn’t lawful except for one’s lawful spouse (Heb. 13:4; 1 Cor. 7:1-5). 

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Leviticus 18:6 6 'None of you shall approach

anyone who is near of kin to him, to uncover

his nakedness: I am the LORD.

Proverbs 5:19 19 As a loving deer and a

graceful doe, Let her breasts satisfy you at all

times; And always be enraptured with her

love.

2 Samuel 11:2 2 Then it happened one

evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king's

house. And from the roof he saw a woman

bathing, and the woman was very

beautiful to behold.

Hebrews 13:4 4

Marriage is honorable

among all, and the bed

undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God

will judge.

The Need For Modesty

• Dressing immodestly is causing an occasion for another to sin whether you intend it or not • (Mt. 18:6-7; Num. 31:16)

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It bothers me greatly to see Christians sharing pictures

of themselves in short shorts, mini dresses,

bikini's, leggings that cling to every part of their lower

half, etc.

Matthew 18:6-7 6 "But whoever causes one of these little ones who

believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were

hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the

offense comes!

Numbers 31:16 16 Look, these women caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the LORD in the incident of

Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of

the LORD.

REASONS FOR IMMODESTY

How do we make it known to other Christians that by dressing inappropriately, we blend in with the

world?

Dangers that Northside can confront regarding modesty!

Reasons For Immodesty

• Some are ignorant and untaught.• Some want to Blend  in.• Some want to attract

attention  and “turn heads.”• Some are naïve  and

don’t know how they really look. 22

• Some are careless and don’t stop and think about divine principles.• Some are careless about

allowing the world’s standards to influence them.• Even among our brethren,

the standards are gradually getting looser.

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Reasons For Immodesty

PRINCIPLES RELATED TO MODESTYHow is this fair to other Christians, when the bible says that we should not be stumbling blocks to others, yet we wear revealing and tight clothing that leaves little or nothing, to the imagination? I cannot perceive that Christ would be okay with us preaching the gospel in short shorts and super tight yoga pants. I just don't. I'm sorry if I sound rude, or exasperated, but shouldn't we get it by now?

Dangers that Northside can confront regarding modesty!

Principles Related To Modesty

• Shame (1 Tim. 2:9).– KJV uses word “shamefacedness”; ASV -

“shamefastness”; NKJV uses the word “propriety”.

– The Greek word here it is aiÎdw, transliterated aidos.

– Strong’s Dictionary says it means , “bashfulness, that is, (towards men), modesty or (towards God) awe”.

– Thayer’s Lexicon says, “a sense of shame or honour, modesty, bashfulness, reverence, regard for others, respect.” 25

1 Timothy 2:9 9 in like manner also, that the women

adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and

moderation, not with braided hair or

gold or pearls or costly clothing,

Principles Related To Modesty

• Shame (1 Tim. 2:9).–The idea of aidos is a

sense of shame or honor, modesty, bashfulness, reverence, regard for others, respect. –The idea according to

lexicographers is downcast eyes or bashfulness, even reverence. 26

Principles Related To Modesty

• Nakedness (Gen. 3:7, 10-11, 21).

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Thayer’s Lexicon says unclad, without clothing, the naked body

Thayer’s Lexicon also says “ill clad, clad in undergarments only.”

Strong’s Dictionary says, “nude (absolutely or relatively, literally or figuratively).”

The word Naked in the Greek is gumnos.

Point: One can have some clothing on and still be considered “naked.”

• Nakedness (Gen. 3:7, 10-11, 21).

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Gen. 3:11Naked

(Relatively)

Apron

Gen. 3:21Clothed

(Modest)

Tunic

Gen. 3:7 Naked (Nude)

Principles Related To Modesty

• Nakedness (Gen. 3:7, 10-11; Exo. 28:42; Isa. 47:2-3).

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This is why the Old Testament speaks of exposing the thigh as exposing one’s nakedness.

} Nakedness

Principles Related To Modesty

Exodus 28:42 42

And you shall make for them linen

trousers to cover their nakedness; they shall reach

from the waist to the thighs.

Isaiah 47:2-3 2 Take the millstones and grind meal.

Remove your veil, Take off the skirt, Uncover the thigh, Pass

through the rivers. 3 Your nakedness shall be uncovered, Yes, your shame will be seen; I will take vengeance, And I will

not arbitrate with a man."

Principles Related To Modesty

•Influence.• Our dress and actions affect others!• “Attire of a harlot” (Pro. 7:10).• David saw Bathsheba and lusted (2

Sam. 11:2).• Men can easily lust (Mt. 5:28; Pro.

6:25).• "Mini-clothes are symbolic of

those girls who want to seduce a man..." - Mary Quant, London fashion designer and designer of the miniskirt. 30

Proverbs 7:10 10

And there a woman met him, With the attire of

a harlot, and a crafty heart.

Matthew 5:28 28

But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery

with her in his heart.

Proverbs 6:25 25

Do not lust after her beauty

in your heart, Nor let her

allure you with her eyelids.

What is Immodest Dress For? The authorities answer loud and clear: SEX. Mary Quant, the designer of the mini-skirt, said, “Mini-clothes are symbolic of those girls who didn’t want to wait until dark to seduce a man.” Fashion Designer Leo Narducci says "that the woman who wears revealing clothes is one who is sure of herself, who thinks of sex more openly…she is not concerned about nudity. She has a body and she knows it!” Theodor Reik, fashion designer and author, stated: “The other day the owner of one of our most elegant dress stores stated that a dress is successful when it awakes in the man who looks at the woman the wish to take it off, to undress her.”

WAYS ONE CAN BE INMODEST

Dangers that Northside can confront regarding modesty!

Why do Christians believe that dressing immodestly is a matter of opinion, when it clearly is not?

Ways One Can Be Immodest

• Clothing sends signals to people and there are various ways we can be immodest: – Explicit nakedness; completely

unclothed .– "An astonishingly great number of

men are of the opinion that women are more attractive partly dressed - than nude. They prefer to see women partially disrobed to the sight of complete nakedness." - Theodor Reik (Of Love And Lust). 33

Ways One Can Be Immodest

• Clothing sends signals to people and there are various ways we can be immodest: –Conceal part of the body and uncover everything else, the “bikini  effect.”

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Ways One Can Be Immodest

• Clothing sends signals to people and there are various ways we can be immodest: –Cover the body tightly ; where the form is clearly visible.

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Ways One Can Be Immodest

• Clothing sends signals to people and there are various ways we can be immodest: –Cover the body with thin  fabric, where certain things can be seen.

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Ways One Can Be Immodest

• Clothing sends signals to people and there are various ways we can be immodest.

• Immodest clothing can be too short, too tight, too thin, too low, or too loose.

• This is true whether we are at home, playing sports, doing yard work, or even at a wedding.

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Ways One Can Be Immodest

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ModestShame

Good JudgmentGodliness

Careful Toward Others

ImmodestNo Shame

Poor JudgmentDon’t Fear GodMay Cause Lust

SwimsuitsCheerleading Outfits

Short DressesSplit DressesTight Clothes

Formfitting ClothesSun Dresses

Low-Cut Blouses & Dresses

Short ShortsJogging Shorts

Strapless DressesSwimming Trunks

See-Through StylesMajorette Uniforms

Ways One Can Be Immodest

•What do you think about that list? •Do you agree, disagree?

• This is something the world understands, but many Christians either don’t or are just in denial.

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Immodesty• God and His word are the standards we live

by and God expects all of us to be modest in our dress.–This is true whether you are a man or a woman

(Gen. 3:21).–This is true whether you are standing, sitting,

bending, or leaning.– It is more than the length of your clothing; it boils

down to honest, common sense.40

Immodesty

• Are you cultivating modesty in your heart? Can others see it in your dress? • Are you identifying yourself as one of God’s

people by your clothes or are you caving in to the influence of this world (Lk. 22:34, 54-62)?• May we all strive to be more modest every

day to please God and be an example to others!

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