Modesty — Cares About Others

 

I know that this week’s topic can be kind of controversial.  Usually there is much heated debate on blogs and Facebook about this subject.  However, it is very important to modesty, and one of the many reasons we are called to be modest.  So, I cannot write without addressing the topic of dressing with a concern towards others’ weaknesses in sin.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”  (Matthew 5:27-28)

This is not to say that the person who wears skimpy clothing is responsible for that guy’s sin of thought. 

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.  (James 1:14-15)

Most definitely not.  That lust sin is definitely the guy’s sin.  However, that girl, who wears the skimpy clothing, is responsible for other areas that displease God.  And that’s what I want to talk about today.  The Bible is very clear on the subject of making sure that we are not a stumbling block to our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, so much so that I don’t think that I could say it better than the Bible.  Some of these passages talk about eating since in the Old Testament there was a lot of rules concerning what was appropriate for the Israelites to eat (verses food prepared for idols), but I think that we can apply these verse to other areas of our lives, since there is a deeper moral code that these verses are really trying to get at—a love for others.

“Whoever receives one such child [or Christ’s disciple] in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.  Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!”  (Matthew 18:5-7)

For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.  Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more.  (1 Thessalonians 4:2-10)

Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.  Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.  (Romans 14:13-21)

However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.  (1 Corinthians 8:7-13)

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  (Galatians 6:2)

One more area that I would like to address on the topic of modesty cares about others is for wives.

For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.  (1 Corinthians 7:4)

This does not mean that the husband can order a wife around, abuse her, etc. for that would not be what God has told us on how a husband is to treat his wife throughout the rest of the Bible.  However, it does tell us that the husband has some interest (or say) in how a wife uses her body (as does the wife over her husband).  In this particular verse, it is talking about sexual relations, but I believe that it also shows that how a wife uses her body directly affects her husband.

When I go out in clothes that show a lot of skin or particular body parts, I am allowing others full viewing rights.  To me, that does not respect my husband, who I have taken a vow before God to give him the only sexual rights to my person.  (Again, not talking about abuse if anyone thinks that…)  So, in that way, a wife shows concern and love for her husband by keeping some things private.  Also, if our husbands feels that the clothing that his wife is wearing is too revealing, his wife should heed his words out of love and respect for her husband.

I think Jesus said it best on what our priorities should be and also why we should care to be modest:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:39b)

Next week, join me for Modesty — Corrupted by the World!

through His grace alone!

Sarah