As a Christian, modesty is important. I don’t think many Christians understand what true modesty is.
I looked it up on dictionary.com and came up with this:
Modesty:
1. the quality of being modest; freedom from vanity, boastfulness, etc.
2. regard for decency of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
3. simplicity; moderation.
Whenever I speak of modesty to somebody, I immediately hear from the other person about clothes. Depending on the person, I get some good responses and some bad. Most of the time, when I’m talking to one of the youth girls I work with at church, I get a roll of the eyes and a deep sigh. I overheard two of them talking about it and saying, “Yeah, that’s just Julie. She doesn’t know what it’s like out in the real world.” That hurt, but I know that some of them listen to me. I’ve seen a t-shirt or tank put on underneath a stylish low cut shirt and smiled to know that that girl is trying to do what is right in God’s eyes.
The thing is though that modesty isn’t just about the way we dress. Notice the second definition up there. It is the one we are using and concerned with at this time. Dress is the last thing mentioned before the etc. Behavior and speech are mentioned as well. If a girl talks in a sultry voice or walks with her hips visibly and purposely swaying, it won’t matter what she is wearing, the guy will change the way he sees her. The first impression of how she looks is destroyed by the way she is acting. He may meet her at church or a youth event, but he isn’t thinking of how Godly she is.
The same applies to men and not only to women. Men should dress modestly. Please, don’t take your shirts off in public. I kind of like chests and I’d rather not see it because I wish to remain pure to my husband. Tight pants and muscle shirt tanks apply here as well. Though I think tight pants are disgusting, I know that some girls will swoon after watching a guy in some go by. There are some things guys do that can make a girl think the wrong way. A back or neck rub can be more than just relaxing. Leaning on the wall nearby may be fine, but towering over a girl while leaning can be a bit intimidating to some and enjoyable to others, depending on the attention the girl wants.
Also, modesty is not just about keeping the opposite gender from lusting. Let’s look at the definition again. “Regard for decency” can mean making sure our clothes are clean as well as our language and behavior. Being vulgar, whether it is through cussing or making bad jokes, is not being modest. It may not make someone lust after you, in fact, it may do quite the opposite, but as a Christian, it is like taking a chisel to our testimony of how Jesus has changed us through salvation.
One last thing, it isn’t part of the definition, but how modest are your thoughts? Much of the world around us does not understand how Christians should think. There is a lot out there that contradicts what we are taught in the Bible. Do you try and keep your thoughts pure? In other words, do you let hate, lust, envy, or covetousness in? Those thoughts are against what is in God’s word. We must remember Philippeans 4:8. It is our guide to modest thoughts.
So, how modest is your lifestyle? I know that mine is not modest enough. I try very hard to dress, speak, and act modestly, but I don’t always succeed. I want people to look past the clothes and flesh, right to the heart of me where Jesus is in control. I know that they don’t always see that and it grieves me.