Is Showing Cleavage Immodest? What Does the Bible Say?

[CharAznable]

I believe so, but I was wondering if someone can use reasoning other than "you cause others to stumble"

 

[jacquidube]

What can I say...... if you look at my photo you will notice I am showing alittle of my cleavage. This was not done on purpose as I never noticed it when I downloaded it. My husband was the one who pointed this out and asked me to change the photo but I didnt think it was that bad.
Some women do show alot of cleavage. Some women have huge breasts and love to show them off. I have failed myself and know showing your cleavage is for no other reason than to show them off.
I cant however say it is a sin but we must learn to be able to conduct ourselves in the right company.
A man just cant help but look down a womans top. Though, she may be covered and a man will notice the shape of a womans breast whether she is showing her cleavage or not. I could ask if it is right for a man to wear really tight trousers, especially in the church of God. I think it is gross but not sure if it is a sin.

 

[wonderwaleye]

Dear CharAznable

" Is showing cleavage a sin? "



NOT IF YOUR A COW!!!!


SORRY BUT I COULDN'T RESIST IT. ?????


SICK HUH???



XEven though you can't see Him, GOD is there!O
( click on the X and move to the O ) ( then feel who is around you ) steven

 

[Sketcher]

I believe so, but I was wondering if someone can use reasoning other than "you cause others to stumble"

Showing extensive cleavage is immodest, how's that?

"I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God." - 1 Tim 2:9-10

It's not an all-out ban on braided hair at all, he's just giving examples of immodest/extravagent dress of the time. Showing cleavage would fall into that category today.

 

[AutumnDreamer]

I do not think showing cleavage is a sin. It is the heart condition behind it. Some of us that are rather well endowed, have no choice but to show cleavage unless they are wearing a turtleneck. If your motivation is to show cleaveage to make men notice you, well that is borderline sin as you are more in a position to make someone stumble and do it knowingly. However if you dress a certain way that makes you feel good and makes your husband happy and it shows cleavage, no that is not sin.

 

[DIANAC]

I believe so, but I was wondering if someone can use reasoning other than "you cause others to stumble"

No!
Immodest, yes. At least in this part of the world.
And for those

rather well endowed,

may I suggest needle and thread. Nice pin will do it as well.

 

[AutumnDreamer]

No!
Immodest, yes. At least in this part of the world.
And for those may I suggest needle and thread. Nice pin will do it as well.

Sorry I have no desire to have clothing tight up to my neck, and that is the only way I will be able to avoid "cleavage"

 

[holo]

Well, think of it this way; would God approve or reject you as His child based on how much or little cleavage you're showing?

Do you think God intends for you to divide your job, home, spouse, yourself, your walk, your language and your clothes into these two categories, "sinful" and "allowed" and live your life based on that?

How come non-christians never seem to ask themselves questions like this, but instead apply common sense and normal consideration for others, and apparently do perfectly alright on a normal day?

 

[AutumnDreamer]

How come non-christians never seem to ask themselves questions like this, but instead apply common sense and normal consideration for others, and apparently do perfectly alright on a normal day?

B/c non christians don't care what God thinks. Non Christians are not trying to live by a standard God has set, so have no need to decide if something is a sin or not.

 

[DeafeningSilence]

What is the purpose of showing cleavage? That should be the question to ask. Sin is not in action, but in motivation.

Let's say that I am at work. I break from my work for a moment to stretch and yawn, and accidentally hit a coworker in the face. Is that a sin? How much different from that incident would it be if I intentionally hit him?

A side note...
If one must ask if cleavage display is a sin, then it's a good guess that the same person asking probably is sinning while displaying it. I do not have to ask whether or not it is a sin to accidentally hit someone while stretching, because it is not pre-meditated nor do I intend to do it again. If I were a scheming person, however, I might ask for justification before acting.

Sin is in the heart and flesh. You have the ability to separate sin from thoughts by first thinking about the roots of your ideas and then filtering those ideas through your sense of morals and spirituallity.

 

[holo]

B/c non christians don't care what God thinks. Non Christians are not trying to live by a standard God has set, so have no need to decide if something is a sin or not.

But God wants us to be happy, right. And part of being happy is not to offend each other. Most people are doing this, automatically. Are we believers more helpless than them? Do we know less about what's appropriate and not? Personally, I see lots more offensive things come from christians than the other way around.

I used to live in a world where everything and everyone was either legal or sinful. It was tiresome and unnatural.

 

[AutumnDreamer]

But God wants us to be happy, right. And part of being happy is not to offend each other. Most people are doing this, automatically. Are we believers more helpless than them? Do we know less about what's appropriate and not? Personally, I see lots more offensive things come from christians than the other way around.

I used to live in a world where everything and everyone was either legal or sinful. It was tiresome and unnatural.

My happiness doesn't come from not offending others, my happiness comes from worshipping God. I am not sure I understand what you mean?

 

[c1ners]

Well, think of it this way; would God approve or reject you as His child based on how much or little cleavage you're showing?

Do you think God intends for you to divide your job, home, spouse, yourself, your walk, your language and your clothes into these two categories, "sinful" and "allowed" and live your life based on that?

How come non-christians never seem to ask themselves questions like this, but instead apply common sense and normal consideration for others, and apparently do perfectly alright on a normal day?

To put it bluntly: A non christian would say something like: "Jeeze look at that **** with her boobs hanging out." It's not that we are right and they are wrong. There are some wonderful non christians in the world. The only difference between us is that I know where I'm going when I die, and they don't. christians are not perfect, and we need to stop acting like we are. It's just turning more and more non christians away from God. What right do we have to judge anyone? What right do we have to say that we should be able to wear suggestive clothing, but when a non christian does it it's wrong? God is the only one I want judging my life. HE should be the only one judging ANYONE's life!

Sorry, I got a little carried away there, and way off topic.

Cleavage: Yes, I guess it might be a little difficult to never show any. I don't know, I don't have that problem. Maybe wearing nice t shirts would solve that situation. Or a pendant. You might be wearing something for your husband, but if you're out in the world, other men have to look at you too.

 

[DIANAC]

My happiness doesn't come from not offending others, my happiness comes from worshipping God. I am not sure I understand what you mean?

OK. But is it loving as per 1 John?

 

[holo]

My happiness doesn't come from not offending others, my happiness comes from worshipping God. I am not sure I understand what you mean?

I mean that if somone offends you, your happiness may suffer, and vice versa. God doesn't want us to offend each other, and most people would agree, regardless of religion. My point is just: use common sense. You don't need a religious reason for showing or hiding a cleavage, just common sense.

 

[FallingWaters]

I believe so, but I was wondering if someone can use reasoning other than "you cause others to stumble"

In the Bible study I attend, we are studying Romans in depth. I have just gained a deeper understanding of 'causing others to stumble'.

Romans 14:13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

I would like to suggest to you that causing someone to stumble and fall away from their walk with God is no small thing.

Marriage counselors are always talking about how men are stimulated visually, but women are more stimulated by romance- generally speaking.

Jesus warned about how lusting after a woman is the same as committing adultery with her.

Matt. 5:28
But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

He also warned against causing others to sin.

Mark 9:42
“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.

Matt 18:6-7
“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. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!

If showing cleavage tempts men to lust after me, then I will not show cleavage. It is my aim as a Woman of God to have a walk worthy of the Lord. I know that "b**b-shirts" (that's what my 20 year old daughter and her friends call them) are in style right now, and while for the most part, I like to follow styles a little if I can, I also know that first and foremost, I must be dignified and modest.

Modesty is in the eye of the beholder. If we go to Arab or Muslim countries, their idea of modesty is much more conservative than the American one, and even over the past 100 years in America the standard has changed dramatically. Nevertheless, we live HERE, in THIS culture, and we must each make this determination for ourselves according to conscience, and we are not to judge one another in it... as it also says in Romans 14.

v4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

v10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

This is the standard each one must measure him/her self by:

Romans 14:23
... for whatever is not from faith is sin.

James 4:17
Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

 

[AutumnDreamer]

I mean that if somone offends you, your happiness may suffer, and vice versa. God doesn't want us to offend each other, and most people would agree, regardless of religion. My point is just: use common sense. You don't need a religious reason for showing or hiding a cleavage, just common sense.

Thank you now that makes sense, I thought you were saying we could only be happy if we didn't offend someone, I understand what you mean, and you are right common sense does play a part, unfortunetly not everyone listens or even understands common sense.

 

[AutumnDreamer]

Marriage counselors are always talking about how men are stimulated visually, but women are more stimulated by romance- generally speaking.

If showing cleavage tempts men to lust after me, then I will not show cleavage. It is my aim as a Woman of God to have a walk worthy of the Lord. I know that "b**b-shirts" (that's what my 20 year old daughter and her friends call them) are in style right now, and while for the most part, I like to follow styles a little if I can, I also know that first and foremost, I must be dignified and modest.

I agree with what you are saying, it is a matter of personal conviction. What we need to remember is that men can lust over a woman covered from head to toe just as easily as a woman that is wearing a bikini. Someone suggested a t-shirt, well a t-shirt if it is too tight can be just as enticing if not more so then showing cleavage(which is possible to do even if you are not wearing a low cut shirt). It is a matter of a heart condition, if your intent is too make men lust after you then yea I believe it is a sin.

 

[applepowerpc]

Is showing cleavage a sin?

Yes. It's that simple.

 

[asianchexmix]

Women must look their best but women can do that without showing cleavage. It causes us guys to stumble so it isn't a sin but hey, do us guys a favor! If we are a family, why would you try to help us sin? Wouldn't it be the opposite? I'm sure thats the general consensus here.