How do you feel about women not wearing bras? Is it a Sin?

9 likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.

1 Timothy 2:9–10


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The New Testament gives Christians over 100 commands and examples of how to live. People often look at just the 10 commandments, but the apostles instructed us with over 100 commands on how to live a godly life.

Also, if a woman dresses in a way that causes a man to sin, she has also sinned. (Sexy)

USincognito said:

What if she's wearing a strapless dress or a halter top?

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most churches solve that problem by simply lowering their thermostats.

Other than not going out of one's way to encourage prurient thoughts or tendencies in others, it's an individual choice.

I would also suggest some women should wear bras in the same way some men should not wear shorts.

Well, I can see a number of areas one might wish to take into consideration (health, comfort, "fit" of clothing, appropriateness to where/when you are). I honestly think that most women are capable of assessing those and making the right decision for themselves.

One thing worth noting is that a well-fitting bra can be very expensive. Poverty can be a serious barrier to having options in that regard.

USincognito said:

What if she's wearing a strapless dress or a halter top?

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Opinions will apply here. This is where your prayer seeking the guidance of the holy spirit will come into play. This verse may help you think on things a bit.

Philipians 4:8-9 (the whole chapter is good)

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

If dressing modestly and taking that step further in your walk with Christ is important, we must look at each and every single dress and consider it. Why do you like the dress? Because it's flattering? It makes you feel confident? It has beautiful colors or patterns? Why does it make me feel confident? Why is it flattering and what does flattering mean to me? Does flattering mean that it fits my figure and flaunts it, hides certain problem areas of my body? Both? Would others look at this dress on me and think of me as a Godly woman or could they get the wrong impression? Does this dress honor God? Am i comfortable wearing this dress in front of the Lord Jesus Christ? Would this dress entice men?

I am not saying you're stuck with Maxi dresses and Pants. Just prayerfully consider the clothing if you feel drawn by the Lord to consider your modesty.

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For example, on my beautiful fiancee, i do not like dresses that do not come below the knee. All her dresses must come below the knee, otherwise it bothers me. Halter dresses (where there are no sleeves i assuming) do not bother me as long as her cleavage is covered up. If she wants to wear a dress that goes above the knee, i like leggings that are not see through. She looks as beautiful as ever, and i feel she is dressing modestly. This is my personal taste and she is kind enough to do these things for me.

I pretty much never wear one, but I'm also basically flat-chested so there's not much point. I have no problem with any busty woman who chooses not to wear one.

Disciple37 said:

taking that step further in your walk with Christ is important, we must look at each and every single dress and consider it

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You seem to have some interesting notions on how to grow closer to Christ. I don't believe what I'm wearing has ever once curbed or enhanced a prayer. I'm kind of curious how that might work.
Is it like a video game? A dress with +7 Piety?

Maybe the number of points go up depending on how low the hem is, Haramis?

Haramis said:

I pretty much never wear one, but I'm also basically flat-chested so there's not much point. I have no problem with any busty woman who chooses not to wear one.

You seem to have some interesting notions on how to grow closer to Christ. I don't believe what I'm wearing has ever once curbed or enhanced a prayer. I'm kind of curious how that might work.
Is it like a video game? A dress with +7 Piety?

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If you look at Timothy, the verse posted above. It gives you an idea of what a Godly woman should want to do. If you do not feel lead yet to lead that kind of lifestyle, that's between you and God. I am not forcing anything upon you. However, your sarcasm is liken to rebellion when the Word of God refutes your very words yet you mock it by saying your presentation and physical apparel has no bearing when the Bible speaks directly contrary.

9 likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.

But it may not apply to you because you have yet to profess that you're a Christian so i dont know if that verse even applies to you. It may not.

If you are a Christian. Do you think dressing provocatively has no bearing on your ability to witness and represent your love for Christ? You should be representing your God every where you go and be in a constant state of prayer. If you look like you belong in the world, then the world you will belong and be called a hypocrite if you try to share the gospel. Have you set yourself apart from the world? Do you look different, act different? How are you to be a shining light for others to follow if you act, talk, and look like everyone else?

The woman is to choose according to her own conscious through Jesus Christ. There are no points, there is no hem length, there is no game. I also should not say that the way you dress necessarily reflects your relationship with God either. There are better ways to phrase that. We have to be careful not to delve into legalism in the way you dress either.

You simply seek the Holy Spirit's guidance in the way you dress.

I think unless your at home with your family you should probably wear one. Though in our situation my wife and I live with my parents so sometimes she wears one, sometimes she doesn't but has to wear a thick sweater....I'm sure you women know why. Unlike a girl I was with before who just worse single color t-shirts with no bra ANYWHERE.... which was uh.... noticeable. >.>

Hello, and welcome to CF!

I believe people (not just women) should be modestly dressed. What that means is another conversation.

But with that in mind, I don't think it's anyone's business if I wear a bra, nor do I think it's my business if anyone else does.

There are other ways to be discreet in dressing, other reasons that may be necessary, and there are cases where a bra is the right or only choice. But that is the woman's own business, imo.

Modesty is certainly desirable. But I don't think the intimate details of how to achieve it are up for public opinion, nor should we really concern ourselves with it.

Again, welcome, and if you need help finding your way around the forums, let us know.

My reading of the verse from Timothy is that it's more about costliness and displays of wealth, than displays of flesh.

That doesn't mean we shouldn't think about how we present our bodies, but I think that verse from Timothy's a pretty shaky foundation from which to try to harangue women about their necklines or hemlines.

(Of course - side note - the bra as we know it only dates to the late nineteenth century or so. It or anything like it would have been totally unknown in Paul's day, although apparently some Greek and Roman women did bind their breasts for support, though probably more for display than for modesty! Wind back a bit more than a century from our time, and you'd have had people discussing whether it was respectable to abandon a full corset, and no doubt opining that only a tight-laced corset would properly support a right relationship with Jesus... food for thought?)

Paidiske said:

My reading of the verse from Timothy is that it's more about costliness and displays of wealth, than displays of flesh.

That doesn't mean we shouldn't think about how we present our bodies, but I think that verse from Timothy's a pretty shaky foundation from which to try to harangue women about their necklines or hemlines.

(Of course - side note - the bra as we know it only dates to the late nineteenth century or so. It or anything like it would have been totally unknown in Paul's day, although apparently some Greek and Roman women did bind their breasts for support, though probably more for display than for modesty! Wind back a bit more than a century from our time, and you'd have had people discussing whether it was respectable to abandon a full corset, and no doubt opining that only a tight-laced corset would properly support a right relationship with Jesus... food for thought?)

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I think it hits both topics fairly well. It's not about Hemlines and Necklines. It's about your prayer and seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit on what is appropriate for you to wear.

Timothy reflects on multiple things - it reflects on a woman's attitude, vanity, and her dress.

I never mentioned a hem or a neckline that a woman should have .. the entire argument is that woman should not dress as a "prostitute" as the bible says and dress respectably.

That Respectable dress comes from her own conscious and hopefully she sought the holy spirit on the matter.

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But if we use our heads here. There's much more to Timothy than just face value. There's also the reason of WHY he would say that. I mentioned this above.

If you act, talk, and look like you belong in the world .. that's not going to help your testimony or your walk with God. You'll be looked at as a hypocrite. You're instructed to come out and be separate. So if you're going to the bar or club ... your dress isn't going to matter. You have other things to worry about than just what you're wearing.

Otherwise, a Christian woman is to go off her own conscious and ponder the word of God and seek what the Holy Spirit would have her do. Not some standard neckline or hemline that keeps being mentioned.

However, a woman walking around without a bra .. can be a problem. I am usually very able to see if there's a bra there or not whether busted or not so I do my best not to look, but that's just me. I think if you have the option to wear one in public, you definitely should consider it. This is a general statement and not reflecting the 1000 different scenarios that could happen on why i may not be able to tell or why i can.

You certainly did mention a hemline - you indicated that you disapprove of hemlines on the knee or above.

But I submit that any problem you have with how any woman dresses, is your problem, not hers.

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Paidiske said:

You certainly did mention a hemline - you indicated that you disapprove of hemlines on the knee or above.

But I submit that any problem you have with how any woman dresses, is your problem, not hers.

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I never said Hemline, i said i do not like a dress that comes above the knee. I like them below and clearly stated this is my own personal opinion and not of the Bible. That's what i liked and preferred. Other's prefer dresses that come down to the ankles. It is based off the woman's own conscious. Just hopefully her conviction is of God if she's a Christian and that's between her and God. I point out in the Bible where it's told to a woman to dress modestly and you are to dress modestly, and again, for the reiteration sake, that's between her and God.

Of course it's my problem if i do not like the way she dresses. I simply remove the problem by not looking or moving some where else? I dont have a problem with having a problem and solving my own problem.

But here's the thing - and it's why I tend to get grumpy in these threads - if it's really about the woman's conscience, everyone else should butt out. The refusal of others to do so suggests that there's some other concern at play.

Paidiske said:

But here's the thing - and it's why I tend to get grumpy in these threads - if it's really about the woman's conscience, everyone else should butt out. The refusal of others to do so suggests that there's some other concern at play.

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She asked a question and we simply tried to give a Biblical answer. I gave an example of what i liked and believed was modest for me. It may be different for others. Such as some other denominations who like the dresses to come down to the ankles and if the woman is willing to wear that clothing that's totally fine. We are simply trying to help. Or I am. The Bible is liberating to men and women alike.

In all honestly, the Bible also tells us not to focus on clothing. We focus on what is on the INSIDE of the person. The heart. Clothing does not affect salvation at all.

The thing is, the OP didn't raise the question of modesty at all. Later posters brought that in.

If you'd posted that the Bible tells us not to focus on clothing, as a starting point, we'd have had no argument at all. But the suggestion that what a woman wears "causes" a man to sin is seriously problematic.

Paidiske said:

The thing is, the OP didn't raise the question of modesty at all. Later posters brought that in.

If you'd posted that the Bible tells us not to focus on clothing, as a starting point, we'd have had no argument at all. But the suggestion that what a woman wears "causes" a man to sin is seriously problematic.

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The sin is always the choice of the sinner. This is where you get into the gritty details. The sinner is the one responsible for the sin. Regardless of the woman was naked and dancing. He is responsible for his sin at all times.

However, what the woman would be here, is a stumbling block. If a woman is wearing a skirt that barely covers her buttocks, and shows as much cleavage as possible would likely be considered a stumbling block as well. She's dressing in a way to cause men to sin .. on purpose.

Intention is often the cause of the sin. For example, if i look at a woman and think she's beautiful, that's not a sin. If i look at her and start doing things with her in my mind, i have sinned.

So if you dress with the intention of making men lust, you've sinned yourself.

Mathew 18:6
"but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea."

Luke 17:1
He said to His disciples, "It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come!

Peter 5:8-9
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

I want to be careful cherry picking verses, it's always better to read the entire chapter, but i believe these verses are fairly direct.