Modesty, Can It Be Fashionable?

[DiscipleOfIAm]

Do you think when the Bible states a woman should dress modestly, it doesn't change with fashion? Example - a church, a lot of IFB, requires its women to wear dresses only, no pants, to promote modesty. Aren't some pants/slacks outfits modest? Compared to what most people wear these days, wouldn't you say that a woman can still be modest and wear pants/slacks, blouse, etc?

I ask because my wife has always had a hard time with this. She by no means wears anything revealing or provocative. But, she has a hard time with a church telling her she can only wear a dress and no pants/slacks. She feels that what she wears is modest, especially compared to what women wear these days. She would wear a nice pair of slacks, a sweater, and shoes and the church may not consider this modest.

Are we missing something?

Thanks for the input and comments in advance.

God Bless

 

[AJ]

I agree with your wife... So long as the outfit is in good judgement and modest, who cares? I don't believe that women should not wear slacks/pants... Just dress nicely, but like anything... Don't put too much emphasis on what you wear. (ie: Spending thousands of dollars on an outfit, etc)

 

[lucypevensie]

Yes, I think pants can be modest.

Like your wife, I would also have a hard time being in a church where I was looked down upon because I prefer pants. I'd not want to attend there. However, if it's the only church around that preaches the true gospel then I'd have little choice.

 

[Matthan]

It is my opinion (only) that any church congregation that places so much emphasis on what a woman might wear, as opposed to the message of Christ that is taught, does not have its priorities in order. Emphasis should be on getting people to come, not in telling them what they must wear in order to be right with God. It is the contents of the heart that matters to Him, not the covering of the body that man alone is so concerned with.

I would inquire as to who in that church congregation sets the dress standard they hold so dear. After all, if it is nothing more than a "tradition" of men, it is sinful in the eyes of God.

Matthan <J><

 

[Gold Dragon]

Churches should get out of the fashion consulting business.

 

[DiscipleOfIAm]

Churches should get out of the fashion consulting business.

Yep! The particular church we attend is not strict on this for regular attendees. The rule becomes law when attending the Christian school and Bible college they have on campus. More for the students, but parents have to abide by it when on the "school" grounds and in "school" activities.

BUT, we have attended a church that required it on Sunday services as well. Along with the church bylaws stated no dancing, no co-ed swimming, no dating, and other things. We have since move don to another state and have another church.

 

[GreenEyedLady]

I must respond because I am in "one of those churchs"

I think its a MUST that a preacher preaches modesty. Hello?
Look around, do you see all the 10 year old girls in mini skirts? All of the teenages showing their stuff to anyone who will look? Have you been to the mall latley and tried to by a skirt for your little girl? Did you find anything that touched the knee?
The way ladies and girls are dressing these days discust me.
I think, if you find a church God wants you to be in, and you play an active role in that church, then you should follow the preaching of the pastor.
If the pastor says don't wear pants because its not modest he just might have more expierence that you do in this department.
I didn't like it one bit, What is that verse.............whipping and nashing of teeth. Ya, that was me. But I gave in, and followed the preacher. WHY? Because God told me to. And I have been blessed by God because of my obedience.
GEL

 

[DiscipleOfIAm]

I agree with the modesty and definately agree with how disgusting it is to see the things girls wear these days.

BUT, what she, my wife, was getting at is isn't a pair of dress slacks and a blouse dressing modest? She is not wearing anything revealing, no skin is showing, nothing provocative, etc. How does a dress make her more modest than a pair of dress slacks?

 

[eutychus]

How does a dress make her more modest than a pair of dress slacks?

It doesn't. One can wear a dress and be immodest just as one can wear slacks and be immodest. If one wants to be immodest, it's not that hard. If one wants to be modest whilst wearing slacks, it's also not that hard.

 

[GreenEyedLady]

I agree with the modesty and definately agree with how disgusting it is to see the things girls wear these days.

BUT, what she, my wife, was getting at is isn't a pair of dress slacks and a blouse dressing modest? She is not wearing anything revealing, no skin is showing, nothing provocative, etc. How does a dress make her more modest than a pair of dress slacks?

Here is the truth on why pants are not as modest as a skirt. Pants show off a womans figure more that a long modest unfitted skirt does. One can see the shape of the womans behind, the curves of her lower cheeks on her bottom, and the shape of her thighs and hips by the way the pants are cut. Even in the most modest pants.We are just so used to wearing pants as women, we don't see how our lower body is really exposed.
Now, we all know that there are TONS of skirts out there that show a womens legs, show her bottom, show her stomach. Any skirt that does not cover the thighs when sitting down is NOT modest. Especially if it is form fitting. That would then go against the whole showing the figure thing that pants do.
One hundred years ago, pants were looked down upon. 1000 years ago pants were not worn by women. 5000 years ago, pants were not worn by women. Its a fad that has exploded throughout all the world. PANTS on women in the past 64 years. Think about it. Just because the world has changed its view on clothing doesn't make it any more right. The world says its modest, therefore, we say......ya its modest.
In the past few years, I have hardly seen a pair of pants on a women that looked really modest. ALOT of them are low cut pants giving even the slimmest women the plummer look.
Ewwwwww.
This of couse is just my opinion.
GEL

 

[DiscipleOfIAm]

I see your point. As a man, I don't think about the figure showing through pants easier than a dress. Funny, you would think I would be the first to notice, as a man.

Anyway, I definately see your points and agree with them. But, I'm still up in the air about the whole thing.

Thanks for the friendly exchanges though, I always enjoy other views and that's what is so great about these forums.

God Bless

 

[QustantinahQuaker]

Modesty is a good thing. Most Christians do not give it enough mind however. As a Quaker, I have made a Testimony of Simplicity. This means not dressing flamboyantly, as to call attention to myself, or being concieted as well does it mean that when I amass wealth, I do not go about spending spending spending or buying up giant houses needlessly when I could just as soon give that to helping my brothers and sisters who need help instead. With that said, I was raised to dress modestly. My parents too dress modestly; my mom wears a scarf when she goes out a lot of the time. Many 'headscarfs" or hijabs are very stylish; brilliant colors and patterns and such. She has many colors for her various outfits. When I was younger (untill about 5 or 6 grade) I wore a fez or scullcap sometimes. This too was for modesty. I only wear a fez when I go to meeting or visit relatives (then everyone practically wears one!)

 

[TwinCrier]

Here are some links to sites that have modest apparel. Some are Amish friendly, but most have very nice, modern styles:
http://www.stanosheck.com/Modesty.html
I also personally feel that a plain looking dress is usually prettier than the most flashy, fashionable pants outfit, but that's JMHO.

 

[rural_preacher]

The Scriptural concept of modesty really has little to do with clothing and everything to do with attitude and behavior:

I Timothy 2: 9 & 10
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, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.

I Peter 3:3 & 4
Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel--rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

Preaching about clothes is meaningless. Preaching about godliness will result in women who are modest and men whose thoughts are modest as well.

A fully clothed woman who is wearing "modest" clothing can be a very immodest person because she is immodest in attitude and behavior. Likewise, men who are worldly in their thoughts will look at women in an inappropriate way regardless of what those women are wearing. Preaching about clothing just leads to people who are something on the outside and but not on the inside. Godliness will produce the apporpriate behavior and clothing choices, and will produce men with clean minds.

Preach godliness not clothing.


--

 

[RED that's ME]

It must be a balance of both.

I agree with rural_preacher you MUST preach and teach Godliness too many people walk around looking and smelling like a christian on the outside but stinks on the inside.

Too many girls AND guys need to also be taught how to dress modestly. It's a fine line also cause we shouldn't be the "modest police" This is a topic that's a regular in the teen forum. There's been guys also who have said that a female wearing a dress can be worse than pants. To me it depends on how modest the dress or pants are and you can always wear longer tops over the pants. My youth group every few months has a night or Sunday morning in care group devoted to dressing modestly.

 

[Diakoneo]

I think that modesty goes along with humility.

I actually won the award last year for being the most humble person on the earth. Unfortunately when I accepted the award, they revoked it.

 

[TwinCrier]

LOL, thanks for lightening up this topic!

 

[paeonia]

I am a bit confused, sorry I haven't read most of the replies so I may be repeating someone here but....since when are pants and blouses not modest?

If the issue is modesty, then wouldn't dresses/skirts be worse? Don't pants and shirts cover more of you?

Just wondering.

I think it is really wrong to emphasize clothing laws within a church. Modesty yes, is important, but it should be dealt with on an individual and private basis if there is a problem, not treated as a "law" that is being emphasized more than Jesus' teaching so everyone starts making things bigger issues than they are.

 

[SonOfThunder]

I think that modesty goes along with humility.

I actually won the award last year for being the most humble person on the earth. Unfortunately when I accepted the award, they revoked it.

Funny post, thank you.

I would like to have the reader think about a man's clothing during Biblical times. We don't see men adorning long gowns which would be nice and cool here in our Australian climate.

Women wore clothing very similar to that of men. However, they could not wear anything that was thought to belong particlary to a man. The womans outer garment differed from that of the man. It was longer, with enough border or fringe to cover the feet. Modesty is important.

The congregation I belonged to before had unwritten dress rules and very soon a newcomer would conform, rather than look out of place. We are like that as humans arn't we?

When we enter a place of worship, I always consider Jehovah God is worth my best. I try to dress in my best not for man, but because I feel he is worthy of me making an effort. Like wise, if I were female I would consider my dress very carefully.


James

 

[Andyman_1970]

The Scriptural concept of modesty really has little to do with clothing and everything to do with attitude and behavior:

Preaching about clothes is meaningless. Preaching about godliness will result in women who are modest and men whose thoughts are modest as well.

A fully clothed woman who is wearing "modest" clothing can be a very immodest person because she is immodest in attitude and behavior. Likewise, men who are worldly in their thoughts will look at women in an inappropriate way regardless of what those women are wearing. Preaching about clothing just leads to people who are something on the outside and but not on the inside. Godliness will produce the apporpriate behavior and clothing choices, and will produce men with clean minds.

Preach godliness not clothing.

Excellent post RP

Here's a question for the "skirts only" folks - since the rational for wearing a skirt only is that "it's modest (maybe) and women didn't wear pants in Bible day" - does this mean men should wear what they wore in Bible days, a robe type garment?

BTW - I'm all for modesty, if someone feels lead to wear skirts only that's great - I think the line gets crossed when those who wear skirts only try to force that point of view on women who wear pants modestly (which my wife does).