Why are all bikinis often considered immodest by Christians?

[Joykins]

Those things are cultural. The instruction to dress modestly and to not cause a weaker brother to stumble are not.

I Tim. 2:9-10

I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

Decency and propriety fall under cultural standards. That fancy clothes and hairstyles are part of immodesty is not. The statement that actions speak louder than clothes, however, goes to the heart of the matter.

The bit about not causing a "weaker brother" to stumble is not found in the Bible under modesty issues. However, I will speak to that in my next post.

 

[South Bound]

I Tim. 2:9-10

I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

Decency and propriety fall under cultural standards. That fancy clothes and hairstyles are part of immodesty is not. The statement that actions speak louder than clothes, however, goes to the heart of the matter.

"I also..." should have been a clue that something important came before the portion where you chose to start.

There seems to be quite a bit of "How can I justify my behavior to do what I want" in this thread, and no "How can I consider my weaker brother".

For a bunch of people who are supposed to have died to self, died to the flesh, you all sure do seem to want to have it your way.

 

[OfArtemis]

I agree with your statement

Personally I have no problem with bikinis or thongs.

Guys are going to checkout pretty women no matter what they are wearing for the most part. I am sure there are a bunch of Muslim men right now making cat calls and whistles to a woman dressed in a burka, let's face it, anything can be sexualized.

On side note, I think women should be able to go topless, if us guys can do it so should they. We just need to stop specializing every part of the female body. The only thing that should be sexual is the genitals themselves.

Yes, it is true, I have a friend who is very attractive, but always dresses very modestly, yet she is contently having guys hit on her, and lust after her I'm sure. She absolutely hates it, so she does as much as she can to make sure she is modestly dressed, but she can't stop it, because it isn't her fault.

That would be *wonderful* if we could. But I just don't think the culture is going to change that much in my life time :/ However, I don't see it happening too much, as ladies, uh, really do need support there for running and all. Like even just jogging somewhere is awful without support. I don't understand how those girls go topless at the beach, well, I suppose they just walk and don't run while they are there?

 

[Joykins]

Here is the chapter, Rom. 14

Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.

well, there goes the whole purpose of CF

2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

Judging people, or treating them with contempt based on arguable matters of conscience is unacceptable.

5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister[a]? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11 It is written:

“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will acknowledge God.’”
12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.

This is where we all give each other credit for trying to do what is right before God.

Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.

This is not about tempting someone (or, apparently, passively tempting someone by dressing normally on the beach), but about either:

1) telling someone that something they feel is wrong is really right and then doing it right in front of them (i.e. contempt for someone else's conscience).
or
2) judging people for doing things that are, within the Christian community, a matter of individual conscience. I.e. judging them for doing something that is not wrong.

Either is bad. So is, apparently, debating these issues endlessly. Which should make anyone here consider exactly what items they should be debating here, if they take Rom. 14 seriously.

I'll let Paul have the last word:

22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.[c]

 

[Joykins]

"I also..." should have been a clue that something important came before the portion where you chose to start.

He wants men to pray without arguing. Think of it as part of a wish list

Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.

 

[Nithavela]

It's because the belly button is satans red buzzer.

 

[OfArtemis]

Here is the chapter, Rom. 14



well, there goes the whole purpose of CF



Judging people, or treating them with contempt based on arguable matters of conscience is unacceptable.



This is where we all give each other credit for trying to do what is right before God.



This is not about tempting someone (or, apparently, passively tempting someone by dressing normally on the beach), but about either:

1) telling someone that something they feel is wrong is really right and then doing it right in front of them (i.e. contempt for someone else's conscience).
or
2) judging people for doing things that are, within the Christian community, a matter of individual conscience. I.e. judging them for doing something that is not wrong.

Either is bad. So is, apparently, debating these issues endlessly. Which should make anyone here consider exactly what items they should be debating here, if they take Rom. 14 seriously.

I'll let Paul have the last word:

Wow, what good thing to keep in mind... Respecting what everyone else chooses to do since it isn't black and white. Thanks so much for sharing this

(And for some reason it didn't include your verses here, so I suppose the quote looks a little goofy)

 

[Oafman]

Well, instructing women (never men) on what they must wear might well be bigoted, backward and misogynistic.

But, as is often the case, you can console yourselves with the fact that Islam is much worse.

 

[Sammy-San]

Well, instructing women (never men) on what they must wear might well be bigoted, backward and misogynistic.

But, as is often the case, you can console yourselves with the fact that Islam is much worse.

Why are you comparing Islam with what the OP posted?

 

[Oafman]

Why are you comparing Islam with what the OP posted?

I though it might make you guys feel better.

 

[OGM]

If a person has a problem with women wearing bikinis...they don't have to wear bikinis or stare at people wearing bikinis. It is that simple.

 

[bhsmte]

If a person has a problem with women wearing bikinis...they don't have to wear bikinis are stare at people wearing bikinis. It is that simple.

Agree and well said.

For the most part, many seem to hung up on what other people do, when in reality, it has zero impact on them.

 

[Darkhorse]

If a person has a problem with women wearing bikinis...they don't have to wear bikinis

That's right - just take it off and wear a one-piece skinsuit!

 

[toramei]

It seems that we are so worried about skin that GOD has created and saw that it was good and we the people have a problem with it.Who's voice are we listening to ?
Are we judging ourselves again?

 

[Sammy-San]

I Tim. 2:9-10

I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

Decency and propriety fall under cultural standards. That fancy clothes and hairstyles are part of immodesty is not. The statement that actions speak louder than clothes, however, goes to the heart of the matter.

The bit about not causing a "weaker brother" to stumble is not found in the Bible under modesty issues. However, I will speak to that in my next post.

I disagree. What if a woman grows up in a Muslim country or culture, and she becomes a Christian, and decides that she doesnt want to wear a headscarf? Would she be sinning by not agreeing with the cultural standards and wearing it?

 

[KnowHisJoy77]

I grew up in a non practicing Christian family and culture and city known worldwide for their beach wear, among really tiny biquinis and men wearing speedos in crowded beaches and pools. I think the pics you shared are good example of regular size ones. To me they are fine.

First off, I really hope this is the right place, but if not, please direct me to where this oughta be! And secondly, I'm sorry it's so long, I just wanted everyone to right away understand why I'm confused about this.

I’ve grown up going to a Christian camp with the rule you stomach cannot show for your swimsuit (even though it was an all girls camp… huh?), at church retreats it has always been one pieces or modest tankinis, or even going to someone’s pool for a homeschool event no showing stomachs were allowed. However, I never hear anything about the bust area. Ummm, why not? Why don’t they say, full bust coverage? I’ve seen v neck swimsuits as low as the bust itself with the breasts peeking out the sides too at my Christian camp, but nope, that wasn’t a problem. But an inch of belly showing was??? I understand wanting the bust covered. Gotcha, that’s, well, private and I don’t want everyone seeing that. Of course. And the bottoms. Ahhh, I understand the desire for even shorts cause ya don’t really want your bottom peeking out. However, I don’t see that absolutely necessary if it does have good coverage (debatable, I know).

So all that I agree with, except, well the midriff. Now I’m not saying I disagree with that rule. In fact, I don’t know *what* I think. Thus, this post. First off, I understand your bottom and breasts, those are, uhhh… special on female types. Sure. But the stomach? Everyone has one. Guys pull off their shirts at a beach retreat and who gives a second thought about that being modest? Very few. But if a girl wears a bikini top that covers the bust up perfectly, it’s “Oh my gosh, that’s immodest, put a shirt on!” But what’s so modest about guys being topless when even if a girl covered up her bust it’s considered immodest? I’ve never been able to find a swim suit that both covered up the bust AND the midriff completely but not end up looking like a grandma or a plain athletic one piece (I’m sorry, but no, just no, plus those athletic ones don’t have built in bras). So, I always have to compromise. My swimsuit shows ever so little of the bust, but it’s not completely covered. Also, I’ve heard from a Christian guy that after you are in the water, even if you’re wear a tshirt, it’s skin tight, anyway. And guys will lust no matter what you are wearing, I’d like to point that out, no one forces a guy to lust. Sure, some situations might be harder, but just cause you are wearing a once piece doesn’t make you lust proof.

Here are some examples of the bikinis I am thinking might be modest (I’m just looking at the tops in these pictures): Swimsuit 1 | Pinterest
Swimsuit 2 | Pinterest
Swimsuit 3 | Pinterest

 

[Sammy-San]

I grew up in a non practicing Christian family and culture and city known worldwide for their beach wear, among really tiny biquinis and men wearing speedos in crowded beaches and pools. I think the pics you shared are good example of regular size ones. To me they are fine.

What's the difference between a bikini and a bikini top?

 

[Cearbhall]

Yeppp, tho it seems like most females shave or trim down there. Well not most, but most bikini clad females

I never have...I wouldn't say most, but I haven't looked at any polls.

...let's make a poll.

 

[LOVEthroughINTELLECT]

Why are all bikinis often considered immodest by Christians?

Because fundamentalism has dominated Christianity in recent history.

 

[quatona]

Why are all bikinis often considered immodest by Christians?

Why even care about their judgements?