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Copyright-2007

Hilltop Publications

Timothy S. Luchon

Pastor of Hilltop Baptist Church

Hunker, Pennsylvania

B.T, Th.M.

This book is copyrighted only to preserve the author’s right to his own work. This work may be used for teaching without the author’s permission. All that is asked is that proper credit be given, and that no other Bible other than the King James be used in conjunction with this work.

The only Scripture quotations used, copied and believed to be true in the English language, are taken from The King James Bible

First Printing – 2007

Hilltop Publications

280 Stone Church Road

Hunker, PA 15639

Phone (724) 925-7100

www.hilltopbaptistchurchpa.com

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A NECESSARY INTRODUCTION

The dress standards of females of all ages are of great influence and consequence in our present immodest society. However, this is especially true, as to the significance of the effects that are caused by the lack of feminine modesty, on the hearts and minds of a male.

This book is intended specifically to help women of all ages to have opportunity for more of God’s blessing in and on their lives. Although the principles found in this book will be consequentially helpful to the males of God’s creation; this is written mainly to and for the instruction, and if necessary, caring correction in the lives of the females of God’s creation.

All individuals that are born again have a God- given desire for the blessing and approval of their Saviour.

“Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.” II Corinthians 5:9

Although all of the blessings we enjoy come directly because of the grace and mercy of God, some blessing is obtained as the believer labors in being willingly obedient to instructive principles found in the Word of God. As we learn more of the Bible, and choose to apply those teachings to our lives, the more blessing we can experience.

The public appearance and dress standards of born again believers reveal many things about the inner attitudes of their heart.

What they wear, and how they allow themselves to be viewed in the eyes of others is not only an outward display as to the moral fiber of their character, but it is also an indicator of the Bible principles that have been learned, and are actively being practiced by each individual at that time.

I believe God ordained modesty primarily to satisfy His Holy eyes, but that is not the only reason for a woman to dress appropriately.

If a saved woman chooses to dress in an immodest fashion, she is to some degree, whether through lack of knowledge, rebellion, or even innocence, disregarding the safety factor of wearing modest apparel in an evil and wicked world.

The safety that surrounds modestly adorned apparel is not only for the woman who dresses right, but also for the sake of others; namely, men who do not need an additional temptation placed before their eyes.

Obedience to Biblical Modesty will have many different results. The most important of which, is to give “...women professing godliness…” an additional opportunity, to prove that they love their Saviour enough to “...adorn themselves in modest apparel…” I Timothy 2:9

Pastor T.S. Luchon

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Chapter 1

A PLEA FOR A REVIVAL

A PLEA FOR A REVIVAL OF A CHRIST-LIKE APPEARANCE IN OUR CHRISTIAN WOMEN

“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. “I Timothy 2:9-10

The issue of the dress standards of women who profess to be “Christian” has been one of great controversy. When I think of the word “Christian” as a Bible believing preacher, and as that word is defined in the Word of God, I do not understand why any controversy should arise “IF” God’s women would dress in such a way so as to appear CHRISTLIKE.

I thank the Lord for those Christian ladies who have already decided to modestly “dress-up” for the sake of the eyes of our God. These distinctly feminine disciples are a blessing to be around because they have not “dressed down” to the standards of this immodest world. These ladies have been taught, studied the Scriptures, and literally put on godly apparel that is pleasing to God and modestly appropriate in the eyes of men.

I also believe that there are many women who are a child of God’s, who would gladly dress as the Lord directs them to, if they knew what principles to apply to their public appearance.

I believe that any born again woman who desires and follows the guidelines as set out in the Bible on how she should appear by the way she dresses, will allow herself to be directed by God’s Word away from the immodest dress standards and the fashions of this world.

Please keep in mind that I am writing this concerning the appearance of professing Christian women in public.

I say that because I am reminded of a preacher I once spoke to who tried to justify why he would not teach Biblically modest dress standards to the women in the church he then pastored. That man actually said that a woman did not have to dress modestly in public if she did not do the same in the shower! He said that would be hypocritical!

You say, “That’s foolish!” I agree. It is worse than that; it shows contempt for the Word of God, a justifying of sin, an unhealthy fear of driving people away because of the truth, an attitude of compromise, and a very confused and ungodly level of thought.

Over the years I have been amazed at the negative attitudes surrounding this subject. No separated saint would disagree with the concept of women dressing modestly. If a woman professing godliness, a saved male, or a preacher, who is supposed to teach and preach the whole council of God disagrees with Biblical modesty, the condition of the hearts of such people is most likely much worse than their outward appearance shows.

I am not writing to those who are not yet born again. The Scriptures make it very clear that a natural unsaved heart and mind are not capable of taking in many things from the Bible.

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.” I Corinthians 2:14-15

The only thing we can do about the way the women of this world dress is to win them to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and by His Word, let the Spirit of God teach them these things.

By the way, if a woman (or a male) who reads this will not ‘receive’ the Biblical based truth contained in this book, perhaps they had better evaluate their own capacity to ‘receive’ such things. What a person cannot or will not receive when based on The Scripture, is an extremely accurate indicator as to the spiritual condition of their heart, mind and soul.

There may be a lady reading this who has never been instructed directly from the Bible about how to be modest in her public appearance. This book will definitely provide plenty of principles for them to think through. My hope is that it will help.

I am writing explicitly to those “…women professing godliness…” who should know better than to be dressed immodestly in any public place. I am also attempting to stand up and speak up for the benefit of all who truly desire to be and remain godly in their public appearance.

Many of God’s people are in many cases forced (only in terms of proximity) to view the immodesty of some of God’s women, just because of their weekly routines while at work or at church.

And as a result, there are believers out here who are being exposed to situations that the eyes of God’s people, and God, should not have to be subjected to. God help us to have a revival of not having to view the immodest dress habits of “…women professing godliness…”

Many of the things that will be read in this book are for believing women who should be able to handle strong doctrine, and the practical application of this teaching.

My hope and prayer is that these lessons about modesty in women’s dress standards will be

1. Received by the spiritually strong.

2. Honestly considered by those who are not yet convinced about being Biblically modest in public.

3. Purposely practiced by women with the Christian character to do what they see in Scripture, whether their hearts fully understand it or not.

4. Taught to this generation and the next with even more conviction as the days get worse!

5. Applied so that God’s eyes can look in the direction of more of His own female children.

Look at the words from Hebrews 5:11-14 below and take the time necessary to apply them to this issue at hand.

“Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Hebrews 5:11-14

Like I already said, this book is mainly written to “…women professing godliness…” Of all women, those belonging to God should be the ones teaching these things in word, and by a godly modest example, in the eyes of a saved public, and in the eyes of an unsaved public.

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Chapter 2

IS IT MALE, OR IS IT FEMALE

“The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.” Deuteronomy 22:5

“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel…” I Timothy 2:9

Because these two verses from The Word of God were inspired at the time they were written, then the teaching contained in these words is still to be applied and practiced for all time.

For many years there has been a small group of fundamental believers who have voiced loud and long that women should wear dresses and should not wear pants. By the way, that group is getting smaller and smaller today. What to wear has been presented by these believers, but far too many preachers have left out the other side of the Doctrine of Biblical Standards of dress.

What a woman wears is obviously very important to a Holy God. But let me say that modesty as seen in the eyes of a male, is just as important as what kind of garment a woman is to wear in the eyes of God!

If honest believers will look at the verses in this chapter they will have to draw some evident conclusions that must be thought through. Each lady will then immediately need to decide to practice these principles… or reject them.

I am amazed how people can look at verses of The Scripture, and still argue their own point-of-view without considering what is in plain view of the God who wrote those words!

The LORD of Heaven makes it clear that if a woman wears “…that which pertaineth unto a man …” that the woman wearing such clothing is first and foremost considered “…abomination unto the LORD thy God.” That alone should be enough for any lady to decide not to wear any article of clothing that “…pertaineth unto a man…”

Consider this next bit of Bible logic very carefully. If a woman professing godliness says that she believes “…every word…” in the Bible, then this one word “…pertaineth…” must be consulted as a foundational key in choosing clothing that does not offend the eyes of “…the LORD thy God.”

Look at the definition of this good Bible word.

Pertain

To belong; to be the property, right or duty of.

To have relation to.

I do not believe any born again woman would go out in public wearing clothing that actually belongs to their husband, or that of any other man. This is as far as some women choose to apply this principle in Deuteronomy. This covers only part of the teaching contained in the verse and in the definition of this one word ‘pertain.’ But why is it that the second part of the definition of one of God’s inspired words is so often not applied? Does not the teaching of this word ‘pertain’ also mean that if any clothing has any ‘relation’ to a garment worn by the opposite sex, the wearing of that clothing makes that person abominable in the sight of Jehovah?

I know what some will say. “But men and women dressed differently back then.” Yes, they did, but that has nothing to do with the women of the 2,000’s being able to wear “…that which pertaineth unto a man …” before the eyes of God today!

No matter what was worn by men or by women 2000 years ago, if a women desired to be pleasing in appearance in the eyes of God, she, as a woman professing godliness, would choose clothing that did not ‘pertain’ in any way, shape or form to that which a man wore in those days.

To be fair, I must say a brief word as to how relevant this passage of Scripture is to the very day in which we now live. It is a wicked shame that these verses must also be used to combat males who now dress in the garments of women! It is for this reason I believe that this verse is still as relevant today as it was the day it was first given by the inspiration and breath of God.

There was a day when no man in America would ever be caught in public dressed as a woman! My, my, how things have changed! Every woman professing godliness will easily agree that when a man does such things as wear a woman’s garment, it is revolting just to their thoughts, never mind to their eyes! But why is this principle not equally applied to a woman who dresses in pants that by design and appearance obviously ‘pertain’ to the normal standard and expected attire of every normal male in the United States of America?

The way some people try to ‘privately interpret’ Deuteronomy 22:5, you would think that they really believe God did not intend that same principle to be applied by women, young ladies, and even little girls today. The articles of clothing have changed with the times, but God’s standards of what to wear and how to wear those things have never been changed according to the Scriptures, and they still apply today.

I heard an old fashioned preacher say that the average restroom door at the local restaurant has more of a sense of Biblical standards for women’s clothing than many professing believers have!

Isn’t it strange to think that every time a woman walks into a “Ladies Room” dressed in a pair of pants that pertain to a man’s clothing; that sign on the restroom door is a faithful witness of one of God’s principles? If the owners of restaurants decided to lower their standards of what a woman is to wear, in an attempt not to offend an improperly dressed woman, we’d have a real problem!

Remember, if clothing worn by a woman only ‘pertains’ to that which is worn by a man, that does not mean that the garment is what a man would wear. It means just what it says. If a garment in any way is fashioned after, or looks anything close to what men would wear, the adorning of that garment is cause for being in a state of “abomination” in the sight and in the judgment of the Word of God!

Once a piece of clothing passes the test of being either a male or female garment, then the Biblical test of modesty must be applied.

Many people try to make their own case for the allowance of certain worldly clothing that might actually be hard to judge according to Deuteronomy 22:5; but when the test of modesty is added to the principles in Deuteronomy, many dresses and other articles of clothing that are definitely considered “feminine only,” do not meet Bible standards of modesty, especially as seen in the eyes of a male, who is by nature, in his thoughts and actions, a man.

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Chapter 3

IS IT MODEST, OR IS IT IMMODEST

“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. “I Timothy 2:9-10

There must be a distinct line drawn between the clothing worn by a female and that worn by a male. It is also imperative that unmistakable lines be established between where modesty ends and immodesty begins. These marks of Biblical decency and propriety must be made clear and plain to the eyes of God, and to the hearts and minds of men and women.

This particular subject should be very “cut and dry” so to speak. But it is not. The reason being for this dilemma is the fact that the eyes of a female do not naturally notice where immodesty begins when looking at another woman. However, the eyes of a male will be drawn to immodesty much more easily at times when the lack of modesty presents itself to their view in public.

I am not saying that that particular look is always a look of evil or wicked intent. That would be utterly unfair to many men who work very hard at being as pure as possible in the use of their eyes.

Another fact is that some of God’s men are weary, and even vexed because of the need to constantly guard their eyes from immodesty.

Perhaps if more women knew what they cause by their lack of being modest in public, they would better understand the need to stay clear of all levels of immodesty.

Let’s first define what we mean by the word modesty. God chose to use this good word to express to His English speaking people, what He desired concerning how ladies should dress. When the Lord uses a word, As well as the definition and usage of a word in its proper context, God wants the tenor of that word to also be applied.

MODEST,

Properly, restrained by a sense of propriety; hence, not forward or bold; not presumptuous or arrogant; not boastful.

Not bold or forward; as a modest maid. The word may be thus used without reference to chastity.

Not loose; not lewd.

Moderate; not excessive or extreme; not extravagant.

If all these things were applied to wearing clothing, the modesty issue would be solved as to the appearance of our Christian ladies. I will try to apply many of those words later on, but now let’s look at the other side of modesty.

IMMODEST,

Literally, not limited to due bounds. Hence, in a general sense, immoderate; exorbitant, unreasonable; arrogant.

Appropriately, wanting in the reserve or restraint which decency requires; wanting in decency and delicacy.

It is immodest in decency and delicacy.

Wanting in chastity; unchaste; lewd; as an immodest female.

Impure; indelicate.

Obscene.

As with the word modesty, if all these things in the definition of immodesty would be considered before a woman decides what to wear, and how she wears it, the immodesty problem would easily and quickly be resolved.

We are talking about lines between modesty and immodesty. Because of this, perhaps we need a visual illustration in words.

If a woman would take a mannequin of a female body and actually draw visible lines on that mannequin to show exactly were modesty ends and immodesty begins, such an experiment would be quite revealing.

After those lines are drawn, take clothing and dress that mannequin in such a way that no part of the lines you drew can be seen by the eye. If that mannequin can be manipulated into positions that are normal in a daily public routine; consider such movements while at work, at church or during any other public activity. As you do so, check to see that the lines you have established cannot be seen by any eyes that might be looking from any direction.

Now take that experiment a bit further. Begin to tighten the clothing on the mannequin. As soon as the shape of the body is readily seen near those lines, adjust the tightness accordingly ensuring the modesty lines cannot be viewed or perceived or imagined due to the tightness of the garments.

Then take and loosen the garment. When the mannequin is in certain positions, you will then have to make sure that parts of the clothing that cover certain areas of the body that need to covered for the sake of modesty, are not revealed because the garment is to loose.

I have no doubt that any woman professing godliness will have no problem identifying what lines on that mannequin need to be covered for the sake of decency and godliness, or to use words that God chose to express this, “shamefacedness and sobriety…”

At this point I will go no further except to say that it would be wise for a wife to go over this illustration with her husband. After mom and dad have gone over this together, a daughter could do this experiment with her mom.

In a day and time when so many women seem to be asking the question, “This clothing isn’t too immodest …is it?”

Isn’t our God worthy enough for His people to take the time to ask Him, “Is this clothing modest enough for your eyes Lord?”

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Chapter 4

LEVELS OF APPEARANCE

“Abstain from all appearance of evil.” I Thessalonians 5:22

A thinking and honest mind would have to agree that there are distinct levels of appearance in the eyes of others. Please consider these three basic categories specifically applied to that of a woman’s appearance to the eyes of men.

•Nakedness

•Immodest

•Modest

These levels must be considered not only in the understanding of man, but in the light of the Word of God. Each time a woman looks in the mirror she should ask herself, her husband, and her God, is this a Biblically acceptable appearance, or should I put on a more modest covering? That alone would stop many potential and unnecessary temptations, heartaches, problems, and sin.

Each of these groups attracts the eyes of men in several different ways. It is obvious that there are too many factors involved here to go into to all of them in any depth. Some areas that could be discussed are not fit to put in print. But I hope the reader will see it is true, that these three basics do have either a positive or negative effect on the eyes and heart of a male.

The reader must also understand that I am not writing this from the viewpoint of an unsaved male’s eye. Although a saved woman should also wisely consider those types of eyes and the effect she has on them, but that is another subject to be covered later.

Understand also that I am attempting to write from the point of view, (I am not ignorant to the fact that the opposite may be true) that no honest “…professing…” Christian woman would in any way knowingly wear her clothing in such a way, that she is purposely attempting to attract the eyes of unsaved or saved men, in an inappropriate and ungodly way.

What does God consider nakedness? Do you really know? Whose eyes are the better to judge such a thing? For this writing, we will leave out a woman’s view of this. By the way, God did so in Scripture. Perhaps it would be wise to follow this principle and look at this subject through the eyes of God and that of a male.

What we are sure of is that God defines nakedness much differently than many believers seem to understand.

Nakedness in the eyes of God begins at the point where modesty becomes immodesty.

In the eyes of man, nakedness means no clothing is worn. God’s eyes have set much safer lines than that of this worldly view.

In Genesis 3 we find the first usage of the word naked. Look very carefully to see this account of what God and the first man considered to be nakedness.

“And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked..?” Genesis 3:7-11

Notice the progression of events. Innocence was destroyed due to sin. Now that a sinful part of their consciousness was activated, Adam and Eve now understood that because they had no clothes on their bodies, something was wrong.

They then made aprons in an attempt to cover what they considered to be nakedness. Adam and his wife decided to hide themselves from God in verse 8. It must be understood that they had already made the aprons before they heard the voice of God calling to them. Then The LORD God comes to Adam as he and his wife are hiding. This is done while Adam and Eve are dressed in the aprons they made. At that time Adams says to God that he “…was afraid, because…” he “…was naked…” Adam had on an apron, yet he knew that before the eyes of God that he was still considered to be naked!

Now look at Genesis 3:21as God’s Word says,

“Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.”

The teaching here is in the context of the law of the first mention in Scripture. What Adam called nakedness was different than it now is in the eyes and in the understanding of this world, and even to some born again believers.

Adam considered himself to be naked even though he was wearing an apron!

What Adam was wearing at that time was nowhere near suitable to be in the public presence of his wife, or in front of the eyes of his God. Because there were three sets of eyes actually present, the privileges of man and wife did not apply. It would be wise for godly couples who are married to consider the lesson here. When there are three sets of eyes present, in physical proximity, that situation automatically requires absolute modesty in the appearance!

Did you notice that God made “…coats…” for Adam and Eve to wear? A coat is obviously a garment that covers much more than just that of an apron. In fact, a coat is defined as, ‘A cover; a layer of any substance covering another.’

It is interesting to see that God did not consider them “…clothed…” until He covered their idea of covering their nakedness, with the higher standard of covering. God’s standard of covering is more than one layer of clothes! The coverings produced and worn by sinful men and women are very obviously not the kind of garments that God considers modest, for the proper covering of nakedness! God’s women ought then to go the ‘extra inches’ in planning to be modestly covered!

We can say with Biblical certainty that even though Adam and Eve covered themselves to some degree, that God wanted much more modest apparel in front of His Holy eyes! Adam and Eve’s estimation of being covered was at best, only considered as immodesty. And remember, there was at that time no other eyes involved except their own, and that of God’s.

If the reader will look just a bit harder at this, she (or he) will see that The LORD put this account in His Word so that mankind had God’s first words on this very subject. In following the principles here, this will be a great help so that “…women professing godliness…” can intelligently, and intentionally choose to put on clothing that properly and modestly covers their bodies in the eyes of God and men!

I do not believe a ‘godly woman’, who sees and understands the importance of proper dress standards in the light of these Scriptures, would publicly wear any articles of clothing that gave the appearance of nakedness. But it is very noticeable, that many of the women in our kind of churches are wearing things that leave no doubt to the fact that they are dressed immodestly.

For any type of clothing to be considered modest, that apparel must cover any part of the body that should be covered, especially when in the potential public view of the eyes of any man.

I have realized as I am attempting to write this book, why some men seem to shy away from putting such things in print. For one thing, just thinking through these principles causes me to better understand my own sin nature. But this needs to be said, it needs to be taught, and desperately so by and through the eyes of a male!

When dealing with this subject a woman must do her best to understand the truth of this statement, “A woman cannot see her appearance and its affect through the eyes of a man. Unless a man can with decency and honesty, do his best to explain this according to Bible Holiness.”

Ladies, for God’s sake, and for the sake of the eyes of godly men, please cover any area of your body that for decency’s sake, and for the sake of holiness, prudence, integrity, propriety, and faithfulness to honest marriage vows, needs to be covered!

Let me sum up this chapter with this statement.

“Modesty, if it is Biblically correct, will never be confused or associated with any level of nakedness or immodesty.”

Ladies, at which level of modesty do you appear?

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Chapter 5

ATTITUDES DETERMINE APPEARANCE

I Timothy 2:9-10 “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works...”

Any Christian woman reading this must agree, and should admit that we live in a very strange and very immodest world. In our own American history, it wasn’t all that many years ago when a woman who dressed like a man, at work or at play, was considered unfeminine, ungodly, and ‘out of her place in society.’

The fashions of this world come and go, but what is fashionable to the eyes of a Holy God has never changed.

I am not saying that a woman needs to dress as a Middle Eastern woman, but it would be better for men and women alike, if the clothing worn by our Christian women was Biblically modest. It ought to shame a woman “…professing godliness…” when an unbelieving easterner, who does not know Jesus Christ as her Saviour, is more modest in her public appearance than one of God’s saved women.

Years ago there was a commercial that was popular on television that glamorized a ‘woman of the world’s rights’ to now be able to smoke in public like the men of the world. Holding a cancer stick (that’s what the world calls a cigarette) in her hand, and fashioning a tight pair of pants (even in the unsaved world, those used to be worn only by males) the narrator proclaimed, “You’ve come a long way, Baby!” Yea, a long way to the wrong way, but not in God’s way!

I have often wondered how such blatant disdain for God’s principles of showing a difference in the clothing between a male, and distinctly being defined as a female by the apparel they wear, have polluted the minds of so many precious women.

There are many verses in the Word of God that speak directly to this issue. God’s women are not to be in step with the fashions of this world and how its women dress in public. God’s women are to present their bodies to God. That means that what they wear on their bodies should properly cover their body, in honor of the God who purchased them with His own blood on the cross.

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” I Corinthians 6:19-20

I would ask every woman who “…professes godliness…” and every woman who is born again, to read those verses again carefully, prayerfully, and completely. Ask the Lord to help you to do so without getting offended. Psalm 119:165 will help any woman who has a hard time controlling her spirit in this area.

“Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” Psalm 119:165

It may be that someone who would get offended at these things could learn how not to offend God and others by changing the way they dress before the eyes of men, and by changing their attitude concerning Biblical separation in dress styles.

Perhaps a lady who is struggling with this issue will be brought to the place, where she will settle the fact that her body, first of all, belongs to God. Then if she is married, she understands that her body also belongs to her husband. Both God and a godly husband want that precious gift of God, properly adorned and modestly covered in public.

I hope this might even settle deep within a woman’s heart, that her body is never said to be her own. (“…ye are not your own…”) Perhaps some mom or dad will see the importance of these principles when applied to the dress styles and appearance of their precious daughters. I am amazed that some seem to think it is OK to dress a baby or a toddler immodestly. I wonder if some of those parents have checked the missing-child posters lately! What a child learns about how to dress when they are young will show up beginning in the teen years in their attitude.

When that realization is understood spiritually, any woman who has not dressed properly in public for the eyes of her husband, her children, and before the eyes of God, will have no problem in beginning to do so. A mom and dad will be wise to begin instilling Biblical dress standard in the minds, hearts, and in the appearance of their children now, before it is too late to turn them around.

Read the following verses in light of what you just read, and see the application.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1-2

Did you see that word “…conformed…?” The word as defined and interpreted in this verse, teaches us that one who would present their bodies to God is not to be ‘fashioned after’ the world.

Let’s dissect this carefully, and keep within the context of that verse by pulling apart some of the many usages of the words in the text.

•The ungodly fashions of this world, concerning many of its types of clothing, are designed to conform to the shape of a woman’s body.

•The clothing is made more to resemble a body being uncovered, instead of providing a modest covering.

•Worldly clothes draw attention to the body in an unholy manner.

•The apparel of the world is made to form to the skin and to reveal the body to the minds of those who look at the fit of the garment.

•The worlds clothing is worn to present the body to the eyes of the world and not to the eyes of God.

•The fashions of this world are designed not to hide what is supposed to be holy in the eyes of only one husband.

•Saved women who dress immodestly are copying the standards of this world instead of presenting an appearance of heaven while on earth.

•A woman who dresses to conform to this world is not presentable to eyes of the Holy God of Heaven!

•The way some professing women dress, they show no visible outward affect of the sacrifice that the Lord made for their sin.

Some of those statements are very pointed and to the point at hand. My intent is not to hurt any lady who reads this, but only to get some to consider that this is not a small thing in the eyes of God, or in the eyes of God’s faithful men.

I understand that there are some women who are professing believers, who are not intentionally dressing so as to be a stumbling block to the eyes of men. These have not had the privilege of being taught and shown this, from solid and straight forward Biblical principles. They really may not understand how to dress as a Bible Christian. Yet, as they go out in public, and to God’s House, they are many times a source of stumbling to some eyes and hearts.

Because a saved woman may not be aware or knowledgeable of clear Bible dress standards, it must also be said, that she may unintentionally put a temptation in front of the eyes of a godly male, or a true servant of God. When it comes to this issue, there are men who are actually and intentionally working diligently, and being faithful at keeping their eyes on only their own wife! God’s women should be much more careful in how they dress so as not to be distracting to anyone’s eyes.

Yes, it is true that a male should not intentionally look at an immodestly dressed woman; but it is just as true that a woman, especially a woman “…professing godliness…” should not intentionally (or unintentionally) dress immodestly!

Both are wrong! But a woman who learns what the Bible clearly teaches about this, and still chooses to dress inappropriately, has passed from a state of innocence (or ignorance) in this into willful and deliberate sin. By doing so, she commits sin before no less than three sets of eyes; against her own conscience, the men that she tempts, and the Holy God who sees her heart, and her unholy outward appearance.

If a woman is faithful in a strong Bible preaching church after she receives Jesus Christ as her Saviour, as she is taught these things, she will begin to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord’s will for how to dress. This growth will be in the attitude of her heart and in her appearance.

Because every woman who is born again has been sealed with the Holy Spirit of God, she has available to her the greatest teacher in all creation.

He, The Holy Spirit, will never lead a woman to sub-standard dress styles, nor will He lead her into cultish extremism.

A saved woman must be fully aware of the fact that the Spirit of God lives within her body, and He is Holy, and will not be pleased to dwell “…sealed…” (Ephesians 4:30) in the heart of a woman who will not “…put on…” a holy appearance as a woman “…professing godliness…” God, through His Holy Spirit, will lead, guide and direct a surrendered woman into a proper attitude (a good spirit) about teaching, preaching, and the practicing of modest dress.

Consider this application of Colossians 3:9-10. These words apply to many areas of a new believer’s life. These words can be accurately and correctly applied to the attitude that controls the dress standards of women. It must be understood that the word “man” as used here is speaking not just as to a “male,’ but to all of mankind that has received Christ as their Saviour.

“… seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:..”

A saved individual, who desires to practice his or her Christianity outwardly (and of course inwardly) by the appearance of their clothing, understands as taught by Scripture, that they must “…put off…” some things that were characteristic of their old life before he or she was saved. As applied in this case to a woman, she learns that she is to “…put on…” some different things, other than that of which she has been accustomed to. This takes place by learning about the appearance of her dress styles from the Word of God, and then doing what she learns.

As these things are applied and practiced, a women professing godliness will begin to be seen outwardly by others as such. The attitudes of her heart will begin to be apparent in the choice and in the adorning of her apparel.

The reverse is also true. If the heart of a women is not yet convinced as to viable modesty, if she will submit to these things, and go ahead in faith by putting on modest clothing, her heart will catch up to her outward appearance in due time.

The Lord Jesus introduced this very principle as He said in John 7:17, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”

If we will practice what God says in pure obedience to His Word, even before we have it all figured out, eventually we will “know of the doctrine.”

This principle is taught again in Luke 12:34, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Proper attitudes about Biblical modesty must often begin by the doing of it, before the heart is altogether convinced. When a woman exercises faith in the Word of God concerning this, she will be blessed with the right attitude, and will be a blessing and an example of such in the adorning of her apparel.

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Chapter 6

INNOCENCE IN AN IMMODEST SOCIETY

THE DANGER OF INNOCENCE IN AN IMMODEST SOCIETY

In my experience as a pastor, I have seen that many women (not all) when initially confronted with what a Christian lady should wear, and how they should wear those things; some tend to look at this issue from only the preference of their own eyes, instead of through the filter of Bible principles. Please bear with me as I attempt to set the tone of this chapter by bringing to mind some different levels of innocence.

No matter what background a woman came out of before salvation, she, not yet knowing the full importance of this issue, is “sort of” in a realm of innocence. This is a level of innocence which falls under, or is closer to, honest ignorance or unawareness.

A teenager, or even an older woman who wore immodest clothing before she was saved, may not have known the effect that those garments, and what they caused in the eyes of men. They may have been in innocence concerning what was worn and of the consequential effects on others.

There are those who get saved at a younger age who were not exposed to knowing about how people in the world look at them through eyes uncontrolled by Bible principles. For the sake of this illustration, we will say that these young ladies are in an even stronger realm of innocence.

I hope you see that I am trying to draw a very fine line here without assuming either good or bad.

If any of these women continue on in their Christian walk without being exposed to the influence of Biblical dress standards, they may still be to some degree innocent as to why they dress as immodestly as they do out in public or in church. Surely, if they knew how they appear to others, they would not do so.

I believe this kind of innocence, in our present society, is without any exaggeration, so bent toward immodesty, that it must be appropriately and decently educated, by using strong and balanced principles of godly modesty.

Thank God that such innocence can still exist. But just because a woman is not aware that her immodest appearance could be the cause of potential problems, this is no excuse for such church members to remain untaught. Someone needs to kindly help such women, teenagers, and even children, not to inadvertently commit the sin of immodesty, whether in innocence or not. The consequences of not doing so have become much too dangerous to be ignored.

I understand that this is a hard thing to deal with, but for the sake of the innocent, we must achieve a Biblical and acceptable balance with what is right, good, pure, and most of all, that which is the safest, and wisest for the innocent.

Let me try to better explain those complicated observations with these simple thoughts.

(Please note that I am using the word evil as an ‘intent to do harm.’)

Innocence is not capable of seeing what evil sees.

Innocence can see someone looking at them; but they are not able to see how they are being viewed by evil eyes.

Innocence may not recognize even an inappropriate look that carries no intent to harm.

With those thoughts in view please read the next section very carefully. I will warn the reader, it will seem extreme to someone who is not attempting to see this subject from a purely Biblical point of view.

We as believers had better recognize that we now live in a world in which it has become backward and reprobate concerning what is Biblically right and wrong. This present world has become a very dangerous place for innocence to co-exist with the ever increasing levels of wickedness.

This is why the Doctrine of Biblical Separation from the world as applied to how a woman dresses in public, is of such extreme significance and importance!

It is dangerous for any woman to live in the innocence of not knowing Bible principles of modesty. It is dangerous both physically and spiritually to her and others.

It could be that innocence of these principles is due to the fact that a woman has not taken the time needed to study this out by searching the Scriptures. Another reason some ladies may be innocent as to how to dress as a Christian, is because they have been under only shallow teaching on this subject. Other born again women may have been under the influence of a compromising and worldly pastor who taught that such principles were what they have mislabeled as legalism.

All of these ladies could be under some level of innocence. Whatever the actual reason (or excuse), there are many good women who honestly, and sincerely do not see the effect they have on many different kinds of eyes by the fashions they choose to wear.

Whether a woman dresses immodestly because of innocence, ignorance, callousness, indifference, being sheltered from strong teaching of standards, or just plain rebellious obstinacy, there is a truth that must be before the hearts and minds of every female, at all ages: they are not only in danger from evil or wickedness themselves, but they are placing others around them in different levels of danger. Call this extreme if you dare, but read on. For if the importance and relevance of this in our present day has not already moved you to action, it will!

Please do not pass the following things off as unimportant, nor as too extreme. I will now try to apply this chapter directly to the worst end of what willful ignorance, posing as innocence could be.

In light of these things, you will see that any woman, teenager or child, ought to dress modestly.

Wouldn’t it be wise for a mother to dress modestly in front of a daughter so as to set a godly example for those eyes to follow? Even if a mother does not fully understand these things yet; or even if she wants to continue to dress immodestly to suit herself, isn’t it still prudent to obey these things if only for the sake of a precious little daughter.

American women had better wake up out of this area of innocence! Those little ones who are now watching you are about to enter into the view of a world where they will be subject to more evil, and more-and-more wickedness than perhaps you or I are presently able to understand!

If a saved mom will stop and consider this deeply, and put this into practice in the lives of those under her responsibility, she could avoid being the cause of much harm to her baby, a child, or teenage young lady. If a woman, who was in innocence, now continues in or allows immodesty, just to be in fashionable standing with the world, know this: that rebellion could end in tragedy and heartbreak. That is a very real danger that all women, single or married, girls, teens, moms (and dads) must consider and apply.

This danger can range in scope from the suffering of only an inappropriate glance, to the mindless and heartless molestation by a wicked and perverted earthly ‘procreator of children’ (I refuse to call such a male a father!), who no longer knows what good and pure is!

You say, “That is too extreme!” If you would set aside your innocent, willfully ignorant, or rebellious view of Biblical modesty, and ask God to help you to see this through the filter of God’s Word on these things, you would see immodesty for what it is and for what it can and has caused a thousand times over!

God’s view is HOLY! He sees this through eyes that are PURE! The Lord’s goal is only RIGHTEOUSNESS! He is ALL SEEING!

I firmly believe that principles from the Bible uphold the fact that this is not extreme enough! God has warned us that increasingly worse days of evil would come. Those days are here now! And things are not going to get better!

When innocence turns into willful ignorance, and the intellect sets aside Biblical principles of modesty, only tragedy can result.

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Chapter 7

DRESSING FOR DEFENSE IN A DANGEROUS WORLD

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good…” II Timothy 3:1-3

All those highlighted words directly apply to the subject at hand. Those words should stand as a firm warning for the prudent woman, and cause her to be on guard in the view of the eyes of this world.

If we are going to keep our precious Christian women (of all ages) as safe as is possible in this immodestly sinful world, then none of God’s people can afford to live in ignorance concerning the dress standards of “…women professing godliness…”

It would be very wise for Christian women to go on the offence in being defensive in their appearance.

It is time that more “…women professing godliness…” plan to be unmistakably modest. If they would just determine to be distinctively Christian, this would eliminate many offences first in the eyes of God, and in front of the eyes of both godly and ungodly men.

The context of the next verses lend to a very pointed application on this issue. Because it is true that “...evil men…” will get even more wicked, doesn’t it make sense for godly women to see an increased need to practice being more and more modest?

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse…” II Timothy 3:12-13

Now look at this in another way. It is also stated that “…seducers…” shall also get worse.

What does the word seduce mean? Ladies, don’t miss this application, for it is the exact interpretation of the word ‘seduce.’ Look and understand how this directly applies to how a woman dresses before the eyes of men!

To draw aside or entice from the path of rectitude and duty in any manner … to tempt and lead to iniquity; to corrupt; to deprave.

To entice to a surrender of chastity.

No woman, especially God’s women, should ever dress immodestly even due to innocence or ignorance in this matter! No woman “…professing godliness…” should dress in such a way as to be the cause of the bold words we just read in the life of any male. She needs to be dressed for defense for her own sake and safety, in order to ward off evil men. Modest apparel is the best defense against the wandering eyes of a wicked seducer!

Now look at this same verse in another way. If a woman chooses to dress immodestly in spite of clear teaching from the Word of God, she falls from the defense of being adorned with modest apparel, to going on the offense of being an active “…seducer…” herself. If this is the clothing of choice for a woman, she could then be directly responsible for an attack by some evil man’s wicked desire. She could also be the cause for a good man to be drawn aside from a godly path, enticed to fail in his duty to be pure, and tempted to do wrong with his eyes, and yes, she could even be the seducer responsible for the ruin of a good testimony!

What a shame, and what a tragedy for this sort of thing to happen because of a female who goes about destroying those she has left in the wake of her seductive immodesty!

Ladies, perilous times are here. It is time to put on the security, protection, and the defense of Biblical modesty.

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Chapter 8

THE LOUD VOICE OF IMMODESTY

“And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house...” Proverbs 7:10-11

I understand that no woman who truly and honestly professes “…godliness…” in her appearance, would go out in public dressed in the manner of the “…harlot…” described in the verses above.

Please allow me to employ the next bit of sarcasm, for it will serve to illustrate this very well.

I want to believe with all my heart that no godly woman would dress with any conscious conformity to the fashions of a harlot; but the truth of the matter is, some woman is going to read this and get mad at me; not because what I say is false, but because it may reveal the truth about her public appearance. Pride will be a great issue in some of this.

I have seen professing Christian women who did not seem to know that they were embarrassing every truly godly woman around them, by the immodest things they were wearing at the time. I believe that those women knew something was wrong due to the feelings they perceived from those who tried not to blush too many shades of red, so as not to hurt their feelings.

When placed in such company, godly people always feel some-what uncomfortable. Women who in their dress standards are substandard and worldly, are often too quick to assume that such a person is being a pharisee, a ‘legalist,’ or that they have a sin problem in the area of looking at an immodestly dressed woman. That last one is perhaps more so the truth than we or they want to admit! But those assumptions do not change the facts, nor do they provide an excuse for their ungodliness. I truly believe that if women would not dress like a harlot, there would not be such a sin problem in certain associated areas of our society!!!!

And by the way…there are some men who have a problem with this sin alright. But they have a problem in the fact that they hate that a woman would so degrade herself as to show up in public dressed to cause such problems! Amen!

It also bothers some of us when unspiritual people are not bothered for the right reasons in this issue. These cannot give one verse that allows their ungodliness, because there are none, but they will criticize these good principles. When such short-sighted and unspiritual people do such things, they had better be careful that what they think they perceive in spiritual people, may actually be the indignation and the grieving of the Holy Ghost of God, and the fact that He too is being made to feel the same uncomfortable things as the godly and spiritually dressed believers are feeling, because of blatant immodesty.

In this particular case, just because “the shoe fits,” …perhaps you should not wear it!

So far, this chapter has been addressed to the extreme side of this issue, and it is needful. But now let’s focus on what any level of immodesty might be speaking to others.

Any woman, who desires to please the Holy Spirit who dwells within her, must carefully consider how a man’s eyes, heart, and his ears can be affected by the immodest appearance of clothing.

Even though a woman is not consciously attempting to call the attention of a man’s eyes in an ungodly fashion; it is also true that certain types or styles of clothing, and how those garments are worn, can and do attract evil, ungodly, or just inappropriate glances without the woman being conscious of it.

Any level of immodesty in appearance, whether it is planned or not, still emanates ‘a voice,’ and communicates the wrong things.

It does not matter if these things are perceived or assumed by the wrong type of eyes, they should always be avoided, especially among Biblically knowledgeable “…women professing godliness…”

“Abstain from all appearance of evil.” I Thessalonians 5:22

Any female, no matter what age, shape or size, would be very wise to purposely avoid and “…abstain from…” any clothing that would send inappropriate or ungodly messages to those who view their appearance.

Remember, we are dealing here with what the “…appearance…” of women may give out. A woman may have no evil intent whatsoever, but we have a wise and protective God. He cares enough about His children to warn the believer, not only stay clear of outright sin…but we are also commanded to “…abstain from…” that which could appear as sin!

For a woman to apply this verse in relation to her not wearing immodest clothes, literally means that some ladies may have to, desist, refrain from, go without, give up, and in some cases no longer sinfully indulge their need to be in fashion in the types of clothing they have worn in the past.

Look at this list, and listen carefully, and look intently, to see if your clothing, or that of a female under your responsibility is communicating any of these ungodly voices, to anyone who should never hear such things from a godly (or ungodly) woman.

•Flirtatious

•Sensual

•Seductive

•Sexually promiscuous

•Outright wickedness

•Immodestly grotesque

•Sinfully appalling

For the sake of decency, I will not venture much further past this level of indecency. It is a shame that something such as this has to be written or even considered in relation to how a “…professing…” Christian woman dresses. But the fact of this issue is too easy to see, as many such “…women professing godliness..,” are not ‘dressing up’ to their profession.

Biblically speaking, and to the understanding of a separated saint of God, none of those effects listed should be in any way associated with a Christian woman’s appearance in public.

A truly Christian woman, with the Holy Spirit in her heart, the Word of God directing her appearance, and a sincere desire to be pleasing to the eyes of God, would never allow herself to be seen dressed to knowingly or deliberately portray, represent, reveal, expose, convey, suggest, express or communicate, any of those seven things.

It would also be very wise for you to ask God to do a spiritual check-up on your heart about now. This could be a lesson that keeps you from many sorrows and heartaches in the future. As a result, you could set a good and definitively godly direction for daughters, or other female church members and friends.

Perhaps a preacher who will not say some of these things will wake up and warn those he loves.

It may be that a dad will see the need to instruct and enforce modest dress standards in the home with which God has entrusted him to lead, guide, and to correct when it is necessary.

My real hope is that a saved female, who did not see the importance of these things, has now made a choice to practice proper, modest, and Christian dress standards.

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Chapter 9

THE DIM VOICE OF MODESTY

“Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.” Proverbs 31:25

Now let’s try to contrast what the effects of godly clothing, adorned for the purpose of modesty, can have on the eyes and heart of a male.

Please remember, I am doing my best to list these from the viewpoint of godly Bible principles. I am not writing as a naive individual. I am not writing from the mindset of an individual who has a perfect and sinless set of “Christian” eyes.

As do others, I have to work very hard to keep these good and pure principles in practice in my own life, for the sake of my God and my wife.

I see the need to be a bit more open about this subject. I don’t profess to have this particular virtue all figured out, nor 100% under control. By the way, The Lord does know the exact percentage of the control of this which each of us has practiced to date. If any male boasts they have attained to a level of sinless perfection in this, I wish they would write a book to the rest of us on how to get 100% there!

I do know this to be a fact. If there was more modesty shown by God’s women, the percentage for being able to control what a man’s eyes see, would greatly improve! Amen!

I am attempting to be as open and as honest as a saved male can be, but even in this, I fully understand that flesh is still flesh. A sin nature is still a sin nature. Every saved male on the planet has to deal with both their old and new natures at all times....all of the time.

Consider these things carefully, as I admit that they were not easy to list without crossing the line into the side of impropriety. I do know that this is because of the natural human tendency to sin, and the evident and seemingly ever present attraction in such sin.

I will not attempt to list these in order from best to good. As you will see, this is not the easiest thing to do as a male. A woman perhaps would create a different list. I will do my best to leave out the fleshly aspect in these things, and would ask that the reader do the same for the sake of appropriateness and decency.

Remember, these are speaking of the effects of the clothing and appearance of a godly Christian woman in and on the eyes and hearts of godly Christian men.

Please also understand that I am not so much speaking to married couples. Although all these things apply, that is not so much the emphasis at hand. I am speaking about godly interaction between God’s people before and after marriage. If an unmarried female wants to attract the right kind of male as a potential husband, she will be wise to use the right and godly things below to attract a godly Christian man.

I am also writing to express this in terms of a godly Christian woman who is noticed only as such, and no further into terms that would be worldly, fleshly, or inappropriate.

Let me give this illustration to help explain. There are many modestly-godly and physically attractive Christian ladies, who naturally and automatically stand out in a crowd. This is because they appear beautiful to the sight in several ways.

A truly Christian woman has many internal Bible principles in practice in her life. These will show up externally in a graceful and godly manner of appearance.

Many women have been specifically created by God to be physically attractive and beautiful to look upon.

There are women who know how to dress in a manner that exudes dignity and noticeable propriety, without looking prideful, haughty, arrogant, conceited, superior, or forward.

Others take time to present a beautifully pleasant appearance by the use of modest and unassuming make-up and hairstyling.

For the eyes of a godly male to see these things, and recognize such to be so, does not have to cross the line into a sinful glance! God help us if we cannot still do so without the sin of impropriety!

When viewed in the light of, and under the control of the Word of God, and the Spirit of God, the appearance of a godly woman is a very special and wonderful sight. It sure would be wonderful if our view was always with that kind of attitude and intent.

It must have been absolutely amazing to dwell in a world such as before the fall of Adam and Eve. How pure that must have been! How peaceful! How trusting! Thank God…. that there is a Heaven, where we who desire such innocence, will again be able to experience such without sin!!! Amen!

By the way, for all practical purposes this is attainable when a husband and wife work together to have such a marriage. The kind of marriage designed by God was intended to be in attitude and in experience, just like Eden. In a godly marriage, there is only…just the two…together as one….with NO ONE ELSE in view!!

With that in heart and mind, please consider this list carefully. These things contain elements of modest appearance and godly attitudes. That is the case with all adorning of apparel condoned in the Scripture, and should be so as any woman dresses for public appearances.

Beautiful as being the creation God gave as a gift to be the helpmeet of a man.

1A godly Christian lady.

2Wonderfully and unmistakably feminine.

3Gracious in her appearance.

4A portrait of meekness.

5Modestly unassuming.

6Attractive because of natural beauty.

7Clean and neat

I believe that the voice that could emanate from such godly dress standards as these is becoming more-and-more silent as the time of the Laodician Church goes on.

We need a revival of such things as these “…which becometh women professing godliness…” In I Timothy 2:9-10 God equates the outward adorning of a godly woman, to elements of internal holiness and external appearance. There is no separating of these in the eyes of God.

“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.”

If the heart of a woman has been instructed by the Word of God in what to wear, what not to wear, and how to wear garments properly, and she has submitted to that teaching even before she has it all figured out, her heart will then be affected by godly principles of modest dress. She will begin to dress because of her heart being right with God’s Word, and in tune with the Holy Spirit who resides in her heart. Her appearance will be controlled by more than just having to do so because of the facts. A modest heart is a submissive heart, and that attitude will show up in a godly and modest appearance.

If a woman has a tendency for immodesty, that dominant part of such a woman’s heart will also show up in her appearance. Because these things are not in her, and she has not submitted to God’s Word in this, she will not effectively or consistently portray these good internal characteristics, as listed along with the external appearance of a modest dress style.

I guess an unsaved woman could use deceit to lure a good man into making him believe she is godly by her appearance. I understand that fact, but I am not at present thinking about “wolves in sheep’s clothing,” as such a woman could be called. I am alluding to women professing to be saved, and how they ought to wear clothing appropriate to the fashions of female sheep in God’s fold.

When a saved woman chooses to appear publicly in inappropriate, immodest apparel, it would not be unfair to say she is one of The Lord’s sheep, but she is dressed in wolves clothing.

If a woman has a heart for showing an appearance that portrays modesty, and shuns the fashions of immodesty, she will act on right principles. She will show externally, what is inside her attitude, by the natural outflow of what is predominately in her heart. She will show who and what she really is by her attitude and by her outward appearance to others.

A modestly dressed woman’s clothing will emanate that small still voice of modesty to any who have a heart, mind, and the principles to hear such a voice.

I am sure many will agree that this kind of godly voice is faint and weak today. If a woman will purposely dress for the sake of modesty, she will be voicing to those who see her, something that is fast becoming more and more silent.

The now dim voice of modest clothing, will only continue to move further toward being silenced, if more of our ladies do not begin to realize how quiet and hushed this subject of Biblically directed modesty already is... in the ears and sight of God.

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Chapter 10

GOD SEES THE CONDITION OF YOUR HEART IN YOUR CLOTHING

“For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass…” James 1:23

If a woman feels that she has good intentions inside concerning modestly, but her dress styles and her outward appearance, in her own mirror, do not agree with the principles of Scriptural modesty; perhaps she should consult a different kind of mirror by which to scrutinize and judge her appearance.

God’s Word is said to be a “…glass…” As interpreted by this context, The Lord had James use the illustration of a person looking into a mirror.

But this mirror is much different from the kind that shows only the reflection after you dress and stand before it.

The Bible, as God’s mirror, shows the onlooker how she should appear before she beholds herself in an earthly mirror. How a woman responds to Biblically guided dress standards is evidence of what God sees in her heart.

The Word of God needs to be the “first” mirror every woman looks into; even before she goes to buy the clothing that will be tried on in her own mirror. I understand that many women of God have good intentions about being modest in public. In fact, I believe that a large majority of the Christian ladies in our kind of churches would not disagree with most of the teaching in this book. But I also see that many of God’s women need to wear those intentions by dressing more modestly.

Good intentions only get us to the place where we desire to do right. But a desire to do right, that has no action involved, is far away from actually performing the doing of what is right.

Those good intentions to dress modestly will not mystically show up in your mirror, or in the eyes of others; unless those intentions are planned out and performed by a woman who puts on the right clothes to match her good intentions.

This will be especially true as viewed in the mirror of the eyes of a male.

Perhaps a woman should ask God to check her heart and mind, to reveal to her if she has deceived herself because of not obeying the Bible principles of adorning“…modest apparel…”

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22

What a woman wears, and how she wears it, is a reflection of the true character of her heart.

“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array…” I Timothy 2:9

When the apparel adorned by a woman is habitually modest, this will be the result of a heart guided by an attitude that has “…shamefacedness and sobriety…” in view.

Shamefacedness is a word that many women believers of our day must take note of. This word means bashfulness, shyness, and coyness. If this one attitude is in a woman’s heart, she will not dress in such a way to make a godly person to blush because of the way she appears.

Have you considered lately, that because of the familiarity and constant bombardment of immodesty in the dress styles of the world, that if someone were to feel enough ‘shame” to blush, because of an immodest appearance, that this would be a very, very rare occurrence in our present day?

What about professing Christians? Is there enough moral ability left in us, to blush at the appearance of the immodesty around us? Are we able to be honestly embarrassed?

A Bible Christian ought to know where to draw the lines concerning what to wear, so as not to lose the effect of shamefacedness in the soul!

The next attitude that is revealed in the apparel of a Christian lady is that of “…sobriety…”

One of the words God chose to make His point as to what kind of heart will direct the proper dress habits is very revealing. Look carefully at the usage of this good and inspired word of God’s choosing. In that one word, if understood and practiced, is perhaps the key to reflecting the right kind of public appearance.

This word is descriptive of a heart that is controlled, and influenced by habitual soberness or temperance. It strongly implies that there is a freedom from the influence of anything that would alter proper judgment. The word is used in conjunction with having a natural duty of showing public sobriety. It is further defined as habitual freedom from inordinate passion. It portrays a heart attitude of seriousness; gravity without sadness or melancholy.

This is the kind of heart needed to dress modestly in such a wickedly immodest world.

A Christian woman’s desire concerning how she chooses to dress, reveals whether her heart is worldly or Christian, modest or immodest. There should be no confusion about which is which.

If you believe the Word of God, there cannot be an unholy mix of these two opposing mindsets. It must be understood that at what time an attempt to mix the worldly with the holy occurs, it is never so that the worldly is then made clean, but it is true that the holy is always made dirty! In that last statement is found the dividing line in the Doctrine of Separation from this world, and that of being separated to God.

Each woman must look to the Scriptures to find that line between the appearance of modesty and immodesty in her dress style, and then plan her wardrobe accordingly. As she sets out to do so, it will be wise for her to have the eyes of others in view before she actually appears in public.

No matter where you go or what you do, there are always different sets of eyes looking at you. But understand that there is one particular set of eyes that is forever and in some capacity always focused on you. These are the all-seeing eyes of Jehovah, The Holy One! Those are the eyes we all, male or female, had better seek to please. That is the highest calling of a man or a woman.

If these Scriptures that follow are constantly in a woman’s mind and in her heart, she will reflect a modest appearance by what she wears on her body. The more conscious of these words she is, the more conservative her clothing will appear.

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” I Corinthians 6:19-20

“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” I John 3:22

“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:11

Ladies, before we go on, please honestly answer these questions carefully, and before God and your conscience.

When dressing to go out before any eyes in public, do you intentionally plan to be pleasing in the eyes of God?

Are the garments that will be seen approved by God’s Word?

Are the things you have chosen to put on in any way disapproved by a principle of the Bible?

Will the appearance of your clothing bring the wrong kind of pleasure to the wrong kind of eyes?

Do you dress in public for God’s pleasure?

Please think those things through and answer to yourself wisely. For if you dress immodestly, and you profess to know God’s standards of modesty, what possible pleasure are you attempting to bring to the eyes of a Holy God?

The Scriptures teach that our words are a reflection of what is in the heart. The same can be said about the clothes of a woman. What is in her heart about how she desires to appear will be reflected by what she wears and how she wears those things.

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Chapter 11

SOMEONE IS LOOKING AT YOU

“And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night: And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.” Proverbs 7:7-10

“And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.” II Samuel 11:2

It would be very wise (and safe) for a woman to understand that there are different types of eyes that look at a woman by how she chooses to dress.

With that in mind please consider that there are basically four categories of eyes that may take notice of the way a woman is dressed at any given time or during any public activity.

1The eyes of a female.

2The eyes of a male.

3The eyes of a devil.

4The eyes of God

Please understand that I am attempting to get “…women professing godliness…” to concentrate on how different eyes are drawn to look at a woman specifically in relation to her clothing. These statements can apply to other situations with both males and females, but I am attempting to keep the attention focused on how the dress habits of women affect others.

I am also attempting to help any woman to consider what she may be the cause of if she is not practicing Biblical guidelines of proper dress.

Many well intended, born again women, have no idea that they are being a stumblingblock because of the way they allow others to see them.

If a woman dresses to please herself only, that is a wrong motive, and it is a selfish motive. She may not be aware of what immodest clothing causes in others. But if she knows that her clothing is not right, but likes how she looks in such, and still chooses to dress in a manner that causes another to stumble, her motive turns from selfishness to that which is evil. Evil is defined as just that…an intent to harm another!

God’s people are clearly taught in the Scriptures to be concerned about others and their well being. As pertaining to this subject, apply the verses below specifically to the case of any woman who will not dress modestly for the sake of others.

I believe that if a woman could truly see the eyes of God as they actually see her in public appearance, this will change how all other eyes are would be able to view her.

“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him….” II Chronicles 16:9

“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3:18

“The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” Proverbs 15:3

“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” I John 3:22

“Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity…” Habakkuk 1:13

I have no doubt that God must often turn His eyes away from the direction of some women who dress according to the fashions of this world. This is to be expected when it comes to what an unsaved or ungodly woman chooses to wear.

But with women who profess godliness, The Lord in Heaven should not be placed in a position to have to turn His eyes away from beholding any female who is truly born again.

Because many saved women decide to dress immodestly and inappropriately, they are missing out on some of the blessing that their Heavenly Father desires to give them. Not only is that true, but any woman who will not dress according to God’s wishes, could also be part of the cause for many others around her to lose blessings.

Please read these next two paragraphs with a prayerful heart, and with the understanding that this preacher desires to help keep the ungodly eyes of some sick individual off of a precious woman who “…professes godliness…” And the same goes for those who by their outward profession have not yet learned how to dress as godly woman should.

It is a terrible thing for an unsaved woman, who does not know how to dress modestly, to suffer because she intentionally enticed evil eyes upon herself. But for a Christian woman who should know better than to do so, it would be an unbelievable and horribly unnecessary tragedy if she is harmed because she allured that evil with her clothing!

It would be very wise for a woman to see in her mind and heart, the different types of eyes that may look upon her before it actually happens. She should try to understand what she might be causing by her appearance and plan to avoid it.

I cannot and will not attempt to place any real blame on an innocent woman for an attack on her person by some pervert. But having seen how some of God’s women choose to dress baffles my mind. To dress as some do must mean that they do not realize that we live in a very wicked and dangerous world…this is especially true in the case of women who choose to be seen dressed immodestly!

Many a pervert will answer to God for what they do in relation to how they look on a woman. But God help a woman who intentionally brings such on herself because she rebels by not following God’s appearance standards after she has heard them! She will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ and answer for her part in such an awful situation!

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” II Corinthians 5:10

To help see this issue better, I want to bring to the minds of the women who read this next section a view of how other eyes see the adorning of a woman.

Carefully consider the nature of the following types of eyes, and how the effect of how you dress will be perceived by the kind of person who is looking out of those particular eyes.

This may be a bit un-nerving or uncomfortable for some, but this may also keep a precious woman “…professing godliness…”(or not) from suffering from the actions of some of the owners of these eyes!

Try to apply these things on a very personal level. Do not just pass this off by saying these looks could not happen toward you.

Please consider these things as you adorn yourself, and be cognizant of the fact that one or more of the different kinds and types of eyes could be watching you. What will your appearance be saying to these eyes?

Worldly Eyes

These are the eyes of a person who sees only from the viewpoint of the fashions of this world. They are looking at clothing as a statement of stature, standing in society, accomplishment, or monetary worth. Heaven’s viewpoint is not in these eyes.

Prideful Eyes

These eyes are looking to see if the clothes worn ‘match up,’ or to see if a person is dressed better than others. A prideful set of eyes could also be saying, “I wish I could afford such clothes.” The prideful eyes of a wicked husband could also view the appearance of another woman, and compare his wife’s’ appearance to her in an unfair and ungodly manner.

Fleshly Eyes

This type of eye sees things as related to the desires of sinful, lustful flesh. These are eyes that view clothing only as a means to see what is under the clothing; or, as to what an immodestly dressed woman is trying to say to him by and through the appearance of her clothes.

Perverted Eyes

These are no doubt one of the most dangerous sets of eyes. These are the type of eyes that seek out and desire to look at a woman only to think and imagine debauched wickedness. These ungodly eyes are looking intently for any opportunity to be invited to fulfill their own selfish and un-Biblical desires.

Reprobate Eyes

Eyes such as these do not view things as others see. This eye has persisted in being so evil that God gives the person who owns such eyes over to a mind that cannot, and will not think as others do.

This type of eye sees good as bad and bad as good. Their thoughts are 180 degrees out of step with a normal mind. The person behind eyes such as these has no moral compass for direction, and no basis for the truth. Even if truth was used on them, or spoken by their own lips, it would be directly opposite in meaning and intent, and diametrically opposed to actual truth.

Without writing things that should not even be spoken of in private among the strongest of God’s people, these backward and wicked eyes, of a male, can be looking at a woman and desiring to be with a man!

These eyes have a view birthed in Hell. They despise and disallow any view that Heaven could afford!

Pharisaical Eyes

The eyes of a pharisee look down at some other believer who is not dressed as they are dressed. These eyes look at others through a very selfish and self-centered view. They do not give an immodestly dressed individual the benefit of the doubt that perhaps the person on whom they have passed judgment, has not yet heard, been taught, or learned how to dress before the eyes of Heaven or that of men.

Separated Eyes

These eyes belong to a person who views the subject of what to wear, and how to wear those clothes in public, through the eyes of the Biblical Doctrine of God’s people being separated from the world. He or she will first look to see what the Word of God instructs in maintaining a modest appearance before the eyes of The LORD.

They will then put those things into practice, even if they do not have it all figured out yet. Their desire and goal is to dress in such a manner, that the clothes they choose wear do not cause the Holy eyes of a Holy God to be offended! Separated eyes are ultimately attempting to dress to please the eyes of The God of Heaven.

Innocent Eyes

These eyes are the rarest to be found in our day and time. I think it is fair and honest to say that most eyes from the age of puberty to that of old age are no longer innocent.

The sad thing about that statement, and the fact that it is probably true, is that there are small children who are being raised in ways where those tiny little eyes have already been subject to things that destroy any possibility of enjoying any prolonged state of innocence, when they finally come to the age when they are able to understand what they saw while in innocence!

And because of some parents who will not stop to see how others might look upon even a small child that is immodestly dressed; those tiny eyes of innocence could fall prey to wicked and evil individuals, who are so past feeling remorse, and have a conscience so depraved, that they make such innocence a sought after prey!

Holy Eyes

No mere human being is able to see through this type of eyes. The only man who is qualified for such a view is The God-Man… Jesus Christ. His eyes see exactly what a woman wears, and how her clothing is worn. And He is the only one able to do so without ever crossing any line into sin!

He also sees what kind of view the appearance of an immodestly dressed woman imposes on people subject to being around her. He clearly sees how her dress standards affect every kind and type of eyes.

Moreover, He sees the motive of the woman who chooses to dress as she does. He knows exactly the kind and type of eyes that a woman is trying to attract. The Lord also sees the kind and type of eyes that she is not attempting to attract. He too sees if she is concerned with how all those other eyes view her appearance!

The closest that mere human beings can get to seeing through holy eyes such as His is when saved people use Scripture to tell them what they should see or not see, and what others should see in and on us, even if we don’t fully understand!

By attempting to see through the eyes of the Holy Scripture, we will become very adept at doing what is pleasing in His sight for His sake, with less and less concern for what we want, and according to what only we can see, “… (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)…” II Corinthians 5:7

Rebellious Eyes

The eyes of a rebel know what God’s Word teaches concerning what and how they should dress, but they choose to disregard what God sees, and dress to please themselves, or, one or more of the other sets of eyes listed in this writing.

The eyes of a rebellious woman who continues to dress in an immodest fashion is not doing so because she has not been taught. She could probably teach this lesson very well.

She is no longer in innocence on this subject, for she has heard and read all the

Scriptures that speak concerning Biblical dress standards…she is just not interested in pleasing the eyes of God.

This type of eye does not really care about what the Holy eyes of Jehovah, The Holy One, is subject to view, as long as she can admire her view of herself as she looks in the mirror, and perhaps exclaims, “Men of the world; don’t be concerned with how God sees you looking at me. Look at me, because I look good!”

Your Own Eyes

Some eyes that are reading these things and have already made a commitment to the LORD to dress as a Christian woman, see through eyes that understand how important modest appearance is to the eyes of God, and to those around them.

Others are only beginning to see the importance of this, and want to be pleasing before the eyes of God; but they have not yet surrendered their will, and their appearance to Him.

Perhaps some have never considered the importance of the need to be obedient to the Scriptures in this. If your eyes are in this group, you do not yet know the full importance of this issue. You do not completely understand just yet, but you do know that this is not something to pass off as unimportant.

There may even be some woman reading this who “…professes godliness…” with her mouth, but her appearance is speaking much louder than her words.

If that is representative of your eyes at this moment, you do not yet understand your responsibility to pay attention to what kind of clothes you choose and how you should wear those garments before the eyes of Heaven and men. If you have not studied this out, and applied Biblical principles to your appearance, you are most likely at this very moment, dressed to draw the attention of the wrong kind of eyes to look in your direction!

Hopeful Eyes

These eyes are eyes that right now are praying for you to see these things in the right way.

These could be the eyes of a godly mom concerned for a daughter. They might be the eyes of a God-fearing dad who wants to see a daughter stand pure at a marriage altar.

Such hopeful eyes could be those from which have viewed firsthand the horror of having been responsible for attracting the wrong eyes her way; those eyes do not want another to suffer what she has suffered.

There could be the little eyes of a female child looking to see godly examples to follow, in hope of being that same kind of a woman who clearly professes godliness… “just like mommy.” or, “just like my big sister.”

This type of eye could be that of a future groom who will be so proud of a godly wife, because only his eyes will have the God-ordained privilege to view his precious and beautiful helpmeet as his partner for life.

Hopeful eyes could also belong to a sincere pastor who wishes the women in the church he is called to oversee would be modestly pleasing in the sight of their future Bridegroom, The Lord Jesus Christ.

“That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:27

On the day of a wedding, the eyes in that room are not really focused on the groom standing at the altar. Let that wedding march begin and every eye in the place stands and turns directly to see the bride. There is no sight more wonderful or beautiful than a modestly dressed bride.

Even the strongest and the coldest of hearts are stunned by such a sight as the purity of bride deservedly dressed in pure white. I truly believe this is so at godly weddings because of the fact that God’s people are pictured as a bride who will one day in Heaven stand pure and clean in the presence of Jesus Christ at an altar.

His eyes will see that bride in a way no human being is even close to being able to understand. That is how The Lord Jesus desires to view all who profess godliness on this earth! His holy and pure eyes do not want to be forced to look away from one of His female children, no matter what age they are!

Those are the eyes that you must learn to please now. Until you stand at that wedding in the Heavens; why don’t you decide today to dress with impeccable modesty that is unquestionable according to the Word of God, and in the sight of the eyes waiting for you at His altar??

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Chapter 12

THE LIMITATION OF SOME EYES

“Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.” Genesis 5:22

Except for the use of a mirror, we cannot fully see all that we are. Have you ever stopped to consider that you have never actually seen your own face, except a small part of your nose or lips? Even the best mirror gives only a view of our “reflection.”

The Word of God is designed in such a way so as to give believers the knowledge of what that reflection should be before they step out in public for other eyes to view. As applied to a woman, it is very wise if she would first let the mirror of the Word of God show her what she should wear, and how she should appear, even before she goes shopping for her clothes.

Because it is true that all human beings cannot accurately see themselves through their own eyes; Christians must look into God’s Word for standards, guidelines, and commands, to tell them what to wear and how to wear it. When applied to the day and time in which we live, this would be a very wise principle for every lady to consider, and plan to practice this, in order to present a modest appearance by the way she dresses.

It is very interesting that the Word of God gives commands for modesty mostly for women. He does tell the men what not to wear, but the Lord did not specifically instruct males as to the details of modesty as He clearly has for the females. This is something that must be considered very carefully.

God always addresses things that carry the most potential for problems first. This is especially needful in relation to how a woman dresses. In light of the crimes committed against women today, it is imperative that our Christian women trust God when He instructs them to be modest! A woman does not see herself as a male sees her, especially when she is in view of an evil or worldly man. This cannot be overemphasized.

Many women seem to be oblivious as to how men view them. If that seemed like an unkind statement, please think it through again. My only intent for such wording is for protecting the safety, the chastity, the purity, the honour, and perhaps the lives of our precious females of all ages! You see, that’s the problem. Some women (and men) do not think this is such a big deal. It is a big deal!

Why is this so? Why don’t women see what their appearance may cause? And why won’t more men admit this truth? Why do Christian women continue to dress in an immodest fashion even after hearing the admonition of the Scriptures?

I do not think all born again women, who disobey Scriptures like Deuteronomy 22:5 or I Timothy 2:9, are being rebellious to God. In some cases, perhaps they are; but I truly believe I have witnessed more of a natural female human limitation to seeing this truth, than I have rebellion against modest dress standards.

The Lord Jesus spoke of this plight in human tendency in Matthew 7:3 when He said, “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?”

If we add to this the principles found in the book of I Peter 3:7, when God instructs men to give “…honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel…” it is very easy to see that this must be considered, without pride, or the assumption that a man is “looking down” at a woman. To a true Bible believer, a woman is a precious person who deserves to be upheld in dignity, and protected by decency and modesty!

Please consider an application of these verses from the eyes of a man.

The eyes of a woman, who is in a habit and in a routine of dressing immodestly, (unintentionally or not) cannot accurately see how she appears according to her own eyes. Because the principle of the mote and the beam is true, this must be applied and used to help.

If a man wants to help ladies to be a godly blessing in the sight of others, perhaps he is the best suited to help them. Let’s face it; a man seems to have no problem seeing when a woman is dressed immodestly.

A woman may not be able to see as clearly as she should when it comes to the immodest dress habits of another female. A woman’s eye will be more susceptible to having a beam in it concerning how she is dressed than that of the eye of a man.

A man, by God’s definition and practice, does not have a woman’s eye. You say, “What does that mean?” A woman’s eye does not have the same views as the eyes of a man. There are two completely different natures behind each of those sets of eyes. Yes, we are all sinners, but men see things such as this in an entirely different manner.

All I am trying to say is that there is a much greater possibility that when a woman attempts to be the judge of whether or not another woman is dressed immodestly, she may not see as clearly through her female eyes, as will a male who views the same apparel. It must be understood that we are dealing with viewpoints that are poles apart.

Men see these types of things very differently than a woman. Whether we agree with this, like it or not, this is a fact of reality which started on the sixth day of the creation. Conversely, a woman also sees these things in a much different way than a male.

In the creation, God made two entirely diverse beings. Because the woman was taken out of the man, it could be said that they are similar as to composition. But it is undeniable that a male and female, by the original design of their Creator, are dissimilar in physical appearance, movements, emotions and even when it comes to certain points of logic. Many men and women today do not understand these things, nor will some choose to believe them; and that is precisely why there are so many horrible and troubled relationships between husbands and wives.

If we would all choose to see male and female through other than our own limited views, many conflicts between male and female, husband and wife, would immediately desist!

God never formed a he-she or a she-he! Those hyphenated-combinations were never intended by our Creator! He fully intended that there be a clear and unmistakable difference between “…male and female…” in all areas.

“Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.” Genesis 5:22

One of the most frequent causes of problems between men and women throughout time has been related to this very thing. Males and females are naturally limited as to how they view the same things differently. She says, “Why can’t he see things my way?” He says, “Why doesn’t she see things my way?” She says, “Why do men see things the way they do?” He says, “Doesn’t that professing Christian woman see that she dresses offensively? She says, “All men think alike!”

Let me help those who have not seen how to deal with this mysterious conundrum of creation …YOU CAN NOT FIX WHAT IS NOT BROKEN! Why? One was created by God a male; one was created by the same God a female! Once that fact of the creation is understood, believed, and accepted, all the selfishness, assumptions, and arguments stops. Bible principles can now be put in the place of our own will and way, and in the place of our own particular imperfect viewpoints.

As I am writing this, I understand that except for the Biblical responsibility I have been given for my wife, I am not the judge of any other woman. But as a pastor and preacher, I am to judge all things by the Word of God, and report those things to others in the form of sound Bible teaching and preaching.

The Bible is the best judge of all issues; and must be consulted to find the balance in this one.

The problem that I have noticed in twenty years of ministry is that many women (and men) seem reluctant to receive and apply what the Scriptures say about how women professing godliness should appear in public places of all kinds.

I do not understand how a lady can dress appropriately and modestly when she goes to church, yet when she goes about her weekly routine, some seem to believe that it is acceptable for their non-church appearance to be one of immodesty. Why is this so? What is the limitation in understanding the hypocrisy here?

The Scriptures are clearly for modesty in the appearance of Christian women, teens, and little girls at all times when in the view of others, yet why are there are so many who profess to be a Christian, that do not seem to see that they need to be more consistent in dressing modestly in every public place?

“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. “I Timothy 2:9-10

There is another area in the issue of dress standards that must be addressed when it comes to the limitation of some eyes. It is this part of the modesty issue that is met with the most resistance by many women “…professing godliness…”

The Scriptures not only teach unquestionable modesty, but clearly teach that if a man wears one type of garment, then the woman is not to wear the same kind of garment. This next verse of Scripture, of all that the Lord wrote concerning what to wear as a child of God, seems to be the most limited in its use and in its application to the dress standards of today’s women.

“The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.” Deuteronomy 22:5

God did not write about such things in His Word only for church attendance. A Christian woman is in His view even when she is at work or at the grocery store!

The words in Deuteronomy 22:5 are still in the Bible, and are still to be applied today. The way some professing believers treat this Scripture, you would have to think that they believe God did not know that the ‘fashions’ of female dress style would be changed to “unisex” clothing styles! What is it that seems to limit more ladies from seeing the truth and relevance of the Scripture clearly?

“The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

God clearly wants to see a definite and clear-cut distinction between the sexes. His eyes are not upon ladies only during church related functions. They are on all of us at all times.

The look of Jehovah, The Holy One, may be one of blessing, or it may be that God’s eyes are viewing what He calls “…abomination…” in His sight!

I’m sure there are those who understand and agree with the thesis of this book, and that there are many eyes that seem to be limited in the ability to see this Scriptural doctrine as clearly as it needs to be seen. You may not agree or see this truth yet; but all must try to understand the Biblical logic behind it.

Here is another cause for this limited view of the need for modesty. If a woman has sat under solid Bible teaching and preaching concerning the subject of how she should dress, and that woman will not practice being purposefully modest, she will be the cause of limiting her own eyes from being able to see the problem.

If any lady has had a hard time seeing the relevance and the need to practice the principles of Biblical dress standards, perhaps it would be very wise for such a person to consider the following verse from God’s inspired Word.

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22

If a lady has heard these things, but she has not put them into practice as she adorns herself for public view, God says that such a person will or may have already been self-deceived. If a preacher has seen these principles, yet he refuses to teach and preach them, he too will deceive himself into thinking it is not necessary.

If a husband will not honour his wife by kindly helping her to see this issue and do the things necessary to develop a modest wardrobe, he will deceive himself. If a dad will not take charge of the dress styles of his precious daughters, that father will be self-deceived into being a stumblingblock to his own daughters.

We, as Bible-believing Baptists, of all those who profess salvation, must get this limitation removed from off of our eyes!

The way to solve the problem of the limitation of your eyes being able to see this subject as applied to you, is to look into the Words of God and let your personal dress habits be placed in the mirror of God’s Holy Word until these principles become part of your new nature.

James 1:25 can be applied with extreme relevance to this subject. The Word of God is the mirror spoken of by James. That mirror should be the thing that gives a godly conscience the liberty, to go out in public dressed modestly as seen in it; or, the mirror of God’s book should be the source of restraint that tells you to go and change your clothing!

“But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

Let’s go back to Deuteronomy 22:5 again for another look at that verse and see a bit more of the relevance of what this verse of Scripture is saying in respect to this day and time.

Many think that this Scripture is no longer valid for today. Look at it again. Do not limit the validity of these words so quickly.

“The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

Any thinking individual, male or female, who looks at the wickedness concerning crossing the lines of distinction between male and female in this present day, recognizes an awful truth.

Homosexuals, sodomites, lesbians, and especially transvestites, are the personification of the grossest immodesty possible. Those who practice such debauched lifestyles are diametrically opposite of moral purity and modesty in a most evil fashion. A person of Biblically produced thought will admit that the disobedience of women wearing men’s clothing, men wearing a woman’s garment, and the immodesty of them both, is the catalyst responsible for unspeakable sins of the worst kind.

Much of those types of sins are related directly to this very issue! We had better wake up and see the problem of immodesty for what it is, and what it will continue to cause! Ask God to take the limitations of seeing the importance of Biblically directed dress from our eyes, and let that sight change our selfish limited attitudes about godly Christ-like appearance!

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Chapter 13

A PASTOR’S VIEW OF IMMODESTY

“For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Acts 20:27

In this chapter I will do my best to try to get the ladies who read this to see the subject of modesty vs. immodesty from the eyes of a Pastor.

I, and all other Pastors and Evangelists, have been given charge to teach and to preach everything in the King James Bible. We are to take all things in the Word of God, and skillfully apply those Scriptures to our day and time.

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15:4

One of my responsibilities as a preacher is to help women see the need for bringing glory to God in the area of their appearance.

I am to be the “overseer” of the particular Church body of which I am called to pastor. That means I am supposed to have a Biblical view of everything that goes on in my ministry. It is God Himself who puts a man into that office in a New Testament Church, and this is part of the responsibility that comes with that office.

The word “overseer” is very important to the understanding of all subjects and issues in the Bible. The pastor is to be the main teacher of “…all the counsel…” of God. That surely includes the subject of proper dress habits of the women in the church.

Have you ever noticed that preachers have a distinct knack for seeing things differently than other people? It might be very wise for the ladies in a church to recognize that their pastor, if he is a faithful man of God, has been given the ability to see things in a unique manner because of several factors.

•His study time in the Word of God.

•His spiritual gifts as applied to a particular congregation.

•The leading of the Holy Spirit as he prepares lessons and messages for his particular church body.

•His prayers for individuals in the flock.

•His understanding of the levels of individual growth of each member.

•His ability to notice the attitudes on the faces of those he speaks to.

•His God given ability to “watch for the souls” (Hebrews 13:17) in that church.

•The wisdom which comes from years of seeing the results of obedience or disobedience to the things he teaches and preaches in the lives of the church members.

Any man or woman would be wise to allow God to use those things given to their pastor, to help them to be and to know what God expects of them in the area of modesty. The view of the Pastor of a Biblically centered, New Testament Baptist Church is not held in as high a regard as his placement by God warrants. Consider this very carefully, and prayerfully.

I believe that many times that the word of the pastor is not esteemed as being as important as it really should be. If you will seek to get the truth of this chapter, you could avoid many hurtful things in your own future and in the lives of those over which you are given responsibility.

We now live in a day when Pastors are not taken as seriously as their God Ordained Office deserves. I understand that there have been many men in that office who have been a source of discouragement, and dishonor in this area. But that does not alter the truth of this matter. It is still God’s plan and His design that godly Pastors are to be the spokesman for proclaiming the Word of God.

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…”Ephesians 4:11-12

A pastor is said to be given as a “gift” to a New Testament Baptist Church. That gift is in the form of a man. God states that the reason for Him giving that “gift” is so that the people in each church can be perfected, or matured, from starting out as spiritual babies, into Christ-like adults. It is his sole responsibility to make sure that the Body of Christ, the Local Church, is taught in such a way that each member grows to the place where they also begin to “edify” fellow church members.

The area of modest apparel in a congregation is one that definitely will be the cause or failure of this being accomplished in any church family.

If female members of a congregation are not modest in their appearance, many hurtful things have great potential of occurring in that body.

Along with the all-seeing eyes of the Lord Jesus, He has ordained that there is to be one set of mere human eyes looking out for each of His individual assemblies on this Earth. Because of this, the Pastor’s viewpoint must be carefully considered and obeyed if only for the sake of his position as appointed by God.

That is why God gives the “…gifts…” of Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers to His Churches. So that they can help others see things from the Word of God that they have not yet found on their own, or that they need reminded of.

Faithful preachers of the Word of God are tools…gifts…given to help God’s people to see things from a different and better viewpoint.

God’s view of modesty should be the single most determining factor as to what kind or type of clothing any Christian chooses to wear.

Paul the Apostle was used by God to write some amazing words in I Corinthians 2:14-16.

Read these words as applied to the subject of this chapter. Paul was just a man like all others, except for the Office of an Apostle, and the purpose of God’s call on his life. He was one of the “gifts” God gave to the New Testament Churches. We know that there are no longer any Apostles on the Earth, but God still gives similar gifts to His Churches.

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” I Corinthians 2:14-16

Those words teach us that some people will not be able to receive the truth of the Bible. They also teach us that the things of God must be “…spiritually discerned …”

We are also taught that mere men are made able to judge “…all things…” But we are told that it is “…the mind of Christ…” that is the actual judge of all those things. As a Pastor uses the Word of God to judge and give guidelines on any subject, he can also have “…the mind of Christ…” on that issue if he stays with the Bible’s words as given by God.

If the Bible was the only book used to set Biblical standards of modesty, there would be no doubt as to what those standards should be. The problem today is that many times the Word of God is the last thing consulted by God’s children.

A Pastor who is faithful to the Book of God is ‘only the messenger’ for God in His Church. Yes, he is just a mere man. But when it comes to him teaching and preaching solid Bible principles from the King James Bible…which is “…the mind of Christ…” his position had better be treated a bit more carefully as he teaches, preaches, and applies God’s Word to the situations and issues at hand.

Do you know any other verses of Scripture that give any other men (or women) in a congregation the responsibility to “oversee” God’s Church? There are none who have been given that kind of delegated authority except for one overseer.

The view from a pastor’s eyes will most likely be different on many subjects than that of some church members, just by the fact of his office and calling.

What we pastors see in the immodesty of churches is very alarming. The attitude of some is concern for much prayer, and some straight forward old-fashioned preaching.

I understand that many will, and have grown to understand the same things covered in this book, in the same way as their pastor, concerning modesty. That is always a blessing to a preacher who desires to see that particular aspect of spiritual and physical growth in the church.

As a pastor, I have witnessed the result of the many different levels of understanding concerning this subject. I have overseen situations when immodest mindsets are renewed to be able to obey God’s Word, and I have seen those that would not submit to the Lord in proper modesty. I have watched both sides of this, as the acceptance or rejection of the preaching on modesty became manifested externally in the dress styles, and in the attitudes of some of the women I have pastored, and those in other churches.

Some women accept the principles and begin to dress for the glory of God. Others seem to go on just as if the teaching and preaching had no visible effect on their attitudes or on their appearance.

Some take more time to have this issue settled, but they are not of a rebellious spirit; they are really trying to understand.

Others dress well for God’s House, but to dress immodestly at other people’s homes. I have taught many ladies who have not heard much of actual Bible guidelines concerning modest dress standards. These too are not being rebellious in the eyes of God, their husband, or their pastor. Even though they dress in an immodest fashion; to be fair, I understand that they are not yet consciously accountable to clear Scriptural principles of decency and modesty in their public appearance. As a preacher, there are times when I must take some responsibility for the fact that they do not yet know these things, and I must patiently work toward presenting modest dress standards to them in such a way that they can make a Biblically submissive decision to be modest at all levels of public appearance.

Then there are those women who have in the past been in other ministries where they have not been taught to develop strong Bible convictions as to how they should appear in public. They continue to dress immodestly even when they are in the Church services. Some such as this have been under the bad influence of weak and very worldly Laodician preachers, who teach an unholy mix of allowing the fashions of the world to be considered acceptable and not subject to The Word of God.

Many men and ladies have been deceived by these wolves in sheep’s clothing. The result of this is evident. Because of the weak and watered-down influence of these compromising apostate preachers, we have witnessed a generation of professing believers who resemble the Revelation’s “…lukewarm…” equivalent in the “whatever” mentality of many well-intended church-goers. This idea is extremely damming to true Biblical preaching on proper dress standards!

I have witnessed such women, who have been under that kind of compromised ministry; walk out of and away from the Biblical influence of a true New Testament Baptist Church. By their decision to do so, they state very loudly, that just because they desire to remain in external fashion and in heart just like the world, that they will not have The Word of God to reign over their dress habits.

As you read the following verses, you will see how well these words apply to this very subject. Look at a Pastor’s view of some words of God as applied to women being instructed in the adorning of themselves in a modest fashion.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1-2

Look at this application of Romans 12:1-2 and see how it ‘fits’ concerning your public appearance.

Christian ladies, you are commanded by the Lord to “…present your bodies…unto God…”

This is obviously not telling a woman to ‘show off’ her body. It is definitely instructing a woman to present an appearance that is “…not conformed to this world…”

That word “conformed” is defined as “fashioned after.” The fashions and the styles of clothing of this world are specifically designed to ‘show off’ a woman’s body, to reveal the shape of a woman’s body, and to draw the attention of a man’s eyes to certain parts of the body.

If more of God’s women would obey the principles in the these verses alone, I have no doubt that immorality, unfaithfulness, and the divorce rate of marriages among God’s people would be greatly lessened!

If these things were put into practice, the spirituality of the men and the women in the churches would then be reason for more power of the Holy Spirit to be available in the preaching, and a greater presence of God would be evident in the lives of born again believers.

God help our women to see this truth from the eyes of a Pastor! If you could see all of what many pastors have witnessed from their ‘narrow’ point of view, it would break your heart and your will.

In my years of preaching I have had oversight of many situations where women who continued to dress immodestly fell into deep sin, and pulled some weak male right in with them.

I have seen innocence stolen away because a pure heart was not warned, and could not see the pitfalls and the results of immodest dress habits.

I have witnessed good men ruin years of a good marriage, all because some immodestly clad woman attracted a man’s eye with attire that more resembled that which a harlot would wear on some sleazy street corner!

I have watched godly women as their tears fell on my desk because their husband was allured to adultery by the loud and boisterous voice of an indecently clad female.

A mom screamed in agony at the news that some wicked male had robbed her little daughter of the possibility of being presented in purity at the marriage altar, all because she failed to instruct that young little mind in the way of Biblical modesty!

Pastors have been set on the shelf as unusable, because the continual temptation to look at the immodestly revealed flesh of a disobedient female church member proved too great to fight in the power of their own strength.

I have seen pastors, who in order to preach with God’s power, had to ask a Christian lady to go to a woman in the front row and ask her to cover herself so he could concentrate effectively on helping the congregation he was called to oversee.

May God give us a revival of women “…professing godliness…” to settle it in their hearts, to practice adorning themselves as Christians!

“I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. “I Timothy 2:8-10

“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man (and women) shall be blessed in his deed.” James 1:21-25

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Chapter 14

SPECIFICS IN DEFINING A MODEST APPEARANCE

“But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” Titus 2:1-5

As I read these verses as my basis for this chapter, the words that I show in bold print as applied here to “…sound doctrine…” caught my attention.

In order to teach “...sound doctrine...” as applied to Biblical modesty, there is a necessity to also explain what is immodest. If not, the teaching will not be as effectively instructive as it needs to be.

If I, as a Pastor, am to obey the command here to “…speak thou the things which become sound doctrine..,” then I must first understand the word.

“…sound…” as it is applied to all Bible doctrine, including this Doctrine of Biblical Modesty.

Perhaps the women reading this would stop and ask The Lord to help them to apply this word “…sound…” to that of being “…discreet...” and “… chaste…” in their public appearance.

Take a good look at this word “…sound…”, and apply all these things to dress standards.

Remember, when God chose each of His individual words and gave them by inspiration to form the whole of the Bible, each of those words has a tenor. In the Bible, the tenor of a word produces the thoughts God wanted us to receive, in order to make proper applications of His words in our lives.

SOUND

Entire; unbroken; not shaky, split or defective.

Undecayed; whole; perfect, or not defective.

Unbroken.

Whole; entire; … as a sound body.

Healthy; not diseased; not being in a morbid state.

Founded in truth; firm; strong; valid; solid; that cannot be overthrown or refuted; as sound reasoning; a sound argument; a sound objection; sound doctrine; sound principles.

Right; correct; well founded; free from error; orthodox.

Heavy; laid on with force; as sound strokes.

Founded in right and law; legal; valid; not defective; that cannot be overthrown.

Perfect, as intellect; not broken or defective; not enfeebled by age or accident; not wild or wandering; not deranged; as a sound mind; a sound understanding or reason.

As I looked at these particular parts to the definition of the word “…sound…” I could not help but to marvel at God’s choice of this word in the context of what to teach women who profess godliness.

It would take another entire book just to apply all those words to the subject of what a woman should wear, and as to how she should appear to others in public.

Please consider that all the “specifics” I will attempt to list in this chapter must be considered very carefully. I will be as discreet as I can. I would hope that every woman who reads the next bold words would ask the Lord for wisdom to see these things from the viewpoint of a male.

There are certain areas of a woman’s body that are targeted and emphasized by clothing designers, in such a way that the bodies of women are used as a tool to sell their clothing to this world.

You must stop and consider that statement very carefully, as to its extreme relevance when it comes to the subject of modesty or immodesty.

I believe that any woman who desires to be pleasing in the sight of God, and modestly Christ-like in the view of any man, understands that the overall goal of wearing clothing is to cover the actual shape of any size body. But it seems that too many times, the specifics of this subject are not “spelled out” clearly enough. I know this is the case. It is very difficult for a pastor to be as “pointed” as he most certainly needs to be in our day and time. I have no doubt that many preachers get frustrated, and even a bit discouraged, as they truly want the ladies in the church to dress modestly, but they are almost a bit shy to teach the specifics of immodesty in an open setting.

To be “...sound...” in the teaching of this, there are some things that must be fully spelled out, even with women with the best intentions toward being modestly dressed.

It is a Biblical fact, given by God Almighty, that clothing was originally designed by Him, to be specifically for the purpose of covering the body.

That covering is to insure that certain naturally attractive parts of the body are not readily revealed in any public setting. These things get masked over under the disguise of being “in fashionable standing” with the ungodly, and their reason for the design of their clothing.

The ungodly world’s reason for clothing is mainly to show off as much skin, and as much of the shape of a woman’s body as is legally possible while still in public!

Clothing designers profit mostly from the fact that the more immodest a garment can appear, and the more “legal flesh” their clothes can reveal; the more money they bring in. And all at the expense of the modesty commanded by God! They market their clothing to appear attractive especially to the eyes of men. If these things are even remotely true (and they are), perhaps all born again women (and men) of our day, should reevaluate the fashions of this present world in light of some very specific guidelines.

The rest of this chapter will consist mostly of a list of things that cannot be seen in the apparel of any female, of any age, if she wants to dress in a modestly “…sound…” and Christ-like manner.

The things in this list, in the opinion, and in the eyes of this pastor, should never be viewed in any public setting of any kind, if that sight is truly to be a view of Biblical Modesty. It should be noted that these things are directed to the case of a slender or a larger body size.

The specific areas of a woman’s body that should be entirely covered are:

The shoulders.

The chest area should be sufficiently covered so that absolutely no cleavage or shape of the breasts is revealed in any standing, sitting, laying down, or bending position.

No part of the curvature of the chest area should be able to be seen through the garments.

The shape of the woman’s chest should not be defined through the clothing.

All buttons on a blouse or sweater should be buttoned.

When a blouse or a sweater is buttoned, the buttons should not appear to be strained.

A buttoned blouse or sweater should never reveal any skin or undergarments because of the rippling effect in the relaxing of the garment.

All garments that have zippers should be sufficiently zipped up so as not to reveal any cleavage nor to point or direct the eyes downward.

Proper undergarments must always be worn for absolute modesty.

All blouses and sweaters that reveal the specific shape of the chest area should not be worn.

“V’ neck blouses and sweaters should not be worn because of how they draw attention and “point” eyes down to the chest area.

The neckline of any garment should cover all parts of the chest area especially to include cleavage that could be seen in and from any bodily position, or during any movement of the arms.

Writing on the chest area of a woman’s clothing should not be worn because it will draw unnecessary attention to that part of the body.

The mid-section of the body should always be completely covered even when raising the arms or bending.

The shape or form of the stomach area should not be in any way revealed through the clothing.

The waist area of any external type of garment should be loose fitting so as not to reveal the curvature of the waist to the eye.

Belts should not be too tight so as to show off the size of the waist.

The clothing should fall loosely on the hips without accenting the curvature of the hips.

All types of garments should appear to fall or flow from the waist area without revealing the shape of the front or the back parts of the body when in any position seated or standing.

All garments should flow from the hips downward without any tightening around the area of the buttocks, the sides of the lower part of the hips, and the upper part of the thighs.

The actual shape of the thighs should not be revealed through any garment when seated or standing.

All dress or skirt lengths should be amply sufficient to cover at least one inch below the knees when kneeling, sitting and standing.

If a dress or a skirt has any type of slit in it, this should not be worn unless that slit is well below the knees when in any position. Slits are specifically designed to point the eyes upward on the legs, and should have no part in a godly woman’s wardrobe.

The thickness of the material of any garment should be considered for proper modesty.

Slips must always be worn with any garment that allows light to pass through it.

Transparency of any level in outer garments must always be avoided.

A woman of this world may or may not see the relevance of such a list as this. But in the eyes of a male, these things are extremely significant. However, I believe that any woman professing godliness, and has a deep respect for the Bible, will see this list as very important for many reasons. I also believe that a lady who did not understand some things in that list before, will now.

Consider this question carefully.

Is modesty more for the sake of the woman wearing the clothing, or is it specifically for the benefit of those who must view that woman?

To some degree the answer to that question is related to both. Biblical modesty is definitely more for the benefit of those that are subject to view the appearance of a woman by her apparel.

No female has the right to cause another to sin because of the choice of how or what she wears as a covering. If a female wants to see herself in immodest clothing, why doesn’t she wear such things in front of her own mirror, for only her own benefit?

The response to that question will be a revealing of the heart. Women who know what their immodest clothing causes, in the view of the public, dress for all the wrong reasons. When a woman adorns herself in modest clothing, she is choosing to be modest and to be pleasing in the sight of God and men. When a woman looks into a mirror, and sees the immodesty that her clothing reveals, being acceptable in the sight of God is not on such a female’s list of priorities.

God’s women, of all people, need to make clear choices in consciously, intentionally, and deliberately planning to be unmistakably modest; especially those ladies who desire to live what their profession of godliness requires according to the Word of God.

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Chapter 15

LADIES, DRESS RIGHT OR BE DECEIVED

(A Bible Study given to the Ladies at The Hilltop Baptist Church by Mrs. Denise Luchon)

“Wherefore, my beloved bretheren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; For the wrath of Man worketh not the righteousness of God. 2: Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to saved your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23: But if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. If any men among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.” James 1:19-26

This chapter is actually an outline of a Bible study that was prepared and taught by my wife Denise, to the ladies at our church.

I thank God for the godly example, and for her testimony in being modest in her appearance to all who see her at our church. In the matter of dressing according to God’s Word, she called the Bible study, “Do or Be Deceived.”

To illustrate this lesson, my wife prepared a display of several pictures of women cut out of clothing magazines. These pictures were chosen to illustrate a range of immodestly to modesty in the type of clothing, and in the appearance of the garments in relation to the body.

She actually pointed out certain areas of the clothing, with regard to exactly where immodesty began to show up on the body by use of those particular pictures.

The effect of this lesson was immediately seen in the lives of several of the ladies, and even on the female children of our church as their mom’s realized that proper dress standards had better be practiced at a very young age.

The following is the basic outline of the lesson as taught by my precious wife.

I would like to start by asking God to sit in with us, as we begin to see, and hear what He would have us do from the Word of God, concerning how we should dress as Christian women.

If we hear what the Lord has written about this, and do not do what He has said, then we could be in a state of being deceived.

DECEIVE,

To mislead the mind; to cause to err; to cause to believe what is false, or disbelieve what is true; to impose on; to delude.

There are things that God has told you and me to do in the area of our appearance.

How many things can you think of concerning your dress standards, where God has spoken to you in a Sunday school lesson, or in the preaching of a message, or even in your own private time in the Word of God?

How many things can you name, that you have made an attempt to put into practice in dressing as a Christian.

What we have heard from the Word of God, we are now accountable to do.

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. But if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass…” James 1:22-23a

Let’s take a moment to look at what it means to “… be a hearer of the word, and not a doer…” when it comes to what we wear and how we dress.

What do you see when you look into the mirror?

2. What do you think God sees?

3. Is God pleased with the reflection of your appearance?

Statement: We need to really take the time to look at ourselves in the mirror each day and ask, “Am I dressed to please God today?”

We must work hard every day to: Put on Christ as we dress to be pleasing in His sight.

“If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lust; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Ephesians 4:21-24

Statement: The command to “put on the new…” can be applied to women as being the best copy of what a real Christ-like lady should be in outward appearance.

If we take time to think of what it means to “put on Christ,” we would have to come to the conclusion that more often than not, we all fall short of doing so. There are a lot of things in the Bible that God tells us to put on! These words are action words. They are something we are commanded to do, each starting of the day.

Ladies, Ask yourself some questions.

Do you start each day asking yourself, “God, what do you want me to wear today?”

Do you think it would change the way you dress if you asked God this question?

How do I look in this outfit before the eyes of God?

How about asking your husband, “Is this too tight or revealing?”

“Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11

This verse is speaking of the whole armour of God. Armour is for protection. Our clothing is also a form of protective amour against the harm that could come our way if we do not dress properly. It’s not part, or just some of our armour, or even a portion that we are to wear. It is the whole armour of God that we must use.

Armour = (something worn) on the outside to protect us from human or Satanic attack.

To adorn ourselves properly against evil can be appropriately applied to the wearing of modest apparel, or the putting on of the right kind of clothing.

We must plan to focus on the area of our appearance, our attitude, and some of our actions, regarding the way we dress.

This lesson is designed to challenge women to change their thinking about what is and is not appropriate to “put on.”

I would like to begin by asking some questions:

How many of you have read Mrs. Corle’s Book entitled, “What in The World Should I Wear?”

How many times have you heard a message on this subject?

“Wherefore, my beloved bretheren, let every man be swift to hear…”

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass…” James 1:19, 22, 23

Questions:

What do you see when you look into the mirror?

Are you looking through the natural man’s eyes, or through the eyes of the new creature? (as a saved person)

Do you know what the Bible says about modest dress, or fashions that are pleasing to God?

Apply these verses to your dress styles.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed…( “not fashioned after”) …to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1-2

Questions: Do you dress for:

Yourself?

Your Husband?

Others?

God?

Do you know why this subject is so important to God?

“In like manner also, that woman adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety not with broided hair of gold, or pearls, or costly array.10: But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. “I Timothy 2:9-10

Questions:

Is your way of dressing godly or ungodly?

Do you understand that it has to be one way or the other, but that it should never be both?

Does this subject make you uneasy, or confused, or frustrated or even angry?

“Wherefore, my beloved bretheren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath…” James.1:19

Statement: As women, we must understand why this subject is so hard. Satan wants God to be displeased with how we, as God’s creation appear to others.

Is God pleased with what you wear?

“And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Ephesians 4:24

Statement: If we, as women, would really try to see how God sees us, as we appear in our clothes, I wonder what we would learn.

Could you be deceived in this and not know it? Yes!!

Are you willing to ask, “Am I deceived in this matter?”

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22

Statement: If you are considering that this subject, and this teaching are something “you need,” you are not deceived. If you think this is not for you…, you could be deceived right now.

Question: How can we find out if we are deceived in how we dress?

This is not easy for me to talk about or to teach. But it is something I believe God has led me to do. Ladies, let’s just face the fact that this is not a subject that we like to hear about. It is a subject that can be very uncomfortable in mixed company, and also, none of us really want to be told what and how we should dress. But if God takes time to talk about it in His Word, then it needs to be taught to, and received by each one of us.

I believe that if each one of us would take the time to pray and ask God to help us to understand, and have a right heart about how we should dress, I believe God could change our thinking on this matter. As a result, He would bring us to a new level in our walk with Him.

“If any men among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.” James 1:26

NOTE: “Religion is how you live according to how you believe.”

Statement: What you “say” about the topic of this lesson right now, or would say about it, will tell if you have deceived yourself about how you dress!

“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety not with broided hair of gold, or pearls, or costly array. But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.” I Timothy 2:9-10

I took time to look up these words in Webster’s dictionary. Please look at the definition of each of these words.

We are to adorn ourselves with:

Modest apparel = not forward, but shy, reserved as modest behavior. Not displaying of one’s body, not extreme, as modest request, quiet and humble in appearance and style.

Shamefacedness = extremely modest bashful, shy.

Question: How far would you have to lower your present standard of modest dress in order to feel embarrassed in public?

Sobriety = quality of being sober; sedateness of manner, temperance.

Note: This implies that we are aware of how we appear before God and “men.”

Godliness = the quality or state of being godly; piety.

Piety = devotion to religious duties and practices, loyalty and devotion to parents and family!

Statement: To dress immodestly is disloyalty to our husband, our families, our church, our Bible, and our GOD!

Modesty = the quality or state of being modest. Lack of excesses or pretensions, moderation.

Look at James. 1:25

“But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” = It is hard work to think this through carefully. It is even harder work to apply these words to what we put on as we dress!

I remember when Brother Corle preached at our church. He said that we must add “virtue to our faith, before we can have full “knowledge of many subjects!”

That means we had better obey God, and dress properly before we have it “all figured out.”

“Virtue on the inside will show up in our appearance on the outside”

The name of our Ladies Group is The V. I. P. Club. The “V” stands for VIRTUE.

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Are we Virtuous in our appearance?

Are we showing our Integrity as we dress for church?

Are we exercising Prudence as we choose what to put on each and every day?

Ladies, let’s put on a proper and modest appearance, or we could be a candidate for self-deception! Let’s DO what we have heard!

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Chapter 16

A FINAL WORD

The public appearance and dress standards of born again believers reveal many things about the inner attitudes of their hearts.

Christian women, of all ages, and of all the women on this earth, ought to be the first ones to decide to develop dress standards that are first and foremost pleasing in the sight of their Saviour.

For any “...women professing godliness..,” loving obedience to the Biblical principles of modesty, must be the main purpose for avoiding all forms and fashions of immodesty.

The Lord Jesus died for all sins, some of which are the very sins that have been and will be caused by saved women, who willfully choose to disobey God’s Word and dress immodestly in spite of God’s view of what they wear.

Ladies, there is nothing more beautiful, pure, and becoming, as a modestly-adorned female. Such a woman is a blessing to the eyes of a Holy God, and in the view of professing Christian men, who are also doing their best to be, and stay right with their Lord and Saviour.

Modesty is a precious commodity in this present world of immodesty. Use it! Don’t waste it!