Modesty doesn’t win Gods favor. If modesty alone impressed God then Muslims in burkas would no doubt be Gods favorites.
Galations 5:19Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions,divisions, 21envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Notice the first 3 works of the flesh are Sexual Immorality, Impurity, Sensuality.. Clearly flesh has a problem with these issues and for a woman to tempt a man with a short skirt and a tight shirt is a grave sin. Generally speaking most of these 3 sins start with a woman who is not properly covered up, a woman who is not shamefaced. This passage of scripture also talks about how Sensuality is a sin, I have certainly seen some very sensuous hairstyles. Big, windblown bedroom looking hair...hair that is sensual.
Matt 5:28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Notice the *with her* in this scripture. She is not innocent but is part of the adultery when she puts herself in a place that causes a man to lust after her.
Prov 30:20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
My husband has been teaching on Thursday nights on Holiness, Modesty and Separation From The World, and it has been awesome. You're right about modesty alone not winning God's favor. True holiness is something that has to start in our hearts, but it does eventually make it's way to our outward appearance. One thing that has really stuck with me is that we are not to defraud each other. To defraud means to stir up a desire in someone that cannot be righteously fulfilled. I'm afraid many women, whether they realize it or do it in ignorance, have defrauded the opposite sex by the way they dress. Of course, it can work the other way too, but in general, it's the ladies that are dressing in a provocative manner. May God help us to consider our hearts and what we put on, because we are our brother's keeper. Thanks for this post!
ReplyDeleteWow Sis I had never heard anyone talk about defrauding one another outside of the context of marriage but you are absolutely right. Thank you for the comment.
ReplyDeleteAlso appreciate what you said about holiness starting in the heart and manifesting itself outwardly. *That* is what I feel like so many are missing, sure our young ladies wear skirts but even a long skirt can be immodest and indicative of a heart that is not bowed.