Empowered Traditionalist

2.The allegiance of the modest woman
Our allegiance is not to the world, but to the Lord and our brothers.Paul writes, “not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.”

The issue isn’t braided hair, or pearls, or costly attire in and of themselves. The issue is the association through this attire with values that are clearly worldy and not godly. Context is important, Paul is talking about the corporate church gathered on Sundays. He wants worship (or youth-group or whatever your attending) to be unhindered! He addresses the men and the women, don’t be a distraction.

It was ostentatious dress, dressing to attract attention, like when you walk in and someone says “Did you see that dress? That brand is like 50 million dollars!”

Moreover, ostentatious dress- these were things the prostitutes wore.

But it’s also important to remember, this verse is not a condemnation/prohibition of women enhancing their appearance. We are women, made to be beautiful, we just need to do the hard work of asking ourselves- what statement are my hair and attire making today? Why am I wearing what I’m wearing? Does your hair and dress reveal an inordinate fascination with sinful, cultural values?

Girls who inspires your dress? Who through your dress are you identifying with? Are you looking to the holy women of scripture? Ester? Deborah? Sarah? Or are your role models the worldy women of our culture? Or Britney Spears, Kiera Knightley or Lindsay Lohan?

I will be charitable and say many ladies are ignorant of the impact their clothes make on the opposite gender. Young ladies, in particular, are ignorant of the battle men daily confront. You are ignorant of the effect your bodies on the hearts and minds of men.
But after this, not one of you can claim ignorance.

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1. The Attitude of the modest woman
I intentionally begin with the heart, because modesty starts with the heart, not the hemline.
Look at vs. 9 and the phrase emphasized.

1 Timothy 2:9 “likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control,”
Paul immediately addresses the heart. Respectable apparel refers to your appearance, modesty and self-control are attitudes of the heart.
All modest clothing is the fruit of a godly heart.

Your clothes are a public statement of your private motivation. If your desire to serve Christ-to profess godliness- your motivation is to be distinct from our culture as it relates to dress and fashion. It is to be motivated by modesty and self-control.
Defining Modesty

Does modest mean wearing clothes that look like they have been thrown on with a pitchfork? *chuckle* The answer is an obvious no.

Modesty in the traditional Hebrew culture meant having a sense of shame, shamefacedness. Humilty. Having a sense of shame if we were to ever cause a brother to stumble.
Modesty is humility of heart expressed in dress. It’s a desire to serve others, men especially, and not provoking sensuallity. Are you dressing to draw attention to yourself and your body? Willful immodesty is an expression of arrogance. A woman who chooses to flaunt her body is expressing anything but humilty.

A wise friend of mine used to repeat, “God cares infinitely more about why you do what you do than the actual thing that you do”. God cares about the heart.

A modest heart always precedes modest dress. As John McArthur writes,

“How does a woman discern the sometimes fine line between proper dress and dressing to be the center of attention? The answer starts in the intent of the heart. A woman should examine her motives and goals for the way she dresses. Is her intent to show the grace and beauty of womanhood? Is it to reveal a humble heart devoted to worshiping God? Or is it to call attention to herself and flaunt her beauty? Or worse, to attempt to allure men sexually? A woman who focuses on worshipping God will consider carefully how she is dressed, because her heart will dictate her wardrobe and appearance.”

As we search our hearts, I would question those who have always dressed modestly. There are two ditches on the side of the road…you can lean too far to one or the other very easily! Do you dress modestly because your mom has always told you to (and she certainly wouldn’t let you wear anything else) or because your heart is devoted to serving the lord? You can be completely covered but still be a very provocative and prideful woman. It’s like cleaning the outside of a cup, but the inside is coated with mold and remnants of last weeks dinner. It’s all about your heart.

Application questions:

Some questions for you ladies…
1. What statement do my clothes make about my heart? (because there is an inseparable relationship between your heart and your clothes) And this is not a one time battle, I continually have to remind myself of the truth, because I slip back in to the cultural mentality time and time again.

2. Is your shopping for clothes and purchase of clothes informed and governed by modesty and self-control? (do you take God to the Gap?)

3. In Choosing clothes for an event or Sunday service, whose attention do you desire? And whose approval do you crave?
…to be continued.

Note from the author: These truths are not original, they are all the message of other, wise men and women who have gone on before, shedding light on this important biblical truth.

1 Timothy 2: 8,10 “I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness–with good works.”

I can see some of you squirming in your seats, one second from clicking away from and heading to another…more comfortable blog. I mean, “modesty” isn’t that the word that is most mis-construed, most controversial and generally just plain difficult? Why get into the bally issue?

Aside from preserving your dignity and self-respect-

It is our duty and priviledge, as women who profess to follow Christ, to serve our brothers and honor God by dressing modestly.

My story begins when I was eleven. I wore only elastic waist pants, I hated jeans, and for all their hideous “elasticy” appearance they made me feel more comfortable. I commonly wore boys clothes, and by the age of twelve, they hid my rabidly morphing body. I remember purchasing a certain pair of pants from Old Navy (from the boys section) and wore them after church the following Sunday. I was very embarrassed to find that one of my best guy friends (who I think I secretly liked) was also wearing the same pair of pants, and kindly pointed the fact out to me.

*shudder* I could not wear those pants again without waves of embarrassment. I was a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly. I made it through what I fondly call “my geeky stage” with sports bras, glasses, and braces. I then became fascinated with curling irons, clothing catalogues and name brands. I was always told to dress modestly, but I didn’t understand why, honestly I didn’t really care, it was just something I was used to…through many trials the Lord has graciously brought me to a deeper understanding of what it means to be a modest woman, and I pray will continue to do so.

That is we will explore,
1. The attitude of the modest woman

2. The Allegiance of the modest woman, and finally
3. The Appearance of the modest woman