Still On Immodest Dress Code

One of the means used by the devil to cause the sin
of lust and sexual immorality in our society today is the styles of dressing or fashion designs. Immodesty, lust, deceit, drunkenness, and murder all belong to same category and are listed in the progressive order of events beginning with immodesty and ending with murder. If you are Christian, remember the story of King David and Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11-12:25.
Looking at the mode of dressing in our society today especially among girls, the question that arises in any decent mind is: do women realize the power and influence they exercise over the thinking and actions of men by way of sexual attraction? Surely, this is beautifully expressed or answered by the story of king David and his tempter, Bathesheba.
What was the reasons for her displaying herself immodestly within the view of king David? However innocent her reasons might have seemed to her, it brought forth sin, sorrow, and death. From his rooftop, David was able to look upon Bathsheba while she was bathing within his view. Her beauty and lack of discretion contributed to the sin of lust within David’s heart. The result of their adultery caused a child to be conceived. To cover the sin, David sought to provide opportunity for others to think that the child was by Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband. When all the possibilities failed, the last option was the death of Uriah, one sin leading to another. Who would have thought that such a despicable character would come from a highly respected man like King David? But such is the way of the world, both then and now.
It is a true fact that our generation is living in an age that worships at the feet of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of sexual love and desire. The manifestation of this sex-worship is evident and plentiful in the epidemic of venereal diseases, illegitimate pregnancies and abortion among teenagers, flood of pornographic movies and literature, just as many expose their bare skin or go nude in the name of fashion. No doubt, the mode of dressing among the youths especially ladies has only succeeded in fostering a decline in moral standard in the society.
The human body has private parts which are to be kept sacred. The private parts are the hidden treasures of the body to be revealed only to your husband or wife in marriage for him or her to discover. Unfortunately, the mode of dressing today has exposed that hidden treasures to the general public and there is nothing left to be revealed.
Looking at the rate of styles of dressing, the question that comes to mind is: is the Bible teaching on modest dressing still relevant in our age? Of course if we believe in God, He has the ability to design laws and commandments and principles suited to all men of all nations of all time (Matt. 24:35; 1 Peter 1:23).
Man’s nature has not changed, and reading of the Bible will reveal the same emotions, passions and human attributes that men have today. Therefore, what God teaches through the Bible is still relevant and will remain so forever. It is obvious that it needs to be made relevant to all those who claim to be Christians, yet adorn themselves in their shorts, mini-skirts, swim suits, low necklines, tight-out fits, see-thru and show your bra styles.
Nakedness has been and will continue to be a sign of shame right from Adam and Eve in Gen. 3:7. The aprons they made for themselves would have covered as much as a modern mini-skirt, but God was not satisfied with it as he made for their “Coats of Skins.” Gen 3:21 to clothe them; likewise (Isa 47:3, Rev. 3:18). So, one can have clothing and be naked in biblical sense. This is refered to as “thinly-dad” in passages like Job 22:6 and James 2:15-16. According to these passages, you are “naked” in many of the modern modes of dressing today. Moreover, God says, in “like manner, that women adorn themselves in modes of apparel, with shamefulness and sobriety, not with braided hair, gold or pearls or costly raiment; but through good works,” (I Timothy 2:9-10).
Modesty from Greek word means “well-arranged, seemly,…” Thus, dress is to be orderly, in good taste, and in such fashion that a woman is to be respected and thought highly of. So whatever good taste, custom or civilization that may be behind the current mode of dressing or fashion, a Christian is told to be not fashioned according to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Rom 12:2). For this reasons a Christian has no excuse for copying the immodest dressing styles of this world and justify ungodliness simply because “every one else is doing it.”
If modesty means, behaving according to a standard of what is proper, decent, pure and not displaying or exposing ones body especially the private parts, can one honestly defend many modern styles of dressing? Does the fact that the name of one is shorts and the other is underwear makes the difference between modesty and immodesty?
If only you can hear the comments or read the minds of men and boys concerning girls who pass by in tight-outfits, shorts, low-cut blouses, mini-skirts and many more that exposes and emphasises the private parts of their body, surely it will bring a shame. Such clothing may be considered as encouraging level or lustful thoughts, emotions and is condemned as “a work of the flesh” in Hab. 6:19-21.
In the world parameter, Nigeria is rated as one of the most religious countries of the world. And seeing the number of churches and mosques around, there is no doubt about that. Religion serves to purify and uplift the moral standards of the people in all aspects of their lives. Contrary, it is not the case, instead Nigeria is in the class of the most corrupt countries of the world. This is because when the citizens are corrupt, it is the country that is corrupt. And when the citizens are morally sound, it is the country that is morally sound. We all have the obligation to redeem our country back to her image as one of the most religious countries of the world. Otherwise what is in name without image.
John is an intern with The Tide.

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