A couple of years ago, I watched The Call for Nashville on a Christian TV network. It was a day-long event with Christians from all over America, praying, fasting and worshipping for a spiritual breakthrough in Nashville.
Well-known Christian leaders encouraged and exhorted Christians to live holy lives. Singers sang about a passionate love for Jesus and His holiness. Young people gave awesome testimonies about selling out to Jesus and living holy lives.
But ironically, what really caught my attention were the numerous female participants who wore low-neck tops, exposing cleavage and vast areas of their breasts to everyone.
Am I just an old fuddy-duddy for bringing this up? After all, it’s fashionable for women to be sexy and flaunt their merchandise, right? So, why shouldn’t Christian women do the same?
Well, what’s your thought on Christian women wearing low-neck tops, exposing vast amounts of cleavage and breasts? Is it okay to show a little, a moderate amount or who cares? Or should Christian women wear burkas and turtlenecks?
Swimming Upstream appears at this blog site on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. It’s a little of this and a little of that, all written to encourage and exhort believers in their Christian journeys.
Larry Who 
As a Muslim, I cannot speak for what Christians ought to do or ought not to do, however, I do think there is value in women dressing modestly. A woman who dresses in a dignified manner shows that she respects herself and the people around her. http://asad123.wordpress.com
I think the way that people dress should show honor for themselves and for God. Showing too much is definitely dishonorable. But what is too much? Some women can wear more revealing clothing without coming across as being disrespectful. Their bearing shows that they are not dressing in order to incite lust or to make a show out of themselves. Other women may be dressed very conservatively, but dishonor themselves from the way they act.
It’s not about inches of skin so much as intent.
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It is a contradiction for Christian women to dress and act immodestly. An example of what I mean by this comes from the recent Miss California controversy. Here she is speaking out against same sex marriage while at the same time she has no problem prancing around in a bikini, in a competion about who is the most beautiful. I would never want my husband or young sons watching such a skin show. Similar to your first example.
I agree with Lindsey for the most part and I have to say I particularly worry about the youth in that respect. I have seen youth who are part of a worship team wearing the shortest of skirts and the most revealing of tops. As parents we seem to have completely lost the ability to rein in our children and to guide them in the way they should go.
Having said that, I have skeletons in my own cupboard. With regards to adult women and speaking as one and from my own experience of a previous season in my life, it is not about how we come across whether appearing to want to incite lust or not. When we are showing too much, we are fully aware of it and there is an intent to it which is not Godly. I know because I have done it myself and although at the time it made me feel temporarily good (as all sinful actions do), I knew in my heart it was wrong and that it could be a stumbling block for someone else, so double whammy of dishonouring the God I am called to worship.
I thank the Lord for pointing out to me a weakness in my heart which could have had terrible consequences not only for me but for others too. It was not a pretty journey He took me on in order to see how I could fall and make others fall, but it was a necessary one if I was to continue being a vessel of His glorious and pure light in the world. Praise God for He disciplines those He loves.
I remember watching “The Call” Nashville at our church, but your memory must be much better than mine (or your eyesight). 🙂
I, personally have struggled with lust, not that its a burning passion to rape someone or look at porn, but nevertheless, it is a problem. One that I wish the Lord would deliver me from.
I’m always on guard, being careful where more eyes wander to. If I catch sight of a woman wearing a low-neck top, I’ve trained my eyes to look away as soon as possible. (About 98% effective.)
So, I agree with ransom33’s bold comments, but at the same time, I’m fearful of legalism. Christianity has a long history of outward holiness (long black dresses, thick nylon stockings, black granny shoes and hair tied into a bun), instead of inward purity.
As far as The Call goes, I love Lou Engle and this movement. What I saw was in the crowds of people in front of the platform, not on the platform. To me, Lou Engle is a mighty man of God.
These reflect my viewpoints, what’s yours?
I want to add another factor. In my younger days I wore skirts that showed too much leg as well as some other inappropriate fashions, one reason being I couldn’t create a cleavage with a vice. My point was not to tempt anyone to lust and if any man would have suggested it, I would have been shocked. Looking back, I had a confidence problem. I would dress sexy because first, my unsaved at the time husband wanted me to, and second, I wanted to prove to all the mean people in my youth who made me feel like a toad that I was not a toad, that I was pretty.
Time, Holy Spirit checking and the aging process has brought me to a whole new level of dressing responsibly.
In many cases, percentage impossible to know, Christian women haven’t a clue. They’re just trying to look as good as they can according to the standards at hand.
One excellent example of a woman dressing up in style while maintaining modesty is Joyce Meyer. Tune in and take a look some time.
Somebody needs to speak to our young women. I see high school girls at the church leaving only the color of small patches of skin a mystery. How do we expect our young teenage men to think pure thoughts? Do they all think this near state of nudity normal and not a problem?
You’ve touched on an important topic, Larry! Important not just to us, but to God. The first chapter of my book, “Secrets About Guys (that shouldn’t be secret),” deals with modesty – or the lack of it – and what guys think about it. And so that we don’t have to worry about who has a right to be the “fashion police,” it also includes numerous Scripture references about how God views it.
If you don’t mind, Larry, I’ll include my website address here; it gives more info on the book: http://www.gracedove.com (Otherwise, please feel free to delete. 🙂 Based on reviews, the book -including the chapter on Modesty – has been enthusiastically received.
P.S. Larry, you sound like a normal guy to me. God wired males to be attracted to beauty. May God bless you for your commitment to keeping a pure heart.
It wasn’t until after I married a Christian man that I learned something about the normal man’s response to stimulation–and we’ve been maried 50 years. Some things never change. But I do think teaching women the realities of life is important. At the same time, we have to let God deal with women–and men–or we become legalistic. It requies walking a fine line and many will go too far one way or the other. Through it all, we discover that once again, God is bigger than our sin.
Solveig,
I agree. We need godly people that others can pattern their lives after.
Well, I’ll be the one person to say, “hey look at this a different way…”
I want you to go out right now and find clothing that doesn’t show something…somewhere. I mean try to be “fashionable” and not have to wear layers… even me, being a larger woman have a lot of issues not having shirts go way too low, or too tight (and not because I’m larger) 🙂
Skirts are too short, or have a slit in them, shirts are designed to dive much lower than they should. I actually went searching for clothes a few months ago for a formal affair… ended up not going. I couldn’t find anything to wear that didn’t show off my “goods”… unless I wanted to look 80.
So before you put ALL the blame… lets share this. Let’s look at the MOSTLY MALE corporate moguls that put their stamp of approval on letting our daughters go to even Kmart or Walmart and buy what 20 years ago would have been considered trashy. I actually saw thongs for a young child!
What have we become? Don’t tell me, well if you didn’t buy it, they wouldn’t make it… really? Those in the place to make decisions like that have a duty as well. Not only that but since their decisions influence ALL of culture… I think they have a higher responsibility.
Ronni: That is a really astute observation. I started shopping in women’s departments when I was still a teen, because I was hardpressed to find anything in my size (small) that wasn’t really trashy. I eventually just started sewing most of my own clothes, because when I bought from the women’s department the clothing really aged me, and if I just shop in any store, I can’t really find anything tasteful that isn’t matronly. Especially Wal-Mart or Target!
And when you’re talking about something with the size of a Wal-Mart or Target, it’s really *not* just about what people buy- there are people who make the final decisions on what is or isn’t fashionable, and I can promise you they aren’t young women concerned about taste and decorum. The fashion industry (and store supply industry!) is still predominately male.
Ronnie and Lindsey,
These are interesting points which I would have never considered. Maybe, that’s because I wear jeans, khaki slacks, t-shirts, golf shirts, blue button-down shirts, loafers and tennis shoes. My clothing tastes haven’t varied in forty-five years.
But I see your points and of course, I have no answers.
Ronnie, I share your concerns. I have made comprimises myself b/c “I can’t find anything” thinking I will be able to cover it up. As a young mom I am always bending over to help my kids with something. This is the hardest test for my clothing to pass. However I challenge you as I challenge myself to try harder to find a solution. I would suggest looking online for a company that makes more modest, stylish clothing. If you find one please share with us.
Matthew 5:28 Jesus says ” whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Luke 17:1 says ““Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to the person that they come through!”
Jude 1:4 For there are certain men who crept in unnoticed, people we were warned about, people ordained to condemnation, ungodly people, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and although they claim to know God and our Lord Jesus Christ, they disown him through their actions,” (also see Titus 1:16…. verse 18 goes on to say “The apostles warned of these mockers/posers in the last days, people in the church who will walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These are they who separate themselves, SENSUAL, not having the Spirit.”
2 Timothy 3:4…They will love what pleases them instead of loving God. 5 They will ACT as if they were serving God. But what they do will show that they have turned their backs on God’s power. Have nothing to do with those people.
How could anyone believe it is OK to look sexy. There is a big difference between sexy and pretty, sexy is intended to cause someone to lust and lust is listed frequently in scriptures as a sin. I am AMAZED at the churches who allow “sexy” at their welcome desk, offices, teaching positions and in front of the congregation in the form of singers, actors and testimonies…. hello, don’t they FEAR God’s promised judgment?
James 3:1-5 “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
may God bless you with a mind for the truth.
For any of those that are afraid to judge other “so called” Christians because of their own past, that part of us should have been buried when we were baptized, we should be NEW creatures. Those who continue to sin do not belong to Christ and when we allow people to claim Christ when they are still dirty, we demean the word of God and promote deceit!
1 Corinthians 6:9 Don’t you understand that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Don’t Be Deceived: those who have sex before marriage, (fornicators), or place their own desires ahead of God’s (idolaters), or have sex with anyone other than their spouse (adulterers), or homosexuals, or bi-sexuals, or cross-dressers (effeminate), or any of those who abuse themselves with one another, 10 Not thieves, or covetous, or drunks, or those who speak abusively (revilers), nor extortioners, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 AND SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU: but you have been washed, you have been set aside for God’s purposes (sanctified), you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
may God bless you with an understanding of the truth.
Sheryl,
I agree. We may be in the world, but we certainly don’t have to resemble the world. Thanks.