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UNDERSTANDING MODESTY

Introduction: When approaching the subject of modesty the subject of dress comes up. Questions such as, how short are too short? Or, how low is too low? Or, how tight is too tight? Some body eventually asks for a specific passage where the length is specified? Another may know not to wear "short shorts, short skirts, revealing clothing "but they act immodestly. Which shows a lot of people do not understand what modesty is not to mention how to dress and behave modestly.

  1. I. PASSAGES AND TERMS
    1. 1 Timothy 2.8 starts off dealing with the behavior of godly men, verse 9 speaks to women and the behavior of godly women.
    2. 1 Peter 3.1-6 is addressed to godly women and their behavior
    3. v. 1 the conduct of women can convert their husbands, "without a word"
    4. v. 2 they observe your chaste conduct
    5. v. 3 stresses the inward as opposed to the outward
    6. v. 4 the hidden person of the heart, quiet spirit
    7. v. 5 godly women trusted in God and adorned themselves, being submissive to their husbands
    8. c. Key words –
      9.
    9. Modest – kosmios, orderly, decent, well arranged
    10. Kosmos—the world, referring to the orderly and harmonious arrangement of the universe
    11. Shamefastness, shamefacedness, aidos, a sense of shame, modest, reverence, the ability to blush
    12. Shamefastness is that modesty which is rooted in the character.
    13. Sobriety – soundness of mind, self control
    14. Lasciviously – absent of restraint, indecency, shameless conduct
  2. II. MODESTY DEALS WITH THE INNER CHARACTER
    1. The "heart" of man deals with his thoughts, Luke 12.45
    2. Which in turn reveals itself in man’s actions, Matthew 12.33-37
    3. Therefore one’s actions reveals their heart, we can judge the heart only by the actions of the person.
    4. Character and attitudes are developed by self desire and teaching
      5.
    5. Man can harden his heart, be stubborn and rebel against what they have been taught, Isaiah 6.9-10
    6. Man’s heart is taught by parents and others, Prov. 22.6
    7. Modesty is developed
      8.
    8. A child is not born with a sense of modesty but develops it over time.
    9. Parents and others influence us in our clothing, what and where we are allowed to wear certain styles of clothing.
      1. 1. If parents dress their children immodestly they will instruct their children to be immodest (developing an immodest character)
III. IMMODESTY
    1. Immodesty is the absence of modesty
    2. Absence of restraint, no sense of shame, not having the ability to blush, disorderly, inappropriate.
    3. The deals with the character of the person which results in the behavior. Pro. 7. 10, 11,21.
    4. Some clothes are immodest
    5. Too tight, too short, too revealing, stirring up lust and drawing attention o one’s body.
    6. Causing others to lust after you, Matt. 5.28
    7. A person dressing in a lascivious manner is partly to blame for others sinning.
    8. A person dressing modestly is not to blame for the unlawful desires of others.
    9. Clothes of a harlot, Prov. 7.10.
    10. One’s clothing advertises one’s character, Gen. 38.15
    11. Prostitutes dress in ways that distinguishes them and advertises their bodies
    12. Some activities are immodest
    13. One’s activities on dates, unchaste handling, touching and what they allow or engage in.
    14. The way one presents their body, body language
    15. The conversation one engages in, hinting, flirting without restraint
    16. Even one’s entertainment can be immodest, profanity, nudity, etc. Romans 13.13
  1. IV. WHY PEOPLE DRESS IMMODESTY
    1. They are truly immodest and immoral, Gen. 19.30ff.
    2. Many a young lady dressed immodesty have turned up pregnant.
    3. They allow unchaste handling, have immoral entertainment, etc.
    4. Naďve – unlearned
    5. Not taught that revealing the private parts of their body is wrong. 1 Cor. 12.23-24
    6. Many young ladies are unaware the effect they have on young men (some grown up ladies are likewise ignorant)
    7. They think no body is looking at them.
    8. They need to be taught that others are looking at them. Matthew 5.28
    9. What everybody else is wearing
    10. Modesty is not relaxed due to society’s standards.
      1. Modestly restricts and not liberates, ex. Being naked in a nudist colony is not modest.
      2. The Romans society allowed almost any conduct but it was still immodest.
      3. Poor self esteem
      4. The way some feel better about themselves due to the looks and stares of others.
      5. Young women parading themselves have no sense of shame.
  1. V. SUGGESTIONS FOR APPLYING MODESTY
    1. Parents tell your sons and daughters when something is immodest
    2. If your daughter dresses like a tramp she will be treated like a tramp.
    3. Husbands tell your wives when she is revealing too much
    4. Some wives need this, some things should only be worn in the house.
    5. Start early in dressing children in modest clothing
    6. Work to develop a modest character by revealing what the Bible teaches.
  2. VI. CONCLUSION
    1. God loves a contrite and humble heart, a person that understands the difference between adorning the outward body and the inward body.
    2. A modest person will behave modestly.
    3. A humble person will listen to the word of God, draw near to Him in humble obedience. Are you such a person today? Have you drawn near to God by having your sins washed away by the blood of Christ, by confessing Him as God’s Son, repent and turning away from sin, and being immersed? Westside church of Christ 06.10.07

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