Sexual Modesty in Dress Maintaining Godly Standards in an Immodest Society

Importance of Subject Impact of trends on the YOUNG Increasing problem among CHRISTIANS Prevalence of sexually immodest dress in our CULTURE

Clarifications More than one KIND of immodesty A matter of the HEART – not just clothing Not just a WOMAN’S subject

Uncovering of Nakedness “None of you shall approach any one of his close relatives to uncover nakedness. I am the LORD. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, which is the nakedness of your mother; she is your mother, you shall not uncover her nakedness...” (Leviticus 18:6,7) NOT to uncover nakedness implies that NAKEDNESS IS NORMALLY COVERED! Two Separate Sins 1.Uncovering SOMEONE ELSE’S nakedness other than my spouse 2.Uncovering MY nakedness to someone other than my spouse Two Separate Sins 1.Uncovering SOMEONE ELSE’S nakedness other than my spouse 2.Uncovering MY nakedness to someone other than my spouse Proverbs 5:19

Men Are Visually Stimulated More aroused by VISUAL stimuli More QUICKLY aroused, period More aroused by VISUAL stimuli More QUICKLY aroused, period In comparison to women, men are...

Eyes Full of Adultery They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. 2 Peter 2:14 They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. 2 Peter 2:14 Yes, there is a man who has a dirty mind... But that is not the man we are concerned about

“Attraction” Attract Latin = ad (in the direction of) + trahere (to pull) To cause to draw near; to pull toward Related words: tractor, traction, etc. Attractive General: pleasing to the eye or mind; charming Specific: having the power to attract (draw or pull)

Attire of a Harlot “And there a woman met him, with the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart” (Proverbs 7:10 NKJV). What it’s not: – Clothing that says, “I am a harlot” What it is: – Clothing that attracts sexual interest

How to Draw Attention to a Certain Part of Your Body 1.Reveal it 2.Conceal it and reveal everything else 3.Reveal just a little of it 4.Cover it tightly 5.Cover it thinly

Sexually Attractive Clothing? “Yes, but I’m not wearing it for that reason” As far as MEN are concerned, sexually attractive clothing has the same effect WHETHER THAT WAS YOUR INTENT OR NOT!

Clothing Sends Signals Signals Verbal Sender Non-Verbal Recipient It is possible to send SEXUAL signals that... 1.We do not intend 2.We’re not even aware of

Inconsistency Send sexual signals Send sexual signals Resent it when someone responds Resent it when someone responds

How to Draw Attention to a Certain Part of Your Body 1.Reveal it 2.Conceal it and reveal everything else 3.Reveal just a little of it 4.Cover it tightly 5.Cover it thinly

Initiator Has Greater Blame 1.Balaam – Num 31:16; Rev 2:14 2.Jezebel – 1 Kgs 21:25 3.Jeroboam – 1 Kgs 14:16 4.The Jews and Pilate – Jn 19:11 5.Peter – Gal 2:11-13 Application to sexually attractive clothing

Heart of the Matter Heart Speech Behavior Clothing “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good; and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45)

Objections This is a matter of the heart – externals don’t matter It is hard to find modest clothes Modest clothes are outdated, ugly – I just don’t like them It’s men who have the problem – should control thoughts Styles change – modesty is culturally determined It’s a matter of judgment – where do you draw the line? Yes, but there are exceptional situations I just want to fit in, be accepted What I wear is nobody’s business but my own Good lesson – it just doesn’t apply to me

Male Leadership on Modesty Some advice to men... Think and dress modestly YOURSELF Don’t watch immodest ENTERTAINMENT Make a COVENANT WITH YOUR EYES – Job 31:1 TEACH your wives and daughters Think and dress modestly YOURSELF Don’t watch immodest ENTERTAINMENT Make a COVENANT WITH YOUR EYES – Job 31:1 TEACH your wives and daughters

My Sisters, Save Yourselves 1.For your husbands 2.For your Lord 3.For heaven 1.For your husbands 2.For your Lord 3.For heaven

Sacrifice It is NOT TRUE that modesty can never be stylish But even if it WERE true, the Christian’s choice would be clear Do we give the Lord only that which costs us nothing? Can we not spell S-A-C-R-I-F-I-C-E?

Sexual Modesty in Dress Maintaining Godly Standards in an Immodest Society