I also believe that when the Lord’s true conviction of heart takes place one get to read the modesty statements by Paul&Peter differently.
And also when you have been transformed and trully long to deny self/flesh…you will view the way you dress, so that you dont make others fall into sin with how you dress(i.e,showing too much of neckline and wearing short skirts)

Thanks so much for this post&comments
Im a 26year old lady and the way I view modest in the scripture seems legalistic/religious to some people.
Im glad for this post&comments

The battle against self is lifelong and will be, I think, one of the most difficult we ever face. I know I live selfishly without even realizing it, but Christ said that whoever follows Him must deny himself daily and follow Him. What a sobering command! How hard it is to voluntarily surrender our “rights” for the good of others. How blessed we all are when we do.

What the God of the Bible calls us to is something bigger than ourselves– where we actually serve others. This is the strongest message and one that will have the greatest impact: when we seek to put aside liberty for someone else.

“What it’s lacking is for modesty to snowball such that it makes those that show skin look odd. But don’t look to the fashion industry to make that change.

Actually, our best bet for this change as well as for many changes is a heart change.”

I completely agree! The fashion industry is not based on pleasing God but on pleasing the flesh. As anything done in man’s power always spirals downward, not upward, I believe that fashion will only get worse. It is up to us, Christians who desire to honor God and live like Christ, to be different. We are called to be lights in the world, and we can’t be a light if we look, talk, act, and think like the world.

I realize there will be variances in what Christians find acceptable. I believe that is fine as long as they are seeking to honor God and dressing to please Him. God is well able to convict Christians without the forceful “help” of other well-intentioned Christians.

Please understand, I am not saying that we should have no standards or that preaching on separated living should go. Not at all! I just believe that something that I may be convicted is wrong for me (wearing pants, for instance) may not be wrong for another Christian. Think about Paul’s writings regarding meat offered to idols. For some, that was a huge no-no, but others had no problem with it. Both were “right,” but he advised the stronger ones to adapt their practice to keep from being a stumbling block to the weaker Christians.

I believe we should look at our lives, including the way we dress, and ask if our actions could be a stumbling block to some one else. It takes courage to go against the crown and stand out, but it is well worth it.

Same thing with bridal gowns– they must show something in order to be modern. We’re being conditioned that way. What it’s lacking is for modesty to snowball such that it makes those that show skin look odd. But don’t look to the fashion industry to make that change.

Actually, our best bet for this change as well as for many changes is a heart change.

Another girl I know follows her mother’s example and wears very low cut shirts and “Daisy Duke” shorts. I honestly don’t think she knows any better. She’s following the example her mother set, which I find very sad. The mother, who has to be approaching 50, still dresses like that and, if faced with a choice between paying for food or a tan, would choose the tan. I’m not sure about the mother, but the girl just goes along with the flow of fashion, which we all know is horribly immodest, particularly during the summer.

Also, once one becomes accustomed to lower necklines and shorter hemlines, the modest apparel can feel restrictive and frumpy. Like anything else, the more we indulge our taste, the more comfortable it feels. The lower we set the bar, the harder we find it to return to a higher standard. (Did that make any sense? )

I completely agree that modesty is a reflection of the heart. Some people honestly do not not know any better, but, for most, we know when something is immodest. The best guide I have found is the old saying, “When in doubt … don’t!” I have nearly always regretted it when I have not followed that advice.

Oh well.

I have to agree, though, if it is a special occassion the dresses do seem to get a bit skimpy.