Modesty and the Hunger for Holiness
In this episode I talk about modesty from a biblical perspective, and why we as godly women need to consider the way we adorn our bodies—the bodies that were bought at the price of Jesus Christ's.
Talking about modesty always feels like opening a can of worms because there are many different ideas surrounding modesty in the Christian community, most of which are quite frankly rooted in nothing more than emotion rather than Scripture. We often think that God’s word doesn’t have much to say about how we dress. It just seems too mundane for God to actually care about, but we are reminded in 1 Corinthians 10:31 that whatever we do, whether eat or drink, we are to do all to the glory of God. This command is profound because it shows us that God is interested in the everyday parts of our lives, not just the seemingly spiritual or religious. God’s word actually has a lot to say about how we dress and we can look to Scripture to find our standard.
Why does clothing matter?
In our culture today, how we dress is a major way to express ourselves. It is a way to outwardly show what is inside in our hearts and most importantly, a way to set ourselves apart. As Christians, how we dress should reflect the modest and holy lives that we live.
“God’s people cover their bodies in public, while pagans often uncover theirs.” —Jeff Pollard
Now there’s always the cry of legalism when it comes to modesty, because modesty steps on toes. It doesn’t feel good to the flesh. It produces a sort of Godly shame and our first reaction is often defensiveness. Therefore I’m going to try to approach this gently. I’m not here to set standards that God has not. Ultimately it is up to the listener (or reader) to not take my word for these things but take them to God in prayer and seek what His word has to say.
Jeff Pollard in his book “Christian Modesty and the Public Undressing of America” addresses legalism very well, and he mentions that, “it is never legalism to call God’s children to obey Him according to His Word!” (pg 73)
Obedience is not legalism
Legalism by definition is creating laws and rules foreign to Scripture or adding onto standards God has set. So for example, in the realm of modesty, we are commanded to be modest, but legalism would be saying “you can only be modest in dresses or skirts therefore all Christian women should wear only dresses and skirts.” This is not true. It’s not the standard set in Scripture. We could talk about femininity in our culture of androgyny. I think that’s a worthwhile conversation to have (maybe on another episode?) but the issue of modesty is not necessarily pants vs. skirts or pixie cut vs. long braid. There are certainly women that may feel that they are most modest in dresses or skirts and that is totally valid. I am sort of leaning that way myself almost unintentionally. But that is a personal conviction, not a standard found in Scripture.
What we do find in Scripture is how much of our body should be covered and why. In Christian Modesty and the Public Undressing of America, Jeff Pollard goes through the history of the swimsuit industry (so interesting!) and he also takes a look at clothing throughout the Bible and he comes to the conclusion that the biblical model suggests a standard of at least a neck-to below the knee covering.
Christian Freedom
Clearly, this leaves us a lot of Christian freedom. The argument is not for a return to the robes of the ancient days. God made us all in different eras with our own personal tastes in style. You don’t have to look like Ma Ingalls or a prairie muffin to be modest. I like looking like that but you don’t have to :-)
Modesty doesn’t have to be frilly. It doesn’t have to be like the “Duggar denim skirts” that we probably all think of when we hear the word modesty. We live in a modern age with lots of different colors and fabrics to choose from and that’s a blessing! You can cultivate modesty in the style that you enjoy the most. That may be floral dresses, that may be the denim skirts and that is totally fine! It would be awfully boring if we all wore the same things and the same colors. I’m not advocating for an amish lifestyle by any means.
Modesty is not androgyny
I feel it important to mention is that modesty does not mean covering up the fact that you are a woman. It doesn’t equate androgyny. God actually delights in the differences between men and women and we are to never to blur the lines (Deuteronomy 22:5). The distinctions between male and female are rooted in the creation order and are to be maintained. Modesty doesn’t mean frumpiness in an attempt to cover up our gender.
God is interested in beautiful things. He is the creator of every good and beautiful thing on this earth and as women, everyday that we wake up we get to cultivate that beauty in our own lives—in what we cook, how we keep our homes and certainly in how we dress! And the Lord delights when we cultivate beauty for His glory. God is interested in beautiful things. So… modesty is not frumpiness or embarrassment of our womanly bodies, but rather a care for the way we present ourselves as living instruments of the Lord.
“What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:20)
Jeff Pollard says “Christian modesty is the inner self-government, rooted in a proper understanding of one’s self before God, which outwardly displays itself in humility and purity from a genuine love of Jesus Christ, rather than in self-glorification or self-advertisement.” (pg 22)
1 Timothy 2:9 says “women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.” This verse was addressing some issues where the women were acting like church gatherings were New York Fashion Week, but this admonishment still applies to how we adorn ourselves today. Paul’s not saying it’s wrong to wear nice clothes. We see that the Proverbs 31 Woman clothes herself and her family in high quality garments (Proverbs 31:21-22) . Paul is also not saying that it doesn’t matter what you wear as long as you’re doing good works, but rather that the goodness of God in us and our love for Him, naturally outflows as dressing ourselves in modest and respectable clothing according to God’s standards not the world’s. Again, modesty is not frumpiness, but our pursuit of beauty should be done to glorify God and steward the gifts we are given well, not to bring attention to ourselves or the shape of our bodies.
John Calvin in a commentary on 1 Timothy, said “Undoubtedly, the dress of a virtuous and godly woman, must differ from that of a strumpet…if piety must be tested by works, this profession ought to be visible in chaste and becoming dress.”
And this is true because what is on the inside inevitably will flow to the outside.
modesty is a heart issue because our hearts are the issue
Which brings us to another point we hear often which is that modesty is a “heart condition” or a “heart issue”. That is a true but very nuanced statement. I would agree and say yes, it is a heart issue, precisely because our hearts are the issue. We see in Jeremiah 17:9 that our hearts are deceitful above all and desperately sick. The emotions and conclusions that come from our heart are not always truth. Our heart is not the arbiter of truth. God’s word is. Our feelings do not determine what glorifies God, God does. We are called to die to our flesh and take up the cross and that is going to hurt!
If modesty being a heart posture, brings someone to the conclusion that it’s okay to wear provocative revealing clothing because “God knows their heart”… Yes, He does, and it’s not heart postured toward Him. We are to follow the Lord, not the world. Refusal to forsake the world and refusal to die to our flesh will never cultivate a modest heart and therefore will not overflow to the outward appearance.
“The cry of the Feminists is “It’s my body, and I’ll do what I want.” The cry of the modern Evangelical is “It’s my liberty, and I’ll do what I want.” Nevertheless, the declaration of Scripture is this: “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). You are not your own, if you are a Christian. Your whole being—body and soul—is the purchased property of Jesus Christ; and the price paid for your body was the breaking of His: “This is my body, which is broken for you” (1 Corinthians 11:24; Matthew 26:26). Your body belongs to Him! He redeemed it with His precious blood on the cross of Calvary. We must consider how we adorn His blood-bought property”. — Jeff Pollard
My personal modesty journey
My personal journey with modesty happened more without me realizing it. There wasn’t a moment where I said “okay, I’m no longer wearing short shorts and crop tops.” Not that that is a bad resolve to make by any means, but I just don’t think I ever even considered the issue, sadly. It was purely the Lord working in my heart to bring me to where I am now. I noticed this after going through some of my old content and I couldn’t believe some of the things I thought were okay to wear and some of the photos I thought were okay to post!
As I sought the Lord more and more, just in a general sense—like I said, I wasn’t saying “God what is modesty what do you want me to wear…”—I was simply seeking Him and His word, and I guess that eventually overflowed into my physical appearance and what I felt comfortable wearing.
The last time I wore a swimsuit was the summer of 2019 at the beach. It was a high waisted bikini and I was sooooo uncomfortable. Not because I’m uncomfortable with my body size or the way I look, but it was simply not right to be wearing that and I knew it even if I didn’t know it. It was a miserable time and I have not worn a swim suit since and I will probably never wear one again. (This is not an issue for me because I don’t like swimming, it makes me claustrophobic, lol!) Summer 2019 was also the summer that I began wearing pants instead of shorts most of the time, even in the heat. Last summer (2020) I actually didn’t wear my jean shorts at all. The only shorts I have now are some pajama shorts for the summer months and I was even uncomfortable in those just around the house last year. So, I’ll probably get a nightgown for this summer like the grandma I am! But again this was unintentional, I just started becoming more and more uncomfortable even if i didn’t know why right away.
I certainly have a ways to go. Glorifying God in all that we do is a lifelong pursuit so I’m in no way saying that “I Have Arrived” but I just wanted to chime in with my personal modesty experience and how I got to where I am now. I wish I had considered the issue sooner, because it would have saved me from wearing ungodly clothes and sharing much of my body in photos that never should have been shared. This is something we need to examine our hearts on and repent if we are walking in worldliness.
Hunger for Holiness
There is much much more we could talk about in regards to modesty of heart and modesty of dress, but hopefully this just gave you a little spark to pursue this topic. Again, I highly recommend the book Christian Modesty and the Public Undressing of America. I think I read it in one night. It’s short and sweet and to the point.
Ultimately if you are seeking wisdom on the issue of modesty, go to God’s word with a hunger for holiness. You will find His answers there.
The world does not get to set the standard for beauty. Beautiful is the one who fears the Lord, adorns the gospel, and is gentle and quiet in spirit.
further reading and resources on this topic
“A modest woman is known by the modesty of her attire. If the clothing be vulgar or showy, the heart is in vain.”