Christian Virtues - Modesty

Intro:

Good evening.

Well, it’s that time of year again.

The temperatures start warming up …

And the clothes start getting less and less.

(I feel like that is the obligatory introduction to what we’re going to talk about tonight!)

We’re going to be discussing the Christian virtue of … MODESTY this evening.

Before we get to that, let me say that this is going to be our last sermon in our Christian virtues series.

I’ve enjoyed this series, but it’s time to move on to something else on Sunday nights. (We may eventually revisit this; I’m not sure).

Let me also say that our topic for tonight is one that every preacher dreads because it is usually not very well received.

I’ve preached on it before here but we still need reminding.

This topic is part of the whole counsel of God and should be preached often.

I probably preach it about every other year — In reality it probably needs to be preached once a year.

So without further ado, let’s get to it.

Let’s start with …

The Obvious:

(Or what should be obvious, hopefully).

There are a few things that should go without saying on this subject, but unfortunately sometimes we tend to forget …

First, the subject of modesty does not ONLY apply to the idea of not revealing the body too much.

That WILL be a main feature of this sermon here in a little bit — But it’s important to note that modesty DOES come into play when we think about things such as:

Not being too flamboyant (Not having an attitude of “Hey, look at me!” to the point that we wear certain “gaudy” things that try to attract way too much attention to ourselves).

(Obvious there is SOME objectivity in this subject when it comes to that and some other things, but let’s be honest here — It’s not nearly as objective as we sometimes want to make it — There are actually some very clear right and wrongs on modesty if you study your Bible closely).

Modesty isn’t just about what we wear, too, by the way — We can be immodest in the way that we present ourselves in our speech and other ways too.

So that’s hopefully obvious thing number 1.

Hopefully, obvious thing number 2 is that this subject DOES apply to both males and females.

Males and females should both live in accorance with God’s will on the subject of modesty.

Now that said, do you think there’s a reason that on this particular subject the Bible presents it primarily from the point of view of instructing females? (Yes, there is — And I believe the reason is biological in nature).

The same reason that when the Bible and Jesus Himself speaks about the topic of LUST, that subject is presented primarily from the point of view of instructing males (and there’s good reason for that — primarily biological in my opinion).

And finally obvious point number 3 — Just as it is a woman’s responsibility to dress modestly (AND a man’s), it is also a man’s responsibility to control his gaze (and a woman’s as well).

That’s obvious — I hope we all understand that.

Alright, main point number 2 tonight …

We Must Not Make Excuses:

And what we mean here is that, as I said in the introduction, this sermon is never fun to preach because every time I’ve preached on it (doesn’t matter where) there are some who accept it, and some who don’t want to hear it. (Every time)

We must approach the Word of God in such a way that we allow IT to dictate our beliefs, not the other way around (letting our pre-conceived beliefs dictate how we interpret the Word of God).

The Bible has spoken VERY clear on the matter of modesty.

There’s really not that much up for interpretation if we’re being honest with the text! (There is SOME, but not as much as we want to make it sometimes).

Think about that last of the obvious points we made a minute ago:

A man has a responsibility to control his gaze just as a woman has the responsibility to dress modestly — True statement right.

Why are we making that statement?

Hopefully we are making it because “it’s a two-way street,” right?!

It’s important to understand that.

Here’s the WRONG reason for making a statement such as that:

(Hear me carefully).

Someone says, “You know preacher, HE NEEDS TO WATCH WHERE HE’S LOOKING and we need to stop worrying about what she’s wearing!”

So much for a two-way street, right?

You see the problem in treating this subject that way is a man controlling his lust IS important … BUT SO IS A WOMAN DRESSING MODESTLY.

The Bible is extremely clear.

I’m afraid we sometimes treat this subject similar to how some folks treat giving:

“Oh, but preacher don’t you know I give other things — I give of my TIME, I give of my TALENTS, I’ll give of my children for a bit — What you need ‘em for? Mowing the church lawn? Get out there son!”

But then that person turns around and never gives of his means by laying up in store as the Lord has prospered him, a sacrificial amount from what he’s been blessed.

Is the Lord pleased with that Christian?

I don’t have to say — You KNOW the answer!

And the same is the case here with this subject:

Someone says, “You know preacher, the fault is 100% with him!”

Well, it IS 100% his responsibility not to be looking where he shouldn’t …

And it’s 100% her responsibility not to be a stumblingblock, too!

“Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!” (Matt. 18:7)

One more thing when it comes to making excuses on this subject:

Modesty is NOT situational.

(Repeat that).

Somebody says, “Oh, but it is!”

Is it really?

If modesty IS situational, then someone who is in traditional tribal attire (doesn’t matter where — the Amazon, Indonesia, Africa, etc.), which might be just running around in a loin cloth with just barely enough to cover the most critical areas — Or in some cases you have people running around totally naked!

And if modesty is situational, then no problem at all!

But what would do if we were Christian missionaries going into a place like that and wanted to teach right from wrong as part of converting them to Christianity?

We would teach them to properly clothe themselves, wouldn’t we?

Modesty is not situational, and thus:

Modesty standards should be followed on the ball field.

Modesty standards should be followed at the beach.

Modesty standards should be followed out working in the yard on a hot summer day.

Modesty standards should be followed at a wedding.

(It’s downright shameful some of these wedding dresses that are being sold nowadays that are showing off way too much that should be “for the groom’s eyes only.”)

(I have actually had to preach weddings before wherein I had to direct my gaze very carefully because of what was being worn as a wedding dress).

(Story about an elder I once knew in Lousiana - daughter wore the jumpsuit cheerleading uniform every game instead of short skirt and midriff bearing top).

So long story short, let’s not make excuses for ourselves on this!

The Bible’s Teachings on Modesty:

I’ve already taken a lot of your time tonight and I’ve got quite a bit more to cover, so mostly we will let the Bible speak for itself on these verses (with some minimal comments added by me).

1 Timothy 2:9 - “in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation (“shamefacedness and sobriety,” KJV), not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing.”

A note on shamefacedness — It is the idea of “bashfulness or ability to blush.”

We are living in a soceity today wherein everyday people (and even Christians) are NOT ashamed to dress immodestly and are NOT able to blush.

Jeremiah 8:12 - “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed, Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; In the time of their punishment They shall be cast down,” says the Lord.”

And then a quick note on the word “sobriety,” KJV - It’s the idea of a SANE MIND — And so parents, next time your teenager tries to go out the house wearing something innappropriate you CAN say, “Have you lost your mind?!”

1 Peter 3:1–4 - “Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward — arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”

Gen. 3 - We won’t read through it - We’ve studied in recently. But do you remember what Adam and Eve did when they realized they were naked?

They sowed fig leaves together and made apron-like garments (probably something like loin cloths) to try to cover the most critical areas, it seems.

And was it enough?

No — the Lord sacrificed an animal and made for them TUNICS of animal skin (Gen. 3:21) (a garment that covered from the base of the neck to the knees).

How about a couple of other verses that confirm for us that the Lord considers the exposed thigh to be nakedness:

Exodus 28:42 (This is instruction for the bottom half of the garments for the Levitical priests) - “And you shall make for them linen trousers to cover their nakedness; they shall reach from the waist to the thighs.”

Exo. 20:26 tells the priests - “Nor shall you go up by steps to My altar, that your nakedness may not be exposed on it.”

And then also Isaiah 47:2–3 (God is describing a punishment that will come upon Bablyon - v. 1) - The women are told (in having to flee from enemies in haste through rivers): “Take off the skirt, Uncover the thigh, Pass through the rivers. Your nakedness shall be uncovered, Yes, your shame will be seen; I will take vengeance, And I will not arbitrate with a man.””

The Bible has actually spoken very clearly about nakedness if we will let it speak and we do the listening.

One more - In Gen. 9, do you remember when Noah became drunken and naked in his tent, and one of the sons saw it and pointed it out?

What did the other two brothers do?

They took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went BACKWARD and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father’s nakedness.” (Gen. 9:23)

Why’d they do that?

Because you aren’t supposed to be gazing at another person’s nakedness.

We could have talked about David’s sin gazing at Bathsheba, right? (That example falls more in line the importance of not lusting).

But was Bathsheba not being diligent to remain out of view? I don’t know.

A Final Thought:

But let me finish tonight by reading from a survey sent out by faithful Gospel preacher Tim Kidwell (I think this was back in the 80’s or 90s).

He had preached on the dangers of mixed swimming (a similar subject to this one), and someone had told him something to the effect of:

“Oh, preacher you’re too young. You don’t know what you’re talking about. You should consult some older wiser preachers on that subject.”

So he did!

Here’s what they had to say:

(Read from appendix of Conformed or Transformed).

(I think he ended up hearing from about 30 faithful Gospel Preachers, and they all agreed with him — He heard back from one who disagreed with him — Rubel Shelly).

Conclusion:

I realize this isn’t the funnest subject to preach on because, quite frankly, our world has major problems in this regard.

Even in the church we see a lot of problems in this regard; it’s just a fact.

I don’t enjoy preaching on this subject, believe it or not, and I try not to make it seem like I’m singling people out to pick on.

But again, this subject is a part of the whole counsel of God, and it’s my duty to preach it.

(Give invitation).