What Does It Mean To be Modest?

Purity Part 3

Hello my adorable Thinkers!

Today’s topic might step on some toes so please keep in mind that these are my opinions from what I see in Scripture and not what I think everyone should do. If God has led you in a different direction or to a different conclusion, that is between you and Him.

The discussion of modesty is the first topic that got me thinking about what I believe about this whole purity discussion. When I was about 16, I was in a group where they explained that the reason we should dress modestly was to protect the men who are around us. I was very confused about this because I did not think that we would do things to prevent others from committing a sin. It is the responsibility of each person to keep themselves from sin as it says in Deuteronomy 24:16 Fathers shall not be put to death for their sons, nor shall sons be put to death for their fathers; everyone shall be put to death for his own sin alone.

It was then that I started to do a lot of research. I was looking for either a scriptural reason for what I had been told, or another reason for dressing modestly. It was in that time I found this article that speaks against Christian modesty culture. With that fuel in hand I was sure that there was another answer out there. After a lot of searching I came across several sources that gave me scriptural reasons for dressing modestly. Then my sister introduced me to these teachings by Rabbetzin Raquel Kirszenbaum, (pt. 1 & pt. 2) that put everything I believe in such eloquent terms that a lot of this article is taken from her teachings. With that all said, here is my reason for dressing “modestly”.

 Unfortunately in the English language there is not a better word for what I mean by modest. The definition of modest according to the Oxford Dictionary is, “Relatively moderate, limited, or small.” That is not really what I mean in this discussion of modesty. I am talking more about the way we act, speak, and dress. As I have said before, my goal in this discussion is to speak with the same values to men and women. Of course as a woman, my arguments may resonate more with women but I want them to be able to be applied to either gender. 

  In every culture being modest means something different. There is no way that anyone can come through and say that everyone must do “this” to be modest. So the basis of what it means to be modest has to be based on something other than a standard way of dressing, acting, speaking, etc. There are also not very many scriptures that say how to be modest. There are scriptures that outline what is right and wrong but none of them say that you should only wear certain kinds of clothes. (Just not to wear clothes that were designed for men if you are a woman or clothes designed for women if you are a man Deuteronomy 22:5) 

  What we do see in scripture, is that we are made in the image of God, Genesis 1:27. We should act and appear in such a way that reflects this innate value that God has given us. This looks different on different people, but what will be constant is that the way you see yourself will reflect the way you dress and behave. For example when someone dresses in an outfit where they like the way they look, they will act with more confidence. 

  As those who are made in the image of God, we represent Him everywhere we go. If we are acting in an undignified manner, we are representing our God as one who does not deserve respect. Dignified, according to the Oxford Dictionary means, “Having or showing a serious or composed manner that is worthy of respect.” Depending on what you are doing, or where you are going, dignified will look very different. Dignified will also look very different in different cultures. In every situation we find ourselves we should evaluate if we are presenting ourselves in a dignified manner.

  My last point is that when something is concealed it is assumed that it holds more value. When we see something that is concealed, like an art exhibit that is not released yet, we are going to assume that there is value in that art, even if nobody actually says that. Another example of this is safes. If you see a safe you are going to assume that whatever is inside is valuable, without any proof that this is true. So if we dress in a way that conceals ourselves, we appear to value ourselves more.

  The way we dress and behave is not to protect others. To quote one of my favorite teachings on this, “If the purpose of dressing modestly was to protect men, why wouldn’t God just make them blind! It is not my fault that I am so pretty!” We should always dress and behave in a way that reflects the innate value God has placed within us by creating us in his image. Instead of dressing for others, we are dressing to express ourselves and to bring glory to God by displaying His image as one that is worthy of respect. 

Thank you all for reading! Until next time ~The Pondering Panda