Modest Apparel

Modest Apparel

1 Timothy 2: 9

Introduction

I. America is in danger!

A. Arnold Tonybee, a noted historian, wrote,

"Out of the 21 civilizations preceding this one, 19 of them have been destroyed by a mixture of atheism, materialism, socialism, and alcoholism ... of the 22 civilizations that have appeared in history, 19 of them collapsed when they reached the moral state the United States is now in."

B Robert R. Taylor, Jr., a noted gospel preacher, wrote,

"A person would have to be blind in one eye and not be able to see out of the other to miss the obvious connection between indecency of dress and the rapidly skidding morals of our day."

2. I submit that one of the major factors contributing to the breakdown of morality in America is immodest dress. Why?

A. "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people." (Prov. 14:34.)

B. Disregard for the ordinances of God does not result in righteousness, but it results in sin.

C. God has said, "Women, wear modest clothes." (1 Tim. 2: 9.)

3.Paul wrote this for Timothy to teach women in the church to wear modest clothing.

A. It is obvious that many women in the church have forgotten this.

B. Therefore, there is a need to remind all of this great principle.

Discussion

1.
What does the Bible mean when it speaks of modest apparel?

A. Every dictionary consulted, both Greek and English, gives a simple definition which may be summarized in one word: decent.

1.
Decent implies good, proper, and right.
2.
These are standards which do not change, but are constant.
3.
Hence, when Paul said, "Women adorn yourselves in modest apparel ..." he was giving a universal principle applicable for all time.

B. Modesty is in the middle of two extremes. Both these extremes involve immodesty. They are:

1.
Overdress -. Such as which existed in Paul's day and described in I Tim. 2:9.

a. Take a look at the fashion of Paul's day:

1) According to secular histories of that time, women were spending hours on elaborate hairdo's, weaving jewels into their braids, and trying to outdo one another in the clothing they wore. They tried to have the most expensive, the most colorful, or the most unusual dress.

2) Rome was noted for its lasciviousness.

2. The word of God verifies this:

a. One of the works of the flesh (of which it is said, "that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.") given in Galatians 5:19-21 is lasciviousness.

1) Webster defines lasciviousness: 1. Inclined to lechery: lewd, lustful. 2. tending to arouse sexual desire.

2)To be responsible for arousing sexual desire in another person is SIN, the sin of lasciviousness.

b. It has already been shown that modern fashions do and were designed to excite sexual desire on the part of males who see females wearing them.

c. Thus, to wear immodest clothing is lascivious and can cause one to lose his soul!

C. An encouragement to premarital sex and sex crimes.

1.Dear Ann Landers: I have had enough of you. I am a 17- year-old boy who thinks your advice to the girl whose steady boyfriend has "wandering hands" is all wet. Instead of telling the girls to give the eight-handed idiot a "clop in the chops" or however you worded it, why don't you put the blame where it belongs - on the girl.

No guy in his right mind ever starts to paw a perfect lady. The chick who suddenly finds a guy's hand all over her had asked for it - in one way or another! Sometimes it's not in words; it's the way a girl gets herself together. The miniskirts are a pretty good eyeful when a girl is standing up. When she's sitting down, it's like she's wearing a bikini. No normal guy can look at all that flesh and not get ideas.

Transparent blouses and sweaters and jeans that fit like sausage casings are worn to get guys excited; he wants to do more than just look. So, please, Ann Landers, since you are supposed to give advice, give it to the girls. They are the ones who need it! - Tired of being turned on.

Dear Tired: There is a great deal of truth in what you say, and I'm glad you took the time to say it. The moral of the story is simply this, girls: Don't let your clothes issue an invitation you don't mean to fulfill. When you turn a guy on, he can be awfully hard to turn off -Ann Landers.

2.According to the National Decency Reporter, "Apart from the lack of modesty and decency involved, do provocative miniskirts (and by the way, the shorts, jeans, swimsuits, etc. have the miniskirt beat when it comes to immodesty,) cause sex crimes? The nation's top law enforcement officers in 62 cities think so. They are convinced that the miniskirt is a serious cause of sex crimes.''

3.Tokyo, Japan, (Associated Press)

"The Tokyo metropolitan police blame the miniskirt for a 100 percent increase in reported sex crimes in the first nine months of 1967 over the same period of 1966."

4,If these statements apply to miniskirts, how well do they apply to shorts, halters, swimsuits, etc., which show more of the female body than a miniskirt ever did?

III. A Bible illustration of immodesty and its consequences.

A. David, a godly man who loved God and his way. (1 Sam. 16: 6-13.)

B. Yet, a very infamous and heartbreaking episode in David's life is the direct result of immodesty. Listen to the story: 2 Sam. 11:l-5.

1. In addition to the fornication and conception of an 1llegitimate child, many other tragic events transpired as a result.

a. Killing of Uriah. (2 Sam. 11:5.)

b. Exposure of David for what he had done by the prophet Nathan. (2 Sam. 12:1-7.)

c. Curse placed upon the house of David - "sword shall not depart" (2 Sam 12:1-7.)

d. The child dies. (2 Sam. 12:15.)

2.All this, plus the agony and pain it caused was the suit of sin, but behind that sin and contributing to was a woman who bathed in the public eye.

3.What a difference modesty would have made in the lives of these people.

C. Is it any wonder then, why God desires his children adorn themselves in modest clothing?

IV. God has a simple test to help us determine if we are modestly clothed. 1 Timothy 2:9;Titus 2:5.

A. "Can I wear this with shamefacedness?"

1. Shamefacedness means "with a sense of shame,"

2. Clothing which does not reflect a shame of one's nakedness is not modest clothing.

B. "Can I wear this with sobriety?"

1. Sobriety means "sound judgment."

2.Clothing which does not reflect sound judgment of how God would have us to dress is not modest clothing.

C. "Can I wear this with discreetness?"

1.
Discreetness means "self-control."
2.
Clothing which does not reflect self-control or promote self-control in others is not modest clothing.

C. "Can I wear this and at the same time be chaste?"

1.Chaste means "pure from carnality" (not chased, but" chaste!)

2.Clothing which excites the passions and lusts of the flesh is not modest apparel.

Conclusion

1.In order for us to have any influence upon the world, we must live soberly, righteously and godly before the world.

2.The church will greatly be hampered in reaching the lost if its members are involved in "the same excess of riot."

3.Not only will the church not have influence, but members who engage in sin like we have discussed today or any sin, unless repented of, will lose their souls.