[Biblemat] S:> Immodesty

[Ethan R. Longhenry]

http://www.deusvitae.com/faith/outlines/index.html

                             Immodesty

I. Introduction
   A. Genesis 2-3
      1. Genesis 2:25: Adam and Eve were naked and not ashamed
      2. Genesis 3:6: Eve and Adam eat of the tree of the knowledge 
         of good and evil
      3. Genesis 3:7: they knew then they were naked and felt 
         compelled to clothe themselves
      4. Genesis 3:10: even with fig leaves, Adam feels naked before 
         the LORD God
   B. Ever since the fall of man, man has felt the need to be clothed
      1. There is shame in nakedness
      2. This is used in metaphor often
      3. 2 Corinthians 5:1-4: the resurrection and metamorphosis as 
         going from naked to clothed
      4. We do not want to be found exposed-- naked!
      5. We yearn to be "clothed"
   C. Nevertheless, we live in a society were being unclothed is 
      "in"
      1. One only needs to go to the checkout counter at the grocery 
         store to see this, let alone the beach or anywhere outside 
         when it gets warm!
      2. People walk about in many states of undress
      3. If it were not for nudity laws, many would probably not have 
         anything at all on whatsoever!
   D. It is good, then, for us as Christians to consider ourselves 
      and the Scriptures and see what is becoming of us
      1. What should we wear? 
      2. What should we not wear?
      3. What should our attitudes be regarding such things?

II. The Concept of Modesty
   A. Where, then, shall we go in the Scriptures to understand how 
      God would have us dress?
   B. The Scriptures nowhere legislate a particular kind of dress
      1. While, as we will see, God does have some general 
         guidelines, nowhere do we see a particular type of clothing 
         required
      2. While we have the example of Jesus and the Apostles wearing 
         tunics and togas, such has not been bound upon all 
         Christians
      3. Likewise, it is not as if we are required to dress as if it 
         were 1600, 1800, 1850, or 1950
      4. In reality, there are many liberties in terms of clothing
   C. God does provide some guidelines in 1 Timothy 2:9
      1. Yes, the specific directive is to women, but should 
         characterize men as well
      2. Three specific concepts going on
      3. "adorn themselves in respectable apparel"
         a. much is made of "modesty," and we will speak of it in a 
            moment
         b. nevertheless, the primary command is to dress in 
            "respectable" clothing
         c. respectable: Greek kosmios, "well arranged, orderly, 
            seemly, modest" (cf. Thayer)
         d. the word is also used in 1 Timothy 3:2 as a 
            qualification of an elder
         e. clothing, then should be decent
      4. "with modesty and self-control"
         a. modesty: Greek aidos, "sense of shame or honor, modesty, 
            bashfulness, reverence, respect" (cf. Thayer)
         b. in the KJV, the same term is used in Hebrews 12:28 to 
            describe how we should worship/serve God
         c. self-control: Greek sophrosune, "soundness of mind, 
            sobriety, self-control" (cf. Thayer)
         d. used in Acts 26:25 by Paul to establish that he was not 
            out of his mind
         e. We continue to see Paul emphasize that the clothing is 
            to be appropriate, entirely respectable!
      5. "not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire"
         a. the particular problem Paul has is how women are being 
            immodest by wearing too much
         b. one can go too far, either in ornament or quality
         c. it is not saying that all such things cannot be worn at 
            all-- it must be orderly and respectable!
      6. We can see, then, that Paul desires for Christians to look 
         respectable in their appearance
   D. This all goes back to this idea of "modesty"
      1. What is modesty?
      2. "That lowly temper which accompanies a moderate estimate of 
         one's own worth and importance...modesty, as an act or 
         series of acts, consists in humble, unobtrusive deportment, 
         as opposed to extreme boldness, forwardness, arrogance, 
         presumption, audacity or impudence; moderation; decency" 
         (Webster's)
      3. Modesty, then, is an attitude!
      4. Let us not think, however, that since it is an attitude it
         has nothing to do with how we compose ourselves!
      5. To be modest requires exhibiting modesty!
      6. How can we exhibit modesty in clothing?

III. Respectable Clothing and Modesty
   A. As we have seen, the clothing we are to wear is to be 
      "respectable"
      1. The clothing is to be orderly and seemly
      2. It should exhibit a person who is modest and has 
         self-control
   B. How do we realize this today?
   C. In view of the liberties that exist regarding the specific 
      kind of dress we are to wear, it is best for us to dress 
      ourselves so as to not draw attention to ourselves
      1. This means that we will not dress to stand out
      2. It does not mean that we will dress in excessively 
         "conservative" ways, such like the Amish, Mennonites, or 
         other such persons, for they draw attention to themselves 
         by being so radically different
      3. Likewise, we will not dress in extremely expensive clothing 
         or present excessive ornamentation
      4. We will also, however, not so dress as to expose our bodies, 
         not exhibiting self-control or respect toward others!
   D. We must realize, however, that we are not to take the idea of 
      dressing so as to not draw attention to ourselves too far
      1. This does not authorize bikinis or wearing only swim shorts 
         at a beach
      2. This does not somehow authorize skimpy clothing in any 
         situation!
   E. After all, there is more to being respectable in clothing than 
      just "fitting in"
   F. If "fitting in" means disrespectful clothing, then we cannot 
      "fit in" to that particular circumstance!

IV. Line Drawing?
   A. In any such discussion of modesty, there is an impulse to 
      either draw lines or to demand to see Scripture where such 
      lines are drawn
   B. As we have seen, however, God has not drawn such lines
   C. God has given us liberty to establish how we are to dress and 
      has left us some guidelines
      1. We are to dress orderly/respectably
      2. The dress should manifest modesty and self-control
   D. We may also appeal to certain Biblical examples
      1. Adam and Eve had fig leaves and were still "naked" in 
         Genesis 3:10
      2. God clothed them with animal skins that most likely went 
         from shoulder to knee (cf. Genesis 3:21)
      3. In the New Testament, the Greek term gumnos is not just 
         absolute nakedness but also "relative" nakedness-- Peter 
         was "naked" while working in John 21:7
      4. James 2:15: shabby or poor clothing as "naked" (gumnos)
   E. If we desire to judge righteously and according to spiritual 
      truth, and not according to the flesh, we will be able to 
      recognize when our dress is appropriate or not
      1. Is there a specific line where this exists?  Why does there 
         need to be one?
      2. What does the clothing expose?  
      3. Should what the clothing exposes be exposed?
      4. Will the clothing and/or the lack thereof engender lust?  
         If it does, you have sinned (lasciviousness, 
         Galatians 5:19-21)!
   F. We ought to recognize that we have our liberty and use it 
      properly, not desiring to justify carnal thoughts, intents, 
      or actions!

V. Conclusion
   A. We have examined what God has said regarding clothing and 
      modesty
   B. We have seen that since he has fallen, man has innately 
      recognized the need to be clothed
   C. Even if many in society would deny it, man still ought to
      be clothed!
   D. We have seen that while God has not specified precisely what 
      we ought to wear, and thus has established liberty, He does 
      expect our clothing to be respectable, demonstrating modesty 
      and self-control
   E. Let us use our liberty properly!
   F. Invitation/songbook

Ethan R. Longhenry/ disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com
Evangelist, church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio
 (http://www.norwalkchurch.org)
Website: http://www.deusvitae.com
AIM: Deus Vitae / ICQ#: 28317056
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