It’s that time of year again… where Jesus-loving women and girls all over the nation (and throughout many parts of the world) are deciding just how much of a swim suit they can wear and still remain God-honoring.
To be honest, my sisters, I’d rather stay out of this debate – especially when talking about the bikini. But the Lord won’t let me ignore this pressing in my spirit, so I humbly offer up to you some truth about Modesty. Lately the “modesty-movement” has been getting a bad rep, and its critics claim that as Christians teach modesty, we are simultaneously teaching that beautiful bodies are bad and need to be hidden. That’s not why we encourage modesty. We encourage modesty because immodesty doesn’t honor and glorify the Lord.
When we hear the word modesty, most likely our minds will connect its definition with the way women dress. But modesty is so much more than that. In Luke 9, Jesus sent the disciples out into “real life” to live and work and be His vessels to witness to those around them. And in His instructions to them, he urged them to modesty in how they were to exist.
[ Keep It Simple ] Jesus now called the Twelve and gave them authority and power to deal with all the demons and cure diseases. He commissioned them to preach the news of God’s kingdom and heal the sick. He said, “Don’t load yourselves up with equipment. Keep it simple; you are the equipment. And no luxury inns—get a modest place and be content there until you leave. If you’re not welcomed, leave town. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and move on.” Luke 9:1-3, The Message (emphasis, mine)
So, maybe an addition to the definition of Modesty could be – Keeping it simple, because you’re the equipment Jesus uses.
1 Timothy 2:8-10 gives us a little more insight into this definition of modesty:
“And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do.” 1 Timothy 2:9-10, New Living Translation (Emphasis, mine)
“Let not yours be the [merely] external adorning with [elaborate] interweaving and knotting of the hair, the wearing of jewelry, or changes of clothes; But let it be the inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which [is not anxious or wrought up, but] is very precious in the sight of God.” 1 Peter 3:3-4, Amplified Version (Emphasis, mine)
[merely] I love that word in there. It tells us that we CAN elaborately weave our hair, etc (PTL!) as long as that is not all that we do in the name and strength of Jesus to make ourselves beautiful. Make sense?
In pulling together the truths from these verses, we could say that Modesty is gratefully using what we have to live and act in such a way that God alone is glorified and objectified.
Yes. I just went there. I know so many wonderful Christian women, moms, and daughters who don’t see a thing wrong with wearing bikinis. And I’m sure many of them will disagree with this post. Others may have never thought of it in a modesty sense before.
“Is there any piece of clothing more sublime than the bikini? A woman is almost naked wearing the bikini, yet she can appear in public without fear of arrest or censure. The two tiny scraps of fabric cover the most tantalizing parts of her anatomy, teasing yet accentuating the hidden mysteries of the female charm.” Bikiniview.com
A woman almost naked…. that’s the bikini, and that’s why it isn’t modest.On top of that, it objectifies women’s bodies instead of beautifying the whole person. In all of the research I’ve collected, both personally with the men around my world, and through the professional research of others, I’ve learned that a developed female body in a bikini has a definite effect on the minds and bodies of our men. And it’s not a God-honoring affect. Even our most godly men who fight to keep their thoughts pure are thrown into a battle of the mind and heart when they see a “woman almost naked.” It’s just the way that boys and men are wired…
In 2009 CNN reported the findings of a study conducted by Susan Fiske, professor of psychology at Princeton University declaring that:
“in men, the brain areas associated with handling tools and the intention to perform actions light up when viewing images of women in bikinis… A supplementary study… found that men tend to associate bikini-clad women with first-person action verbs such as I “push,” “handle” and “grab” instead of the third-person forms such as she “pushes,” “handles” and “grabs.” They associated fully clothed women, on the other hand, with the third-person forms, indicating these women were perceived as in control of their own actions… That goes along with the idea that the man looking at a woman in a bikini sees her as the object of action, Fiske said.” (for full CNN.com article, click here)
God didn’t intend for women to be viewed as objects of action. And when asked, I’m sure that most women wouldn’t want to be viewed that way. God intended for women to be viewed as extensions of His beauty and nurturing grace… Not as objects to “push,” handle” and “grab.” We don’t cover our bodies because they are bad, but to reveal our dignity as women created in the image of God and cherished as valuable by Him.
So, my dear lady friends and fellow extensions of God’s beauty and nurturing grace, I once again lay this request before you (as I’ve done several other summers on SmellingCoffee.com):
I’m talking about plunging necklines that show cleavage.
Shorts so short that they could double as underwear.
Skirts so short that there is no way to sit or bend and keep underwear from showing.
Tops tight enough that they look like an extra layer of skin.
Tops short enough that they barely cover the bra bottom when arms are lifted.
And bathing suits that leave almost nothing to the imagination – both revealing one pieces and bikinis.
Dressing this way does not honor you, your daughter, or Jesus. In fact, it is screaming for the wrong kind of attention and sending the completely wrong message – a message that you or your daughters may not intend on sending.
I certainly do not advocate being a dull, boring “prude”! Anyone who knows me personally and has spent any time with me at all can tell you that I’m all about celebrating and enjoying all aspects of life. In fact, so was Jesus. He told His disciples in John 10:10 that He came to give life, and to give it abundantly! But He also set up some boundaries for us to be able to fully enjoy that abundant life. And modesty is one of them.
To check and see if what you are doing, wearing, and saying is that of a modest and holy follower of Jesus, a dignified daughter of the King, always ask and answer this question:
Does what I’m wearing/doing/saying honor and bless the Lord (Can I honestly thank Him that I am doing, wearying, or saying this?)
OR Does what I’m doing, wearing, or saying send the wrong message about me, Jesus, or cause others or myself to stumble and possibly fall into sin?
You’ll know by the answer to the question and the conviction of the Holy Spirit whether you should do, wear, or say it or not.
This summer, as Jesus-loving women setting examples for other girls and women watching our lives, lets gladly live within the realm of modesty that most glorifies the One we love… the One who gives our lives purpose and dignity and beauty… who loves us more than we can imagine or even hope for.
Modesty – gratefully using what we have to live and act in such a way that God alone is glorified and objectified.
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
PS: This is a little Modesty checklist from Dannah Gresh’s ministry. Truth or Bare Checklist Check out her site for this and other resources! And for another blog post from SmellingCoffee.com on modesty, click here. 🙂
