There are those who are attempting to justify women dressing immodestly as self-expression and that God does not have a problem with a bikini on the beach and other forms of exhibitionism.
These are false teachers wanting to remove the principles of God to allow for sin. They use Scripture to say that the word modesty does not have to do with showing skin but only with adorning with jewelry and braiding of hair in 1 Corinthians 6.
Why do women dress in immodest clothing? To show off their wares. This is not an attitude of decency.
1 Timothy 2:9-10: Modest apparel does not only apply to jewelry and hair, it also applies to showing off skin that only a husband should see.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says,
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, whom you have within you from God? You are not your own, for you are bought with a price, so glorify God in your body."
The first thing God did after Adam and Eve sinned was to cover up their bodies. They didn't even know they were naked until after the sin of disobedience; then they went and hid from God for their shame.
Men lust, and women entice; that's what happens in a fallen world. Before sin came into the world, lust was not present; therefore, not a problem. After the fall, it became a very big problem.
If God covered Adam and Eve with animal skins after the fall, then we know the nakedness should be covered by us in the way we dress.
The devil is using every form of deceit to cause believers to sin, while enjoying the pleasures of this world without guilt.
Modesty reflects the inner heart. The way we dress demonstrates the way we think. It is important to examine our motives for the way we dress.
It's not just about adorning the hair or jewelry; it is about an inner heart of good grooming to please God.
Immodest clothing is designed to provoke others to peer at the one wearing it. Men lust when too much is showing on the woman, and the woman knows it.
Flaunting anything shows an attitude of lack of humility: clothing, accomplishments, or wealth. To flaunt our bodies to anyone through scanty clothing is pride.
I am convinced every Christian woman knows when she is dressing immodestly; the Spirit makes her uncomfortable.
A good example of this was when I was in the presence of a scantily clad woman at a fair. As I was talking to her, I was being friendly and engaging. I said nothing about clothing, and I know I didn't give any looks that conveyed disapproval; I was used to seeing it. The young woman began to pull her sweater together, covering her top as though embarrassed.
Often the Holy Spirit in someone convicts others; they think it is something about us, but it is the Holy Spirit.
John 16:8 "8 And when he comes (the Holy Spirit), he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:"
We don't have to talk about God or moral issues in the presence of non-believers; they can sense the Holy Spirit before we ever say a word.
John 16:9-11 "9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged."
John 16:14 "14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you."
Those who come in contact with a born-again, Spirit-filled believer will feel uncomfortable but think it is something about us that makes them so awkward and uneasy.
Sometimes they will twist what you say and do to make it sound bad to be able to justify why they don't like us, when it is the Holy Spirit they are in rebellion against.
Coming back to immodest clothing, we can say that every woman who is born again should ask God if she is honoring Him in her clothing style. He will tell her if she really wants to know.
Unbelieving women don't know or care about modesty. If they don't dress themselves immodestly, they defend those who do.
Christian women should not be looking for excuses to dress like the world. Remember, if God covered Adam and Eve after the fall, we know He cares how we dress now and the message it sends to the world.
If anyone thinks there is no standard for modesty in covering the body, we might want to ask if they would be comfortable with a woman entering a church gathering stark naked? If they would say they would find that offensive then they have a standard. The next question might be Who sets the standard? The Holy Spirit does and He tells us if we ask Him.
Don't listen to those who are looking for every excuse they can find to disobey God and endorse what God hates.
