Chaplain’s Blog

The Setting:

So, last week I was on “staycation!” One day we took the family to Roaring Springs. Fun for the family! Jossi, our 2 ½ year old loved the teeter-totters in the kiddie area (until they had to clear the kids’ pool…) and so off I went to ride rides with my bigger girls (aged 10 and 13).

 

A great summer challenge in my household is the purchase of swimsuits for my older girls. Finding something “appropriate” yet fashionable is an almost impossible task.

 

A Rude Awakening to a Modest Issue:

While at Boondocks, it became apparent to me that it is time for a new call to an honest discussion about what is appropriate and modest. We walk a fine line. I get tired of people who are finding something horrible behind every issue and simply seem alarmist. On the other hand, we should explore if there are some Biblical precedents for what we wear.

 

I don’t want to be in a position of judging and condemning – rather I want to explore what the Bible has to say about clothing at Boondocks!

 

Biblical Precedents for Clothing:

To talk about clothing we have to go back to the first mention of clothing in the Bible. That’s back in Genesis. Genesis 2:25 says, “The man and his wife [Adam & Eve] were both naked, and they felt no shame.”

 

So, in the beginning, clothing was not an issue! They didn’t wear any! Temperature was moderate enough, and people’s hearts were pure – and they lived in intimacy with each other, so there was no need for clothing.

 

Now, you may be saying, “See, if we were really with God, we wouldn’t wear any clothing! Nakedness is the sign of being pure!” Hold on – keep reading!

 

Adam and Eve sinned – you probably know the story of Genesis 3 – Eve being deceived by the serpent and Adam following suit. As soon as this happened the Bible says, (vs. 7) “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.”

 

Then God shows up, and what does He do? Vs 21, “The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.” Check this out. CLOTHING WAS MADE BY GOD!

 

Adam and Eve tried to cover themselves. They masked up their nakedness; they tried to make it look like they weren’t naked. God comes and clothes them.

 

Get this down – CLOTHING IS FROM GOD!

 

Nakedness is the state of being sinful and vulnerable. God gives clothing. (A quick Bible study on robe or garments and you’ll find the spiritual significance of Christ’s robe of purity that He gives to us because of the death of Jesus Christ).

 

Purpose of Clothing:

So, what is the purpose of clothing? Well, obviously, to cloth nakedness, as we’ve already seen.

 

Therefore, our first Biblical principle of clothing is:

 

Clothing should not draw attention to that which should be covered.

 

Take a quick look through fashion magazines, swimsuit designs, or just take a walk down the street and do a quick poll – how many outfits draw attention to parts of the body that should be covered?

 

So, how do we determine what should be covered?  

 

1 Peter 3 takes us even farther gives us a good indication:

 

3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

 

What shows the Spirit of God – the inner self? The face; the hands that do the works of Jesus… These are the things that draw people to God.

 

Do you want your clothing – or your body to be what people think of when they think of you, or that they’ve seen Jesus Christ in you?

 

Call to Action:

I challenge you, first of all, to take a hard look at what you wear – is it drawing attention to you and your clothing or to the Spirit of God working in you? I challenge you to deal radically with this question.

 

Secondly, I challenge you to teach your children. Use teachable moments (like Roaring Springs or things they are exposed to in the media) to ask questions and instruct them.

 

It is time for radical followers of Jesus Christ to take a radical stand on glorifying God through clothing.

 

Practical Observations:

1. It’s often said that men are visual creatures. I don’t think there is any way to convey to a woman how a man is wired – or what the effect of seeing hints of a woman’s body that should be covered. It’s not just “cute” – it’s a battle that a man must face with lust. How many women have no idea that their outfits are creating a battle for men?
2. Be very careful with your teens. I watched teen couples at Roaring Springs last week – and that state of undress that swimming outfits often express (seriously, is a bikini much different than wearing undergarments?) puts kids at a disadvantage in the fight for both mental and physical purity. This will takes some serious, deep, rational conversations to help them understand.

 

Challenge 2:

I would love to see some dialogue on this topic. Do you see this Biblically? What do you find in the Word about modesty?