What I am about to discuss is meant for those who build
their beliefs, values, and boundaries based upon the Bible and what God has
called us to do. If you are not a Christian, you are more than welcome to
read this, but don't expect us to agree on these subjects. And that's
fine, I have no problems disagreeing with others. I don't require what I
feel to be how everyone should feel. This is what I feel is right, I do
not require everyone to feel the same. This is my way to get how I feel about
certain topics off my chest in a safe and peaceful way. It also gives me an
excuse to do a bunch of research on these matters and put it to use. What doesn’t
bring you up or affect you in any way may not be the same for another.
After doing
Dressember last month, I have been thinking a lot about modesty.
Dressember has kept donations open through January, so I still see a lot
on human trafficking and the value of women. Then the Women's March
happened and had me thinking yet again, but this time on a woman's place in the
eyes of God. How God wants us to be. I decided to combine these two
topics today here at the end of January in honor of Dressember. I will
leave the link to our page in case anyone feels compelled to donate. Donations
close January 31st at midnight.
Proverbs 31:30-31 "Charm is
deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be
praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her
in the gates."
The Bible doesn’t
actually say a whole lot on modesty that can be used in this day and age (at
least not that I have found). Perhaps He
thinks we are smart enough to figure it out on our own? In the scripture
passage above, it shows that what we do is
more worth than what we wear. All in
all, we put way too much time and effort into what we wear. It’s not that hard, it really isn’t. Not everyone is held up to the same modesty
standard. It’s all very personal. We are all built and made very
differently. I believe that our most
attractive and private parts of ourselves should be hidden away and given to
our husbands (physically and mentally).
We are not our own body, but we belong to our husband.
1 Corinthians 7:3-4 "Let the
husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to
her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the
husband does. And likewise, the husband does not have authority over his own
body, but the wife does.” This scripture is
speaking about sexual immorality. We
belong to our husbands, not to ourselves.
We have been treating our bodies that are meant to our husbands so selfishly. A lot of us are guilty of showing off the
best parts of our bodies that were meant for our husbands. Again, I feel like
it is a very individual thing. Our
bodies are all so different. For
example, at the gym I go to, so far, I am the only girl who wears shorts over
my leggings. And that’s fine, I don’t
judge them, but for me personally, I do not feel comfortable. Some girls can wear certain shirts, but other
girls not, same with pants/leggings/etc.
The question we need
to be asking ourselves when we get dressed in the morning is, “Does this outfit
glorify God in anyway? Or, does it shame Him in anyway?” Would you walk into a
church dressed liked that? If the answer is no, then we might have a problem. Here’s
another way to look at it, would you want to walk up to God dressed the way you
are? I don’t mind if I ran into God in my pajamas or workout clothes, but I
would mind if I ran into Him wearing bikini or super short/tight dress. I don’t
think He’d be very happy, either. That’s
how I treat it.
Another perspective
is that the Bible tells us: Romans 14:13-14
“Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not
to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way. I know and am
convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him
who considers anything to be unclean to him it is unclean.” Men struggle
with lust, we all know this. We all know
that a Christian man struggles around women who dress immodestly. So why do we
do it? Stop saying that the guy needs to get over it! We have our struggles,
men have theirs. The scripture above is a beautiful example of how we should be
compassionate and helpful, instead of angry. Men struggle with this, we should
be helping them in any way possible, not tripping them up because we want “independence”
that is not ours to get.
When we dress ourselves
in the morning, think more about God and our brothers, and less about what we
want. We are to be selfless. Modesty is true beauty.
This leads to the next topic. Feminism and a little on abortion. Here is some
scripture first and foremost:
1 Timothy 2:11 "Let a woman learn
in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have
authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then
Eve."
Ephesians 5:22-25 "Wives, submit
to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as
also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore,
just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own
husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved
the church and gave Himself for her."
1 Corinthians 11:3 "But I want you to know that the head of
every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is
God."
Right here should be enough, but I
will go further since there have been so man perspectives on these passages.
Most of these passages speak about church, a lot of women say that this is
only applicable in a church. My question to you is, wouldn’t we want to follow
the rules and teachings found in a church and use it outside the church as well? It’s
like saying that the ten commandments should only be used in a church. If the
rules of authority are as follows in a church, shouldn’t we abide by it outside
of church? Wouldn’t that be the smartest choice?
Now, to go on the other side of
things, God has used women greatly in the Bible and in our world today. We are valuable,
we are worth something. Just because man has authority over us doesn’t mean we
are worthless! It says that God is over Jesus, yet Jesus isn’t complaining! So
why should we?
Mary was chosen to deliver Jesus,
our Lord and Savior. As found in my research, it says, “Mary modeled an
attitude of obedience and trust.”
Ruth was used greatly in the Bible
as well, and through what she did, she married Boaz and their family line came
King David and ultimately Jesus.
Esther was a God-fearing woman
living in a pagan court. She became a queen. God used Esther to save His people
from extinction.
Mary Magdalene was a devoted
follower of Christ. She was delivered from seven demons. She was there when
Jesus was crucified and buried. She was the one who found out that the tomb
with Jesus in it was empty. She was also the first one to see Jesus after being
risen from the dead.
These are examples of amazing women
used throughout the Bible. We are not useless, we are not worthless. We were
created to support man and to glorify God.
This leads to the
topic of abortion.
Jeremiah 1:4 "Then the word of the
Lord came to me, saying:
'Before I formed you in the womb I knew
you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.'”
Psalm 139:13-16 "For You formed my
inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am
fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul
knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You. When I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes
saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written,
the days fashioned for me, when as yet here were none of them."
This is a very
sensitive topic for me, so I won’t go into much besides leaving these passages
here for you.
1 Corinthians 11”Imitate me, just as I also
imitate Christ.”
