Sunday, January 29, 2017

Modesty and Feminism

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. https://support.dressemberfoundation.org/fundraiser/857682

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." 

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.”

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