What is Appropriate Clothing?

Recently, the local paper published an article that addressed the clothing that woman wear.  Evidently a man in the local college made a poor choice as he wrote a satire piece in the campus newspaper describing what certain men do when they see women dressed immodestly.

Usually, more opinion is given than Biblical principles when the subject of standards is discussed.  Unfortunately, many women on campus have the wrong view of the type of clothing that is appropriate to wear and the wrong view on who is not responsible for the man’s actions.  Thankfully, the Bible takes opinion away and gives us principles to live by.

God must be glorified

The first principle ladies must remember when buying clothing is that God must be glorified even in their dress.  1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “Whether therefore ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”  By describing the smallest details of life – eating and drinking the Apostle Paul explains that everything must glorify God. The question ladies must ask themselves as they purchase clothing is, “Does this outfit glorify the Lord.”  The primary emphasis should not be on what looks good, but what looks right.  Quite frankly, this would preempt many arguments.  Much of what is worn today would not even be an option if ladies would take the time to reflect on what benefits the Lord. 

We must be modest

1 Timothy 2:9 gives our second principle.  “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; ¹⁰ But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.”  The idea here is that clothing should never draw attention to the body.

David Sorrenson describes the word ‘modest’ in his commentary on I Timothy.  He says, “The phrase translated in modest apparel (en kata-stolei kosmioi en katastolêi kosmiôi) literally has the sense of a ‘lengthened garment.’ Abbreviated, short, or otherwise revealing clothing is unseemly for a Christian woman.”  In other words, ladies should avoid high hem lines, low neck lines and tight fitting clothing.  If the attention is drawn to the body, the attention is taken away from the Lord.

We must not cause others to stumble

Romans 14:13 says, “Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.”

Romans 14:21 says, “It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.”

 Many women that choose to dress revealingly do so to cause a man to look a second time.  When a woman causes this, she has sinned against God and she is in the wrong.  The responsibility of her sin rests on her.

Matthew 5:28 says, “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart”.  When a man looks a second time, he has fallen.  The responsibility of his sin is on him. 

As we approach the summer months, woman must be careful to purchase and wear modest clothing.  Likewise, parents need to take care that their girls learn what is proper to wear and to purchase only those items that glorify the Lord