SOUTHSIDE CHURCH OF CHRIST

Adorn Themselves in Modest Apparel, Sunday, 10 September 2000

Dec 03, 2000

Larry R. Ping II

In his first letter to Timothy, Paul instructed him to teach "that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works" (I Timothy 2:9-10). While this verse is directed towards women, men would do well to listen just as much. What does this verse mean? How far does it allow a person to go in his dress before he becomes immodest?

Many are too stringent in their rendering of these verses in that they believe and teach a woman is not to braid her hair, she is not to wear any jewelry of gold, and she is not to be seen in pearls or dress in more than just your low cost clothing. What Paul was instructing Timothy to charge the women was to not have these things as their uppermost goal, but they were to be concerned about becoming "women professing godliness." Women who have expensive clothing, shiny jewelry and pearls as their first and principal goal are not professing godliness.

In today's world and Church, we need to be concerned with those who are not even slightly bothered with following these verses. It is very evident when you begin to look around in the world, and sadly it is very evident when you begin to look around at worship services. Christians are wearing clothes that are too tight, too short, too low, too revealing and altogether too immodest. When we look at the definition of "modest" in verse nine, it means, "orderly, decent and well arranged." Here is a simple and clear rule to follow. When individuals draw attention to themselves because of what they are wearing, it is very, very likely they are immodestly dressed. You se, somebody who is modest and has an attitude of "shamefacedness," which means sheepishness, they will not want to draw attention to themselves by their dress. Those who are modestly dressed are encouraging others to look at their heart instead of their physical attributes. Those who are modestly dressed are outwardly saying that they have an inward hope and desire to be pleasing to God, instead of themselves and other men and women. Parents, do not shift the responsibility of your children's dress to your children. They need guidance in all areas of their life, including the aspect of modestly dressing, don't you think? When they are wearing something immodest, love your children enough to teach them the truth of this matter, and by all means, we as parents must set the proper and Godly example.

Larry R. Ping II, my brother and preacher in Wellsburg, West Virginia, authored this article which merits the attention of many.