Defining Modesty

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John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
16,538
3,502
113
#21
What is our dress standard? I was prompted to question this for a couple of reasons, and a major reason is I read that until 1937, it was illegal for men to be topless. Now, society in general and I think most of the church is okay with it.
Does what I wear magnify the Lord Jesus Christ or does it magnify me? Does my clothing bring attention to the Saviour or my body?
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
41,243
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Tennessee
#23

Possibly,but the Bible says they knew suddenly they were naked and made leaves to cover themselves. Their eyes were opened. So something changed with the fall.
Yeah, you're probably correct. One thing is sure, once sin entered the world something definitely changed.
 
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Nonconformist

Guest
#24
Well, I am not going to do your research for you!
However, what you need to do as a first priority is this: when you examine the dress codes in biblical times you need to get behind the cultural, religious, and practical reasons for those dress codes.
Sometimes the Bible itself gives you what you need but often you will have to examine other sources in order to understand the cultural anthropology of the day.
A lot of insights will be gained in the process because the reasons why things were as they were are not obvious and in fact may be counter-intuitive.

You are the man with the inspiration to chase this issue so you get the job to tease out the details...
I don't even know where to go to find that.
 

breno785au

Senior Member
Jul 23, 2013
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Australia
#28
This is just my opinion, I've seen a number of posts here tying modesty to the body or exposing certain parts thereof.
At this point in time at the top of my head, I don't modesty has anything to do with that, you can be fully clothed and not look modest, I think a lack of modesty has anything to do with drawing attention to yourself. To appear great.. I'm open to further discussion on this obviously.
 
Feb 28, 2016
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#29
Breno,

in today's world, anyone can have anything on, and 'they are considered 'fully-clothed/normal'.

it just can't be that the 'older-generation' is the LAST generation' that has any concept of
Godly, personal manners/respect for Him, and then themselves, and for others
as living examples?

I find much 'comfort and peace' in my heart if what I am wearing would seem appropriate
to just visit The Temple, or maybe just stand before Him...
 
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kaylagrl

Guest
#30
Breno,

in today's world, anyone can have anything on, and 'they are considered 'fully-clothed/normal'.

it just can't be that the 'older-generation' is the LAST generation' that has any concept of
Godly, personal manners/respect for Him, and then themselves, and for others
as living examples?

I find much 'comfort and peace' in my heart if what I am wearing would seem appropriate
to just visit The Temple, or maybe just stand before Him...


My grandmother use to put it this way,"what would you wear if you were told you're going to visit the Queen of England? How much better would you dress if you were meeting the King of Kings? I thought that was a good point.
 

OneFaith

Senior Member
Sep 5, 2016
2,270
369
83
#31
Modesty means partially holding back. Naked parts are between the legs, buttocks, and for women breasts. To be half naked does not mean shorts and a tank top, half naked is a woman wearing shorts and no shirt. In order to be naked it has to be a certain part of the body. The opposite of being modest is flaunting. Instead of partially holding back, you partially expose. Showing cleavage is not modest, is flaunting, and it is half naked breasts. Or in men when they purposely show but crack.

But you dont have to be completely covered to be modest- because modest means moderate not complete. We know this from the Bible. How did anyone know women had long hair unless it was able to be seen? How did anyone know that Abraham's wife Sarah was like a super model if her face was covered up? They knew David was good looking, Sarah was pretty, and Christ was unbecoming- why? Because both men and women did not hide their faces, or their arms, feet, etc.

We are to blend in with the culture in which we live, but without breaking God's laws- no exposed naked parts, no tattoos, men are not to wear women's clothes, women are not to wear men's clothes, etc.

You know already, your conscience says what is to be covered and what can be exposed. No guy buys a porn magazine and says "ooh look at those shoulders and those feet." It's is sinful to look at trashy magazines, but that's my point- the areas of the body that are trashy to show in public- those are the parts to dress modestly.
 
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Nonconformist

Guest
#32
Modesty means partially holding back. Naked parts are between the legs, buttocks, and for women breasts. To be half naked does not mean shorts and a tank top, half naked is a woman wearing shorts and no shirt. In order to be naked it has to be a certain part of the body. The opposite of being modest is flaunting. Instead of partially holding back, you partially expose. Showing cleavage is not modest, is flaunting, and it is half naked breasts. Or in men when they purposely show but crack.

But you dont have to be completely covered to be modest- because modest means moderate not complete. We know this from the Bible. How did anyone know women had long hair unless it was able to be seen? How did anyone know that Abraham's wife Sarah was like a super model if her face was covered up? They knew David was good looking, Sarah was pretty, and Christ was unbecoming- why? Because both men and women did not hide their faces, or their arms, feet, etc.

We are to blend in with the culture in which we live, but without breaking God's laws- no exposed naked parts, no tattoos, men are not to wear women's clothes, women are not to wear men's clothes, etc.

You know already, your conscience says what is to be covered and what can be exposed. No guy buys a porn magazine and says "ooh look at those shoulders and those feet." It's is sinful to look at trashy magazines, but that's my point- the areas of the body that are trashy to show in public- those are the parts to dress modestly.

Why "and for women breasts?"
 
Aug 15, 2009
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#33
In some churches, they dress like they're meeting the Queen of England. Fit to kill. Overdone. Showing off their success by rollin'up in their big car. Same group will buy their pastor a new Town Car, cause they want their pastor to look good. They think others judge them by how they doll up their pastor. This is immodest, prideful, arrogant, & sinful.

Then there's the other end of the spectrum. Men showing up in their AC/DC T-shirts, torn jeans, & biker boots, lookin' like a "bad boy". Women wear their yoga pants, & think because their hips are covered up, that's OK.

That's not modest, either.

Neither are the old gals who think they're proper in their partially see-thru white blouses showing their underclothes. Eeewww.

Whatever draws the attention to you draws it away from Christ.

The trouble with immodesty is it can promote glory stealing from God, & that's really bad. Note the scripture:

Matt 23:1Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, 2saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; 3therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. 4“They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.5“But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. 6“They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men. 8“But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9“Do not call anyoneon earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10“Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. 11“But the greatest among you shall be your servant. 12“Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

Immodesty promotes glory stealing, hypocrisy, lying, lusting & other sins, & pride is at it's core.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
16,538
3,502
113
#34
We are to blend in with the culture in which we live, but without breaking God's laws- no exposed naked parts, no tattoos, men are not to wear women's clothes, women are not to wear men's clothes, etc.

You know already, your conscience says what is to be covered and what can be exposed. No guy buys a porn magazine and says "ooh look at those shoulders and those feet." It's is sinful to look at trashy magazines, but that's my point- the areas of the body that are trashy to show in public- those are the parts to dress modestly.
Never allow culture to dictate the believer. The word of God is to dictate the believer. Our culture has been going down the road of less is better. "If you've got it, show it off." My wife and daughter have a hard time finding clothes that are modest and not revealing their flesh and showing off every curve. Hollywood, music, and sports dictate our culture. They are corrupt and self seeking idols. We should not desire to be like them.
 
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DarkRose

Guest
#35

Possibly,but the Bible says they knew suddenly they were naked and made leaves to cover themselves. Their eyes were opened. So something changed with the fall.
Does that mean a husband and a wife can sinfully lust after one another?
 
May 11, 2014
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#36
I think it would be unwise for culture to dictate what is ok to wear. Culture is getting more and more wicked. Do not conform to this world.
 
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renewed_hope

Guest
#37
I have always dressed modestly. I don't wear skin tight clothes, holey jeans, exposing tops or the like and my makeup is minimal. A couple weeks ago when I was on a business trip, I was wearing an oversized shirt and yoga pants, I had a grown man grab me and tried forcing himself on me. I told him no thanks and pushed his hands off of me and he persisted, my bf was upset when I told him. Just because women dress modestly and are pleasant does not keep the perverts at bay.
 
Aug 15, 2009
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#38
I have always dressed modestly. I don't wear skin tight clothes, holey jeans, exposing tops or the like and my makeup is minimal. A couple weeks ago when I was on a business trip, I was wearing an oversized shirt and yoga pants, I had a grown man grab me and tried forcing himself on me. I told him no thanks and pushed his hands off of me and he persisted, my bf was upset when I told him. Just because women dress modestly and are pleasant does not keep the perverts at bay.
All the more reason to dress modestly, lol. It's bad enough as it is.
 
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NoNameMcgee

Guest
#39
I have always dressed modestly. I don't wear skin tight clothes, holey jeans, exposing tops or the like and my makeup is minimal. A couple weeks ago when I was on a business trip, I was wearing an oversized shirt and yoga pants, I had a grown man grab me and tried forcing himself on me. I told him no thanks and pushed his hands off of me and he persisted, my bf was upset when I told him. Just because women dress modestly and are pleasant does not keep the perverts at bay.
not to be rude....


but i dont consider yoga pants "modest"

i mean i dont know how loose yours are

but those are typically "skin tight"



(not justifying that perverts actions)
 
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renewed_hope

Guest
#40
not to be rude....


but i dont consider yoga pants "modest"

i mean i dont know how loose yours are

but those are typically "skin tight"
Well, the shirt I was wearing fell to be right above my knees so honestly it looked like I didn't have a figure lol. Plus, the way these were cut they weren't skin tight, plus I've lost quite a bit of weight lately so they were pretty loose