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I was going to post this in a tread addressing men wearing women's attire & women wearing pants but decided to start a new thread addressing immodest dress among believers. Keep this in mind as you read. I thought this subject would be most suited to the Christian young adults forums, but generally to all adult Christians.
One thing I didn't address in my earlier post about women wearing pants was: I think it's more about modesty than attempting to look like a man.
A woman wearing extremely form fitting pants can be much more provocative than wearing a short skirt. I'm going to have to use some descriptive language here, so please understand I do this only to express an important point. There is a term that I'm sure many Christians are familiar with but some may not be: Camel toe: (This is actually a category on some Internet porn sites) It is when a woman wears pants or other garments that cover her lower body in such a way that the fabric of the garment is drawn so snugly over her genitalia that it spreads open her labia.(supposedly this looks like a camels toe)
There may be some younger christian women or girls who do this in ignorance but I believe most must be aware of this & just how provocative & immodest it is.
I once saw a pastors wife prominently displaying a "camel toe" on the platform as she sang songs of worship." Inappropriate" is much to a lenient a term to describe this. "Lewd" would be much more accurate.
This is what our society has come to. Women are not the only culprits. I've seen men who wore their pants in such a way that was obviously intended to display their genitalia. In fact once, many yrs ago before I was a christian, I knew a guy who would take his jeans to a tailor to have alterations done, in just such a way, so as to most prominently display himself.
Am I being condemning? No I'm not. If we as Christians are dressing in this way or other immodest ways it doesn't forfeit our standing with God (our salvation) that comes thru faith in Jesus Christ, if you have that faith your all good, but lets also exercise that faith to present our body in public in such a way that is pleasing to God & not a source of temptation to others. This entices people both male & female & both believers & unbelievers. We need to be mindful of this.
Dear Heavenly Father enable us to see the truth of what has been expressed here. Free us from our lewdness & bring into our lives a modesty, we confess we are guilty these things, they appeal to our flesh, apart from you father we (many of us) are unable to resist dressing in these ways & liking it when we see others dressing in these ways, thru faith in your power we can change. Father we even acknowledge that we don't really want to change, in fact we don't even want to want to change, we want to want these things, we are so enamored by them. What prompts us to ask for deliverance, is the knowledge given to us by you, that these things are ultimately destructive to relating to one another as you intended we should, enable us to "want to want to change" so we can begin relating to one another not in lascivious (an unrestrained an inordinate desire to experience sexual pleasure & gratification) & concupiscent (craving that which is forbidden) ways but that we your daughters could relate to your sons, father, as our sons, our brothers & our fathers & that we would reserve thoughts & deeds of physical intimacy for our husbands only. In like manner father, we your sons ask that, you enable us to relate to your daughters as our daughters, sisters & mothers & that we would reserve thoughts & deeds of physical intimacy for our wives only. True fulfillment ( love, joy & peace) will come to us only as we relate to one another as you intended, these other ways are counterfeits & corruptions of the enemy of our soul, who seeks our demise. Thru faith in you, we can be transformed, have your way with us father, begin & continue this work of purification in us, until it is complete. Thank you father for allowing this post & it's content to speak into the lives of those who need it most. Thank you that this prayer is heard & honored by you & in like manner will impact all those who pray with me for these things. Your son Jesus said that if we had faith & doubted not, that whatsoever we ask in prayer believing we would receive (Matthew 21:21-22) we have faith we don't doubt that you desire to accomplish all these things in us. Your faithful servant John said: If we ask anything according to your will you'd hear us. We are convinced that this your will & that you hear us. (1st John 5:14) We are grateful for your intervention in our lives, Hallelujah ! a thousand praises be to your holy name, there are none greater you are the most high, the great & mighty God of all creation, nothing is to difficult for you ! Thank you for your power & your love. We do ask all these things in Jesus name. AMEN? AMEN !
Romans 7:16 - 19 When we do what we don't want to do, we consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no longer we that do it but sin that dwells in us, for in us that is in our flesh dwells no good thing. To will is present with us but how to perform that which is good we find not. The good that we would do, we do not do and the wrong that we would not do, that we do.
Read Romans chapters 7 & 8 Pray to God for understanding & be blessed in receiving Gods grace & overcoming power.
The right understanding & proper application of Gods grace doesn't free us to sin - but frees us from sin.
One thing I didn't address in my earlier post about women wearing pants was: I think it's more about modesty than attempting to look like a man.
A woman wearing extremely form fitting pants can be much more provocative than wearing a short skirt. I'm going to have to use some descriptive language here, so please understand I do this only to express an important point. There is a term that I'm sure many Christians are familiar with but some may not be: Camel toe: (This is actually a category on some Internet porn sites) It is when a woman wears pants or other garments that cover her lower body in such a way that the fabric of the garment is drawn so snugly over her genitalia that it spreads open her labia.(supposedly this looks like a camels toe)
There may be some younger christian women or girls who do this in ignorance but I believe most must be aware of this & just how provocative & immodest it is.
I once saw a pastors wife prominently displaying a "camel toe" on the platform as she sang songs of worship." Inappropriate" is much to a lenient a term to describe this. "Lewd" would be much more accurate.
This is what our society has come to. Women are not the only culprits. I've seen men who wore their pants in such a way that was obviously intended to display their genitalia. In fact once, many yrs ago before I was a christian, I knew a guy who would take his jeans to a tailor to have alterations done, in just such a way, so as to most prominently display himself.
Am I being condemning? No I'm not. If we as Christians are dressing in this way or other immodest ways it doesn't forfeit our standing with God (our salvation) that comes thru faith in Jesus Christ, if you have that faith your all good, but lets also exercise that faith to present our body in public in such a way that is pleasing to God & not a source of temptation to others. This entices people both male & female & both believers & unbelievers. We need to be mindful of this.
Dear Heavenly Father enable us to see the truth of what has been expressed here. Free us from our lewdness & bring into our lives a modesty, we confess we are guilty these things, they appeal to our flesh, apart from you father we (many of us) are unable to resist dressing in these ways & liking it when we see others dressing in these ways, thru faith in your power we can change. Father we even acknowledge that we don't really want to change, in fact we don't even want to want to change, we want to want these things, we are so enamored by them. What prompts us to ask for deliverance, is the knowledge given to us by you, that these things are ultimately destructive to relating to one another as you intended we should, enable us to "want to want to change" so we can begin relating to one another not in lascivious (an unrestrained an inordinate desire to experience sexual pleasure & gratification) & concupiscent (craving that which is forbidden) ways but that we your daughters could relate to your sons, father, as our sons, our brothers & our fathers & that we would reserve thoughts & deeds of physical intimacy for our husbands only. In like manner father, we your sons ask that, you enable us to relate to your daughters as our daughters, sisters & mothers & that we would reserve thoughts & deeds of physical intimacy for our wives only. True fulfillment ( love, joy & peace) will come to us only as we relate to one another as you intended, these other ways are counterfeits & corruptions of the enemy of our soul, who seeks our demise. Thru faith in you, we can be transformed, have your way with us father, begin & continue this work of purification in us, until it is complete. Thank you father for allowing this post & it's content to speak into the lives of those who need it most. Thank you that this prayer is heard & honored by you & in like manner will impact all those who pray with me for these things. Your son Jesus said that if we had faith & doubted not, that whatsoever we ask in prayer believing we would receive (Matthew 21:21-22) we have faith we don't doubt that you desire to accomplish all these things in us. Your faithful servant John said: If we ask anything according to your will you'd hear us. We are convinced that this your will & that you hear us. (1st John 5:14) We are grateful for your intervention in our lives, Hallelujah ! a thousand praises be to your holy name, there are none greater you are the most high, the great & mighty God of all creation, nothing is to difficult for you ! Thank you for your power & your love. We do ask all these things in Jesus name. AMEN? AMEN !
Romans 7:16 - 19 When we do what we don't want to do, we consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no longer we that do it but sin that dwells in us, for in us that is in our flesh dwells no good thing. To will is present with us but how to perform that which is good we find not. The good that we would do, we do not do and the wrong that we would not do, that we do.
Read Romans chapters 7 & 8 Pray to God for understanding & be blessed in receiving Gods grace & overcoming power.
The right understanding & proper application of Gods grace doesn't free us to sin - but frees us from sin.