Remembering Modesty
By T. Sean Sullivan

Introduction:

It is not easy to prioritize God’s acceptance above the acceptance of our peers. It’s not just the young people who struggle with this issue. Now, maybe more than ever, it is also their parents and grandparents. My generation, perhaps more than others before, has transitioned toward wanting our children to express, wear, and do, all the things that our parents wouldn’t let us do. Perhaps, we have all lost our moral compass along the way.

Because of this prevalent attitude far too many young people are walking a false pathway that is leading them away from Heaven. We cannot walk with the Lord, while living in immorality—the two ways are not compatible. When we lose sight of this life being our preparation for eternity, we may seek to please this world much more than to please our Creator God (James 4:4). Let’s consider together how much we need to remember modesty.

Remembering Modesty

As soon as the preacher brings up modesty, walls of defense begin to construct. Be careful what you may be defending. Modesty by definition is: Behavior, manner, or appearance intended to avoid impropriety or indecency. Defending immodesty is to defend actions, attitudes, and attire that is improper and indecent.

There is a standard by which we should act, react, and yes, also dress—it is not set by the world, by friends, or by fellow students. It is God who provides proper understanding for us. It is His will that we must be doing (Matt. 7:21; Matt. 28:18; Col. 3:17). There is a big difference between God’s way and way of the world (Matt. 6:24).

Some argue that “situations” change the acceptable standards of modesty. If you are in an environment where “words and deeds” are inappropriate, does that remove your responsibility to God? No, Colossians 3:17 says, “…whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” If your workplace is filled with lewd and rude behaviors, infidelities, cursing, and swearing, does that justify your joining in to be just like everyone else? No, Ephesians 5:1-5, “…let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints.” If “everyone else” is presenting too much skin, and nearly naked on the beach, or at the pool, does that justify you abandoning modesty, to be just like everyone else? No, certainly not (1 Timothy 2:9-10 instructs women to wear that, “…which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works” and 1 Timothy 4:12 establishes the same high standard for men too!).

Is There Any Limit?

Today, the limits of decency are being rejected. There was a time in the 1800s when a woman’s ankle was not to be seen in public, and, perhaps that was an unrealistic concept. Today, we are a long, long way from the ankle. It is quite apparent that many believe that there is no nakedness in fully exposed legs (Not to mention rear ends). God instructed the priests in Exodus 28:42, to “cover their nakedness” and this was accomplished by covering from the waist to the knee—the whole thigh—granted this is Old Testament, but has human anatomy changed since?

It is truly time to rethink which appeals we are trying to provoke. Our American culture has become sex-driven, and fashion standards have followed. Any attempt at modesty is now being characterized as frumpy and prudish—certainly not “cool,” “popular,” or “acceptable.” Propriety and Modesty are not the opposite of beauty or attractiveness. Modesty determines to protect that which should be held as sacred, reserved, and preserved for marriage [Males and Females] (Heb. 13:4). When we advertise the wrong intention, we will receive the wrong attention!

We need to remember that modesty honors our bodies and honors our Creator God (2 Pet. 3:11). We are to refuse the enticement of lust, and we certainly shouldn't be seeking to be enticing anyone to lust!

Sin is Still Wrong

The mindset that believes parents and the preacher are trying to ruin our lives with all these rules, is truly a disaster of eternal proportion. Here is a great reality check, we give you rules of conduct because of three great truths. We love you (Eph. 6:1-4). You will answer to God one day (2 Cor. 5:10-11). We will answer to God for our responsibilities toward you (Matt. 18:6-7).

We need to be re-educated in the awareness, and avoidance, of sin. For far too long, real moral issues have been considered offensive and too distasteful to be expressed from the pulpit. We must stop pretending that our children will figure out what is right and wrong without us purposely teaching them (Deut. 6:6-9; Eph. 6:1-4). “The works of flesh are evident” –or they should be (Gal. 5:19-21). The warning is clear in Galatians 5:21, “…those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."

We need to remember that our modesty is key to our spiritual survival on an eternal scale. We all, young and older, must project and protect our “godliness” (2 Pet. 3:11).

Conclusion:

It is not easy to be different and that is a truth that we all know. However, we are not here to please the world around us (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17), we are here to please God (Matt. 7:21; Acts 17:27; Heb. 13:20-21). It is not easy to do what is right, but the effort is worthwhile-all to be welcomed home one day (Matt. 25:21, 23).

Perhaps you have been following the world, and caught up in their ways, right now is the moment to break free of the current and find the true hope that God affords. God has a solution for the damage that sin causes; He offers forgiveness and a better pathway to walk (Matt. 7:13-14). The hope of a new life, and ultimately eternal life, begins with your obedience to God’s plan. If you are ready; begin right now. 

 If You’ve Never Been Called A Fanatic...
By Bill Hall

Webster defines the word “fanatic”: “A person affected by excessive enthusiasm.” Its definition indicates that it is a relative term, dependent upon one’s judgment as to what is a proper degree of enthusiasm in contrast with what is excessive enthusiasm. Anyone who has any knowledge at all of the world and its standards knows that to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,” and to “love the Lord with all one’s heart, soul, and mind,” and to “present one’s body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God” is to be in the eyes of the world a fanatic.

But before becoming too concerned, one should realize that every Bible character whom he admires–Paul, Peter, Eunice, Hannah, Jesus–would be looked upon by the world as a fanatic were he or she living today. While on the other hand, the world would smile approvingly on those of whom the Lord said, “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I would spue thee out of my mouth.”

If you’ve never been called a fanatic, you might need to reconsider your spiritual condition before God!