IMMODEST APPAREL

Robert Meredith

  Unfortunately we are living in times when people want to do what they want instead of following God.  The Lord rebuked many of Amos’ day and said of them, “For this liketh you” (Amos 4:5).  This had reference to their worship, but it can apply to conduct as well.  Jeremiah penned, “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself:  it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jer. 10:23).  To live a godly life, one that will lead to heaven, one must look to God’s word for guidance (Ps. 119:105; Acts 20:32; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Tit. 2:11-12; 2 Pt. 1:3).  The Proverb writer declared, “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Prov. 14:12).  My friends, just because man thinks it is all right or just because everybody else is doing it (Mt. 7:13-14; 1 Cor. 4:6), does not make it right.  Let us look at what God teaches in His Word concerning immodesty.

  In Genesis 3:21, Moses records, “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skin, and clothed them.”  There was a difference in the standard Adam and Eve chose (Gen. 3:7) and that which God set.  Some individuals have no standards at all; however, there are absolutes in religion.  The Apostle Peter proclaimed, “But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Pt. 1:15-16).  God demands that we have a holy life.  A Christian is not to see how worldly or how “close to the line” he can get.  In Romans 12:1-2 one reads, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world:  but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

  There was once a young woman who said, “If he has a problem (of lust) with what I wear, then he’s the one with the problem, not me.”  This woman was mistaken.  Not only does he have a sin problem with lusting, but she also has one because she caused him, and possibly others, to lust.  In Colossians 3:5 and Galatians 5:19-21, there are three words which describe conditions which will keep people out of heaven.  One needs to consider:  Inordinate affections, Evil concupiscence and Lasciviousness.  The first means lustful or depraved passions; the second, desires that are forbidden; and the third, unbridled lust, lack of moral restraint, lusting or causing to lust.  When one dressed in such a way that another has unwholesome thoughts, then both are guilty of lasciviousness and would need to repent to be saved (Gal. 5:19-21).

  People need to strive to live as Christians and not be so influenced by the world.  What is really sad is that some do not even think that God has a standard for clothing.  Styles and fashions will change; but if it is too low, too tight, too high or too revealing, it is immodest.