Modesty is a subject Christians have wrestled with, probably since the beginning. It’s controversial, and different people, all confessing Christ, often come to distant conclusions about the subject. One big mistake we make is to assume “modesty” only refers to clothing. Not so. But as far as it does include attire, is there a standard?
If we all agree that the Bible says, “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array…” it is fair then to ask the question, “what’s the standard”?
In how many school student handbooks have you read: “We feel it is important that the students wear appropriate clothing” without a qualification of “appropriate”?
I do not intend to launch a debate about specifics in this post. (I’ve got closed-toed shoe friends, and spaghetti strap friends, both of whom assume their standard is right.) Suffice it to say, to “love the Lord with all your heart” is to earnestly desire obedience in all of life, reflecting such desire even in our appearance and demeanor. To “love your neighbor as yourself” reinforces the earnestness with which we should seek to dress modestly.
I must give a hat-tip to our good friend Trey for his provoking words the other night during his family’s visit to our home. Since then, I’ve concluded that something he said actually paints a pretty good standard for us, even though it includes no specifics about dress.
Trey explained that his father asked him to make two lists from Scripture: characteristics of a virtuous wife and those opposite her. In his in-depth study of a virtuous woman, he read (I think from John McArthur) about the root word translated “modesty” in 1 Timothy.
It comes from kosmios, originally taken from “kosmos” (where we get “cosmos” of course), with the literal meaning “to place in order, to arrange”. He said that the word “kosmos” is often used in Scripture to describe the “reflection of the glory of God”. What a glorious transfer, then, when we understand that a modest woman (dress, behavior, etc.) is to reflect the glory of God!
I don’t know about you, but that standard makes me look at my wardrobe a little differently. It also makes me consider my speech, my very carriage, my thoughts (which come out of my mouth) my jewelry, my conversation–all that encompasses being a woman. To me, using this standard still allows freedom in one’s unique taste and style of clothing, while maintaining a decidedly strong focal point to guide.
I’m thinking of writing the question, “Do I reflect the glory of God” on my mirror. 😉 (Yes, I’m painfully aware that I overuse winkies in my posts.)
Again, we miss it if we think that modesty only refers to dress, and we miss it if we think it doesn’t include dress.
***As a side note, a while back, I posted an interview by Lindsay, Trey’s sister. You may want to check out the 3-part interview:
(Thank you again, Lindsay, Trey, Bo and Zhenis, for blessing our family with such delicious food and fellowship…and words that provoke!)
27 comments
Great post as usual.I would love to comment further but am in a hurry.
Great post, but I can’t believe y’all had the Schultz over and we were not included! Unbelievable!!! Y’all are in SUCH big trouble!
[…] This post was a refreshingly different one, and one that I must say hits the nail on the head about the attitude that leads to modesty. […]
Great post…interested in what comments appear. I know, for me, many times I have decreed something “inappropriate” for my daughter and God had the nerve to override me when I sought Him on it ;)…lol I think obedience to ask Him in very matter is pleasing to Him. I have a buxom top, so some shirts are inappropriate on me, while fine for others. The danger is believing that what one feels led to do by God is a mandate on everyone else.
Just my thoughts, anyway.
I love your winkies 😉
Thank you so much for this posting!
I’m from South Africa and I’ve just wrote a posting in which I address Mother’s Vision to raise up Daughters fit to be Pillars in a Palace. Can I please put up a link to this article in my posting?
Have a blessed weekend.
Linnie,
Absolutely!
i do agree with you on the part where modesty does not only have to do with our dress,but I do not believe there is such a thing a s a “modest swimsuit”,I’m sorry but somethings are just so obvious,it doesn’t matter how modest our behavior is ,if we are showing our bodies.It’s like saying,”okay cover your bodies ,except when we have a water activity”.And I know you did not discuss this specific issue,but I just feel that as true christians,we should not make any exceptions.
I love this…it’s a gentle reminder to those of us who “cover it up” ;)(I love the winky – you taught it to me WW, don’t stop!) as routine STILL should pursue true modesty. I dress somewhat fashionably, but simply, in color and style (my husbands new line is “are you here to take my order?” because I wear a black skirt, white top, and apron so often), but I have a shoe thing – it gets me a lot of attention, those shoes. And I like it, probably too much. And I justify spending money on it, definitely too much. Hardly modest.
Modesty is so much more than external covering (though an extremely important element of proper behavior and good manners, in the body of Christ and the general public). All our “expression”, not just our tongues – carriage, I think Kelly called it – is born of the condition of our hearts. Very revealing.
Yes! Yes! Yes! This is what I have been trying to say for a long time now. I can dress in modest pants and a modest shirt and still reflect God! You can dress modest but you may not be modest or you may be modest but not dress modest….
Thank you for this article!
Gabby,
Admittedly, where there is no tangible dress code, some will use licentiousness to justify immodest dress. I am hoping to cause Christian women to truly ponder whether their hearts are set on pleasing God or man. While we still may vary on our definitions of modest dress, I pray women who may have thought nothing of a swimsuit in the past will examine whether it “reveals the glory of the Lord” to expose intimate body parts.
kelly, it was nice to see this! i had quite a to-do this weekend, i was out and about in small town usa antiquing and stopped for a nice lunch, with my ‘guy’. i had worn a dress that NORMALLY is a very cute, modest little piece, pink and plaid and a comfy below-the-knee length… but i’ve never word it out ALL day and on a WINDY day at that, i guess the material is a little light for that sort of weather.. oh dear, what passers-by nearly saw, i almost died… but C calmly helped ‘shield’ me from gusts, and i managed to maintain a very aware, lady- like composure, i hoped… then we walked into a nice little local restaurant, and who should be sitting next to us but a table full of full dresses, headcovered ladies holding a short bible study, looking so lovely and so much more modest, i thought the worst about myself… i felt so down on myself… until as i was leaving one of the ladies stopped me and told me i had on such a sweet dress and said ‘you look so summery, i love it!’… we talked for a moment (they pointed me to a GREAT local bakery) and i confessed that i felt odd because my dress seemed short in the wind… the matriarch of the group laughed and said they’d seen me tryin to hold it down outside, and she said that THAT was the spirit of modesty… being aware and lady-like about it… and they thought it was sweet that the ‘young man escorting me’ tried to help… in all i think (man am i babbling) that maybe they were right… it’s a state of mind.. i was not trying to ‘show off the goods’ i was trying to look girly and be comfy… could not help that wind! (but that dress is officially RETIRED!!!)… anyhow kelly, i agree it’s a touchy subject, but i feel that it’s something where ‘the thought counts’… as long as those thoughts line up with a higher wisdom…
I definitely think if we ask ourselves the question “Am I glorifying God with the way I dress?” it will make a huge impact on our choices! 🙂
My daughters and I have just been talking about this. It’s something that I didn’t get until the last 3 or 4 years so they have not been raised with it and it is a little foreign to them. They are ages 15 and 11, a very ripe age for this teaching. I just wish I would have understood it sooner and instilled it in them as toddlers.
Mary Kassian has several wonderful blogs about modesty on her site- http://www.girlsgonewise.com She references Isaiah 3:16-26…I’ll paste it for those who don’t want to look it up.
“The Lord said: “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty and walk with outstretched necks, glancing wantonly with their eyes, mincing along as they go, tinkling with their feet, therefore the Lord will strike with a scab the heads of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will lay bare their secret parts. In that day the Lord will take away the finery of the anklets, the headbands, and the crescents; the pendants, the bracelets, and the scarves; the headdresses, the armlets, the sashes, the perfume boxes, and the amulets; the signet rings and nose rings; the festal robes, the mantles, the cloaks, and the handbags; the mirrors, the linen garments, the turbans, and the veils. Instead of perfume there will be rottenness; and instead of a belt, a rope; and instead of well-set hair, baldness; and instead of a rich robe, a skirt of sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty… Empty, she shall sit on the ground.” Isaiah 3:16-24,26 (ESV)
Wow! Enough said for me! This passage speaks volumes. This scripture is not just a suggestion, it actually speaks of CONSEQUENCES for our immodesty and wiley ways.
Shanie,
What a fun story!
Without a doubt, modesty is an attitude first.
I’ve caught myself(um, the Lord’s caught me?) feeling a little self-righteous over “knowing” how inappropriate certain clothing is–even while ignoring some aspect of child-training or household maintenance which is also biblical.
Headcoverings, long skirts and no makeup or jewelry mean very little if a woman is inwardly rebelling against allowing God to soften her heart. On the flip side, you’ve demonstrated that as He changes us and draws us closer to Him, we more willingly desire to reflect who He is to the world.
Good contemplation, Kelly 🙂
Kelly,
What a wonderful guideline. And just in time for summer!
My concern, as an older lady, is dressing with dignity in our youth-obsessed culture. It’s a dilemma, when we’re constantly pressured to present ourselves as “mutton dressed as lamb”.
Thank you so much. Your blog is always honest and insightful.
Kelly,
I think your thought, “Am I glorifying God by the way I dress,” sums-up the issue of modesty quite nicely. As Christians, we should always be striving to glorify God in all aspects of our lives, and modesty plays an important part of that aspect. 😉
~Mrs. Lady Sofia~
I love this! I was raised very strict with a list of things I “couldn’t” wear. The issue behind the “can’ts” was not emphasized. I had to come to grips with what was important to God and my husband after we started having children. Now I believe what I believe because I do want to glorify God and be modest. The Bible also speaks about doing things in moderation. Though I vary some from how I was taught as a kid, I strongly want to teach my girls about modesty…inside and out!
And Kelly, you are so right; modesty is way more than what you wear. It has a much to do with how you conduct yourself.
We had an issue this past week where some so-called friends of ours took my oldest daughter with them shopping. (Mother and daughter) The daughter then talked my daughter into trying on articles of clothing that we do not wear telling her how cute she looked, etc. Now will this take her to hell? I don’t think so, but the principle behind what they did is what frustrates me. We have known these people for 20 years or more and this is not the first time they have tried to undermind what we as a family are trying to do. We live in a small town and attend the same church, therefore it is difficult to “no longer be friends”.
I have prayed about this extensively. I like how you said to ask yourself if what you have on will glorify God. That is a new angle to this issue.
Thanks again for thought-provoking material!
Btw love the winkies! 😉
Kelly, Thank you for posts like this. You are such a blessing to younger womaen/moms like myself. (Not that you’re old, please don’t take it that way… just wiser than I 😉
Gabby, Right there with ya. Does the Bible not say in the NT that your thigh is nakedness? Wouldn’t that rule our most modern swimsuits? This is how my husbnad and I have understood it. There really are some swimsuits that are modest, they just don’t look like anything that would be bought in most stores 🙂
[…] Fit to be Graceful Pillars for a Palace. Kelly Crawford at Generation Cedar wrote on modesty and Mrs. June Fuentes at A Wise Woman Builds Her Home gave practical steps on how to go about […]
This type of detox diet isn’t called ‘Master Cleanse’ for no reason.
– (Snack) Handful of mixed nuts or your favorite fruits
like 2 small bananas, an apple, an orange or a mango. Singer Beyonce is “thrilled”
with her dramatic recent weight loss following her
three-week vegan diet.
Understanding And Treating Static Wrinkles
In Your Skincare Routine
Static wrinkles are a common concern for many individuals as they age.
These fine lines often appear around the eyes, lips, and neck, becoming more noticeable with time.
While some wrinkles are creases caused by facial expressions, static wrinkles are
permanent and do not disappear even when you make certain movements.
Understanding and addressing static wrinkles can be an important part
of maintaining a youthful and healthy complexion.
### What Are Static Wrinkles?
Static wrinkles are the result of collagen and elastin fibers
losing their elasticity over time. As we age, the skin loses
its ability to retain moisture, leading to the formation of
these lines. They can develop due to genetic factors or environmental influences like sun exposure, smoking, and poor lifestyle choices.
### Causes of Static Wrinkles
– **Environmental Factors:** Prolonged sun exposure breaks down collagen, accelerating skin aging.
– **Smoking:** Reduces blood flow to the skin and impairs collage synthesis.
– **Poor Diet:** A diet high in refined sugars and fats can lead to inflammation and oxidative stress.
– **Inadequate Hydration:** Dehydration can cause the skin to lose its plumpness and elasticity.
### Prevention of Static Wrinkles
Preventing static wrinkles involves adopting a healthy lifestyle and incorporating skincare habits into
your routine. Key steps include:
1. **Sun Protection:** Use broad-spectrum SPF daily
to protect against UV damage.
2. **Antioxidant-Rich Diet:** Incorporate Vitamin C, E, and A into your
diet to combat free radicals.
3. **Hydration:** Drink plenty of water to keep skin hydrated and elastic.
4. **Healthy Sleep:** Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep
to promote skin repair and regeneration.
5. **Skincare Routine:** Cleanse, exfoliate, and moisturize regularly to maintain skin health.
### Treatment of Static Wrinkles
If static wrinkles are already visible, treatment options can help reduce their appearance:
1. **Lifestyle Changes:** Quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake, and avoiding unhealthy
habits.
2. **Moisturizing creams:** Products containing hyaluronic acid or retinol can plump the skin and improve elasticity.
3. **Clinical Treatments:** Procedures like laser therapy, microdermabrasion, or injectable treatments (e.g., Botox,
derma fillers) may be considered for more severe cases.
### Skincare Products for Static Wrinkles
– **Retinol:** A versatile ingredient that improves skin texture and reduces wrinkle depth.
– **Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs):** Exfoliants like glycolic acid can promote
collagen production.
– **Peptides:** Signals to the skin to produce more collagen, helping to firm and lift.
### Conclusion
Static wrinkles are a natural part of aging, but they don’t
have to be embraced as inevitable. By adopting a proactive approach to skincare, incorporating protective habits, and seeking professional treatments when necessary, you can minimize their appearance
and maintain a more youthful complexion. Remember, prevention is key, and
addressing static wrinkles early can lead to better
results over time.
Have a look at my page … bodybuilding Drug list (http://www.empowerment-initiative-frankfurt.de)
70918248
References:
bodybuilding no Steroids
With its known benefits on collagen synthesis (after all, Anavar was initially developed
to advertise healing), it can scale back soreness and pain post-workout.
As a therapy for anemia, Anavar has a very useful effect on pink blood cell
count21, bringing about heightened endurance by transporting more oxygen and
vitamins to the muscles during exercise. This has a performance-enhancing and bodily interesting
impact, with more oxygen and blood being carried through the
veins, leading to enhanced vascularity. So, whereas
these are two crucial benefits of Anavar, they aren’t the only
ones. Even if cutting is your primary cause for using Anavar, you’ll get many different optimistic results that will only add to your positive aspects and overall results.
Strength, endurance, stamina, and restoration are all enhanced with Anavar.
As talked about, with more nitrogen in your muscle tissue, you’ll
find a way to endure harder exercise periods at longer durations.
The steroid additionally facilitates the method of lipolysis or fats breakdown, particularly, the fat
deposited beneath the pores and skin. By No Means share oxandrolone with another particular person, especially someone with a historical past of drug
abuse or habit.
Those who want to enhance their lean muscle mass
may wish to consider going another route, such as boosting protein or trying a unique
supplement. When taken accurately, Anavar can provide a variety
of benefits, primarily centered on muscle development, power enhancement,
and fat loss. Many folks select Anavar above different anabolic steroids
because it doesn’t cause vital water retention, leading to
a leaner, more defined appearance. Whereas Anavar has the potential to ship spectacular outcomes in phrases of
lean muscle mass and energy gains, it’s essential
to have sensible expectations. Outcomes may range
from person to person, and never everybody will experience
the same diploma of success. In addition to particular person responses, factors similar to genetics, metabolism, and
total health level also can play a job in figuring out outcomes.
Subsequently, it’s vital to strategy Anavar use with a affected person and constant mindset,
specializing in gradual enhancements quite than anticipating overnight
transformation.
It’s a great drug that can allow you to obtain your fitness goals, but it’s not without its risks.
When these two results are mixed, they trigger you to achieve muscle mass.
Throughout the first week of Anavar use, individuals could not see a big change in their weight.
Nevertheless, some users have reported features of 1-3 kilos within the first two weeks, relying on their exercise depth and food regimen.
Amongst these are the potential to buy counterfeit products or
mislabeled substances, which can lead to severe health issues.
The high quality and purity of the product are often questionable in these situations.
To decrease such dangers, it is essential to find a trustworthy and
dependable source when on the lookout for Anavar.
If you begin to notice unwanted side effects after using Oxandrolone, it’s essential to act promptly.
Continued use can doubtlessly exacerbate these unwanted
effects, leading to extra severe circumstances. Hence, the most effective plan of action as quickly as unwanted aspect
effects emerge is to immediately cease using the product.
During the cycle, it is advisable to split the day by
day dosage into two equal administrations, one in the morning and one in the night, to maintain stable blood ranges.
He looked like a traditional average bloke in the ‘before’ picture, carrying quite a bit of weight around the midsection, with little muscle definition and no visible abs.
But then in the ‘after’ image (16 weeks later) he seemed like
a ripped action hero. They have a scratch off quantity that is alleged to
verify that a field is authentic and appear to have a legit website too.
One Other Anavar stack for men is a pure cutting cycle and includes
another cutting-specialist steroid in Winstrol. Winstrol is probably certainly
one of the best chopping compounds obtainable, and when combined with Anavar, it proves to be a potent
duo for final shredding. Masteron is good for operating
for a complete cycle, while Anavar is best used as a finishing steroid in the final weeks.
Just as with Winstrol, Masteron typically results in a higher stage of vascularity and a grainer appearance than Anavar does.
The other extremely popular cutting steroid for women, subsequent to Anavar,
is Winstrol (Stanozolol). Inexperienced users will share their negative Anavar experiences, however
so usually, this revolves around the fact that a person didn’t use a testosterone base
when on an Anavar cycle!
If you need a pure, over-the-counter, authorized, moral
drive multiplier to work slightly like Anavar, although far much less potently, you would
do well looking at Anvarol by CrazyBulk. Even average PEDs like Anavar
bring too many unpleasant unwanted effects and ethical concerns to make them a tenably good thought.
Anavar utilization can lead to zits because of elevated pores and skin oiliness, in addition to other pores and skin changes.
This means not only longer workouts and training sessions, but also probably extra frequent hard
periods (or, on the very least, much less ruinous fatigue signs after exhausting training!).
It actually is nice for recomposition and lean bulking, if you don’t mind the unfavorable penalties (again, see below).
Stored in muscle cells, phosphocreatine can quickly donate a phosphate group to ADP (adenosine diphosphate) to type more ATP throughout or following durations of intense train. In blocking them,
caffeine achieves a elementary a part of its energy-giving properties.
Hi-Tech Prescribed Drugs Anavar maintains
authorized status in the United States as a dietary supplement, regulated under the Dietary Complement Health and Training Act (DSHEA).
The product’s classification differs from pharmaceutical
Anavar (Oxandrolone), which requires a prescription. Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals Anavar incorporates a specialized
blend of lively compounds designed to duplicate the anabolic results of Oxandrolone.
However, should you do determine to use it, make sure to monitor your blood pressure carefully and discontinue use when you start to expertise any signal of it.
When used in massive doses or for prolonged durations of time, Anavar can place a nice deal of pressure on the cardiovascular system.
If you could have any historical past of coronary heart
disease in your family, or when you have high ldl cholesterol,
you want to discuss to your physician earlier than taking Anavar.
When these ranges are elevated, your sebaceous glands produce more sebum.
Whilst they could look similar and share very comparable results some
could be stronger than others and unwanted effects do vary relying on dose, frequency,
cycle size, and so on. As i’m certain you’re conscious there are tons of of
various kinds of steroids out there aside from Anavar. To put this into
perspective, a table spoon of soy protein powder will solely
weigh approx 18g.
References:
best steroid for lean muscle (code.autumnsky.jp)
https://backlinkend.co.kr/
vegas
References:
Blackcoin.co