Day 18: Family Media Detox

In today's video, Missy and I discuss a topic that never fails to be controversial: Modesty in dress. The Bible, in 1st Timothy 2:9-10, commands it. Paul wrote, "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works."

With seven daughters, we take this matter seriously. That's why, in an effort to lead by example, I have vowed to never wear miniskirts, strapless evening gowns, or gownless evening straps.

I'm not talking legalism here - I'm addressing this from the perspective of a red-blooded American male: What passes for young women's fashion today is looking increasingly like the employee uniforms at a whorehouse. The current trends of skin-tight and/or skin-baring styles serve only to objectify women and titillate men. Even more disturbing is the fact that this type of clothing is being aimed at younger and younger girls. For example, a few years ago Abercrombie & Fitch released a line of thong underwear marketed toward girls as young as 10 years old.

The exploitative commodification of women and the sexualization of children are symptoms of a culture that has not only coarsened but has become downright gangrenous...

Hey there! Good topic. Please be patient while
I share my own experience on this topic.

Back in the day I was not afraid to show a
bit of this and that - I looked good and
what did it hurt? Considered myself ‘eye candy’.

Well!

That changed the day the Holy Spirit slapped me
with the ‘HEY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? stick’, and I
realized that I was putting temptation in front
of the eyes of men I did not know, and that I might
be helping them to sin.

My pride could hurt the spiritual walk of
another human being and that was not something
I, the Lord and the Holy Spirit could not
and would not tolerate anymore.

When I talk to younger women and girls about this,
THAT is the angle I use. I don’t know if it does
any good, but at least some seeds of knowledge
are planted.

Oh! I am still a sinner, I get things wrong daily.

I agree that current fashions even directed at girls
as young as 7 are disgusting. The Sunday sales flyers
are full of these young innocents posing as
future hookers.

These days, I’m not quite as fetching, but try to
balance looking good, looking good for my husband,
and being modest at the same time. My wardrobe is
a mess, and I mostly look like a sack of potatoes.
I need fashion help, for sure, but I’m not showing
anything that anyone other than DH and my doctor
should see.

You be blessed, abundantly. :)

I’ve come to believe that the level of outward adornment is directly proportional to a heart’s chosen rejection of true spiritual nourishment.
We clothe what is essentially dust with more care than we take of our souls.

We men come by this *honestly*, after a fashion. After all, we often fail to remember that although Eve was deceived, our earthly father -Adam - made a choice.

Had not the holy light of innocence departed from her when he beheld her nakedness? And did not he choose her over the garden and daily converse with the Lord?
Such is the power of the knowledge of evil, which we have been in thrall to for millenia.

Sobriety in dress is not some prudish requirement, as those who do not live in the heart would have you believe. It arises from the world’s sinful nature, and is a warning.
1Jo 2:16 For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

The world shouts its rebellion from checkout lines, TV’s, and every visual and auditory avenue the prince of this world commands.

May your rejection of its message last more than a month.

I tell people; “How I LOOK is YOUR problem ;)”

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