Why You Should Be A Modest Mary

I went to the shops (mall) the other day and as it’s school holidays here in Australia (summer break), there were a lot of teenagers around. So many of them were dressed provocatively, even those who were walking around with their parents, yikes! As a mum, I just couldn’t help but think to myself, how on earth could you let your child leave the house dressed like that?! And why would you encourage it? Where are peoples’ senses of modesty at now? Clearly, many parents are not teaching their children about respect for their own bodies, because otherwise many children wouldn’t dress in such a way. All of this truly got me thinking. Our society is becoming so God-less and backwards now, removing any and all aspects of the bible. It’s no wonder that these children conduct themselves in such a disturbing way. Modesty isn’t all just about what you wear, but how you conduct yourself too, and we as Christians need to set strong examples to both our own and younger generations.

In the beginning, God created Adam and Eve, with the original intent to be as they were, without clothes or any attire. Adam and Eve were not ashamed of their naked bodies. “And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed” (Genesis 2:25). They had pure innocence, similar to that of a child who runs around naked, not seeing any difference between different parts of their body. It is the parents, the adults, who want to cover their children up because we know that certain parts of the body should not be exposed as it is connected to lusts, and passions/desires to physically be with that person.

Adam and Eve had no evil desires. There was no urge to do that which was wicked/sinful. Therefore their nakedness was innocent, similar to that of children. This all changed, however, when Eve, then Adam, both ate the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The serpent (satan) was the tempter who lured Eve in through deception, to eat of the fruit, and as such, after eating from the tree of knowledge, the inclination to sin and do evil became a part of them. “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat” (Genesis 3:1-6).

(Picture from a day in his court website)

Their mindset changed in relation to their nakedness, as they then saw/felt/thought the sexual desires that came about from being naked. They made themselves aprons to cover themselves, and hid from God because they were aware that they were naked. “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons” (Genesis 3:7). As a result of this, God was furious that they disobeyed Him, and had the sinful inclinations for sexual passion. ^“And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Genesis 3:8-19).

God decided to use the skin of animals to cover them ^“Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21). After that, each and every other person clothed themselves also, due to the fall of mankind.

For such a long time men, and women in particular dressed modestly, covering themselves up, as to not cause a stumbling block for men. It hasn’t been until recently, in the past few decades or so that the concept of modesty and dressing appropriately has gradually been thrown out the window. Coincidentally, teachings of the bible and biblical foundation in various forms of society have slowly been chipped away. We can now blame modern technology, the lamestream media, hellywood, and other worldly, unbiblical, influences upon our generations and future ones also for all of this.

(Picture from Clever and Bright website)

Our generation is completely controlled by modern technology, social media, and other online concepts. Whilst it can be used for good: to share the gospel, build friendships, donate to charities and those in need, and so on and so forth, it can also be used for evil too. There are so many evil, worldly movies, tv shows, documentaries, news articles/stories, social media sites, phone apps and more that promote immodest behaviours, promiscuity, defying God’s Will, disobeying Him, disobeying and dishonouring parents; the list is endless. It’s a no wonder; at least to me anyway, that teenagers and young children are dressing and acting so immodestly and inappropriately.

We need to set an example, as Christians, to our children, our friends, our family, and our neighbours. We need to get back to basics and truly understand what it is to act and dress modestly, and why God wants this to be so. Firstly, we must acknowledge that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit that dwells inside of us. Everything that we choose to do with ourselves reflects upon our faith. “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Secondly, we must understand that dressing modestly; covering ourselves up appropriately, not only reflects upon our own faith and characteristics, but also does not cause a stumbling block for others; in particular, for women to dress appropriately as to not cause men to sin. After all, we are human, and we are in a constant battle of the flesh, with the thoughts and feelings of sexual desires and lusts. The Bible teaches us how to dress accordingly.

(Picture from Ask Ideas website)

Everything is in moderation, and never to please the eyes of others, or to gain selfish, worldly pleasures by dolling up essentially.^“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…Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price…Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” (1 Timothy 2:9-10; 1 Peter 3:3-4; 5:5-6).

Ladies, do not concern yourselves with needing to look so beautiful in order to keep up with modern appearances, or to attract others. I know that it can be hard with so many negative influences on TV, in movies, in magazines, on social media. There’s so much controversy regarding the way in which women should dress or look given the latest trends. Just know this: God created you perfectly the way that you are. You should learn to accept that, appreciate that, and be thankful for that. “Favour [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain: [but] a woman [that] feareth the LORD, she shall be praised” (Proverbs 31:30).

(Picture from Pinterest)

I found this amazing quote that I would like to reference here as well. It is in relations to Proverbs 11:22. This is another important scripture for you women to acknowledge. “[As] a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, [so is] a fair woman which is without discretion” (Proverbs 11:22). Simply put: “As a jewel of gold would be ill placed in the snout of a swine, which is always raking in the mire; so is beauty ill bestowed on a woman, whose mind, having lost all relish of virtue, carries her from her husband to wallow in filthy lusts and adulterous pleasures” (Quote from Bishop Patrick, the bible hub website, under commentaries).

We need to control these fleshly, worldly desires because Jesus told us that even if we look at another person with lust then we have committed adultery in our hearts. “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). This is vitally important for married individuals to take charge over, when it comes to these thoughts/feelings of the flesh.

Lastly, we must acknowledge that we are of God, and not of the world, and as such, everything we do: whether it’s what we eat, what we drink, what we wear, what we say, how we act, do it all to glorify God, to proclaim our faith in Jesus. Modesty is not just about what we wear, it is also about how we act. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God… 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” (1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 John 2:16).

Overall, we must continue to stay in prayer, study the scriptures, give everything to God so that He can guide us and lead us accordingly.

I hope this encourages you.

Stay modest now 😉

God Bless.

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