Student Opinion – This is how Christians should approach modesty

Modest is hottest. Or so claims the youth group slogan-turned-meme we all heard in middle school, often even used as a slightly ironic Instagram caption.

The topic of modesty typically elicits eye rolls and grumblings about sexism and the patriarchy. As a former career community group leader, resident shepherd and resident assistant, I am all too familiar with the dress code in the Liberty Way as well as some girls’ opinions of it. It also doesn’t take too many laps around LaHaye to see people both blatantly breaking dress code and being confronted by Campus Recreation staff for doing so. 

While many people see modesty as a gray area and a dress code as an archaic, misogynistic tradition, I tend to disagree. I think that modesty has undergone a lot of cultural misconstruing and is surrounded by a great deal of harmful and unhelpful ideology. But I also think that Scripture provides a clear foundation and guidebook for modesty, as well as an understanding of the heart behind it.

The Bible has no specific mentions of shorts inseams or sports bras, but God does give us clear instructions on how to present ourselves — namely as living sacrifices that are holy and acceptable to him, as the image of his Son, his workmanship, a royal priesthood and ambassadors for Christ.

We are to represent Christ’s purity and holiness in every aspect of our lives, including the way we dress. Our lives are to be an open letter to the world, telling of the beauty and goodness of Jesus. If that is the story that your crop tops and barely-there muscle tees are telling, then don’t let me stop you. But is it?

In all essence, modesty is much more about heart posture than articles of clothing. Today’s fit check was cute and trendy, sure, but what was your intention behind wearing it? Who were you seeking to please?

Even if you pick your outfits based on what you like rather than what you want others to think of you, our bodies are not our own. Our very lives are not our own. We should not operate based on what makes us feel good but on what glorifies God.

Unfortunately, many churches and well-meaning parents have instilled in us the conception that the purpose of modesty is for women to cover themselves to protect our brothers in Christ. Their teaching gives the implication that our bodies are something to hide or be ashamed of, that our bodies are inherently tempting. This ideology is both unbiblical and harmful.

On one hand, it demeans our brothers by both insulting their capacity for self-control and writing them out of God’s holy plans of modesty altogether. On the other, it completely twists and cheapens God’s heart behind modesty in the first place.

Nothing that God asks of us will ever be to the end of increasing the fear of man. God’s chief purpose is to glorify himself. All of his commands and laws for us are to accomplish this purpose.

He does not impose modesty on us as a way to control or shame us. Rather, he gives modesty to us as a gift to honor and protect our bodies, and therefore, honor him both as Creator and Redeemer of these bodies. The way we dress is also meant to stand out from the rest of the world, drawing attention to the stark difference between a life of worldliness versus a life of godliness.

To summarize, this article is not an episode of “What Not to Wear.” I am not interested in giving you a list of acceptable dress length measurements. I am more concerned with pointing you back to Scripture, back to the Father.

I ask each of you, brothers and sisters, to go before him and evaluate your lifestyle, your choices and your wardrobe – to surrender your fashion preferences to his divine will. Holiness lasts longer than fleeting trends.

Ginion is an opinion writer for the Liberty Champion

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