Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth

There are many problems in the church today, and one of them is women who unashamedly dress provocatively, enticing men to gaze at them and have lustful thoughts. Now I do not say that all women dress with this in mind. There are, however, some who do. These are the women who would tell you that men should have more self-control. Or, “If you were focusing on Jesus instead of how I’m dressed, you wouldn’t have that problem.”

They may also state “God doesn’t care how I dress, because He only looks at my heart.” While the second half of that statement is true, the first half is not true. If it was true, then why did God tell us in 1 Timothy 2:9-10 (ESV) “… likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.” ?

What is respectable apparel? Well, for one thing, it definitely is not showing off every single curve, crack, or exposing body parts. Now don’t think I want all women to dress as the Amish do. You know, the long single-color dresses with the neck line just below the neck. I am not advocating women dress that way. Respectable apparel is this, it does not show off every curve, crack or expose body parts. Women can dress really beautiful without that come-hither look.

Women, do you love your brothers in Christ? You do? Great!! Then why do you dress to cause them to stumble and sin? That is not love! If you refuse to change the way you dress, then you are being selfish, and you do not have the love of God in you, and you cannot love God like you say you do. You need to love God with your whole being, not just a part of it (Mark 12:30). Jesus goes on to tell us that the second commandment is like the first, that you should “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Part of loving your neighbor is to make sure you do not cause him/her to stumble and sin. How would you feel women, if a man does something that causes you to stumble and sin? You would not like it, and you would be all up in arms to get that man to stop doing that thing that is causing you to stumble and sin, wouldn’t you? Yes, you would. Yet, when it comes to you causing a weaker brother to stumble and sin, your response is, “Learn self-control”, “Don’t look”, “I’ll dress as I want, who are you to judge!?” These statements are a sign of selfishness, not ones of love and caring for the spiritual condition of that weaker brother.

Another part of loving your neighbor is that you work to build them up. “So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” Romans 14:19 (ESV) Are you building your weaker brother by your tight fitting, low cut cleavage showing, and skirts that only come down to mid-thigh? Can you build up a weaker brother by causing him to sin? No, you cannot!! We are to build up the saints of God, not tear them down (Romans 15:2).

Jesus, in His own words tells us this in Luke 6:31 (ESV)“And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” Let’s also quote the cliché, “Do unto others as you would have them do to you”, or “Treat others as you would want to be treated”. Wow, look at that, these cliché’s are actually biblical!! Are you treating your weaker brother as you would want to be treated? Are you causing a weaker brother to stumble and sin? If so, I suggest that you get on your knees before God to forgive you for your sin of causing a weaker brother to stumble and sin.

God through Paul – using the example of eating meat offered to idols – tells us in 1 Corinthians 8:9-13 (ESV) “But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple,will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.” Notice that God tells us “Thus sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, YOU SIN AGAINST” In plain words, if you cause a weak brother to stumble, not only do you sin against them, you also sin against Christ, and you need to repent not only to God, but to your brother as well.

Paul in Romans 14 talks about how we should not pass judgement on others. Those women – and some men actually do this as well – who say “You should have more self-control” and such, are in fact passing judgement on the weaker brother. “Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.” Romans 14:13 (ESV) Do not pass judgement by telling a brother to have more self-control, but instead, decide to change how you dress so that, in how you dress, it will not be a stumbling block to your weaker brother. Let’s go back to 1 Corinthians 8:13 “Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.” Notice that Paul himself would make the decision to not do anything to make a weaker brother to stumble! Let us therefore follow Paul’s example! Paul continues: in verse 15 “For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died.” Please read what this verse is saying. If a brother is grieved by what you are wearing, then you are not walking in love. You are therefore breaking the “Love your neighbor as you love yourself” commandment. Jesus tells us that if we love Him, we will obey His commandments. How can you say you love Christ, and yet, by the way you dress, you cause that weaker brother to sin? Make the decision to walk in love, and don’t dress in such a way that causes a brother to stumble and sin.

Read further and Paul says do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. Don’t do it women!!! Let’s continue with this passage “Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.” Again, we are told not to destroy the work of God, as it wrong to make another stumble. It is good not to dress provocatively if it causes your brother to stumble!

Women, think of these questions, and go to God in prayer and ask Him to change your way of dressing so that you can build up your brothers instead of destroying them:

1. Am I dressing to please yourself?
2. Do I dress to cause a weaker brother to stumble?
3. Do I say to others “I’ll dress the way I want, because God doesn’t look on the outside, He only looks at my heart!”
4. Do I really love my neighbor enough to change the way I dress so as not to destroy the one Christ died for?
5. Do I love God? If so, am I obeying His commandments?
6. Am I walking in love?

Please women, consider these questions, and I encourage you to help us weaker brothers out. Dress modestly, don’t show off your bodies with the come-hither look. We will love you for it!!

I’ll leave this quote with you:

We need to teach girls that modesty isn’t about covering up our bodies because they’re bad, modesty isn’t about hiding ourselves, it’s about revealing our dignity.

Fashion Designer Jessica Rey