I remember the days when one of my little boys would streak through the livingroom after bathtime, naked and without a thought about it. As a toddler, he had no sense of modesty whatsoever, as should be expected from a little one.

Over time, he became aware of what nakedness is and started to keep himself covered up. He realized (with little help from us) the inherent shame of being naked, and actually preferred to cover his body. I thank God for it, because we learn from the Garden of Eden that it is right and proper to cover ourselves in this fallen world.

Ah, the slow awakening of a child's conscience! It is the parent's help in raising them to be God-fearing and holy (set-apart). We should never, ever violate that sense of modesty by dressing them in skimpy clothes because it's "cute" or because the weather's hot.

But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. (Matthew 18:6)

That word "offend" doesn't mean what people think it means. It does not mean to cause vexation or annoyance. Here it means to entrap, scandalize, entice to sin. To offend a little one means to train him/her to sin!

Let us consider Biblical guidelines for modesty when dressing our littlest ones, too.

"From all that I had read of history and government of human life and manners, I had drawn this conclusion, that the manners of women were the most infallible barometer to ascertain the degree of morality and virtue of a nation.

"The Jews, the Greeks, the Romans, the Swiss, the Dutch, all lost their public spirit and their republican forms of government when they lost the modesty and domestic virtues of their women."

~John Adams, 2nd President of the U.S.

Interesting, that the moral state of a nation's women should be such an accurate measure of the state of the nation itself. Why is that?

Well, my eldest daughter will be twelve this year. Last year she started to - umm, develop - and I'm trying not to PANIC! She has a very lovely, womanly shape already, and let me tell you I am more thoughtful of what she wears now than ever.

It occurs to me that T-shirts and other knit tops are no longer modest for her, unless worn underneath her dresses and jumpers. Why? Because those knit shirts show her form. Already. Before she is really even developed.

So now we are looking for tops that do not cling, but hang loosely down in the front, and do not fit closely.

Also, her skirts and dresses must not be made of a stretchy/clingy material (such as knit). Knits are for toddlers, ha ha.

My girls are such beautiful treasures! I want to teach them by example and by what clothes I buy or make for them, that the body is beauty to be concealed, and never exposed to the eyes of the general public.

I guess I'm a little nervous, yet excited as I recall the giddiness I felt when I was that age! I sense a peace and protection toward my modestly-dressed girls. Their fair skin and soft blond hair draws enough attention already. The LAST thing I want to do is to draw attention to their bodies by allowing them to dress immodestly. They are too precious, too sweet, too holy for putting on display so cheaply.

I have only lately in life worn a headcovering. I had never heard it taught, and the few times I had ever wondered about I Cor 11, I was convinced that vs. 15 meant that a woman's long hair is her covering.

We had been on the mission field for a few years when I began to reconsider. I had met some Mennonites here, and one young Guatemalan lady in particular was friendly to me, and had done some sewing for me. One day I just came out and asked her why she wore the cap, and she directed me to I Cor. 11.

I went home and read it again. And again. I was not convinced that it was talking about a veil besides the long hair, yet it didn't seem truly "settled" in my soul. I discussed it once with the wife of another Baptist missionary, and she said, "You know, if my husband wanted me to wear a veil, I would wear it in a heartbeat." I told her I was sure that the long hair is the covering, and we dismissed the issue.

For about three months I kept finding the veil mentioned in various passages in my regular Bible reading. I prayed about it. I talked to my sweet husband about it. I finally just begged the Lord to show me the truth, I was so tired of feeling unsettled about it! And that's when He opened up verse six to me:

"For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered."

I tried to read this verse with my long-hair veil in mind, and it did not make any sense. "For if the woman (have short hair), let her also (cut her hair short)??" Nonsense. The verse only makes sense if it is referring to a veil besides the hair. Looking at it that way, the whole rest of the passage falls into place, too.

I showed that to my husband, and he had no misgivings about me wearing a headcovering. I started right away.

Soon after that, we left for a furlough in the States. I was a little nervous about my new appearance and what waves we would make as we visited our supporting churches and our family. But it was silly to worry, and we had a wonderful time. Didn't even lose any support over it! I never felt ridiculed. In fact, I felt that we were just as loved and respected as ever. And a special bonus was that I came across other Baptist ladies who covered, and some others who don't cover but confided in me that they knew in their hearts that they should. I was amazed, and I thought, "Why haven't I ever met women like this before??"

This is not a popular issue, and when it does come up it tends to ruffle some feminine feathers. The only reason I can think of for why it has that effect on women is that it touches on our appearance and our pride. I know I love my hair, and enjoy caring for it. I admit, it's very long and beautiful, and it drew the admiration of others when I used to wear it down in public. It is my glory! And that is a good reason cover it, that I might be shamefaced and modest before the Lord and others.

Recently a thoughtful reader, Amy, brought up a good question and some great points about shoes and modesty that I thought others might find interesting. She wondered if high-heeled shoes are modest apparel, but stating that she feels "funny" and less-than-dressed-up if she doesn't wear them to church since all the other women there do, though she admits that is not a good reason to wear them.


Here is what my response was:

When I was first married, my husband teased me all the time about some of my shoes, especially when I would complain at the end of the day how they hurt my feet. It was an early lesson for me in vanity, and it made me ask myself, "Why do I wear these shoes, anyway??" Of course, for fashion's sake, I continued to wear them. So silly!

Regarding shoes and modesty, the only place I can think of in the Bible where the feet are considered was in Isaiah 3:16.

"Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet..."

It seems that the haughty, vain women wore shoes that particularly drew attention with chains or bells of some sort. While that may not be in vogue these days, there are styles of shoes that are intended to attract the attention of men and make the legs appear more "sexy". I can not say here what styles those are (for lack of space), but I think common sense will take over if we let it.

It seems you have already asked yourself why you wear high heels, and answered it with, "Because the other women wear them," and you are right, that is not a good reason to wear them.

Consider also how your shoes treat your feet. Do they squeeze your toes? Cause callouses? Make the ball of your foot ache? If the shoe is not good for your foot, then sheer practicality says don't wear them. Only vanity would say wear them.


Read I Tim 2:9 in light of footwear. "...that women adorn themselves in modest (shoes), with shamefacedness and sobriety..."

Could you describe your shoes as modest and sober?

Now I used to have a pair of classic black shoes with a moderate heel, low and wide. (Liked 'em so much, they are one of the few pairs of shoes I've ever owned that I actually wore out!) They looked dressy and nice, and not as casual as flats, but they did not hurt my feet and did not draw attention to my feet/legs. I would call them "sober". I wish I could find a pair of them here in Guatemala, lol!

But all aspects of our apparel can be looked at through the lens of the Scripture, and the answers are there. God bless you with wisdom as you seek His face!

Part of Amy's response was this: "I have thought before that it is probably vain to wear something that I can't wait to take off because they hurt my feet and back. I've thought that probably isn't God's will."

"Who will wear a shoe that hurts him, because the shoe-maker tells him 'tis well made?"
Algernon Sydney (1623-1683)

Amy also said, "I don't know how to put my finger on it, but there is also quite a difference in the way a woman walks when wearing heels as opposed to wearing flats."

Here she makes a very valid point that I had not thought of. Do a woman's shoes make a difference in the way she walks? I demonstrated for my husband walking flat-footed, then walking with my heels elevated. We agree that there is a definite difference, all the way up. The lower back arches, therefore the bosom is thrust out, as well as the backside, and when walking it causes the hips to sway.

You've probably seen what I am talking about. I thought this funny photo might be a safe way to illustrate what high heeled shoes do to the posture. Observe:

(This photo is not from my house, and not of my child. Not my shoes either, ha ha.)

Now I am having a little fun with it there, but also want to seriously consider the matter.

What do you think? Can shoes be immodest? Do high heels change the way a woman looks when she walks?

When we first came to Guatemala some years ago, one of the first things I noticed about the country was the peculiar style of houses here. Most houses have a high wall built around them, with sharp glass or barbed wire across the top of the wall. While these measures do not make the house impregnable by any means, it does deter the casual thief from even thinking about climbing the wall.

Jesus described a sheep fold which had a door. Those who are His true sheep enter in through the Door, which is Jesus Christ himself. Sheep folds have a perimeter wall that is meant to protect the sheep in two ways: By keeping out the wolves, and by keeping the sheep from wandering and getting themselves into danger. The sheep may or may not perceive the danger, but nevertheless, it exists outside those walls.

God has set up walls, which are also called commandments, precepts, statutes... all laid out in His Word. He does not put them there to make people miserable, but to protect us and open Heaven's windows of blessings upon us! Many sheep these days seem to be peeping over the top of the walls, or jumping out altogether to mingle with the foxes and wolves of the world. Do they not realize that the walls are for protection?

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust...and my high tower. (Psalm 18:2)

Many wish to cast off what they perceive to be chains of righteous living. Don't tell them what the Bible says about how to dress, how to treat their brother, how to manage their money and resources, or how to otherwise please the Lord. They are too busy enjoying their "Christian liberties" to be bothered with that. And all the while, they live as slaves to the desires of their flesh, or to the world's definition of beauty and success.

Elisabeth Elliot wrote along these lines in her book Let Me Be a Woman, drawing this beautiful analogy:

As I sit here in the window of this cottage I can see a sailboat skimming silently along the horizon. It is a beautiful image of freedom. But the freedom of the sailboat to move so swiftly and beautifully is the result of obedience to laws. The builder of the boat had to know the proper ratio of beam to keel and mast. The one who sails the boat obeys the rules of sailing. A ship tacking against the wind moves deviously, but when she runs with a strong tide or a following wind she takes to herself the power of tide and wind and they become her own. She is doing the thing she was made for. She is free not by disobeying the rules but by obeying them.

And so it is with the obedient Christian life! To obey God's commands is to line up one's life with His will. What peace reigns within those walls! To step outside of them is to fall prey to the lies and half-truths of the enemy:

"God understands."

"I've worked hard, and I deserve this."

"God doesn't want me to look frumpy."

"No one is going to listen to my witness if I look and act like a Christian freak."

God gives us the freedom to choose to obey or disobey, and each choice carries its consequences. A student who exercises his freedom to do whatever he wants with his time is bound to fail his classes. A man who abuses his freedom to drive all over the interstate as he pleases is bound to cause an accident. A young woman who lives for pleasure and popularity will some day reap the sad consequences of her lascivious lifestyle.

Walls are for protection. There is liberty - TRUE liberty - within those walls!

So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever. And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts. And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved. (Psalm 119:44,45,47)

I want to emphasize that His commandments are not grievous to obey. For every thing He asks of us actually works out for our own joy and well-being. Are you listening to the lies of the enemy? Have you been betrayed by your peers, who have drawn your heart into the way that is not good? Are you a child of God who has bought into Hollywood's image of what you should look like? You can break free of that, by God's grace and power. Just take a step of obedience! There is freedom and protection from the enemy within those walls.

O what wonderful love, O what grace divine,
That Jesus should die for me!
I was lost in sin, for the world I pined,
But now I am set free.

Should a Christian woman cover her head?

It has taken me much time, thought, and prayer to write this post. Many brothers and sisters who share my deep Baptist roots may not agree with me, but I will boldly state here what we have learned from Scripture, as well as from history. Our "brand" of Baptist tries to follow the "old paths", but if they were to look a bit further back into our Baptist heritage, they will find that there are some "old paths" that Baptists left behind a long time ago.

One of those "old paths" is the woman's veil.

Waldenses (Anabaptists) 1500's ~ See "The Trail of Blood" by J.M. Carroll

I Corinthians 11:3-5 "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven."

For years I all but ignored this passage of scripture. I never heard it preached much, and frankly didn't come across it much in my personal Bible reading. Then a few years ago, I started to wonder why the women in certain groups wore headcoverings, and when I encountered one, I asked her why. She pointed me to I Corinthians 11:1-16. (Please read that HERE.)

I read it over and over, and discussed it with my husband. We both had been totally convinced that a woman's long hair is her covering (vs 15), and that no other covering was needed. But I couldn't get the issue out of my mind! I knew that women in Bible times wore veils (remember all those flannelgraph lessons??), and I came across some Old Testament passages that supported that fact. (See Genesis 24:65; Numbers 5:18; Song of Solomon 5:7) And in more modern times, too, some women did not go out in public with their heads uncovered.




When did women in general stop covering their heads?

Well, there were several times in history when the woman's headcovering went "out of style", and I believe that was the case when Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthians. He reminds them of God's headship order (the head of man is Christ; the head of woman is the man; the head of Christ is God) and then declares the Christian woman ought therefore to cover her head.

"For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered." (vs 6)

I know what many are thinking. Verse 15 says her hair is given her for a covering. Remember, I used to see it that way, too. But if the passage is studied within its context, the truth will be evident.

Look again at verse six:

"For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered."

We conclude from this verse that for a woman to be shorn (have short hair) or shaven (bald) is a shame. Paul says here that if that is so, then she should be covered, because to be uncovered is just as shameful.

...Stay with me here...

If I were to say that long hair is the covering, then the verse might be read thus:

For if the woman [have not long hair], let her also [have not long hair]...

That obviously does not make sense. However, if the word covered refers to a veil, then verse six makes much more sense:

For if the woman [does not wear a veil], let her also [cut her hair]: but if it be a shame for a woman to [cut her hair] or [shave her head], let her be covered [with a veil].

Verse 15 is often quoted out of context. But it stands within a clause in which Paul is giving an example in nature that women should wear a covering. He is saying that this truth about the head covering is taught in nature: It is seemly and right for a woman to have long hair. So it is seemly and right for a woman to wear the veil he previously referred to.

13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?

14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

When we have lived our whole lives with a worldview tainted with feminism, liberalism, and immodesty, it is very difficult to even try to see it another way. What helped me see the truth was to read the scriptures over and over again, praying for understanding, meditating on it, and comparing it with other passages.

We have thus concluded that it is modest and proper for a Christian woman to cover her head with a veil. Search the scriptures yourself, and see if these things be true!

Modest Apparel: Getting Practical

(This post is part of a series. You can start at the beginning HERE.)

In Genesis chapter three you can read the account of how Adam and Eve forfeited a wonderful life in the Garden of Eden, choosing to go their own way and disobey God's command. This was the first sin, and immediately the two "knew that they were naked" and instinctively tried to cover up their bodies. But their flimsy leaf "aprons" were not satisfactory to God, so He clothed them with coats (not aprons) of animal skins before driving them from Eden. God was particular about what they were covered with.

Now we are getting down to where the rubber meets the road. While God did not assign us a uniform to wear, He did put some guidelines for us in the Bible. Christian women are not to look to the world for our dress standards. If we would please the Lord with our lives, we must look to His Word, see what His will is, and simply obey.

I want to share here some practical Biblical principles which will help guide today's Christian woman in her wardrobe choices.

I. We are to cover our "nakedness".

Nakedness, in short, means something is lacking; something that ought to be covered, isn't, and it is shameful when it is not. A brief study of the word "naked" in the Bible will reveal a standard altogether foreign to modern society's modesty standards.

When discussing the clothing of the priests in Exodus 28, God said, "thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach." From this we know that God considers uncovered thighs to be naked.

Another interesting passage is found in Isaiah 47.

1 Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate. 2 Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers. 3 Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man.

So if the thigh is nakedness, then bathing suits, shorts and miniskirts are out, as well as anything else that would reveal the thigh under any forseeable circumstances. A dress that covers the knee while a woman is standing, may show thigh when she sits. Why sit struggling with her hemline, when she can simply put on a long skirt? Also, long skirts with slits can reveal nakedness.

I personally feel that showing the shape of certain body parts is equally revealing nakedness, even if the bare skin is not exposed. A woman can "cover" herself from neck to ankle with a skin-tight body suit, but common sense will tell you that she is not modestly dressed! Clothing that clings to the body, revealing the shape of breast, buttocks or thighs is also immodest, and is perhaps even more enticing than bare skin.

II. Women are not to put on men's apparel (and vice versa).

I am sure I'm going to say something here that a lot of people will disagree with, but I will be careful to include scripture as needed to back me up.

The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God. (Deuteronomy 22:5)

It is quite clear that women are not to wear things that pertain to men. The question is, what pertains to a man? In the day that this was written, both men and women wore long, flowing garments. The main difference was that men girded their loins, whereas women did not.

I Kings 18:46 "And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel."

Job 38:3 "Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me."

To gird is to bind up. When a man girded up his loins, he took the hem of his long garment, pulled it up between his legs, and tucked it into his belt, thus making it easier to run, or do whatever work he needed to do. Women never did this, as it was considered improper.

There are many more references to girding the loins, but only one that referred to a woman doing so. That reference is Proverbs 31:17, "She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms." It is not a literal girding of her loins, but a figurative girding with strength, bracing herself to accomplish a difficult task.

Now, what modern garment girds the loins? That would be anything that has a crotch. According to the Biblical dress standard, there is no such thing as "women's pants". I realize that pants made for women are found in the women's section of every department store. But I am not talking about what the world says, I am talking about what the Bible says.

There are also certain styles made for women that mimic masculine styles. That is too much to go into here, but if a Christian woman desires to dress in a way that pleases the Lord, and prays asking for wisdom and discernment, I think she will be able to perceive that which is feminine, and what is masculine.

*****

I think this post is long enough now! More in the next post. Until then, I welcome your comments.

Read Part Five HERE.

Modesty in Apparel: Does it really matter to God what I wear?

There are all sorts of groups and sects out there who have many different ideas of what modest apparel is. And some dismiss the issue altogether, quoting the passage in I Samuel that says, "Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." But those who believe that God does not care about how we cover our bodies have apparently not considered what the rest of the Bible has to say on the subject. (There will be more about that in the next post.)

Today, I hope to consider why it matters what Christian women wear. Have you ever seen students in a private school dressed in uniforms? Or identified a policeman or military officer simply by what he was wearing? If you are lost in a hospital, who can you approach in the hallway to ask directions to the right ward? The ones who identify themselves as employees by their uniforms, of course.

The clothing that a person wears is very telling; in fact, it speaks long before that person ever opens the mouth. If I see a guy wearing a jersey, helmet and football pads, no one has to tell me that he is a football player. His clothes say it for him.

Likewise, a Christian's attire should identify him or her as a Christian, a follower of Christ. When a stranger looks at me, there should be no doubt in their mind that I am not a woman of the world. I am not saying that Christian ladies should literally wear uniforms, but that we should wear what is becoming of a Christian lady.

A Christian woman who wears clothing that identifies her as worldly is wearing the uniform of the enemy. Have you read James 4:4? "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."

God expects us to look and act differently than the world at large. II Corinthians 6:

14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them ; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing ; and I will receive you, 18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

God wants us to be distinctly different, so that we will be light in a dark world. How can our light shine, if we look just like the ungodly?

It is true that clothing does not tell what is in the heart, but the fact is that man does look on the outward appearance. And that is why it matters.


(Read Part IV HERE.)

Modesty is an attitude.

I Timothy 2:9-10 "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."

Today's society encourages women to be bold, brazen, and self-confident. I remember years ago seeing teen magazine articles that actually explained how to be a flirt! That is the opposite of how a lady should be.

Modest dress must go hand-in-hand with a modest attitude, which the above scripture calls shamefacedness and sobriety.

Shamefaced means bashful or blushing. A true lady has a sense of propriety that keeps her from gazing into the eyes of a man who is not her husband, or from carrying herself in a way that draws attention. She is mindful of how she sits and stands, and is careful not to incite the curiosities or desires of men. Her attitude is shamefacedness, not boldness.

Sobriety means calmness, coolness. I know a pastor's wife whose face is the picture of sobriety: her expression is habitually sweet, and her serenity influences everyone around her. She does not get ruffled when things do not go the way she planned. She is never boisterous and loud, but carries herself with an attitude of sobriety.

An attitude of modesty is so important! A woman may try to make an outward show of modesty, but if the attitude of her heart is not modest, it will certainly show. Here is how God sees it:

"As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion." Proverbs 11:22

Let us examine our hearts before we examine our wardrobes. Do we enjoy drawing attention to ourselves? Is our attitude modest?

(Read Part III HERE.)

As I look around on the internet, I see that modesty seems to be the new fad -- what's "hot". (These photos are from just one site, Modbe, which claims to make "modest clothing for Christian women, kids and pre-teens.")


And I laugh to myself, because wearing what's "hot" seems to go against the very essence of what modesty is. First century Christians would be shocked to see fashions like these.


This is a painting from the Catacombs, where first century Christians hid themselves from persecution. How did Christian women cover their bodies back then?

So what is modesty, really? Is it just covering the body from "here" to "there"? Here is what the word "modest" means, according to Webster's dictionary (1828):

modest, a. 1. Properly, restrained by a sense of propriety; hence, not forward or bold; not presumptuous or arrogant; not boastful. 2. Not bold or forward; as a modest maid. 3. Not loose; not lewd. 4. Moderate; not excessive or extreme; not extravagant.

Now in light of these definitions, this scripture takes on new dimensions for me:

I Timothy 2:9-10 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.

I would like to open a discussion about Biblical modesty here, hoping that many of you readers will feel free to comment. I want to take an honest look at how God truly expects modern women to dress, and what He does not expect.


Are you ready to grow? I know I am!

(Read Part II HERE.)