Modesty in different light
"I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God." (NIV) 1 Timothy 2:9-10
It is appalling that many men have used passages like 1 Timothy 2:9 to brow-beat women and make them feel guilty because of the sins of men. Maybe guilt should be placed at times, but most women do not intentionally dress to be provocative, in most contexts. But we should say something about the necessity of modesty separate from the context of “causing men to stumble” as if we men cannot control ourselves.
The Bible wants us all (men and women) to dress in a way that covers our bodies. After the fall of man (Genesis 3), they covered themselves with leaves. God made them attire from skins of animals. The word describing the clothes from fig leaves (Genesis 3:9—translated “apron” in the KJV) means “a belt”. Obviously it was a small covering over the lower body. In Genesis 3:21 God made them “tunics of skin”—which literally means “a coat, garment, or robe”. There was a big difference in the two kinds of clothing.
This covering was no accident or coincidence. God expected the priests to be covered when they came before the Lord (Exodus 28:42). God even made them wear “short trousers” under their robes to that they would not be exposed while walking up stairs at the temple.
It is just common decency to cover ourselves. While society tries to encourage us to blur the line and show more and more, let us be godly and learn to cover ourselves and show rather good works and love to others.