Modesty
A Matter of Heart
Page 3, Part 1by Mary Van Nattan
Some Principles
Although there are other references in scripture that could be covered, we will move on to a couple of passages in Exodus. Here we find another facet of God's dress standard.
Exodus 28:42 And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach: 43 And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they come in unto the tabernacle of the congregation, or when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place; that they bear not iniquity, and die: it shall be a statute for ever unto him and his seed after him.
Now, it has been pointed out that in the Bible, the only place breeches are mentioned is in association with men. This is true, but over-laboring that point can cause us to miss God's point. Some people also will get sidetracked at this verse and emphasize the need for modesty between the waist and the knee on a woman to the exclusion of all other modesty. It's rather disheartening to read or hear a good testimony on wearing dresses and skirts and then see the woman or her daughters with necklines that they have to keep pulling and tugging to keep up, or to see them painted up like their going to an Indian war dance.
First of all, we learn that God wants the body covered from the loins to the thigh. That means to the knee, basically. This was even when they had their robes on.
*IMPORTANT NOTE: These garments had inseams, thank you very much! They were breeches! They were considered necessary at that time for a modest woman! It is very provoking to hear some preacher get up and blast pants and culottes on women making statements like, "Women should not be wearing a garment with an inseam!" I'd like to see him go back about 150 to 200 years and preach that. The folks "way back when" would have considered a statement like that as gross immodesty! Thermals, pantaloons and bloomers are perfectly fine and decent clothing for a woman to wear under a dress or skirt. Culottes that are not too tight can be useful for certain things. Even wearing pants or long shorts under dresses and skirts is advisable in certain situations. Don't let big-mouthed preachers intimidate you. Some of these men blow off at the mouth about dress standards and yet, when you look around their churches or at their family, you realize there is a lot of blather coming down, but not much action or practice going on! This is called hypocrisy in scripture. Now, we are not going to start a campaign that Christian women must wear coverings on their thighs under their dresses at all times, but this does bring up an interesting and needful point.
In the old days, girls and women wore a *pantaloon or bloomer type garment under their petticoats which covered their legs under their dresses. (When made from flannel these also offered added warmth in cold climates, much like thermals do today.) They also wore stockings in many cases, and long underwear in winter. This was helpful in cases where wind or other unexpected things in life put a woman or girl in a situation where bare legs under her dress would be embarrassing and immodest.
Some people start dressing their little girls in modest apparel from a young age, but too often little or no effort is made to see that their nakedness is covered should their dresses come up, as is common with little girls. I wish someone had thought of this in the Christian school I once attended. There were times when the girls were just plain immodest with nothing under their skirts to cover their naked legs. One lady I know puts bloomers on her little girl under her dresses, and that is to be commended. The outward robes are important, but God wants the nakedness covered too! In fact, I'd rather see a little girl in long, full bloomers only than running around in a skirt with her bare legs showing all the time. (Please disregard loud horrified gasps from the Pharisaic crowd.)
By the way, don't give us the bologna that little girls need to learn to act like ladies. That's true. They also need to play and get plenty of lively exercise. It's a very important part of growing up.
I remember hearing one preacher boast that neither pants nor culottes had ever touched the legs of his younger daughters. In a sense this seems good, but on the other hand, one can't help but wonder if there were times that his little girls' nakedness showed because of this proud "standard." Our calling in the matter of dress is not to "never let pants touch" our legs, it is to cover our nakedness, and sometimes that means putting a covering on the legs under the skirts and dresses. If someone interprets that the covering is "men's apparel" and condemns us as ungodly, that is their problem. We answer to God and live by His words. Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
Don't misunderstand. Our sisters in Christ who wear pants now are not to be despised either! We have some good friends who wear pants. Some we don't necessarily appreciate their dress choices, others are really not that offensive to us. But, it is not our job nor yours to "help them get right" on that subject. The Holy Spirit is alive and well. He knows when and how to deal with each one of us in every area where we need to be more yielded.
Yes, YOU and I have things we still need to deal with too! Paul kept pressing toward the mark. He hadn't reached it yet! (Contrary to what Michael Pearl may teach.)
1Corinthians 8:1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. 2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
This kind of boasting can tend toward flattery and set a snare for the girls' feet (Prv. 29:5). They can be filled with pride in their imagined superior "purity." They can easily think that somehow they are more holy and better in the sight of God than girls and women that once wore pants, etc. This is wrong and, it misses the point of modesty being from the heart. Once we confess our sin of wearing immodest clothes; whether pants, dresses, swimsuits, shorts, etc. and repent of it; God forgets it. Why should we be held as less righteous than someone who never did it?
1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Psalm103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. If God does not remember our sins, what right does someone else have to hold them against us? Obviously they have no business doing so! Immodesty in not an unpardonable sin. The blood of Jesus Christ is not weak there. We can be cleansed from it, and there are many women that have turned their hearts toward God in this matter and been forgiven. I am one of them, and thank God so very much for it! I wish I'd never dressed that way; but in God's eyes, through the blood of His dear Son, it is as if I never had! Amen!
This attitude toward women that ever wore pants, etc. is an example of the traditions of man (Mark 7:13) that are held up instead of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. It is Nicolaitan (nico = above, laity = the people) because it raises one group up and puts down another as unalterably deficient. To them, we are to always be reminded of this and left to feel guilty and not quite right, even though God says it is forgiven and forgotten. This is WICKED! God says He hates the deeds of the Nicolaitans! Dear sisters, if you are being made to feel this way, please reject it in the Lord. Revelation 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
But to finish...
Exodus 20:26 Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.
Here we see the other side of this matter. God didn't want the priests going up steps to His alter. This would put them in a position for their nakedness to show. So, we see that God wanted their legs covered under their robes, and He did not want them doing things that would expose their nakedness in other ways.
What does all of this mean? Basically this, God wants nakedness covered and He doesn't want people doing things that will expose their nakedness.
My interpretation of this is (not God's command): Little girls that have not learned to keep their skirts down should have something on their legs to keep their nakedness from showing. If you live in a windy place where even a heavy skirt is not enough, you may need to pin your skirt together between your legs to be keep your skirt from blowing up. (I have tried this and it worked great.) Another possibility is to make adult-size pantaloons similar to those for a little girl, or purchase a pair of long, full shorts or "Capri pants" to wear under your dress. (I have tried this also, and it turned out well, though it's too hot for some weather.) If you have to work in the garden, get a skirt long enough to bend over in and still be modest, or wear some decent bloomers, etc. If you have to ride a horse, make yourself a split skirt that will be modest while doing so. (A friend of mine made some for her sister, and they looked great and worked out well.)
Those who are more worried about appearing spiritual than actually being modest, may be offended at these interpretations. So be it. We are not trying to take charge of people's minds. You figure out what God would have you to do in your situation. What another Christian chooses to do in theirs is really not that important.
Now, some woman who has gotten her liberty from the devil will doubtless be asking, "What's so wrong with pants? I have the liberty to wear them if I want. You can't tell me what to do," etc. Well, you are right. I can't tell you what to do, but I can tell you what the Bible actually says, and you will answer to God for what you do with that. Contrary to John Calvin, you have a free will and must choose for yourself. God is honored when we choose to do right because we love Him and desire to glorify Him with our lives. That is one reason He gave us a free will. Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve...
Romans 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. 5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. 7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. 10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. [Emphasis added.]
And let me make one last comment here: The judging goes both ways on this subject. The "Pharisees" are usually thought to be the offenders in this, but the "liberated" crowd is just as much so in a different way. God calls us to moderation. Philippians 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. To be moderate is to be "...Temperate; not excessive...not extreme in opinion...Placed between extremes; holding the mean..." (Samuel Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language, circa 1750.) To blast our sisters in Christ because they don't dress modestly, or because they do, is equally wrong on both sides.
On this subject, as with many, we find God's word to be in between the two extremes. We are not given instructions for a "uniform" type dress (such as the Amish, some Mennonites, and some other practice). We do not have an "absolute standard" on apparel. At the same time, God clearly indicated that modesty is His will. Thus, we are required to make our own decision based upon God's word. We have to think. We have to use the mind God gave us!
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
