 IntegrityYour Body: The LiverTrue MinistryDon’t Neglect Your GiftSearching for Your Self-Worth |
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From the EditorFellowship of ServiceWho, Me? Serve?MentoringThe Role of Christian Women in Paul’s DayElizabeth: A Woman of FaithShopping for Modesty in Egypt |
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Shopping For Modesty In Egypt
By Carolyn M. Anderson | |
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Wouldn’t it be wonderful if when we shop for apparel the designers were men and women of God who read and considered the writing in Job 31:1 which says, “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl”?
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Wouldn’t it be comforting to know that when we leave our homes of protection and comfort, the world (Egypt) was a place mothers and fathers knew their children were regarded as sacred? Unfortunately this is not so today. Today’s designers are targeting our youth to be like Brittany Spears and those most recognized in the sports and entertainment world. Hollywood has an adverse effect on a Christian society. What can we do? Learning to be noticed and approved by God is a total opposite approach than to be seen and approved by the world (Ephesians 2:21). In our desire to be included, to be recognized, we must determine the approach directed through the scriptures if we hold to our faith, our separation and our functioning in this world of Egypt (I Peter 2:9). In John 17:11 Jesus said, “We are left in the world, but not of it.” We must do our ultimate best not to add to the uncontrollable desires, which immediately focus on today’s culture of dress or undress that this world (Egypt) so unshamefully promotes. In I Timothy 2:9 Paul has several writings for the conduct of the churches including a vital key to our manner of dress. We have a tremendous future as given to man by the Word of God. It is an enormous responsibility and opportunity to cover each of us with His Spirit. Our outward appearance should reflect our inner beauty. Movies, television and magazines have promoted nudity in the name of everything; charities, grandma and grandpa, people of prominence, and a large stamp of approval for going nude to donate monies to worthy causes. Beware! Do we who testify to be of the organism of Christ have a duty and responsibility to address a modest dress code? I say “yes” and uphold that decision through the scriptures (I Peter 2:11, 12). We must understand our role as to what God purposes for us. Putting on the armor of God in Ephesians 6:13-18 means we put on something for protection that is already in place. We do not create the armor. This is our first apparel and then we can consider the proper dress code. Our inward walk with Christ will clothe us with outward modest apparel. If our mothers of today are wearing tattoos in places so plainly seen that would be hidden if the jeans were at the waistline, what will our children be wearing? A serious approach to our sacred roles as a “church” must be considered. In Christ’s Kingdom we are designated to be sons and daughters to our awesome God (2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1). We are to be a light unto the world, but not our own light (I Peter 1:15, 16; Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:17). As the world condones nudity and becomes more extreme, is the church just to stay one step behind? I pray not. Let us seriously consider the following:
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