When the Apostles wrote to Christian churches and spoke of women dressing modestly, they dealt directly with showing off wealth and with unnecessary expenses related to luxury in dress.  The principle related to showing off wealth also makes it clear that showing off one’s body in public is also evil.  Many other principles in Scripture, including the Lord’s verdict that mankind be clothed after he fell into sin, also demonstrate this.

A word that is a synonym of the phrase “showing off” is “flaunt.”

Oxford Languages’ first definition of flaunt is “display (something) ostentatiously, especially in order to provoke envy or admiration or to show defiance.”

No one can be walking adequately in the fear of God when they are publicly showing off (flaunting) their body and/or their wealth.

I’ve heard some say that many women dress in an immodest way to compete with other women or to be accepted by other women- as if immodesty is then okay.  Yet that is a sin just as much as it is to show off one’s body with the goal of provoking others to sexual lust.  Flaunting one’s body or one’s wealth is sin- whether one does so for competition, acceptance, or to cause others to lust after them- or whatever other reasons- since there is no good reason to do so.

Modest dress and modest behavior  are both aspects of walking in the light of truth as the Lord requires of us.  No one can despise or disregard these and not be damned for doing so- even if they claim to know Jesus Christ.

A lot of people dress terribly immodest, showing off their bodies and/or looking all flashy while saying that they are being modest.  Yet our culture, and every culture to some degree, has been corrupted by sinful values and evil influences.  

1 Timothy 2:9 says: “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…”

Shamefacedness in the Greek text is a reference to turning the eyes away.  It implies not being impudent or seductive.  Makeup communicates the very opposite (boldening the face, with seduction being the consequence- whether the makeup wearer intends that or not).  Makeup was Jezebel’s seduction tool in the Bible.  Just because it has become normal in a culture doesn’t make it okay nor harmless.

Consider here Mark 9:42: “And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.”  

No one should be causing an unnecessary battle for others due to their lack of modesty, shamefacedness, and/or lack of sobriety.

Sobriety equals a sound mind, self-control, and temperance.  

Broided hair= Woven hair.  Note the principle.  Hair should not be worn in a way which is calculated to attract attention.

Gold or pearls or costly array are all ways of seeking to communicate a high social status and/or to attract attention.  Note the principle.  No jewelry nor outfit should be worn which is calculated to attract attention and/or calculated to communicate a high social status.

Aaron’s email is: [email protected]

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