Summer Modesty

On the Beach at Trouville, 1870

by Claude Monet

Beach Scene, by John Chapman 1808-1889 (American)

This message is only to those who want to find out more about being modest, and to those who are sincerely concerned about the amount of immodesty around us.  If you basically do not believe that modesty is beautiful and that it goes hand in hand with dignity and protection, you need not read further. This article may not be what you are looking for.  It is not addressed to those who are not concerned about modesty. It is not addressed to anyone who is not a member of the blood-bought church of our dear Lord.  It is more precisely aimed at the faithful members of the Lord's church, who claim to have the truth in doctrine and in practice.

Stroll on the Beach, by Bastida,  1826-1923  (Spain)

The pictures here will show you a something about the way people dressed on the public beaches just a hundred years ago. There does not seem to be anything to blush about in these pictures, and it gives you an idea of the kind of manners that people used to have. They thought it was rude to expose nakedness or private parts of the body. Only the circus women would have been brazen enough to wear bras showing straps and tattoos.  What was considered a bizarre, crude way of dressing a hundred years ago, is now paraded as normal. I feel sorry for the children growing up today, who see people looking the way only clowns looked in the past. Clowns these days have a lot to compete with, in order to be identified as clowns.

The Beach Umbrella, by Edward Henry Potthast

The popular summer style for women seems to be: two sets of straps showing on each shoulder (one set being the bra strap), one black and one white or green or whatever they have,  tattoos in the blank spaces of the arms, back and chest, short-shorts, flip-flops, naked bellies  and exposed chests. What little fabric they have on is drab and dull,  and no one dares wear the the array of shades that nature has to offer.

This sounds like women just having fun on a vacation, but it is also blatantly displayed in church.  An elderly woman once described a church she had been attending as the "cleavage congregation," because so many of the women  always displayed  cleavage. She was asked, as an older woman, to speak to the ladies about this, but when she did, the younger women accused her of being a snob, extreme, Victorian, and legalistic. Instead of soberly considering their ways, they attacked this gracious woman and chased her away. These elderly women in the church have been commanded in scripture to teach the younger women to be modest. They are just doing their job. Today, however, immodesty reigns in a sinister militant form, threatening and accusing, arguing and seeking vengeance on anyone who dares touch this subject.

Peasant Girl

(Peasants of the 18th century wore more fabric and were better covered than women in the 21st century)

 Christian women now are dressing as bad as the world. Many people who want to leave the way of the world, seek out churches and then find the cleavage, bare skin, bra-straps, shorts, and tattoos sported at church are worse than the world. What a let-down that must be for someone seeking the message that Christians are supposed to be different from the world.

Women Walking on the Beach in Sri Lanka

This is a contemporary photograph of poorer women in Sri Lanka. I have always insisted that modest dress is not a matter of wealth. It is a matter of politeness, belief,  and personal dignity. Many women grew up much poorer than people are today, and still managed to keep their clothes on, keep their flesh covered, and be modest even in hot climates.

Painted Photograph of bathing costumes in the late 1800's.

One woman has written, "I am always hopeful that someone will be converted, so I take a friend to church once in awhile. They always make a comment about the blatant amount of immodesty in the worship assembly, from bare legs, to bare backs, bare chests, bare shoulders and bare midriffs. The astonishing amount of piercings and tattoos make me think that people are going back to primitive ways, rather than progressing on to the high mark of the high calling. One friend asked me, 'Shouldn't some of the older women teach those young women about modesty?'  You see, they have been reading the Bible, searching for truth. They come to assemble with believers and find out that the believers do not follow the great book they claim to believe."

  It is this problem I would like to address today, and I would like to remind readers once again, that it is for members of the Lord's church.  Invariably, someone will tell me that it is only what is in their heart that "counts" with God, but there are several scriptures which reveal that God cares not just about your intentions or your heart, but about your actions and your appearance. Your actions and appearance speak volumes about your heart.  Many members believe that once they are baptised, they are under grace alone, and that God over-looks the sin of immodesty.  They think it is okay to be saved, but they do not believe God really requires any changes in their lifestyle.

Picnic on the River, by Henry John Yeend King 1855-1924 British

Paintings of a previous century show women dressed modestly in outdoor activities. Not only are they covered, the clothing is beautiful.

We get our authority for modesty in God's Word, as in these passages:

First Timothy 2:9  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;


Titus 2:4-6  That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
  To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.   Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.
  

If  women in the church want to help men overcome sin, and help them keep their minds on the worship, they can begin by dressing modestly, no matter what others are wearing, no matter what is the "in" thing or the trend, no matter what society around you is doing.  When you do what God says to do, you will find that you receive a lot of compensation for it. You will not be attracting unwanted attention and you will not be as unsure of yourself. You can also be at peace with yourself and with others, knowing that you are not offending or causing someone to sin. Just think, if you dress modestly, you become the teacher, for your actions speak louder than words, and your mode of dress speaks volumes about what you believe about modesty. No older woman will be asked to speak to you about modesty.  There are many disadvantages to immodest clothing. One is expense. You pay a lot for a lot less. The minimalist look might be the trend, but you will be getting less and less for more and more of your money.

Hartford Couple and Their Children, by Alexander Rossi 1870-1903  British

In the 1960's it was popular to be on the beaches in the hot summer in the garb of the day: small pieces of cloth barely covering private areas, called "bathers."  One day, a young woman wearing a blue and white gingham peasant style dress with a hat trimmed in a matching ribbon, was seen walking barefoot on the shore.  Although there were many perfect figures and sun-tanned young people on that beach, all eyes were upon this woman. Her beautiful dress was a perfect compliment to the ocean and the blue sky in the background.  She wore this kind of thing to the beach because she burned so easily, but she did not let it get in the way of enjoying the elements. Although people were looking at this young lady, it was not for the wrong reasons. They were not admiring her sexiness or the size of her bust.  They were admiring her romantic sweetness.  We have lost our sweetness and our innocence in America today. It is up to the Christian women, the members of the church, those who have been washed in the blood of the lamb by obeying the gospel, to show a good example to the next generation.  


"Shamefacedness" in the scripture above, is not a popular word today. It denotes a little bashfulness, a little embarrassment. If women in the church are supposed to be shamefaced, they will not be anxious for anyone to see their nakedness. They will cover up appropriately, covering their privacy. 

Feeding the Ducks, by Alfred Augustus Glendenning 1840-1910 British

Modesty and good manners used to be practiced strictly, in the home. Family members were taught not insult, whine, complain, talk back rudely, accuse, swear or disrespect the home, each other, or the parents. Dressing respectfully was practiced daily, not just on religious days. Modesty was considered a part of good character and a part of respect for others.

I address the ladies in the church because they are supposed to be a light and a guide in the world. The way they dress has a great influence on others.   The guide for women's clothing  is written in scripture for us. All we have to do is apply it. No, there will not be specific instructions about how high the collar is or how far the hem is, but there is a guiding principle to be modest. The Bible was written for the ages. It was written for every generation that has ever lived. Its standards can be applied no matter what century it is. There were immodest people in Victorian times, too, but Christian women who followed the Bible were different.  God's standards of dress are the highest you can find. Let us not dumb ourselves down to the lowest standards of the prevailing culture. 

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