Misty Fitch | Fearfully Made

Yes, you read that right.  I couldn’t resist giving my post this title rather than “Modest is Hottest.”  I love my girls I work with, and this title is just a reminder of how they crack me up.  **Yes, you know who you are**

Disclaimer:  Please bear with me as this post may sound a little more “preachy” than what you typically hear from me.  This topic hits me hard, and I just don’t know another way to approach it.

Over the years I’ve worked with many girls, and this topic has always come up at sometime or another.  Some girls agree that modesty is important while others completely disagree.  In fact, some actually get angry when this topic comes up because they don’t see any correlation between how they dress and the effect it has on boys.

The way this question always comes up is by the girls asking, “What does the Bible say about how I dress?”  The truth is, the bible doesn’t specifically say Don’t wear revealing clothes.  This is what makes it difficult for some leaders to explain to the girls, and it’s also what makes it difficult for girls to pay closer attention to what they are wearing.

God knew exactly what he was doing when the bible was written.  Times change, and so does fashion.  It wouldn’t make sense for him to say “Thou shall not wear spaghetti strap, low-cut v-neck tops.”  Those weren’t even invented when the bible was written, and by the way, I am NOT saying it is wrong to wear that type of top.  I’m just using it as an example.  Instead he spoke even more clearly by using words that will withstand the changing times.  Let’s take a look at some of the things he says.

Matthew 18:6-7   But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea. “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.

Matthew 5:28   But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Romans 14:21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble.

Okay, so let’s stop and look at these scriptures together.  You might feel fine wearing the tops that accentuate your cleavage.  It may not bother you at all to show that much of your body, BUT can you be certain that boys do not look at you with lust when they see half of your breasts hanging out?  If you are causing him to lust for what he sees, then you are causing him to fall into sin.  Romans tells us that if it is something that causes your brother to fall into sin, then you should not do it (even if you are not convicted about it).  This is where you sacrifice your desires in order to keep the purity of your brother.  Looking only at these scriptures, one can easily see that the bible does , in fact, tell you that wearing those types of clothes are not a part of his plans he has for you.

So what’s next?  Oh, I know.  It’s the next thing I hear from girls. God gave us free will and But my mom bought this for me, and she says I’m free to wear whatever I want.  I understand that both of these are true, but let’s look at 1 Corinthians 8:9:

NLT But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble.

Message But God does care when you use your freedom carelessly in a way that leads a fellow believer still vulnerable to those old associations to be thrown off track.

God wants us to be good stewards of the bodies he’s given us.  They are the only bodies we will ever have, and regardless of how much rationalizing you do, boys do think that you are willing to give them the things you are showing them.  I know that sentence must have gotten at least one pair of rolling eyes, but sweet friend, please hear the truth in these words.  There is absolutely no reason to show off parts of your body that God intended to be kept hidden and made special for the man you marry.  I understand that some of you may be very well endowed, and I have heard that excuse before.  However, I also know that it is only an excuse to show off what you have.  There are many well-endowed girls around you who are beautiful and very trendy in how they dress all while keeping their breasts covered.

I also understand that shorts are being made shorter and shorter with each passing summer.  At some point, I’m almost certain they will be called underwear.  You are absolutely right when you say that you can’t find shorts that aren’t short, but it’s not an excuse to rationalize why wearing extremely skimpy shorts should be okay.  It’s extremely frustrating to me because I would like to wear a pair of jean shorts, but I haven’t been able to in a couple of years.  Why?  Because I literally cannot find a pair that is what I consider to be modest enough.  I choose not to purchase them, and then I go about my business spending my money on something else.  I refuse to devalue myself because the world is forcing its beliefs on me.  I’m still alive.  I still have wonderful friends.  I have an amazing man who is very attracted to me, and I don’t show my body off to the world.  I promise it can be done, and you will survive not wearing those types of clothes!

Modest is Hottest

Girls, you are fully capable of dressing cute and in style while keeping your modesty.  The boys who are attracted by the display given from revealing clothes are not boys you want to attract.  God has amazing plans for you and a boy somewhere in the distance.  If you let him be the only person who opens the gift that is your body, there are amazing things that await you both.  Leave some things sacred.  If you’re showing off almost everything you have, then what does your future husband have to look forward to?  If everyone has already seen what should belong to him,  What will you have that is especially for him and him only?

I say this to you out of love and respect that I pray you have for yourself as well.  Even if you are someone I’ve never met, I know you are a beautiful person.  You are beautiful because everything God created is beautiful.  I pray you find the beauty inside of you, and you will see that it’s not necessary to show yourself to the world.  People will see your beauty radiating just by your confidence in who you are in Christ.