Why Parents Should Dress Their Young Children Modestly

Young Girl by the Lake

There are many ways in which Christians show themselves to be different from the world. One of these is in the way we dress. The Bible emphasizes the importance of dressing in “modest apparel” (1 Timothy 2:9, KJV). Therefore, as we have the obligation to “speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11, KJV), it is important for us to emphasize this as well.

However, when it comes to raising children, we may wonder how early parents need to be concerned with having their children dress modestly. When does it become important for parents to be sure their children are dressed in this way? When they turn eighteen? When they become teenagers? Or should this begin much earlier, perhaps when the children are toddlers? The time to start this may be earlier than many expect.

In this article, I want us to consider some reasons why dressing modestly is important for young children.Continue Reading

“Chaste and Respectful Behavior” in Our Modern Age

Kendell_Jones

Kendall Jones, a teenage girl from Texas, has recently received some attention over pictures that have appeared online from her hunting trips to Africa, showing her with various animals that she has killed. Understandably, people will have different opinions about whether someone should be hunting such animals. However, some of the reactions to these pictures are disturbing to say the least.

One of the disturbing reactions has come from Mike Dickinson – a Democrat politician running for Congress in Virginia. He has offered $100,000 for nude photos or videos of this teenage girl.
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What We Profess With Our Dress

Woman Standing in a Field

Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness” (1 Timothy 2:9-10).

Paul talked about women wearing clothing that is “proper for women making a claim to godliness.” The King James Version contains this phrase: “women professing godliness.” The point is that our clothing makes a statement. We should ask ourselves: Are we making the right statement with our clothing?

These verses are specifically directed toward women. There is a reason for this – women are much more likely to cause harm with their improper dress. It is not that men can dress however they want without any thought to “godliness.” The principles in this passage – as well as the others we will be considering in this article – apply to both men and women. In this article, we will notice some of the things that we should profess with our dress.
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Lessons about Modesty from the Garden of Eden

Garden of Eden

Genesis 3 records the fall of Adam and Eve into sin. It also contains the first prophecy of the coming Messiah to save man from sin. In addition to these two major points, this chapter also has some lessons for us about modesty, particularly as it relates to our apparel.
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Miss California & Gay Marriage – A Different Perspective

Much has been said in the past couple of weeks about Miss USA pageant contestant Carrie Prejean (Miss California) and her answer to a judge’s question about same-sex marriage. Ms. Prejean responded by stating her belief that marriage should be between one man and one woman.

The subject of same-sex marriage is a very divisive issue in this country. There has been much speculation about the possibility that her answer could have cost her the Miss USA crown. In terms of winning the contest, it would have been safer for her to give a more politically correct answer. But instead, she stated what she believes, regardless of the consequences in the competition.

As a result of this, many Christians have expressed admiration for this woman for stating her beliefs. While I am thankful that someone was willing to openly state this belief about marriage in a forum as public as the Miss USA pageant, I think we ought to be hesitant to lift her up as a role model of faith, particularly for young women and girls.

It is good that Ms. Prejean was willing to state her belief in Biblical truth, that marriage is between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-5), even if it meant she might lose the competition. But what about the Bible teaching that says women are to dress in modest apparel (1 Timothy 2:9), and that it is a shameful thing for one’s body to be on display (Isaiah 47:2-3)?

One part of the competition which the contestants were judged on was a swimsuit competition. Miss California, of course, participated. In fact, most of the news reports on the internet about this story that I have seen have had a big picture of Ms. Prejean in her bikini from this portion of the pageant.  She obviously has no scruples against showing off her body in public.

Some may think I’m being too picky and that I should just be happy that she stated her belief that marriage is only between one man and one woman. I am happy she stated her opposition to the growing same-sex marriage movement. But we should not think that as long as we agree on whatever the issue of the day is, other things don’t matter. Sin is sin. Whatever the Bible teaches is important, no matter what topic it is.

It is important that out children and young people are taught about God’s design and plan for marriage. It is also important that these young people, particularly young women and girls, are taught to be modest in all manners of life: speech, conduct, and dress.

    Immodesty in Dress: Who is to Blame?

    Moral standards are being lowered all around us. One obvious area is in the type of dress people wear. Clothing generally has become shorter, tighter, and lower-cut. The problem of immodest dress has affected members of the Lord’s church as well. Some are either so bold or so ignorant that they even dress immodestly to the assembly of the saints. Who is to blame for this rising problem among God’s people?
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    Constants in a Changing World

    River

    This world is full of constant change. Many things come and go, whether they are people, cultures, governments, trends, or fashions. Yet the writer of Ecclesiastes noted, “There is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). The changes we see are just perpetual cycles that exist in this world. But in the midst of the changes we face in this life, there are certain fundamental truths that will always remain constant.
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