Whatever Happened to Modesty (via Mowser)

Sermons by Eli Hofer
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Whatever Happened to Modesty?

By Eli Hofer, minister, North Harlem Hutterian Brethren
For publication in the 'My Turn' section of the Journal for the week of Aug 11, 2002.

Cultural behavior, styles, traditions and customs reveal how we internalize and work out what we believe; Much of which is grounded and rooted in Judean /Christian philosophies. As society moves further and further away from these principles, we see a shifting change in what determines modesty. Take for example the styles and fashions of yesteryears, and compare them to today. You will find that what once was considered very immodest, is today quite acceptable.

In every culture, clothes are a basic requirement. Even in the hot jungles of Africa, the inhabitants wear some minimal form of clothing.

The concept of modesty comes to us from our understanding of sin. The Bible tells us that without clothing, in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were unashamed of their nakedness <Gen. 2:25>. After eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, however, they began to feel shame <Gen. 3:7-10>.

It is how we internalize the concept of sin that motivates modesty in our lives. Modesty is as much about revealing as it is about covering up. So if you find yourself very comfortable about flaunting your body, you need to ask yourself: “What is my attitude concerning sin? Do I realize that sin is diabolical opposed to God and that my immodest behavior reveals a shallow, weak attitude towards sin”? Such an attitude inevitably allows us to practice sinful behavior without quilt and restraint. When we think that our actions really aren’t so bad, or don’t hurt anyone, etc.

After sin entered the human experience, a change took place in their feelings about clothing.

And their eyes were opened, and they knew they were naked and they sewed fig leaves... (Genesis 3:7)

Through the eating of the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, the tendency to do evil was internalized within the human consciousness. Previously, man and woman had an intellectual choice between good and evil, but evil was outside the body, a philosophical issue, not an inner tug or an emotional desire.

Before sin entered the world, a person's soul expressed itself through its body. Body and soul were complete harmony with each other. For example, when the soul wanted to pray, the body rose early and prayed. When the soul wanted to study and grow, the body ate healthy foods and took care of itself.

After sin became part of man, disharmony entered the human psyche. Now, when our soul wants to pray, the body groans, turns over and shuts off the alarm clock. When the soul strives for perfection, the body wants to indulge, watch television and lie on the beach! The body is no longer in the service of the soul, it no longer sprints to do its bidding. Not only is the body not a reflection of the soul, they now work at cross-purposes.

When Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden, their bodies were mirrors of their souls; the soul being God’s image within a human being. There was no need to cover up such a pure innocent expression of a person's spirituality.

However, once evil was incorporated into man, the body came to represent something opposing to the soul. Therefore it became necessary to de-emphasize the physical in order to emphasize the spiritual, to cover up the body in order to let the soul shine through.

If women are viewed only externally, devoid of internal character and spirituality, they are stripped of their distinctive gifts and strengths. A danger exists that they will be degraded. We see that in cultures, which admire women mostly for their physical characteristics, ultimately they degrade them and take advantage of them.

In view of this perilous possibility -- coupled with a strong tendency among males to notice the physical and external -- women would do well to de-emphasize their bodies in order to emphasize that which is their real beauty: their inner strengths, their souls.

The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold. Psalms 45:14)

A Christian must always go to God’s Word for his definition on what is sin, instead of what the rest of society decides is right or wrong.

Many innocent young people grow up to accept styles and fashionable attire without giving much thought to, or realizing how much is immodest, simple because everyone else dresses similarly.

So this week, dear readers, let us ever remember that our bodies are to be sanctified vessels for the Master’s use. And that how we dress does reflect our inner stance.

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