I recently wrote about how Christian women should dress modestly and some people helpfully reminded me that King David watched Bathsheba while she bathed. His lust motivated him to commit some serious sins, including murder! The bible doesn’t tell us whether or not Bathsheba knew David was watching her. So, let’s give her the benefit of a doubt and say she was utterly clueless that the King of Israel was peeping her. She believed the rooftop gave her some privacy. She believed she was alone so she was NOT being immodest despite being completely naked.
Ladies, remember that you are not Bathsheba.
Imagine that instead of being alone on a roof, Bathsheba was sitting in a Sunday School class. Should we still give her the benefit of a doubt? At this point, it seems like her immodesty might be deliberately provocative. She knew she wasn’t going to be the only person in the classroom. She knew her appearance would distract people. If she was a man, her behavior would be called sexual assault. I don’t think we should let that slide.
Modesty demands that you dress differently in public than when you’re strolling around on your private rooftop. The boys at church are not peeping at you from their palace window. You are forcing yourself on them, against their will. It is true that boys need to control themselves and treat you with respect. It is ALSO true that you are sinning when you make it more difficult for them to think pure thoughts.
When a boy spies on a girl sun bathing, it’s creepy and wrong. Boys need to be taught to take their thoughts captive. They need to discipline themselves and take control of their primal urges. We never hesitate to say this to boys.
When a girl wearing her sun bathing outfit throws herself in front of a boy, it’s creepy and wrong. For some reason, we NEVER say this to girls. We don’t tell girls to stop harassing boys. We just tell them to scold certain boys for lusting. (They don’t scold the boys they are trying to attract.)
You are correct to tell me that a girl can wear whatever she wants to wear. You are correct to tell me that I am responsible for controlling myself. It is my duty to guard my heart from impurity and corruption. That’s why I disregard the opinions of trampy women who compare themselves to Bathsheba. I refuse to let your indecent behavior drag me into sin.
“Therefore the showers have been withheld, and no spring rains have fallen. Yet you have the brazen look of a prostitute; you refuse to blush with shame.”
(Jeremiah 3:3)
One Response
Good for you, John!
I’m a modest woman, and I can’t bear some of the attire some women had the indecency to display their attributes in – not just in society, but in church. I was raised to wear my best (I understand why it took Ken Davis’s girls so long to get ready for church 😄).
I used to be a Lector in church. I would wear my best dress (high neckline, low hem, sleeves, muted color. Pretty dress in a classic style.) I’d be well prepared, very happy I could assist in the service.
My husband liked my attributes, which is fine in private, but unlike my modest spirit, he wanted them to show a lot more – for his ego. I learned later to my distress he considered me arm candy. No one knew, but he would demolish me in the car on the way to church – because I refused to dress like a whore.
He wasn’t happy, until I had broken down into tears in the car. Great way to go to church every Sunday…
I can’t quite get my head around people wanting to stir lust in others. That leads to so much sin, damage, destruction, soul death – if not physical death. I actually don’t want to fully understand it from their perspective. I know it has to do with ego, pride, emptiness… I’ve seen lust in others eyes – it is almost as if an evil spirit is peering out, not a human – it terrifies me.
(For protection I’ve made myself ugly, and even then it’s no guarantee – so I’ve learned street fighting self-defense.)
Modest ladies and teens, please do yourself a favor and get Gavin deBecker’s book “The Gift of Fear” (not to be afraid, but to learn how to listen to and honor that little whispered warning in your spirit – I think it’s the Holy Spirit.)
This is told from an allied perspective. Women must regain their sense of modesty – and not just in church. I don’t mean burkas, but I remember clothing styles that can be gorgeous, yet don’t give away the goodies only meant for a husband.
Husbands need to help their wives feel fulfilled and beautiful- so some who don’t have a relationship with Jesus don’t seek approval elsewhere. Men can gently encourage their wives and daughters to not put their wares on display.
I think pornography has had so much to do with normalizing this behavior. satan must enjoy seducing the world (again) into becoming one huge Sodom & Gomorrah. (The nasty one and his converts thumb noses at God by having the LGBT+ crowd steal the beautiful rainbow 🌈 God gave us as His promise to not destroy us by flood for such sins – as in the Days of Noah.) Fire is coming if we don’t repent…