Cause and Effect: On Modesty

A young man recently admitted in bible study that men have a problem with lust. He further said that any man who denies it, is a liar. That statement may be denied by the men and offend the women, but it's human nature and what "original sin" is all about: pleasure, beauty and desire.

When I was in my twenties I asked my own father "When does this struggle with the flesh end?" He said "When you die!" A righteous man who would never even hug another woman said this! Dad was right and men know it. Never blame the person for their humanity, but blame Satan for luring people who have no propensity to be lured. Satan knows that, just as always, men and women respond to temptation. He makes the effort to make both genders tempting to the other.

Some claim that they shouldn't, by  their own behavior, be judged for another's.

Let me explain. I've heard some Christian women say "I dress the way I want to dress. If the man has a problem with that, it's his problem, not mine!" Is that a right attitude?

Think about it here. I'll leave some blank space so that you think, not just react:

Proverbs 11:22 (ESV)  "Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman without discretion."

Without discretion! What is that? It's the quality of being careful so that others are not affected. Women who flaunt their beauty aren't being careful! They don't care how others respond to their vanity.

Things happen by cause and effect. If a person sins, it's because they're tempted!  The best way a person can avoid sin, is to avoid temptation.

James 4:7 "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

Before I continue in condemnation of those who tempt, let me point out that being exposed to temptation is no excuse for sin. It's a catalyst, but with submission to God, people just don't have to sin! Each time people sin, it's a choice which is made. Some are weaker than others.

 Matthew 26:41 "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

If a Christian doesn't want to be tempted, then don't go around temptresses! If a show of flesh is a weakness, the best thing to do is to stay away from the beach and like places. Because a woman flaunts is not an excuse for responding to the flaunt. Because one person provokes the behavior doesn't make the response appropriate. Normally, two people are involved in personal interactions.

 1 Timothy 2:9 (ESV) "Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, 10 but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works." 

1 Peter 3:3- (ESV) "Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious."

Modesty is the keyword in the first passage. Meriam-Webster Dictionary says this about modesty:

"The quality of not being too proud or confident about yourself or your abilities; the quality of behaving and especially dressing in ways that do not attract sexual attention."

Too many women dress to appeal to the opposite sex. Even wives do so because they are in competition with those beauties who are immodest. Clothes designers design clothes to expose skin and reveal provocative figures. Women buy this stuff and wear it. Christian women even wear provocative apparel to church! I've seen more skin at times in church than I have at the beach. When women bend over few cover their bosom with their arm as they bend! Even bras are designed to expose just about everything. In defense of women, it's hard for them to find stylish clothes without exposing their wares, but not impossible!

Dresses are so short that short shorts may as well be worn. Women are aware of the response men have for immodesty, but yet they are still immodest.  However, that's only half the story! Immodest women put themselves on display. They relish attention and their confidence encourages flattery. Rather than meekness their actions become a stage show for attention.

1 John 2:16 (ESV) "For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world."

"The desires of the flesh" are two-fold: pride and desire. Most often the women have the pride (dress, vanity, control, etc.) and men the desire; they respond!  Both the cause and effect are sinful. To be honest, men need help! We need a sanctuary where we can focus on God. Church is a place for sanctuary. With that said, women, especially in church, should exhibit modesty to help men who have weak flesh. Most men do! It's not that there for any intent to fornicate, but dwelling too long in the supermarket!

Matthew 5:28 (ESV) "But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

Who are those who tempt? Self explanatory:

Proverbs 6:24-29 (ESV)  "To preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress. Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes; for the price of a prostitute is only a loaf of bread, but a married woman hunts down a precious life." 

Men don't want to commit adultery! However, when they linger too long around the tomatoes and plums, they admire the tomatoes and plums too long. Long enough that they may even salivate in anticipation. They never eat of the fruit, but they slurp the tomatoes! That too is wrong. Men who slurp tomatoes are as sinful as the woman who puts the tomatoes on display. The display is the cause; the slurping is the effect.

Men need help! While women are half the fault, they are not all the fault. However, if they're modest in their actions and dress, it will help weak men. It's not to say that there will be no lust with modesty, but there will certainly be less; keeping in mind that modesty is in action and dress.

You may not like it but God is a sexist by worldly standards. He doesn't care. He created men and women different! God has standards for women which women don't like. Hence, women do what they want to do; just like Eve did. Rather than eating of the fruit, immodest women display the fruit, and men do the eating. Just like Adam they take the fruit from the hands of the women!

Women are endowed by their creator with certain features. As with anything those attributes can be used for good or bad.  God's intent is that women be modest and submissive. Their confidence must be exhibited for their husbands, not for strangers and friends! With all this said, now go back and fill in the blank space with what God wills.