Why is modesty such a hot topic now? Well, first of all it is because our culture is over-sexualized. But secondly, because it is easier to blame our sister in Christ, than to address our husband's lustful and imaginative eye.
But, I don't want to borrow from a future post, and so I will move on.
I hope we can all agree that the majority of the issues on modesty, the prescriptive ideas on exactly what to wear, is nowhere in the Bible. We are at liberty here as long as we do not purposefully wear blatantly sexual clothes. So why all the anger and hostility if it is a liberty? Why the glances at another woman in judgement...as if we can read her heart! We can't. And we can't become her master or we usurp God. And aren't we supposed to love our sister? (1 John 4:7-8; John 13:34-35; 1 Peter 4:8 and more) But where is the love when we judge and put motives that are not really her's onto her. Who gets to decide if she is "dressing for the eyes of God" or for the eyes of men. (again, blatant sexual clothing is not what I'm talking about).
But again, I digress...to get back to the book I'm reading...
Hercules Collins says, in his preface, "Now albeit there are some differences between many godly divines and us in church constitution, yet inasmuch as those things are not the essence of Christianity, but that we do agree in the fundamental doctrine thereof, there is sufficient ground to lay aside all bitterness and prejudice, and labor to maintain a spirit of love each to other, knowing we shall never see all alike here."
He was not talking about modesty at all. He was talking about things pertaining to the way the Bride of Christ is organized and run! If we are to have this attitude to "lay aside all bitterness and prejudice and labor to maintain a spirit of love each" in regards to the Bride of Christ, how much more should we have this attitude over a matter of liberty such as modesty.
I realize someone is going to say, "but some women ARE immodest". Yes. And I will get to that in future posts. But let us examine and address our own hearts first. Please remember modesty is not the "essence of Christianity".
I have always wondered what made a shoe a "hooker shoe". The only thing they seem to have in common is being exceptionally pretty.
ReplyDeleteI had some hooker boots once. They were fabulous...and tall. Im to old for them now. Cant cary a baby and wear awesome hooker boots. They used to give me an excuse to hang on joe because i could bearly walk in them. -dogs
ReplyDeletehaha, that is awesome, dogs!
DeleteUm, yeah, “hooker shoes.” About that.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking as a man (which, you know, I kind of have to do), this seems ludicrous to me. Let me explain. No, no - it’s too much; let me sum up.
Have you ever noticed, ladies, how we guys get irritated at you for wanting to buy shoes when you already have a closet full of shoes? Have you ever noticed our eyes glaze over when you explain that you need a pair of black open-toe high heels, because even though you already have a pair of black closed-toe high heels and a pair of black open-toe flats and a pair of dark grey open-toe high heels, you don’t actually have a pair of black open-toe high heels? Have you ever wondered why exactly that is?
Well let me tell you; it’s because we can’t tell the difference between any of those things, for a very good reason: we don’t notice anyone’s shoes - ever. Actually, about 96% of us don’t. I can’t say much about the 4% who do, because someone will call me something-o-phobic, but let’s just say you don’t have to worry about causing them to stumble.
So when someone on the modesty bandwagon tells you that you’re wearing “hooker shoes,” you can rest assured: it’s just possible that your neck line might make things tough on us, or your hem line, but not your shoes - not ever. Which makes me suspect that the modesty woman who criticizes your “hooker shoes” may say that it’s all about not causing us to stumble, but in reality it’s just that she doesn’t like you wearing shoes her grandma wouldn’t have worn.
Practically I’d side with grandma; the shoes in that pic look agonizingly uncomfortable, not to mention treacherous. But immodest? Please! The day one of your shoes is immodest is the day one of my ties is immodest!
First of all, Those shoes don't hurt after wearing them often enough that your feet die and then you can wear whatever shoe you want. Secondly, my husband has been meaning to talk to you about your ties.
DeleteOK, so maybe that tie with the picture of the belly dancer was a bit much, but shoes? C'mon!
DeleteIt was a bit of a rant, but it made some good points. Legalism = not good!
ReplyDelete