Dealing With Worldliness

1. Dealing With Worldliness Immodesty Does Culture Determine Modesty? W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009

2. Dealing With Worldliness In Our Culture, Almost Anything Goes! • When French designer Louis Reard introduced the bikini in 1946, Parisian models would not model it. He hired a nude dancer to unveil the swimsuit. • Today, little is frowned upon in society. Thong bathing suits, “Daisy Duke” shorts, Micro-mini skirts, are championed on television and in movies, and are seen everywhere. • Who sets the standard for what you wear? W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009

3. World • Parents • Preacher • Elders • Always Thought / Done W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009

4. To violate God’s standard is to act outside of God’s will If so – will listen, appreciate & follow (Jas. 1:21-22) If not – You will be rejecting God himself (Jno. 12:48) W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009

5. “Unclad, without clothing” . . .“Ill-clad” or “clad in undergarment only” (Thayer, p. 122) • “badly clad” or “not fully clothed” (Kittle, I:773-774) • “lightly clad” (Liddell & Scott, 170) W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009

6. Apron V. 7 Naked (Nude) V. 10,11,21 Recognized as Still Naked By All (Relatively) [21] . . . the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.” W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009

7. Original I.S.B.E. article on “Dress” says chiton “resembled the Roman tunic, corresponding most nearly to our long shirt, reaching below the knee always, and, in case it was designed for dress occasions, reaching almost to the ground” (I.S.B.E., II:877). . . . the chiton of the peasantry was shorter like modern kamis of Syrian fellah which is to the knee. From The Shoulder To The Knee W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009

8. KUTTONET--"a tunic...; generally with sleeves, coming down to the knees, rarely to the ankles" (Gesenius, 420; cf. Harris, 1:459; Brown, Driver, Briggs, 509). “The tunic . . . was a shirt which was worn next to the skin. It was made of leather, hair-cloth, wool, linen, or in modern times, usually of cotton . . . (Fred H. Wight, Manners and Customs of Bible Lands, 91). From The Shoulder To The Knee W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009

9. . . . The simplest form of it was without sleeves and reached to the knees or sometimes to the ankles. . . . Women as well as men wore it [see Cant. 5:3, A.R.V.], although there was no doubt a difference in style and pattern in what was worn by the two”(Fred H. Wight, Manners and Customs of Bible Lands, 91). From The Shoulder To The Knee W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009

10. } Exodus 28:42 (NKJV) 42 And you shall make for them linen trousers to cover their nakedness; they shall reach from the waist to the thighs. Nakedness W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009

11. } Isaiah 47:2-3 (NKJV) 2 . . . Remove your veil, Take off the skirt, Uncover the thigh, Pass through the rivers. 3 Your nakedness shall be uncovered, Yes, your shame will be seen; . . . Nakedness W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009

12. 1 Timothy 2:9,10 (NKJV) 9 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, 10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. ? W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009

13. (kosmios) - • "Respectable; honorable" (Arndt and Gingrich, 445). • "Well-arranged; seemly" (Thayer, 356). • "Orderly; well-arranged; decent" (Vine, III:79). • "The well-ordering is not of dress and demeanor only, but the inner life’s uttering indeed, and expressing itself in the outward conversation" (Trench’s Syn. 346). ? W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009

14. The People’s New Testament Commentary defines modesty as “In simple attire which doesn’t attract attention.” • Bible Knowledge Commentary - “An appearance that is simple, moderate, judicious, and free from ostentation. . . . Christians must be careful about letting a pagan culture set their fashions. ? W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009

15. Reserved • Humble • Respectable • Decent • Orderly ? W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009

16. “With shamefacedness” –(aidos) – “A sense of shame or honor, modesty, bashfulness, reverence, regard for others, respect” - "A sense of shame" (Vine, IV:17; Thayer, 14). • Have we lost the ability to blush (Jeremiah 6:15; 8:12)? • Those who dress, (don’t dress), in such a way that the imagination has little else, if anything to imagine . . what would it take to get them to blush? W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009

17. SOPHROSUNE - Translated “sobriety,” KJV, ASV; - “moderation,” NKJV • “Soundness of mind... ‘sound judgment’ practically expresses the meaning; ‘it is that habitual inner self- government, with its constant rein on all the passions and desires which would hinder the temptation to these from arising....” (Vines, Vol. IV, pp. 44-45). • “Soundness of mind, i.e.(lit,) sanity or (fig.) self- control” (Strongs, # 4997). W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009

18. THEOSEBEIA - “Denotes the fear or reverence of God,…” (Vines, Vol. II, p. 162). • “Devoutness, i.e. piety” (Strongs, # 2317). • Darby: “profession of the fear of God”, NIV: “profess to worship God” W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009

19. Someone’s at the door – Could someone answer it – I’m not dressed! I’m dressed – I’ll get it It’s probably my friends – we are going to Wild River Country W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009

20. Ignorant & Untaught • Want to fit in • Want to be bold and “turn heads” • Don’t know how they really look • Careless – Don’t stop & think • About Divine principles • Allow world’s standards to influence them • Brethren gradually get looser W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009

21. Our dress says something to others about ourselves - “Attire of a harlot” (Prov. 7:10) • Create sexual temptation, causing others to sin (Matt. 5:28; Prov. 6:25; Jas. 1:14; Mt. 18:6-7); [David saw Bathsheba & lusted (2 Sam. 11)] • Sets a poor example (Mt. 5:13-16), which could put others in danger. W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009

22. Bring shame on Christ and His children (Eph. 5:25-27; Jas. 1:27). • Discourage Christians (1 Thes. 5:14). • Mislead weak Christians (Phil. 3:17). • Ultimately, you lose your soul unless you repent and may cause others to be lost too (Gal. 5:21). W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009

23. Too short, (revealing the thighs). • Too low off the shoulders, (showing shoulders/chest/back). • Too sheer (can see through them). • Too tight (fits like a sausage wrapper - more suggestive/ appealing to men). • Careless body positioning and movements. OK when participating in sporting event? OK when participating in a school function? OK when at a swimming pool or the beach? W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009

24. Short Dresses / Mini Skirts • Split Dresses • Backless Dresses • Sun Dresses • Low-Cut Blouses & Dresses Revealing Cleavage - • Swimsuits • Tight / Formfitting • Short Shorts (revealing the thigh) • Jogging Shorts • See-Through Styles • Majorette Uniforms • Cheerleading Outfits W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009

25. Can I stand, walk, sit, kneel, bend over, etc., in this clothing without being "naked" by biblical standards? • Does my clothing emphasize certain body parts or area that would tend to provoke lust in others? • Does my clothing stir admiration and respect for me or does it prompt opinions otherwise? W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009

26. Since clothing can indicate character (cf. Prov. 7:10), would my clothing suggest an abundance or lack of upright character? • What kind of influence will my clothing have on those who are not Christians? • What kind of influence will my clothing have on those who are Christians? • Would I wear this if Jesus was in my personal physical presence? W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009

27. Begin early - don't allow immodesty until 12 or 13, and then expect sudden correction. • Take the lead in teaching children about modesty; don't wait for someone else to do it. • Teach children by word of mouth - in our homes, and teach them by example - children can identify inconsistency quickly and easily. • Be consistent in standards and application of standards. • Mothers, teach your sons and daughters what God teaches, and do not undermine godly husbands and fathers as they properly lead. W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009

28. Disregard God by disregarding His word (Jn. 12:48-49; cf. 1 Sam. 8:7). • Defile and sear your conscience (1 Cor. 8:7; 1 Tim. 4:2). • Lose your sense of shame (Jer. 6:15; 8:12). • You conform to the world (Rom. 12:1-2). • Will likely move to more immodesty (2 Tim. 3:13). • Will likely move to other forms of worldliness (2 Tim. 3:13). • Will resent questions and teaching on the subject (Acts 22:22). W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009

29. Be Modest – reserved, decent, respectable • Exhibit Shamefastness – can blush, have shame • Show Good Judgment – common sense • Show Godliness– devoted to God • Respect Others – opposite sex could lust • Cover our nakedness – cover from the shoulder to the knee W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009

30. As a ring of gold in a swine's snout, So is a lovely woman who lacks discretion. - Proverbs 11:22 W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009

31. World • Parents • Preacher • Elders • Always Thought / Done W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009

32. W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009