The Hidden Man of the Heart

1. The Hidden Man of the Heart • Modesty

2. Sexualisation of girls • When a person’s value comes only from her/his sexual appeal or behavior to the exclusion of other characteristics • & when a person is sexually objectified eg made into a thing for another’s sexual use

3. Modesty defined • Modesty is a mode of dress and deportment intended to avoid encouraging sexual attraction in others; actual standards vary widely. In this use, it can be considered inappropriate or immodest to reveal certain parts of the body. A modest woman would behave so as to avoid encouraging the sexual attention of men. Wikipedia

4. Modesty – further definition • Unassuming or moderate in the estimation of one’s abilities or achievements • (of an amount, rate or level of something) relatively moderate, limited,or small

5. Called to purity • 1 Tim 4:12 be thou an example of the believers, in word, in behavior, in love…in purity • 1 Tim 5:2 deal with ‘the younger (women) as sisters, with all purity’ • 2 Tim 2:22 “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, love, peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart’ •  also see Psa 24:3,4; Prov 22:11; Matt 5:8

6. Responsibility

7. Modesty • General introduction • Bible pointers about dress • Bible principles that apply in our decisions/ choices

8. Bible pointers about dress • 1. Focus on dressing up the inner man • 2. How should we adorn ourselves? • 3. External signs of inner sanctity • 4. Distinction between the sexes

9. Bible pointers about dress • 1. Focus on dressing up the inner man • 1 Pet 3:3-5

11. Bible pointers about dress 2. How should we adorn ourselves? 1 Tim 2:9-10

12. Bible pointers about dress • V9-10 decorate themselves with 3 things • 1. modest apparel • 2. shamefacedness & sobriety • 3. good works

13. Bible pointers about dress • Modest Gk kosmios • = good behaviour 1 Tim 3:2 • Bullinger: well ordered, orderly, ie well behaved, discreet, decorous • other versions …becoming, seemly, suitable, orderly, proper, appropriate

14. Modest apparel for skaters • ‘So you want to dress like a skateboarder? First begin by purchasing a cool pair of skater sneakers. The most popular are Vans because of their slip on nature and rubber sole for good gripping. Second, you'll want to choose the right pants. For skateboarders, the baggier the better to keep comfort and flexibility in working the board. One of the common brands for skater pants is Dickies. Third, pick out your shirt and add some hoodie flare. Loose fitting t-shirts from Volcom and sweatshirts from Zoo York are some of the hot brands available.’

15. Bible pointers about dress • Shamefacedness Gk aidos • = reverence Heb 12:28 • Most versions translate ‘modest’ • not ref to sheepishness • Bullinger: the inner grace which recoils from any thing unseemly or impure, an innate moral repugnance to the doing of a dishonorable act, shamefastness, modesty (cp 1 Pet 3:4)

16. Bible pointers about dress • Sobriety Gk sōphrosunē • ESV self control • Bullinger: soundness of mind, discretion, prudence, which controls all inordinate desires and exercises a dignified restraint on all the actions

17. Bible pointers about dress • 3. External signs of inner sanctity • Num 15:38-41 band of blue to be worn • Ex 19:10,14 washed clothes in preparation to meet with God at Sinai • Gen 35:2 Jacob’s household commanded to be clean, wash clothes before arriving at Bethel

18. Bible pointers about dress • 4. Distinction between the sexes • Deut 22:5

19. Modesty • Introduction • Bible pointers about dress • Bible principles that apply in our decisions/ choices

20. Is forced compliance the answer?

21. What’s appropriate?

22. Bible principles that apply • 1. Do all to the glory of God • 2. No flesh should glory in His presence • 3. Be not conformed to the world • 4. Inward adornment counts • 5. Let’s not just please ourselves • 6. Be loving. Support the feeble, weak. • 7. Don’t respect persons on account of their dress.

23. Bible principles that apply • 1. Do all to the glory of God • 1 Cor 10:31-33 • Appropriate honour, reverence, fear Mal 1:6-8, 11, 14; Psa 89:7

25. Bible principles that apply • 2. No flesh should glory in His presence • 1 Cor 1:29 • Nb beauty, adorning is not to be despised - see Jer 2:32; Isa 61:10; Psa 45:9-17; Rev 21:2,9-20

26. Bible principles that apply • 3. Be not conformed to the world • Rom 12:2 • 1 John 2:15-17all that is in the world will pass away; judgement is coming

27. Bible principles that apply • 4. Inward adornment counts • God looks upon the heart 1 Sam 16:7 • See also Rom 2:29; 7:22; 1 Pet 3:4; Psa 51:6; Eph 4:23,24; Heb 4:12-13 • avoid pretences, hypocrisy, insincerity Mt 23:25-26

28. Bible principles that apply • 5. Lets not just please ourselves • 1 Cor 10: 31-33; Rom 15:1-2 • pleasing ourselves is the opposite to what Christ has taught us!

30. Bible principles that apply • 6. Be loving. Support the feeble and weak. • 1 Thess 5:14; 1 Cor 13:4-7 • respect the good conscience of others • patience, longsuffering

31. Bible principles that apply • 7. Don’t ‘respect persons’ on account of their dress • James 2:2-4 • And don’t covet what others wear! Acts 20:33

32. Responsible exercise of conscience • And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.Acts 24:16