When the warmer weather comes, we’re all hunting through our closets, raiding our friends' rooms, and hitting the malls for summer clothes. The problem is, alot of what you find in stores is too short, too tight, and too low. Thankfully, shirts are a bit longer these days, but still, the “sexy” look is everywhere.
1 Corinthians 8:9 says
“Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.” Using our freedom to wear the “sexy” look- to see just how much attention we can get from the guys- makes us a stumbling block.
In 1 Corinthians 6:12, Paul quotes a saying of the time used to defend immoral
behavior. “Everything is permissible for me,” but then he challenges that freedom by
continuing, “but not everything is beneficial...” Isn’t that true for so much of what we do,
say, and even wear?
Don’t just think of “the weak” as guys with the “bad boy” reputation. The New Living Translation reads “…Do not cause a brother with a weaker conscience to stumble,” (emphasis added). We need to think in terms of our Christian brothers. Guys are visual, connect the dots kind of creatures. Show them a little something and their imagination may take them further than you intended for them to go. If you love the attention you are getting because of shirts that ride a little too high, or pants that ride a little too low, it’s because guys are connecting the dots. They are left imagining more of you.
Our clothing choices affect those around us, and they affect our inner value. Showing
too much of ourselves gives away too much of ourselves. It turns us into a stumbling
block for not only those around us, but for ourselves! We end up not respecting our
bodies as the temple our Heavenly Father created them to be. And, we end up tripping
up the very people we are trying to lift up, not let down…our brothers-in-Christ.
I know it can be hard to find clothes that leave you looking great, and cover everything
you want covered, but they are out there! It just takes a little extra work. If you find
the cutest spaghetti strap tank that you just can’t live without, but it is showing too much
skin or is too low cut, layer it over a great tee! Look for tanks that have wide enough
shoulder straps to cover your bra. Lean over and look in a mirror- can you see down
your shirt? If you can, others can too. So pick another shirt, one that keeps to you what
belongs to you. Make sure your shorts cover all they’re supposed to, and keep your underwear, UNDER your clothes.
God has blessed us with freedom. Freedom to make choices that reflect our
commitment to living a godly life. His Word protects and defends us by urging us to “be
careful” with our freedom. The stumbling block that the “weak” trip over, may be the very thing that is holding you back from truly seeing your beauty as God does.
Written by: Jen Brennan
Copyright, virtuousreality.com
Comments (4)
Remember that you CAN feel beautiful without causing guys to lust after you. Because thats what those clothes do, guys are VERY visual, and while it may make you feel like they like you for awhile, later you'll fell guilty. Enticing guys is no the way to be. They'll think things about you and your body that only your husband should think. And speaking of husbands, I personally want a good Christian guy, one who will love God more than life, then me second. Those types of guys, the ones who are spiritually deep, still have to fight their human nature, but they are less likely to hang around girls who dress skanky. Guys know that this type of girl is not the type they want to marry. By dressing that way, those girls are putting a giant billboard on themselves that says"I don't value myself, and you shouldn't value me either. Just use me for what ever you can get, and leave, that's all I'm worth." We should treat ourselves how God created us to be, then others will see it too.
Posted by Cathleen | June 19, 2007 1:18 PM
I remember going to the Navy Ball with my parents one year and actually got the attention of a guy who was there by himself.
What made an impression on him (as he's said) was that I didn't have to dress too scanty to be pretty. It is true. If you feel confident in yourself, it doesn't matter what you wear to make you beautiful. God made each and every one of us beautiful in our own way.
I think that my beauty is in my smile; however he found my beauty in the way I carried myself and covered myself.
Posted by Alicia McFarlane | June 21, 2007 5:40 PM
I'm having a hard time with the whole clothes issue. Like, I know the whole 'if you can see down your shirt , then so can other people'thing. but is there a certain tightness that is too tight? and even if shorts cover all your underwear, if they're really short, do they still cause guys to stumble?even though I've read a lot of books on clothing, I'm still not sure about that issue.....
Posted by Lena | May 16, 2008 1:03 PM
i kno the whole 'dress modestly' thing is imptortant... but i've been totally getting discouraged with it lately. i used to be like "oh yeah its easy to dress modestly and still look cute". and like getting alot of guys was never on my mind...but lately i find that i want to attract as many guys as i can, cuz it seems like for the vast majority of guys...thats the only way they'll like you. i feel like no one cares...like guys dont realize the extreme hassle we go through just to help keep their minds pure.
Posted by sparkle | May 19, 2008 7:22 PM