Are you “modest” or “the hottest”? Quiet thinking about presenting who you are to others
A recent teaching I offered on “God, why so old-fashioned about sex?” referenced a number of past discussions between parents and teens, and no doubt raised a few more.
Mention “modesty” to a young girl who is longing to be noticed, and emotions can quickly spike. None of us readily invites others to tell us how we should dress. But that doesn’t mean we are impervious to pressure in this area. Popular culture puts immense pressure, especially on teens, to conform to the current standards.
Witness most recently somebody’s decision to promote jeans with rips and tears and holes in them. Suddenly, millions of women rush to wear pants which look like they’ve been through a shredder. Really?
IF AN EAGER FOLLOWER OF JESUS…
How do you make the call on what to wear? It is actually a decision – a daily decision – on how you wish to present yourself, and who you are. A decision about whether or not to think and to live biblically, in step with God’s heart and revelation, and not simply to be shaped by what others are doing.
It’s actually about humility.
Just about one year ago (May 20, 2017), a young woman named Meggie Cotonethal wrote a very thoughtful piece entitled “Modesty Misunderstood – What men and women need to know.” The title of this blog was drawn from her article. She offered this –
Modesty is the offspring of humility. Humility is evaluating ourselves properly, with sober judgment (Romans 12:3). Modesty is behavior that flows out of remembering our true place of service, and does not conceitedly boast about the self, but boasts in God (Philippians 2:3–4; 2 Corinthians 10:17).
Modesty, or the lack thereof, reveals where we’ve placed our identity. Rich women in the ancient world arrogantly declared their high status, their value, their identity with expensive finery. How do we go about boasting in ourselves today?
We live in an identity-addicted society. We strive to put our tastes and acquisitions on display so that everyone knows who we are. We’re told to accentuate our best features, get what we want out of life, stand up for and express ourselves. Social media is often the megaphone we use to herald our personal identity and covertly brag about our smarts, body, sexuality, culture, politics, sports, relationships, family, insecurities, experiences, and possessions. www.desiringgod.org/articles/modesty-misunderstood
This whole thing about modesty and humility and personal presentation is about BOTH women and men, young women and young men. So, should you wish to think about yourself, and present yourself in keeping with who you are in Christ, and what you really want to “say” to those who see you, I commend you to Meggie Cotonethal’s article.
It’s a winner…and so are you if you step into her wisdom on this key matter.