IMMODEST APPAREL IS LASCIVIOUSNESS

  I. INTRODUCTION:

     1. One of the definitions that we learned about lasciviousness
        was: "Wanton, lewd, lustful, tending to produce lewd
        emotions."
            This brings us to another specific sin of LASCIVIOUSNESS.
            It concerns the apparel which is often worn, or better,
        the lack of apparel; or IMMODEST APPAREL.
            Perhaps, there is nothing that produces more lewd emotions
        than scanty attire on women (and men). At least, as to wide-
        spread abuse of scanty clothing.

     2. Nakedness has always been a symbol of shame, ever since Adam
        and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit and tried to hide
        themselves. God was not satisfied with the covering Adam and
        Eve made, so Jehovah God made for Adam and his wife coats of
        skins, and clothed them. (Genesis 3:21).
            God uses symbolic nakedness as the shame of Israel.
        (Isaiah 47:3).
            Revelation 3:18 -- Symbol of shame in Laodicea, "I counsel
        thee to buy of me....white garments that thou mayest clothe
        thyself, and that the shame of thy nakedness be not made
        manifest."

 II. MODERN PROBLEM:
        San Francisco Chronicle, Jan. 3, 1963: (Jean Wilson, AP):
            "Nudity at the beach has barely gotten started, California
        designer Rudi Gernreich says -- just as everyone has assumed
        the bikini had gone about as far as scantiness could go.
        Within five years, Gernreich says, ladies will not wear tops
        to bathing suits....The tendency is already here. In Europe it
        has been moving in that direction all along....A lot of women
        in this country who would never have dreamed of it three years
        ago are owning and enjoying their bikinis today, argues
        Gernreich. As always, he expects certain areas, such as
        Western beaches, to pioneer in topless suits...."

III. PAUL SAYS (1 Timothy 2:9-10) WOMEN ARE TO ADORN THEMSELVES IN
     MODEST APPAREL, WITH:

     1. SHAMEFASTNESS -- a "sense of shame, modesty, reverence, the
        ability to blush."
            Remember, Barclay defined lasciviousness as "the loss of
        shame."
            When clothing is worn that produces embarrassment or
        shame, it is IMMODEST.
            Girls (young or older) would you be embarrassed for a man
        to walk into your room and view you in your undergarments? If
        you have any "bashfulness" at all, you must answer "yes." But,
        what about swim suits or shorts and halters in public? Is
        there any difference? Does the fact that the name of one is
        swimwear and the other is underwear make you modest in one and
        immodest in the other?
            When boys' (and/or men's) wandering eyes make you feel
        like you want to pull your neckline up and your skirt down,
        then you might give some thought as to whether or not your
        clothing is lascivious; that is, encouraging lewd of lustful
        thoughts or emotions.

     2. SOBRIETY -- "Sound judgment." "Good judgment, moderation....
        especially as a feminine virtue, decency" (Arndt and
        Gingrich).
            "It is that habitual inner self-government, with its
        constant rein on all the passions and desires" (Vines
        Expository Dictionary).
            This word shows the importance of dressing in such a
        manner as to glorify God and not to cause anyone to lust.

     3. The wearing of less and less clothing is often justified with
        the glib remark, "Well, it's the fashion." Sin has always been
        fashionable with the world, for Satan is the god of this
        world.

 IV. AN ILLUSTRATION: An incident that happened on the hi-jacked
     pleasure ship Santa Maria, in 1961. The women on board ship
     expressed fear that the rebels might have designs on them, so
     they left off wearing "enticing clothing," i.e., they stopped
     appearing in shorts and halters, and quit swimming in the ship's
     pool.

  V. IMMODEST CLOTHING CAUSES OTHERS TO SIN:

     1. We are all familiar with the sin of David in regard to
        Bathsheba. Certainly, her immodesty contributed to the whole
        sordid mess. Her motives may been pure and white, but look at
        the evil that came from her lack of modesty -- ADULTERY,
        MURDER, DECEIT, DEATH OF AN INNOCENT CHILD, etc.


     2. Ladies (girls) you may be unaware of the effect you may have
        on others, but you cannot excuse yourself if by your
        appearance you cause someone to look and to lust. You say,
        "Well, they just should not lust." And that is true, but you
        cannot be innocent if you had a part in causing their lust.

 VI. IN THE ASSEMBLY:

     1. Attention needs to be given here to our manner of dress when
        we come into the assembly of God's people. Let us be sure that
        our attire is within the bounds of that which tends toward
        godliness; that we are adorned in "Shamefastness," and
        "Sobriety."

     2. My persuasion is that the Child of God should not set the
        customs, nor be among the first to break the ice in new
        fashions.  Especially, when it comes to the matter of Modesty.

Conclusion:

     1. What a tremendous responsibility each one of us has toward
        those around us. We are the "light of the world," the "salt of
        the earth." May we ever remember our influence on others.

     2. May we never be guilty of causing someone else to stumble.

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