How should we think about modesty?

The question of modesty can be sensitive. Modesty basically means humility, but it commonly refers to how people dress. When women’s modesty is discussed frequently, they start to feel like everyone is looking at them to evaluate whether they are being modest. This is wrong. While some forms of dress are clearly immodest, most decisions are subjective and therefore men and women shouldn’t be looking at others to evaluate their modesty. The Bible does not give a dress code for modesty. Rather each person should evaluate his own heart before the Lord, rather than looking at others with suspicion.

1. The Bible’s Teaching on Modesty

The Bible has a lot to say about the need to be clothed, rather than naked. Adam and Eve were clothed by God immediately after the fall, which shows that clothing is important because of sin and shame. When Ham looked at his father, Noah, naked, it brought about a curse. Notice that nakedness (the state of being unclothed) is closely tied to sin and wickedness in both the initial fall and the fall of Noah’s son right after the flood. The phrase to “uncover nakedness” is used as a euphemism for sexual immorality throughout the book of Leviticus. The prophet Isaiah says that Babylon will be judged by God uncovering their nakedness (Is 47:2-3; cf. Nah 3:5; Jer 13:22, 26). Modesty, or humility in clothing, is discussed in 1 Tim 2:9-10 and 1 Cor 12:23. In Revelation 3:18 Jesus counsels the church in Laodicea, “Buy from me… white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen…” The whore of Babylon in Revelation 17 is immodest.

Both men and women are required to be modest, humble in heart, and therefore not to draw attention to their bodies or any part of themselves for their own sake to glorify themselves above God. This is pride. Pride tries to use others for our own pleasure, to satisfy our own appetites, and to puff up and reinforce our self-centered delusions. The Bible teaches that we should use our minds, hearts, and bodies to draw attention to Christ and to love others in His name. We should obey Christ with our minds, hearts and bodies to put His loveliness and goodness on display, such that when others see us, they glorify God. But when a smart person puts his intelligence on display for its own sake, that is pride. When a “people person” makes himself the center of attention for his own sake, that is pride. When a beautiful person puts his beauty on display for its own sake, that is pride. Pride, immodesty, is a delusion about who we are. It is a lie we tell ourselves. The truth is that we are sinners, who have no room for pride, and who need a Savior. The Bible says that whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31).

2. Practical Application

This is a post about the biblical teaching on modesty.