It was a gorgeous Sunday morning, all seemed to go just fine in the Sunday school and even the start of the morning assistance seem to put the saints in the spirit of unity and worship. I remember as a young man how worship services had a extra meaning to my mother. I can remember how the habitancy were reflective of their week and thankful to God for His many blessings.
Attending Church had a extra meaning while those years, it was quite dissimilar from the time we perceive in the corporate worship services today. Modesty and humility were the hallmark of Godly men and women at one time. At the risk of stirring up a hornets nest (and I'm not calling anything a hornet) I realize that some of my readers may not agree nor appreciate this post in particular.There was a time when the only distractions in the church was a snore (indicating that someone fell asleep), the occasional popping of gum (inadvertently while chewing fast) or children laughing, talking or even crying. Those days are yet with us along with some added distractions and things implemented, to help move things along on Sunday mornings. Since our children are attending children's church, the adults won't dare fall asleep while the sermon lest they are made the town of attention while the sermon when the speaker singles them out.
Wonder Shoes
Alas! We have a new distraction in the church, well its not beyond doubt new, no one speaks out against it in fear of offending someone. Over the years it's been excepted as the norm while worship services and its common institution in many churches, what is it? Cleavage, a tight Skirt and High Heel shoes. Many Pastors won't preach about it (...I wonder why). Many of the women whom wear this (sometimes inappropriate ) attire will reason, debate and construe it away all in the name of Christ and Christianity. "God blessed me with it" many will say, others might say "If it bothers you, don't look"
Try street witnessing with cleavage, a tight skirt or jeans for that matter and the high heels. Most women realize and know that if they are going out to do ministry; inspect to the poor, the broken-hearted and the homeless, they will dress modest and proper for the situation. Those having street or security ministries understand the importance of how you present yourself and being empathetic to those you priest to. Going to the homeless security in your expensive clothing, wearing your best perfume is plainly gaudy.
What happens when we come together in worship? Why do we present ourselves to the non believer one way and come together for worship another. If one can have a sense of compassion and thoughtfulness when doing such ministry as to not wear those things that will make, the one being witnesses to feel left out, feel lowly, poor, lacking and without. The fact that God knows your heart and your intentions is true, how can we as believers be so dismissive about our true intentions in what we put on? When women and our young girls, attend worship services and stand before God (and the rest of the congregation) with much cleavage on display and dresses in tight skirts and high heel shoes attention is drwan to self and your best assets (pun intended); the wearer know this.
Modesty seems to be old fashion and many are extremely offended at the hint of anything not approving. Well, "God looks at my heart and not what I wear" you say. This is only partly true (anything partly true is misleading and anything misleading is deceptive and anything deceptive is not the truth) How's that for political correctness? Think about this, if we are true with ourselves, as we dress in the morning and you take a look in the mirror at how you look and you say, Wow! I'm seeing real sexy" and my hips and thighs are to die for! Then it's about you, pleasing you, its about you getting the looks and stares as you walk down the aisle to your seat (fashionably late), not the spirit of God and how you might cause the one seeing to stumble.
Little is left to the imagination of our young men in the church and our young daughters get the impression, this is what they need to do to attract the boys in the church. Our young girls see nothing wrong with proclaiming Christianity and dressing "sexy and hot" (I guess that's the term). When our young men in the church see the women in the church, in their attire that flatters their hips and thighs, the young girls can plainly see how the men and the boys write back to cleavage and tight skirt. In the minds of young girls, this is justified because older Christian women do it. Many will say, "wow, you being judgemental". Would other man in the church be wrong for telling other man his tight revealing jeans and mesh shirt is inappropriate?
I like what Paul states in Romain 14:13-21:
13: Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. 14: As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anything regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. 15: If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. 16: Do not allow what you think good to be spoken of as evil. 17: For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18: because anything who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and beloved by men.
19: Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20: Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21: It is best not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.
The catch-all is verse 21: It is best not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.
If your defense is "the one seeing needs to pray more and grow up spiritually", then you have just declared your strength in the Lord thus your accountability according to scripture is to bear the frailness of the weak (the one looking) [Romans 15:1] and knowing that your brother or sister is overtaken in a fault, ye (that's you) which are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness (Galatians 6:1).
Many churches have become the place where men (men that don't know the Lord nor do they have any intention in knowing Him) come into the church seeing for a woman and women seeing for a man. When the church becomes such a place to attract a mate, men and women will lower their standards by their abandonment of modest apparel and they will hide behind their freedom in Christ Jesus to construe the cleavage, tight skirts and high heel shoes.
Cleavage, a Tight Skirt and High Heel Shoes - Where Has Modesty Gone in Corporate Worship?
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