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AN UNUSED WORD
There is a word seldom used today. It is the name of a concept that our present day society has thrown away. This word and its meaning are unpopular: nay, are hated by the fleshly nature with which all were born. That word is modest. It is used in the Bible to describe clothing that is designed to conceal rather than to reveal. Paul wrote: “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.,” (1 Timothy 2:9-10). Being modest is directly related to whether or not one dresses so as to cover their nakedness. Revelation 3:18 uses clothing in a figure and speaks of “the shame of thy nakedness.” God regards nakedness as a shame. So much so that His Old Testament Jewish priests wore robes with “linen breeches” underneath, (Exodus 28:42). Besides those requirements God specified this: “Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon,” (Exodus 20:26). When it is remembered that all the priests were men and that men only were allowed in that part of the temple where the altar was located then we begin to understand the extent to which God regards nakedness as a sin. The Bible book of Leviticus contain numerous prohibitions regarding the sin of seeing the nakedness of family members. In speaking of judgment God through the prophet Isaiah said, “Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen...” (Isaiah 47:3). And again through His prophet Nahum God said, “Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts; and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame,” (Nahum 3:5). And again when the Lord Jesus spoke of His coming in future judgment He said: “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame,” (Revelation 1615). All the Scriptures cited prove that God regards nakedness as a shameful thing. He condemns it as sin. Wearing clothing that is designed to reveal can be more enticing than complete nakedness. So we find the in Proverbs 7:10 the mention of “the attire of an harlot,” i.e. the immodest clothing of a prostitute. Obviously such clothing is designed to stir desire and leads to both mental and physical illicit sexual acts. From the Bible it is clear that both men and women are to cover their bodies with clothing that conceals. Tight-fitting, sheer or “see-through” clothing or styles that display body parts or the whole body are marks of inward sin: such clothing reveals the wicked hearts of the men and women who dress to provoke sexual desires in those who see them. Today's professing Christians who dress that way or who allow their children to dress similarly commit sin. There can be no disputing that.
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