To Cover or Not to Cover? Why Should it Be a Question?

   We live in a culture where modesty is going out of fashion. As the numerous clothing styles change every season, it seems as though necklines plunge further, skirts rise higher, and jeans get tighter. Today, it is extremely hard to find clothing that is not to tight, low, flashy, high, or looks like a burqa.

   I often ponder and ask myself, why does our society embrace the act of immodestly exposing our bodies to men who will not be our husbands? Frankly, the value of  "a gentle and quiet spirit which is pleasing to God" is slowly decaying. Our culutre is convinced that outward beauty is much more important than inner beauty.

    There is nothing wrong to like shopping or clothes, or even follow some of the fads. I myself enjoy going to the store and picking out a new shirt or a cute pair of jeans! After all, the stores can carry very, very cute outfits :)  However, there is a line that we must watch out for, because it can be very easy to stumble across it. There is a line that divides wanting to look beautiful, and dressing immodestly for the purpose of attracting eyes.

    When we pick out our clothes or get dressed in the morning, we should ask ourselves:

1. Is our dress glorifying to God? Does is exemplify a pure, beautiful, lovely spirit that will point people to Jesus? In other words, if people asked you if you were a Christian and you said yes, would it suprise them because of the way you dress?

2. Are we picking out our clothes so that we draw eyes onto us? Are our motives pleasing to God? Are we wearing the certain sweater to turn heads, or simply because we like it and it covers us up?

3. Above all, are we dressing modestly? Is our wardrobe going to stumble our neighbors? Are we going to cause men to think things that they should only be thinking about their wife? After all, each and every one of us belongs to our spouse, whether we're married to them or not. Are we bringing honor to and guarding our hearts for the special one that will be eternally ours?

    Ladies, we should take care and cover ourselves. I'm not saying that we need to be condemned to wear turtlenecks, headresses, and floor-length skirts our whole lives, but it is wise to set up limitations for ourselves. There is a wonderful Christian website specially designed for teens called: http://www.therebelution.com/. They have a section explaining how young men think women should dress, and that has been a huge help when I have made my own personal standards. That link is: www.therebelution.com/modestysurvey. I highly reccomend that you check it out!!

    Remember, it is the insurpassable beauty of the inward spirit that will shine through. If you focus on beautifying your character more than you dress up your body, that will bring ultimate glory to God. Who is more beautiful? The immodest, but gorgeous girl who does not follow Chirst? Or the modest, slightly plain girl that is devoted to her Savior? Even if the wordly lady has more outward beauty, it will fade away. In the end, the modest, chaste woman will be the most beautiful, inside and out.

   To cover or not to cover? You answer that question :)