[CS-FSLUG] "The Look - does God really care what I wear?"

[Fred Miller]

True of False.
  Christians are free to dress as they wish, because we're not under the law, 
but under grace.  It's legalistic for parents or youth leaders to establish 
guidelines or standards for the way young people dress.  
See answer below ...

To: Friends
From: Bill Johnson
Re:  "The Look - does God really care what I wear?"
Date: July 13, 2004

"The Look - does God really care what I wear?" is a 50 page booklet published 
by Revive our Hearts and written by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

It is a sensitive and sensible little booklet that gives practical and 
forthright Biblical counsel on the subject of modesty.

>From the little booklet:  "The Look - does God really care what I wear?"
by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

In the introduction, Nancy writes the following words:  "Dress can be 
controversial, and just the mention of modesty today can raise a lot of 
questions.  Have you ever argued with your parents or your teen about what to 
wear?  Does it matter how you dress at the office?  At school? At the mall?  
At the beach?  What's revealed by our clothing and appearance? ....

The 50 page booklet includes a little true or false quiz that deals with 
compelling questions. Here are just three of those questions - out of 
seventeen.

True or False.  
  I can't help it if guys struggle morally because of what I wear.  It's up to 
guys to control their minds.  I shouldn't have to change the way I dress just 
because they can't control themselves.

False.  We may not be completely responsible for how guys think, but we are 
responsible for modest appearance so we do not tempt them to sin.

True of False.
  Christians are free to dress as they wish, because we're not under the law, 
but under grace.  It's legalistic for parents or youth leaders to establish 
guidelines or standards for the way young people dress.

False.  Every area of a believer's life is to be lived under the authority and 
lordship of Jesus Christ.  Grace gives us the desire and ability to please 
God.  Parents and spiritual leaders are responsible to provide wise, biblical 
leadership for those under authority.

True or False.  There are some public settings where it's O.K. for Christian 
women to wear clothing that exposes their private parts (e.g., thighs, 
breasts).

False.  "Place" does not determine modesty.  Unfortunately, when it comes to 
swimwear and formal wear, many Christian women do not even consider the issue 
of modesty, or they are content to settle for a standard that is "relatively" 
modest --
i.e., modest compared to what "most people wear" -- rather than asking, "Is 
this truly modest?"

From: "The Look - does God really care what I wear?" published by Revive our 
Hearts and written by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.


Personal note:
 Do people really care?  

Letter #1:  A Sunday School teacher for teenagers weighs in ...

Dear Mr. Johnson:
  My name is Anna-Lee and I live in Johannesburg, South Africa. I received 
your email below from a dear friend of mine in America. I'm a Sunday School 
teacher for teenagers at my church and have noticed the same thing over here.
  I would strongly recommend that young ladies read the following book:
"And the bride wore white." It is written by Danah Gresh and this book has 
turned my life around. She teaches about sexual purity and also about modesty 
in her book. As a result 3 of my friends and myself have decided to start a 
ministry amongst young girls promoting modesty and purity. We have bought a 
couple of these books and gave it to some of our friends. They in turn also 
said that the book changed their lives and they are now striving towards a 
life of purity and modesty. If you need more information on the book please 
let me know.
God bless,
A.L.Z.

Letter #2:  On the front lines ...

Thank you for the very timely email on modesty.  My husband is a youth pastor 
and we have been dealing with this issue WEEKLY!!!  A few weeks ago we took a 
group of our young people to camp.  There were short shorts, tank tops, 
bikinis, etc.  My husband had a meeting with the girls while we were at camp 
and expressed how easy it is for a guy to lust.  We shared scripture with 
them, how they're causing these young guys to sin, and how men are so 
visually stimulated.  They acted totally grossed out that guys feel that way 
about them.  One of the girls toned down her dressing some, but still 
continues to wear revealing skirts.  Since we have gotten back from camp 
(just two weeks ago) he has had at least two more discussions with the girls.  
One of them came to youth last week wearing a very low cut shirt.  I could 
see her bra and breasts.  Then this week during Sunday School two girls came 
in wearing short skirts.  My husband had to ask them twice to change the way 
they were si!
 tting.  Later that evening he had another talk with the girls and reminded 
them once again that they need to watch what they wear.  He said he was 
having a hard time teaching because he could see their underwear and he was 
trying so hard not to look that way because he was losing his train of 
thought.  It's pretty bad when you can't even focus to teach because you're 
so busy trying not to look at someone because of what you might see.  I don't 
think these talks with these girls are doing any good.  We desperately need 
something more severe.  

Letter #3:    Passed this out to individuals

So appreciative of the important message on modesty that you provided in the 
bulletin .. Passed this out to individuals ... it was exactly the issue that 
they were currently having to deal with in their own families due to peer 
pressure ... and it WAS effective as they passed this to their children in a 
loving way... Thank you for addressing this most important issue... God bless 
you for the courage to stand up for the right.
M.H.

Letter #4:  Crossing the line

Hey,
  I want to thank you for your faithfulness and wonderful encouraging emails.  
I was encouraged by the emails and articles about modesty.  It's funny 
because I have noticed some immodesty at my church and, although I feel I am 
pretty modest, I had noticed a feeling creeping up on me that I had to try 
harder to look better at church so that my husband would not be as likely to 
notice the other women.  I think it was beginning to blur my thinking on the 
subject.  He is not a "looker", but it was my own insecurities.  Because of 
that, I prayed about 4 or 5 days ago that the Lord would let me know how I 
needed to be dressing because I did not want to be a stumbling block to 
anyone.  Just 2 or 3 days later I saw your email with the articles about 
immodesty.  It was confirmation to me that the Lord heard my prayer and that 
I should be careful not to cross that line in my desire to keep my husband 
pleased.  Thanks again.  
a sister in Christ 

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American Decency Association
Bill Johnson, President
P.O. Box 202
Fremont, MI 49412
ph: 231-924-4050

*** Holiness:

 "The first thing, therefore, that God does when He makes anyone a new 
creature in Christ, is to send light into his heart, and show him that he is 
a guilty sinner.  The material creation in Genesis began with "light," and so 
also does the spiritual creation.  God "shines into our hearts" by the work 
of the Holy Ghost, and then spiritual life begins (2 Corinthians 4:6). -- Dim 
or indistinct views of sin are the origin of most of the errors, heresies, 
and false doctrines of the present day.  If a man does not realize the 
dangerous nature of his soul's disease, you cannot wonder if he is content 
with false or imperfect remedies. ..."
[From the book Holiness by J.C. Ryle]

-- 
"Ballmer is no more designed for the art of persuasion 
than the Abrams tank is for delivering meals on wheels."