It usually happens around Summertime. We find that some members of the church, seeking to be just like the world in their attire, seek to draw attention to themselves by failing to be modest.

What exactly is meant by “modesty”? In 1 Timothy 2:9–11 and again in 1 Peter 3:1–8 we find that the term used for modesty is as follows: Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible says it means “well arranged, seemly.” Vine’s Expository Dictionary defines the Greek word as “orderly, well arranged, decent.” Arndt and Gingrich Lexicographers define the term as “respectable and honorable.” Other translations of 1 Timothy 2:9 translate this as “modest apparel, becoming manner, proper clothing, sensible in seemly apparel dress becomingly and dressed quietly.”

Other terms that we need to examine concerning this are the terms adorn (which means to arrange, to put in order), shamefacedness (which means a sense of shame, the ability to blush) and sobriety (which means sound judgment).

Noticing each of these words helps us to be better able to understand what modesty is. One may be immodest by a failure to wear the proper clothing that covers enough, and one may be immodest by being overdressed. One may be immodest by wearing T-shirts that advocate the use of alcohol, drugs, or that taunt others and make indecent remarks. Sadly, we have lost out sense of shame in many of these matters, and we wear these things not only in the world (where such would be normal) but also in the presence of God (who is with us as we gather together to meet). Some of the clothes we wear look like we have been poured into them, thus making an appeal to the lusts of the flesh. They are so tight they leave nothing to the imagination. Immodesty causes attention to be drawn to us, instead of to God who made us. We have, in many situations, lost the ability to blush (Jeremiah 6:15, 8:12).

Another thing to consider is that the term “nakedness” in the Bible does not always denote absolute nudity. In James 2:15 and John 21:7 we see that the term “naked” denotes one who is not clothed properly because of destitution, or because they are just wearing their underwear. In Genesis 3:7–21 Adam and Eve made aprons out of fig leaves, but when God asked where they were, Adam himself said, “I was afraid, because I was naked” In verse 21 God makes clothes for them of animal skins.

In Exodus 28:42 the priests were to make “linen breeches to cover their nakedness, from the loins unto the thighs they shall reach.” Where on the thighs? Mid thigh? High thigh? Well, we don’t have to guess, as we see in Isaiah 47:2-3. “Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers. Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man.” Note here that when one uncovers the thigh (any part thereof) “thy nakedness shall be uncovered.” I am convinced this is what is being described in John 21—Peter was naked while fishing in the sense that his thighs were uncovered, but he was not totally naked.

I hope and pray that all who read these words will understand the spirit in which they are written. It is not to condemn, but to make us THINK about how we look in the presence of God. We need t o realize these things daily! The world judges us daily, and one way is by our dress! What are we saying?