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Don McClain
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009
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 When French designer Louis Reard
introduced the bikini in 1946,
Parisian models would not model it.
He hired a nude dancer to unveil the
swimsuit.
 Today, little is frowned upon in
society. Thong bathing suits, “Daisy
Duke” shorts, Micro-mini skirts, are
championed on television and in
movies, and are seen everywhere.
 Who sets the standard for what you
wear?
Don McClain
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009
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Don McClain
World
Parents
Preacher
Elders
Always Thought /
Done
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009
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To violate
God’s standard
is to act
outside of
God’s will
Don McClain
If so – will listen,
appreciate & follow
( Jas. 1:21-22)
If not – You will be
rejecting God
himself ( Jno. 12:48)
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009
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 “Unclad, without clothing”
. . .“Ill-clad” or “clad in
undergarment only”
(Thayer, p. 122)
 “badly clad” or “not fully
clothed” (Kittle, I:773-774)
 “lightly clad” (Liddell &
Scott, 170)
Don McClain
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009
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Apron
V. 7
Naked
(Nude)
Don McClain
[21] . . . the
Lord God
made tunics
of skin, and
clothed
them.”
V. 10,11,21
Recognized as Still Naked
By All (Relatively)
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009
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Original I.S.B.E. article on “Dress”
says chiton “resembled the
From
Roman tunic, corresponding most
nearly to our long shirt, reaching
The
below the knee always, and, in Shoulder
case it was designed for dress
To The
occasions, reaching almost to the
Knee
ground” (I.S.B.E., II:877). . . . the
chiton of the peasantry was
shorter like modern kamis of
Syrian fellah which is to the knee.
Don McClain
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009
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KUTTONET--"a tunic...; generally
with sleeves, coming down to the
knees, rarely to the ankles"
From
(Gesenius, 420; cf. Harris, 1:459; Brown,
The
Driver, Briggs, 509).
Shoulder
“The tunic . . . was a shirt which To The
was worn next to the skin. It was
Knee
made of leather, hair-cloth, wool,
linen, or in modern times, usually
of cotton . . . (Fred H. Wight, Manners
and Customs of Bible Lands, 91).
Don McClain
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009
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. . . The simplest form of it was
without sleeves and reached to
From
the knees or sometimes to the
The
ankles. . . . Women as well as
Shoulder
men wore it [see Cant. 5:3,
A.R.V.], although there was no To The
Knee
doubt a difference in style and
pattern in what was worn by
the two” (Fred H. Wight, Manners
and Customs of Bible Lands, 91).
Don McClain
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009
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}
Nakedness
Don McClain
Exodus 28:42 (NKJV)
42 And
you shall make for
them linen trousers to
cover their nakedness; they
shall reach from the waist
to the thighs.
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009
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}
Nakedness
Don McClain
Isaiah 47:2-3 (NKJV)
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. . . Remove your veil, Take
off the skirt, Uncover the
thigh, Pass through the rivers.
3 Your nakedness shall be
uncovered, Yes, your shame
will be seen; . . .
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009
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1 Timothy 2:9,10 (NKJV)
9 in
like manner also, that the
women adorn themselves in
modest apparel, with propriety
and moderation, not with braided
hair or gold or pearls or costly
clothing, 10 but, which is proper
for women professing godliness,
with good works.
Don McClain
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009
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(kosmios)  "Respectable; honorable" (Arndt
and Gingrich, 445).
 "Well-arranged; seemly" (Thayer,
356).
 "Orderly; well-arranged; decent"
(Vine, III:79).
 "The well-ordering is not of dress
and demeanor only, but the inner
life’s uttering indeed, and
expressing itself in the outward
conversation" (Trench’s Syn. 346).
Don McClain
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009
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 The People’s New Testament
Commentary defines modesty as
“In simple attire which doesn’t
attract attention.”
 Bible Knowledge Commentary “An appearance that is simple,
moderate, judicious, and free
from ostentation. . . . Christians
must be careful about letting a
pagan culture set their fashions.
Don McClain
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009
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Reserved
Humble
Respectable
Decent
Orderly
Don McClain
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009
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 “With shamefacedness” –(aidos) – “A
sense of shame or honor, modesty,
bashfulness, reverence, regard for others,
respect” - "A sense of shame" (Vine,
IV:17; Thayer, 14).
 Have we lost the ability to blush
( Jeremiah 6:15; 8:12)?
 Those who dress, (don’t dress), in such a
way that the imagination has little else, if
anything to imagine . . what would it take
to get them to blush?
Don McClain
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009
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 SOPHROSUNE - Translated “sobriety,”
KJV, ASV; - “moderation,” NKJV
 “Soundness of mind... ‘sound judgment’
practically expresses the meaning; ‘it is
that habitual inner self- government,
with its constant rein on all the passions
and desires which would hinder the
temptation to these from arising....”
(Vines, Vol. IV, pp. 44-45).
 “Soundness of mind, i.e.(lit,) sanity or
(fig.) self- control” (Strongs, # 4997).
Don McClain
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009
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 THEOSEBEIA - “Denotes the
fear or reverence of God,…”
(Vines, Vol. II, p. 162).
 “Devoutness, i.e. piety”
(Strongs, # 2317).
 Darby: “profession of the fear
of God”, NIV: “profess to
worship God”
Don McClain
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009
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I’m dressed –
I’ll get it
Don McClain
Someone’s at the door –
Could someone answer it
– I’m not dressed!
It’s probably my
friends – we are
going to Wild
River Country
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009
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 Ignorant & Untaught
 Want to fit in
 Want to be bold and
“turn heads”
 Don’t know how they
really look
 Careless – Don’t stop
& think
Don McClain
 About Divine
principles
 Allow world’s
standards to
influence them
 Brethren gradually
get looser
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009
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 Our dress says something to others about
ourselves - “Attire of a harlot” (Prov. 7:10)
 Create sexual temptation, causing others to
sin (Matt. 5:28; Prov. 6:25; Jas. 1:14; Mt.
18:6-7); [David saw Bathsheba & lusted (2
Sam. 11)]
Don McClain
 Sets a poor example (Mt. 5:13-16), which
could put others in danger.
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009
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 Bring shame on Christ and His children
(Eph. 5:25-27; Jas. 1:27).
 Discourage Christians (1 Thes. 5:14).
 Mislead weak Christians (Phil. 3:17).
 Ultimately, you lose your soul unless you
repent and may cause others to be lost too
(Gal. 5:21).
Don McClain
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009
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 Too short, (revealing the thighs).
 Too low off the shoulders,
(showing shoulders/chest/back).
 Too sheer (can see through them).
 Too tight (fits like a sausage
wrapper - more suggestive/
appealing to men).
 Careless body positioning and
movements.
Don McClain
OK when
participating in
sporting event?
OK when
participating in
a school
function?
OK when at a
swimming pool
or the beach?
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009
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 Short Dresses
/ Mini Skirts
 Swimsuits
 Split Dresses
 Backless Dresses
 Short Shorts (revealing
the thigh)
 Sun Dresses
 Jogging Shorts
 Low-Cut Blouses &
Dresses Revealing
Cleavage -
 See-Through Styles
Don McClain
 Tight / Formfitting
 Majorette Uniforms
 Cheerleading Outfits
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009
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 Can I stand, walk, sit, kneel, bend over,
etc., in this clothing without being
"naked" by biblical standards?
 Does my clothing emphasize certain body
parts or area that would tend to provoke
lust in others?
 Does my clothing stir admiration and
respect for me or does it prompt opinions
otherwise?
Don McClain
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009
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 Since clothing can indicate character (cf.
Prov. 7:10), would my clothing suggest an
abundance or lack of upright character?
 What kind of influence will my clothing
have on those who are not Christians?
 What kind of influence will my clothing
have on those who are Christians?
 Would I wear this if Jesus was in my
personal physical presence?
Don McClain
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009
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 Begin early - don't allow immodesty until 12 or 13, and then
expect sudden correction.
 Take the lead in teaching children about modesty; don't wait
for someone else to do it.
 Teach children by word of mouth - in our homes, and teach
them by example - children can identify inconsistency
quickly and easily.
 Be consistent in standards and application of standards.
 Mothers, teach your sons and daughters what God teaches,
and do not undermine godly husbands and fathers as they
properly lead.
Don McClain
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009
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 Disregard God by disregarding His word
( Jn. 12:48-49; cf. 1 Sam. 8:7).
 Defile and sear your conscience (1 Cor. 8:7; 1 Tim. 4:2).
 Lose your sense of shame ( Jer. 6:15; 8:12).
 You conform to the world (Rom. 12:1-2).
 Will likely move to more immodesty (2 Tim. 3:13).
 Will likely move to other forms of worldliness
(2 Tim. 3:13).
 Will resent questions and teaching on the subject
22:22).
Don McClain
(Acts
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009
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 Be Modest – reserved, decent,
respectable
 Exhibit Shamefastness – can blush,
have shame
 Show Good Judgment – common
sense
 Show Godliness – devoted to God
 Respect Others – opposite sex could
lust
 Cover our nakedness – cover from
the shoulder to the knee
Don McClain
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009
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As a ring of gold in a
swine's snout, So is a
lovely woman who
lacks discretion.
- Proverbs 11:22
Don McClain
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009
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Don McClain
World
Parents
Preacher
Elders
Always Thought /
Done
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009
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Don McClain
W. 65th St church of Christ / May 17, 2009