We live in a culture that says attention equals power. This power is a scarce resource for which we must compete. Welcome to the world of social media, where anyone can post content or curate a self-image for the world’s purview. It’s one thing to seek attention online, but it doesn’t stop there. Attention-getting has become an undercurrent of our culture. Ironically, immodesty, as we conceive of it, is not the opposite of modesty—attention-seeking is.
Modesty is the topic of this little blog. It is an important, but mostly overlooked and misunderstood virtue. How often do we hear someone being praised for their modesty these days? If modesty is about refraining from the attention-seeking culture, then it is just as applicable to males as females. Focusing on what someone wears is only a symptom of a much larger issue.
In addition to competing for attention, society teaches that image is everything. Notice the shift: It’s not character, or what is on the inside that matters, but what one projects on the outside (which can be completely separated from what is on the inside). Ideally, what is projected is also what is on the inside, but the inside no longer matters in American culture. If you’ve got it, flaunt it: wealth, degrees from big name schools, or plastic surgery are all game for showing to the world. Hollywood may epitomize this mindset, but you’ll find it everywhere.
What does the Bible say about all this? Colossians 3:23 encourages us to do what we do to receive praise from God, not our fellow man. 1 Timothy 2:9-10 says that our good character should be our reputation—not the clothes and accessories we wear. 1 Peter 3:3-4 takes it one step further, stating that our inner goodness should be almost a secret between us and God, with no concern for what others think. Matthew 6:1 warns against showing off how good you are for the praise of others. Living this way is COMPLETELY counter-cultural. Living biblically in the area of modesty simply doesn’t add up in our culture.
One last thought before we go: Think of clothing as a mission field. What we choose to wear indicates what we value. A $2,000 Armani suit sends a signal, just as a low-cut top and skin-tight pants does on a woman. How can we dress in a way that glorifies God? This may sound like a strange question, but it should be the only standard we use to determine if our attire is appropriate. The same goes for what we say in person and what we post online. Are we seeking praise from our fellow man, or from God?
