We weren't given a list of what clothes we shouldn't bring. So, the girls packed their bags and brought the clothes that normal Senior girls would wear. And then the female youth leaders got really mad when the girls pulled out short shorts, short dresses, and spaghetti strap shirts/tank tops. And then the girls and leaders spent the rest of the week fighting about clothing. (Oh, and there was an incident when someone got this great idea to dye her hair too.) The freshmen girls all thought the ordeal was funny. The clothes in question weren't that bad. The girls being criticized were nice girls who were active in the church. And the youth leaders who were arguing about the clothes were the LAST people I would have sought fashion advice from.
We seemed to have a repeat of D.C. on every other youth trip. Why? Because the youth leaders never grasped the proper way to teach modesty. (Personally, I think parents are better suited to teach this lesson--and my parents did!)
As I was reading the Girls Gone Wise book this weekend, I had an enlightened moment. Mary Kassian explains in 1 chapter, what our youth leaders should have been able to teach. She discussed 1 Timothy 2:9 in a way I had never heard it taught. She breaks down the verse into 3 commands:
1) We should wear proper clothing. In the Greek, the word proper is Kosmio and can be read to mean that we are to dress "like the universe, all the parts should be aptly and harmoniously arranged with the other parts." In other words, we are called to dress in a way that is "becoming." This means that just as it is sinful to be too extravagant or extreme with our appearance, it is also sinful to be a frump! Our clothing should look tasteful and "harmonious" with fashion and our body types.
2) We should wear modest clothing. The Greek word aidous stands for humility and shame. We are to dress in such a way that we can present ourselves to God. Adam and Eve needed God to make them clothing when they sinned. And God is the only one who can clothes us in true righteousness and make us presentable to Himself. We need to remember that the way we dress, is the way we want to present ourselves to Him. I've always said that if I am embarrassed to wear an outfit in front of a human judge in court, then I ought to be embarrassed to wear that outfit to church before my Judge. In court, lawyers dress in a way to show respect and to not draw attention to themselves. This is a good rule for real life too when it comes to clothes.
3) We should dress discreetly. The Greek word sophrosunes indicates that we should not dress in a way that is crazy or insane. Extreme fashion and extreme hair or make-up are unreasonable and indiscreet. So are clothes that cost too much. We just need to use common sense and good judgment with regards to our wardrobe.
I think the denim jumper wearing mom, the frumpy former jock, the goth wannabe and the high maintenance beauty queen can all learn something from this verse. We ought to dress in such a way that makes us look good, but doesn't draw attention to ourselves, and ultimately honors God. If my youth leaders in high school had taught this verse in this way and had lived it themselves, we probably wouldn't have had the drama in D.C.
Just remember that sin is the reason we have to wear clothes in the first place. Our clothing is symbolic of the fact that we need something other than our own skin to become presentable before God. He clothed us in righteousness, and we should clothe ourselves tastefully.
Isn't it cool to learn about clothes from this perspective? I didn't mention one word about men and their perception about women and lusting, blah blah blah. Nope. Clothes are for God. So we should be proud of our appearance and make ourselves look appropriate before our Judge and Creator.
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