Letters    

ON MODESTY

Dear W. F.                                                                                                      March 11, 1990

     ...I am very concerned about the outrageous way the cheerleaders are allowed to dress. When Isaiah prophesied against the daughters of Babylon, he said, "...uncover the locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh..." (Isaiah 47:2). The uncovering of the thigh is a thing of shame and humiliation.

     Am I wrong? Yet, this is the sense given by Matthew Henry, Jamieson-Fausset-and Brown, John Trapp, John Gill, Adam Clarke, and other Bible commentators. If this is the correct meaning, then to allow young women to humble themselves by exposing themselves to their shame is simply to exploit them.

    If it is the duty of aged, Christian women to teach young women to be discreet and chaste (Titus 2:5a), then, is it not the responsibility of Christ-like elders to teach them as sisters with all purity (I Timothy 5:2b)?

OF DRESS AND ATTITUDES

Dear A. N.                                                                                                        August 5, 1988

      ...There is a direct correlation between clothing and attitude. The old adage is true: "Clothes (do) make the man." Parents who send their child to school in slovenly dress will find their child will manifest a slovenly attitude toward his or her schoolwork.

     In similar fashion, there is a direct correlation between the time women began wearing clothes that "pertain" to a man, and the time that women began talking, walking and acting like men. It would try the constitution of most military personnel to find a woman serving in the military who has been able to retain her femininity. For this reason, I believe pantsuits are unbecoming a woman professing godliness.

    In Proverbs 7, Solomon speaks of a woman who wears "the attire of an harlot." He describes her as being "subtil of heart," "loud," and "impudent."

    Businesses that would portray a business-like atmosphere will want their employees, both men and women, to dress in a professional manner. God designed clothing for two purposes: first, to cover our shame; and, second, to distinguish between the sexes. Clothing is a lasting memorial to our guilt and shame. It must, therefore, be foolish for men and women to attempt to make glorious their emblems of shame! And, consider this: a good woman will want to draw attention to her God, and not to her body. Therefore, there is some clothing that can only be worn by men or women who do not fear God.

    It should also be noted here that there is a direct correlation between our hair, and our attitude. The person who is disheveled will manifest a disheveled attitude toward his or her work.

WOMEN AND SLACKS

Dear J. P.                                                                                                  December 22, 1994

      ...I was greatly interested in your standards of music. I am much afraid the Charismatics are the Pied Pipers of today, for they have led away most professing Christians like so many dumb, driven cattle.

     Regarding the matter of slacks on Christian women, or young girls, here is what I encourage. First, there are some activities that are not womanly. I believe that when a woman engages in an activity that separates her from her femininity, and makes her "one of the guys," it is improper. For instance, women used to ride horseback with dresses, and so rode sidesaddle.

     Second, there is nothing wrong with sports so long as they do not preoccupy our lives. When I was growing up in New England, when women went ice skating, or snow skiing, they would wear "leggings" (slacks) on account of the cold; but they would wear a skirt over them. If you are plagued by bugs when gardening, perhaps you could wear slacks with a skirt.

     I could make an exception if on account of poor circulation an elderly woman wears slacks, but I think it should not be done otherwise.

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