Overview of Moving Toward Modesty

Sisters, we are in the end times! Jesus said the end of time would be like the days of Noah. In the days of Noah, “every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” Genesis 6:5. Are the thoughts of the men of the world evil continually? Do you think the way women are dressing these days has anything to do with this?

On this web site there are various ways of presenting the same message, a very important and urgent message for every Seventh-day Adventist woman. Where do you begin? What does God want to say to you today?

Here is something to consider as you explore this site.

1. The first step has to do with your heart. Faithful heart work will bring you to the point where you are willing to say, “Lord, what do you want me to wear?” When your heart is willing, then you are ready for the next step.
2. The second step is education. God provides the information we need, but it is up to us to take it in, to listen attentively to what He has to say to us. The articles and presentations on the RESOURCES page will provide you with excellent instruction.
3. The third step is commitment. The Holy Spirit is faithful in His work of convicting our hearts. Our part is to respond with a commitment. Without a spiritual commitment, light is resisted and rebellion increases. Or, with a mere outward compliance without a spiritual motivation, Pharisaical legalism develops. Both attitudes are deadly to our spirituality.
4. The fourth step is the follow-through, obedience to what He has called us to do. God gives us the strength and desire; we make the necessary changes.

Four Basic Principles

This web site is all about the Modesty Movement. What does this include? First of all, The Modesty Movement includes so much more than our outward appearance. The external attire reveals what is on the inside. So true modesty must begin in the heart, with a meek and quiet spirit, with shamefacedness and sobriety, not flitting around desiring the attention of men and the admiration of women. Only God can change our hearts so that we are modest on the inside.

Then, the inner transformation becomes outwardly obvious. God has given us inspired principles. To make it simple, we have put them into four major categories. These are:

1. Modesty
2. Simplicity
3. Femininity
4. Healthfulness

Just about every principle of dress that we find in inspiration will fit under one of these major areas. If an article of clothing, or decoration practice does not pass these qualifications, the other minor principles are moot points. These four major principles are broken down into specific practical application at the end of this section.

These principles are found in the Bible and in the Spirit of Prophecy, and have been compiled into various articles on the RESOURCES page. An excellent Bible study on Christian Dress can be found here.

The following section is Chapter 2 from the book, "Thy Nakedness, Lord, What Shall I Wear," by Gwen and Rick Shorter. Used by permission.

How Important Is My Dress?

"Thus saith the Lord, stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein." Jeremiah 6:16

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31

"For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins." Hebrews 10:26

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." 1 John 2:15-17

"Dear Brethren and Sisters: My apology for calling your attention again to the subject of dress is that some do not seem to understand what I have before written; and an effort is made, perhaps by those who do not wish to believe what I have written, to make confusion in our churches upon this IMPORTANT SUBJECT. Many letters have been written to me, stating difficulties, which I have not had time to answer; and now, to answer the many inquiries, I give the following statements, which it is hoped will forever put the subject at rest, so far as my testimonies are concerned." 1T 456

Click here to read the entire chapter

How Shall We Treat Each Other?

While God is wanting to draw us ever closer to Him and to each other, our enemy is trying to cause division between us. As some of us make choices to dress more modestly, others may feel increasingly uncomfortable around us. There is an uncertainty that is unsettling. There is the concern that this may turn into fanaticism. And there is also the concern that those who change their way of dressing may look down on those who don't.

The good news is that God's love is all inclusive! He gives us time to investigate, and the opportunity to grow. He gives us the freedom to choose not to change also. He knows everything about us. He understands our background, our concerns, our fears, our reluctance to change. We can't possibly know each other as He knows us.

Love and acceptance of each other in our differences is a gift we receive from God. Wherever we stand in the matter of dress, we need that gift. If we are the ones who are changing, we need to love and accept our sisters who choose not to change. And if we notice our sisters changing how they dress, we also need to love and accept them in their choices.

We need to assure each other that our clothing has absolutely nothing to do with how we love and accept each other. We need each other. What we wear should not affect the Christian bond between us.

That is not to say what we wear is unimportant. The point is, we need to give each other time and freedom to make choices for ourselves. God isn't through with any of us yet. He values the inward responsiveness to Him, and it's the Holy Spirit's work to deal with the outward. We can't fix each other.

What we wear is between us and God. This isn't to downplay the messages on this web site. This is just a reminder to all of us to love and accept each other where we are right now. God wouldn't be a bit impressed with a modestly dressed woman who judged her sisters for their immodesty. It would grieve His heart tremendously.

The message on this web site is a very personal and individual message, to be applied only to the reader. We need to let God speak to us, and let the Holy Spirit speak to our sisters. One may be weak in one point where the other is strong. How can we compare ourselves with each other, especially by what we wear?

This is just a reminder that we are all special and loved by God. So let's remember to treat each other that way!

Our Mission Statement

The purpose of this web site is to provide information, inspiration, encouragement and balance in the pursuit of glorifying God in our appearance. Written from a woman's perspective, for women, we also seek the counsel and support of godly men.

We strive to present, not the opinions and preferences of humans, based on pride and worldly conformity – but divine principles for our appearance based on inspiration. We attempt to apply these spiritual principles to our present time through the study and consensus of godly individuals whose primary intent is to glorify God!

While we want to guard against fanaticism, extremism, and eccentric personal preferences, we also want to pull far away from the influence of worldly society and the corrupting goddess of fashion. We do not want to become gazing stocks, but rather reflections of the glory of God. We want others to see Jesus when they see us. We want to stand apart from prideful and immoral society, at the same time flavoring our interactions with grace and the beauty of holiness.

We do not seek to force these principles upon anyone, because God has given us all the freedom of choice. But we have experienced the beauty and blessing of following God's will in this area, and lovingly share it with our sisters in Christ. This is a spiritual matter, a subject for prayer and contemplation, asking for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He will lead you step by step.

Our Pledge

Because of our deep love for the Lord Jesus Christ, we desire to please Him in all things. We recognize that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and we want to glorify God in our bodies, including in the way we dress and conduct ourselves. We are willing to listen to the Holy Spirit, and to be sensitive to His voice. We are willing to investigate inspired counsel so that we may know how God would have us clothe ourselves. Indeed, He has promised that He will clothe us, (Matt 6:30) and He invites us to accept His robe of righteousness. (Rev. 3:18)

Our Spirit led decision to dress for Jesus is not based on self-righteous, legalistic motives, but rather on loving trust that draws us even closer to our Lord. By raising the standard, we do not exalt ourselves or look down on others. Rather, we humble ourselves in the dust at the foot of the cross, recognizing our great unworthiness to be considered daughters of the King. It is Jesus who lifts us up in heavenly places, clothed in the robe of His righteousness, to sing praises to His name.

As we learn of Jesus, and His selfless ministry, as we contemplate the magnitude of His sacrificial death, and try to wrap our minds around the power of His resurrection, our hearts are overwhelmed with love and appreciation toward Him. He has given all for us. His grace and mercy is beyond comprehension.

There is not one thing that we can do to merit His saving work in our behalf. All we can do is make a complete surrender of our hearts to Him, and accept the indwelling of His Spirit. Thus, our response of gratitude toward Him does not inspire in us a desire to earn His favor, because we recognize that as a complete impossibility. We have shamed Him, dishonored Him and rebelled against Him. And yet He receives us, and cleanses us from our impurity and infidelity. Sensing our neediness and helplessness, we reach out to Him, becoming recipients of His saving grace. By entrusting ourselves completely to Him, we give Him the authority to reign and rule over every aspect of our lives, which includes the way we dress.

We ask the Lord Jesus to fill us with His love, especially for our dear sisters in Christ. We want nothing to do with a judgmental spirit towards anyone. We want to look through the eyes of Jesus, loving each other with His love and acceptance, and esteeming others better than ourselves. We want to draw the attention of others to Jesus, not to ourselves.

We are preparing to be clothed in heavenly apparel for eternity. We do not want to say with the professed followers of God, “ We will… wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.” Isa. 4:1 No! We are weary of our own unsanctified apparel. We are weary of dressing according to the dictates of our proud and lustful hearts. We have beheld Jesus, and we long to please Him. We desire godly apparel, approved by God! That is our prayer. That is our pursuit.

God's Way or My Way?

We can give our selfish, prideful carnal wills to Jesus, and say, “The choice is not mine, but GOD'S!” What will GOD'S choice for us include in our attire?

GOD'S =

G – Godly purity

O – Optimal health

D – Distinctly feminine

S – Simplicity

When we choose God's way, others will be able to tell.

Or, we can rebelliously declare, "I want to choose for myself how I will look. The choice is all MINE!" What can be included in this “MINE”?

MINE =

M – Masculine attire

I – Immodesty

N – Not healthful

E – Extravagance

MY PRAYER

My precious Heavenly Father,

I praise You for Your loving kindness and mercy toward me. Thank you for the gift of Your precious Son, my Savior Jesus Christ.

Because of Your love for me, I want to respond in full surrender to You.

Fill me with Your Spirit, so that my entire body is Your temple, including the visible part. I want every aspect of my appearance to bring glory to Your name.

Lay my pride in the dust. Keep me from vain thoughts and pursuits. Keep me from loving the world, following its fashions, desiring its approval.

May I portray a meek, chaste, humble spirit. May my outward image reflect the image of Jesus that is formed within me by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.

Make me into the woman You designed me to be, holy, undefiled and distinctly feminine in my manner and appearance.

Help me to shine with Your glory, not the artificial glamour of the world.

Cover me with the robe of righteousness, that the shame of my nakedness does not appear. Cleanse my heart, purify my motives, sanctify my affections that my heart may be tuned to sing Your marvelous praise.

In Jesus' precious name, Amen

May your modest appearance reveal that you are truly eagerly longing for His glorious appearance, so that you may enjoy eternity with Him!