Before we start on the why Christians believe in modesty, lets debunk some myths.
- Modesty has nothing to do with rape culture. You do not dress modestly because your body is somehow shameful or needs covering up. From a Christian standpoint God created the body, and it is glorious, not shame-inducing. No matter what you wear it is not an invitation for someone to harm you.
- Modesty should have nothing to do with victim blaming. No one should advocate modesty because "it might make another male/female stumble" or "if you dress like a slut you will be treated like a slut." This creates shame over ones body (I must hide my body to protect others and/or my body causes other people to sin, and is therefore evil) and has nothing to do with Godly modesty. Other people are in control over their own actions/reactions, you are only in control of yourself.
- "The particular [above] approaches to modesty are effective because they are rooted in shame, and shame is a powerful motivator. That's the first red flag. Additionally concerning about this approach is that it perpetuates the objectification of women in a pietistic form. It treats women's bodies not as glorious reflections of the image of God, but as sources of temptation that must be hidden. It is the other side of the same objectifying coin: one side exploits the female body, while the other side seems to be ashamed of it. Both sides reduce the female body to a sexual object." (Quote from here) Emphasis mine.
- This is not my attempt to define modesty. Modesty is both a religious and cultural choice, and a very personal one at that. This is merely my attempt to say why I dress modestly, and why many Christians hold modesty up as something desirable.
It has nothing do with others. It should have nothing to do with myself, but everything to do with God and following his path.
What do you think?
