{"id":4389,"date":"2017-06-12T10:52:55","date_gmt":"2017-06-12T15:52:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tampaseo.expert\/focus\/?p=4389"},"modified":"2017-06-12T10:52:55","modified_gmt":"2017-06-12T15:52:55","slug":"the-heart-of-modesty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tampaseo.expert\/focus\/2017\/06\/12\/the-heart-of-modesty\/","title":{"rendered":"The Heart of Modesty"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Savannah Cottrell<\/strong>
\n 
\nModesty is a staple of Christian teaching and living. It is one of many things that keeps us grounded in our faith, and it\u2019s often a visible reminder to us and others of what we believe and whom we serve. It\u2019s also something that should be instilled in us, especially when we\u2019re younger, or when we are teaching Christian principles to children.
\nI\u2019m thankful that modesty was a principle that was taught in my own upbringing. Upon first glance, modesty brings to mind clothing choices, and that first impression is not wrong. What I wore wasn\u2019t ever drastically different than anyone else, except for the fact that hemlines were longer, layers were worn, and the words on my apparel\u2013\u2013if any\u2013\u2013were always positive messages.
\nHowever, modesty has often been seen as stifling. Given the fact that fashion today can be hit-or-miss in terms of coverage or even the words or design on a shirt, there\u2019s pressure from media to \u201cfit in\u201d in that sense. Also, there\u2019s the viewpoint that some have that modesty is unfairly directed at women because they have to cover up in order to prevent men from stumbling, and that men don\u2019t have to do anything, or can\u2019t help their sinful thoughts.
\nWell, I want to challenge that viewpoint.
\nAs a young woman, I have been taught to cover up for that aforementioned reason, but I was also taught to cover up for family functions, school, and nice events, to name a few. Not only do I want to protect my brothers in Christ from sin, but I also want to show others around me that I\u2018m a Christian in one of the simplest and most outward ways I can think of\u2013\u2013by the way I dress.
\nTherefore, I personally believe that the heart of modesty is respect. It makes sense because both men and women want to be respected. I feel like I\u2019m respecting others when I dress appropriately, but I also feel that I am respecting myself because I\u2019m taking care of the body that God gave me and dressing it in a way He would find honorable, and in turn, my peers will find it honorable as well. I\u2019m making this decision based on 2 Timothy 9:10: \u201c\u2026 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.\u201d
\nDoes this mean I can\u2019t braid my hair or wear gold or pearls or nice clothing? Of course not. Paul was just encouraging Timothy to let his audience know that it wasn\u2019t all about what these women wore or how they styled their hair. It was\u2013\u2013and still is\u2013\u2013more about inward character.
\nDressing in a modest way actually helps with future first impressions. For example, say there are two college students. One is dressed to impress in a shirt that covers too little and a skirt that maybe covers half of that. Another is covered up, but that\u2019s not all that you see. You see her face and her smile, and you notice the way that she complimented the student next to her on her appearance or even his classwork. The latter student will be noticed not only for her appearance, but also for her inner beauty and character. Not to mention the former student may be quite cold.
\nHere\u2019s another aspect of modesty that we often don\u2019t think about: modesty in words and actions. Let\u2019s say that you\u2019re sitting at a table with fellow students or coworkers. You notice that one or two of your tablemates are making crude jokes at someone else\u2019s expense. These tablemates are seen among your peers as high on the social ladder. Do you sit there in awkward silence? Or do you speak up and defend the other person? Ephesians 4:29 says: \u201cLet no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.\u201d Flashy actions and shocking words may get attention in the moment, but a calm disposition will keep you in others\u2019 memory for years.
\nLet me address one final thing: What about guys? Modesty principles are often directed at women\u2013\u2013and rightfully so\u2013\u2013but they can also apply to men, too.
\nLet\u2019s say that you\u2019re in a grocery store. You\u2019re looking at produce to make a fruit salad for your family, and you decide to browse the apples. You pick up the first apple at the front of the display, and upon first glance, it looks good. Tasty, even. You almost buy it, but when you look at that piece of fruit, you notice that it\u2019s been bruised slightly, and that there are plenty of fingerprints from those who have touched and held it before, only to put it back. You put that same apple down, too, and pick up one from the back of the display. Sure enough, it\u2019s clean and ripe and ready for purchase.
\nMy guess is that modesty is a lot like that from a guy\u2019s perspective. Sure, those who flaunt what they have and promote themselves to no end through dress, flashy gestures, and colorful language may be appealing at first, but it\u2019s the girls in the back\u2013\u2013the girls who value themselves inside and out and who respect themselves\u2013\u2013who are chosen in the long run when it comes to friendships and beyond. They are both respected by each other in the end, because they value the other\u2019s modesty in dress, words, and actions.
\nAnd that\u2019s just it: respect. When you value the other person over yourself, the rest will fall into place.
\n 
\nThis article originally appeared in the October 2014 issue of Think Magazine. Print or download this article\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Savannah Cottrell   Modesty is a staple of Christian teaching and living. It is one of many things that keeps us grounded in our faith, and it\u2019s often a visible reminder to us and others of what we believe and whom we serve. 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