The Quiz

Series: Modesty: Does God Really Care What I Wear?

Leslie Basham: We asked a group of ladies this question, "When people in our culture hear the word modesty, what comes to mind?"

Becca: It's kind of a boring connotation.

Jill: Fully covered, almost not wanting to have any style to their dress.

Mary: Modesty means in the social world that you may be sweet and pious, but on the dating scene you're a dud.

Leslie Basham: It's Monday May 23rd, and you're listening to Revive Our Hearts with Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

If you've done any shopping this summer, you've probably looked at a piece of clothing and asked yourself, "Is this modest?" We're going to get some help answering that question over the next few weeks as Nancy presents a series on modesty.

To get started we're going to take a "True or False" quiz. Nancy is going to read 17 statements, and you decide whether you think each one is true or false. Here's #1.

Nancy DeMoss: According to the Bible, the primary purpose of clothing is to cover the body. "True or False?" Okay, most of you said, "True." We're going to talk about what the Scripture says is the primary purpose of clothing.

#2: There's nothing right or wrong with particular clothing styles. It's all just a matter of taste and personal opinion. Most of you said, "False," and we'll talk about what's a matter of taste and personal opinion, and what's a matter of right or wrong.

#3: The Bible tells us what styles of clothing Christians should wear. "True or False?" You weren't as sure on that one. Most of you said, "False," and that is the correct answer.

The Bible does not tell us what styles--what specific styles--of clothing women should wear, but it does give us some really helpful principles as we determine what styles we should wear. Aren't you glad we don't have to wear turbans or robes or whatever they did in those days?

#4: Since the Bible says that God looks on the heart, that means that what we wear and what we look like on the outside aren't all that important; it's what's on the inside that counts. Okay, there's a part of that statement that's surely true.

What's on the inside does count, but as we study the Word of God you realize you can't separate what's on the inside from what's on the outside. We're going to see how those connect to each other.

#5: Our clothes and appearance reveal a lot about our values, our character, and what we believe. "True or False?" Absolutely, "True." A woman's clothes and her appearance are powerful, non-verbal communicators of what she believes, of her moral values, and of her character. We'll talk about what our clothes communicate.

#6: What I wear is not really anyone else's concern. I should be free to wear the kind of clothes I like and feel comfortable in. Now, did you say "True or False" to that? Okay, most of us said, "False," at least the ones who had the courage to speak.

How many of you have thought or felt that that was true at some time? Let me see your hands. Okay, quite a few hands. What I wear is really my business. We may not have said it, but many of us have thought that?

#7: Modesty means dressing in a way that is outdated, dumpy, and unattractive. "True or False?" Now you said, "False," but how many people really have a little image in their minds when we talk about modesty? I see your heads nodding.

Don't we sometimes have a picture that to be modest means to be dumpy? I want to encourage those of you who are committed to the principle of modesty that biblical modesty is truly lovely and that modesty reveals a woman's true beauty. She's at her loveliest when she is modest.

#8: If a girl doesn't wear trendy clothes that are at least a little revealing, guys won't notice her. Or if a woman wants men to pay attention to her, she's got to show her stuff. Did you say, "True or False?"

Now, you said, "False," but how many of you would agree that most of the women in our country think that that statement is true? Okay, I see a lot of hands and a lot of heads nodding. Actually, the answer depends on what kind of attention you want and from whom. We'll talk about that.

#9: Except for perverts or sex addicts, most men are not really affected by the way women dress. Most guys don't even notice how women dress. Well, that's a resounding, "False." Yet I would say that most Christian girls and women do not realize how much men are affected by the way that we dress. We're going to talk about that in this series--how they're affected and why, and what we can do about it.

#10: I can't help it if guys struggle morally because of what I wear. It's up to the guys to control their minds. I shouldn't have to change the way I dress just because they can't control themselves. Now, did you say, "True or False?" Okay, you said, "False." Should we have to change the way we dress just because guys can't control themselves? How should that affect us?

#11: Parents shouldn't impose their beliefs or their standards about clothing on their kids. They should let them make their own decisions, even if they don't approve of what their kids are wearing. Would you say that statement is, "True or False?" Well, not as confident on that one as on some others. We'll talk about what is the role of parents and what is our role in responding to the input of others around us.

#12: Christians are free to dress as they wish because we're not under the law but under grace. It's legalistic to emphasize the importance of the way Christians dress or for parents or youth leaders to establish guidelines or standards for the way young people dress. In other words, it's legalistic to have a dress code.

Did you say, "True or False?" Now I would say in answer to that one, "It depends." It could be legalistic to have a dress code, but it doesn't have to be. It doesn't have to be, and we're going to talk about the difference.

#13: Christian women should never wear clothes that are revealing or that look sexy--that is, clothes designed to arouse sexual desire or interest. Let me hear your answer, "True or False?" Oh, we have a little mixture there. Who said, "True?" Why did you say, "True," Alicia?

Alicia: Because I'm a teenager. I'm not married yet, so I don't have the right to dress that way because I'm not at that stage yet where it's okay around my husband.

Nancy DeMoss: But you're saying there is a time when it would be okay?

Alicia: I think so biblically, I think.

Nancy DeMoss: And when would that be?

Alicia: After you're married.

Nancy DeMoss: Good answer! After you're married. That statement is "False." There is a time that's appropriate for a Christian woman perhaps to dress in a way that is revealing or that is designed to stimulate sexually. Alicia got it right; it's in the context of marriage.

#14: There are some public settings where it is acceptable for Christian women to wear clothing that exposes their intimate or private parts. "True or False?" "False." Who's challenging that statement?

Amy: When you asked that question I thought, bathing suits--what do we do about bathing suits?

Nancy DeMoss: What do we do about bathing suits? You know what? We come back for the rest of the series.

#15: A woman can be covered from head to toe and still be dressed immodestly. "True or False?" "True." It has a lot to do with the way she wears those clothes, doesn't it or with what kind of clothes she's covered with from head to toe. We're going to talk about that in this series as well.

#16: A woman can wear modest clothing and still be an immodest woman. "True." Absolutely. It is because modesty is more than just about our clothing. A woman can be dressed modestly but still act or conduct herself in a way that is not modest.

And #17: Most Christian girls and women do not understand the meaning, the power, or the benefits of true modesty. "True or False?" That statement is absolutely true. That's really why we're doing this series.

Our goal in this series is to help women, and girls in particular, understand the meaning of true modesty. What is it? It's kind of an old-fashioned word.

We don't hear a lot of teaching on this subject, but we need to. I want us, through this series, to come to understand why modesty is a gift and a treasure to be protected and cherished--why it's something good and something that you would want if you're a child of God.

I'm trusting that in this series we're going to get a better understanding of the power of our influence on men. As women we have an incredible influence on the men around us, and most of us don't realize how powerful that influence is.

I hope that we're going to understand that better. Then I hope that as the result of this series every one of us will have a fresh resolve in our hearts: I want to be a modest woman.

Now some of you are really committed to modesty, and I hope that you're going to be encouraged and affirmed and to realize that you're not alone in this battle. You may feel like you are sometimes. You may feel like you're the only one in your school, the only one in your class, the only one in your workplace who wants to dress modestly.

Sometimes that may make you feel like a little bit of an oddball. But I want you to be encouraged to know the benefits and the blessings that will come to your life, and the protection--not only in your life but in the lives of Christian men around us--as we, as women, learn modesty.

Then there are women here who maybe have never really thought about this subject. I hope that you're going to be challenged. In fact, as I've been doing this study, I've been thinking about my own life, my own clothing.

Believe me, I'm looking at my closet a little differently than I was before spending the last month studying on this subject and really examining what does the Word of God have to say. I've had to ask myself, "Am I willing to make changes in my wardrobe or in my style of dressing if I knew that's what would please the Lord?"

And you know what? I think most of you here, like me, would say, "Even if it's not easy, I want my life to be pleasing to the Lord." I think that's why you're here and why you're listening to this series.

The world has some messed up ideas, and many Christians have some messed up ideas about what it means to walk in God's way. As you get into the Word of God, we find that God's ways are always good.

So we want to disciple women to be like Jesus--in the way that we think, in the way that we act, in the way that we dress--in every way to be pleasing to Him.

Leslie Basham: That's Nancy Leigh DeMoss introducing the topic we'll study over the next few weeks. She'll be right back to pray.

If you'd like to get a copy of the 17-question True or False quiz that Nancy gave us today, you can find a copy in Nancy's booklet called, The Look. The booklet will help you evaluate Scripture and help you evaluate your wardrobe for yourself. It comes as part of the Modesty Packet.

When you order you'll get The Look plus another booklet from Nancy called, Becoming a Woman of Discretion. It comes in a special tote pack redesigned to remind you what Scripture says about modesty. You can find out more at ReviveOurHearts.com. Or call 1-800-569-5959. That's 1-800-569-5959.

Tomorrow we'll consider how our clothing communicates to others. We hope you can be here. Now, here's Nancy to lead us in prayer.

Nancy DeMoss: Oh Father, I pray that over these next sessions You would open our eyes and our hearts and our ears. Teach us Your ways. Show us what modesty means to You.

I pray that You'd give us a heart to receive whatever You would say to us--that we would just be Your servants and we would say, "Yes, Lord, I'll do whatever You say."

And Lord, help us to delight to do Your will. Give us new understanding. May we be women who truly do bring pleasure to You and glory to You here on this earth. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Revive Our Hearts with Nancy Leigh DeMoss is a ministry outreach of Life Action Ministries.

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