If you’re a young woman who has attended a Christian school, there are two words that can make you shudder: Dress code. Ahh yes, the teachers questioning your spiritual welfare because your collarbone is showing and is that two centimeters of unclad thigh I see? Don’t misunderstand, I believe that dress codes are well founded, but there is one argument for modesty that I hear over and over that makes me cringe.
“You don’t want to cause your Christian brothers to stumble.”
I firmly disagree that women should dress modestly for their "Christian brothers." Our "brothers" have millions of naked women at their fingertips when they log onto the Internet. If they want to see something, they will see it, regardless of what I wear. I know that sounds like I’m justifying wearing whatever I want, but it’s quite the opposite.
Plus, it makes boys sound like mere animals. I don’t really think that any teenage boy sees a girl’s collarbone and thinks, “Wow a collarbone! I’ve never see one of those before. Man, I have to have her.” Can we give them a little more credit, please?
The Bible instructs women to dress with "decency and propriety.” However, modest dress in this passage has nothing to do with how much is covered. That's not what the apostle Paul meant-he was referring to how expensive the clothing was. In other words, it’s indecent to spend $300 on a sweater (I’m looking at you J Crew).
Romans 13:14 states, "Rather, clothe yourselves with Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh." Biblical modesty is more than necklines and hemlines-it's where your heart is aligned. It is putting off every vanity and mirroring the humility of Christ. Therefore I will make every effort to be modest, but not for boys. I will be modest because my Lord commanded it.
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