What Are You Wearing?

Walk down the street or watch television, and you will see a wide variety of clothing styles. People choose their clothes for many reasons:

• Some wear graphic t-shirts to show off their favorite sports teams or bands.
• Others buy expensive brands so people will think they are wealthy.
• Many students dress a certain way just to fit in with a specific group at school.

We have all probably had a time when our parents bought us an outfit we hated because we thought it made us look silly. But clothing is about more than just fitting in; it sends a powerful message about who we are.

What is Modesty?

As Christians, we must be thoughtful and careful about the clothing choices we make.

Some outfits can draw attention to our bodies in unhealthy ways. If our clothes are too revealing, too tight, or do not cover enough, we should avoid wearing them in public.

While pop stars and actors often wear revealing clothing, the Bible calls us to a standard of modesty (decency and self-respect in dress and behavior).

Modesty is not just about the fabric we wear; it is also about our attitude. A person could wear fully covering clothes but behave in a loud, boastful, or indecent way. True modesty combines decent clothing with a respectful, Christ-like attitude.

Listening to Parental Guidance

It is common for parents and teenagers to disagree on clothing. You might want to buy a trendy outfit because all your friends are wearing it, but your parents object because they feel it is immodest.

Listen to your parents’ guidance on what you wear. Their parents likely had the exact same conversation with them when they were young! They love you and want to help you send a positive, godly message to the world through your appearance.

Standing Out from the Crowd

Unfortunately, our society has lost much of its sense of shame regarding dress. For example, when I lived in Florida, I was surprised to see people walking through grocery stores wearing nothing but swimsuits.

We must not let the low standards of the world dictate what we wear. Instead, choose clothing that reflects the purity of your heart and honors God.