Are you modest enough?

I would like to start sharing a bit more on modesty, posting pictures, etc. but before I do that, I want to talk about this lovely little word called judging. We all know what that is. I would guess we have each been on the receiving and giving end.

I don't want to talk so much about judging those who do not dress modestly. I think to some degree we can't help but make a judgement that someone who is dressed in skin tight jeans with a halter top on is not dressed modestly. There is an obvious degree of what is right and wrong that God has instilled in us.

My observations are that women who are in the homeschooling movement and who possess the "dress modestly and be submissive to your husbands" mentality can oftentimes be extremely harsh in their judgement towards other conservative, homeschooling ladies. In fact, I almost don't like to share what I believe to be modest because I can promise you there is going to be someone out there who will judge my standards of modesty as not being modest enough.

Ladies, are you called to love your sister in Christ, or to judge the amount of lace on her dress? Are you to encourage her in Christ, or be appalled because her neckline comes down 2 inches below her collarbone? Does the fact that she has on a red, cheerful dress make her bold and flashy in your eyes? Do you believe in only wearing cotton, so therefore anyone who walks around wearing polyester just doesn't quite have it together in your mind? If you see any part of a woman's leg, do you grimace (because of course you wear your dresses down to the lowest part of your ankle)?

These queries might seem harsh to some, and silly questions to others, but believe me, I have seen and felt those judgements applied to me and in a dizzying number of combinations (neckline is fine, but color is a bit too, um, BOLD. Color / print as drab as it ought to be, but whoa, I see some ankles there! Dress is nearly dragging the ground - check - but, my, that's an awfully modern style.) I have found it impossible to satisfy everyone's "standards of decency."

On the other side, if a woman walks in your church wearing a headcovering, do you judge her as being self righteous and wouldn't dream of speaking to her? I went through a period of life where I did wear a headcovering; I dressed exclusively the cotton, homemade Mennonite look, my husband wore a beard and *gulp* yes even suspenders at times (when he worked in his cabinet shop. Not an appearance thing mind you. He liked them because they were more comfortable), and our closest family thought we had turned Amish!

We are told to have the adorning of a meek and quiet spirit (1 Peter 3:4). What if there is an older woman that seems to have a meek spirit, but you just can't get over the fact that she wears pants? Ladies, I think you will greatly miss out on the ministry that woman can give you if you get so caught up in the pants/dress debate. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for wearing dresses; but what we wear is not always the clear window to the heart as many make it out to be.

Growing up I was extremely blessed to have an older woman that I could look up to. Our family was so close to her that we "adopted" her and called her Grandma Dorthy. Her testimonies were endless, and her faith was remarkable. She was widowed for many years, but talked endearingly of her late husband. While she wore sweat pants and jeans everyday, she more closely resembled the Proverbs 31 woman to me than most ladies I've met who don dresses day in, day out.

It's our heart ladies.....More to come on this.

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