I wrote the following paper some years
ago, due to the burden in my heart for the human race; particularly females. My
choice of words was selected for the average woman you pass by on the streets.
My desire = to shine a light. If you do not already discern the
Truth written here I hope you will take time to honestly examine your life
through deep thought, prayer & consideration. May you be inspired...

How Shall We Be Clothed?

First I want to give you some back ground of who I am. I am a woman who took
pleasure in shopping for various styles of clothing & delighted to shock
people with all manner of revealing & decorative styles. I would often
dress according to my mood; with little concern for the effect it had on
others. In high school (early 90’s) a classmate was shocked & offended that
I chose to wear a purple bra under a white slightly transparent blouse. Many of
my choices of attire were uncommon in my time/place. It was uncommon to see
girls wearing low-cut jeans & short shirts revealing their bellies (this is
a common sight today). Now we are all acquainted with the sight. Only now it is
not just bellies (that are a common sight) but, (I will be crass with my word choice
to make a point) butts & boobs!

I was raised with three brothers and I loved trying to impress & allure
their friends with my revealing attire. [But one thing I noticed over time was
the men I tried to impress the most seemed to take offense, or a lack of
interest in my so called “sexy” choice of clothes]. I knew a man that seemed to
take pleasure in looking at magazines of nude & semi-nude women. One day I
thought my new skimpy bikini would really impress him. To my surprise as I sat
in the sand by him he turned to me (in the company of others) & in a
disapproving way said (something like) “You look like you are in your
underwear.” Of course I had to hide the wounding of my ego to bear that blow.

Other unpleasant experiences arose when men that I did not want to attract
would look at me & say, “Hey Baby!” comments & other rude gestures. So
on days that it was “convenient” & I did not want to attract those types, I
dressed like a boy. Which again, was an uncommon sight to see a girl trying to
appear as a boy. Yet, another problem arose when my neighbor's husband was
allured by my manner of dress. This was not the desired intent; it made me feel
uncomfortable, but what could I do? The sport of putting on apparel was
exciting to me!

I basically considered the guys I did not want to attract as perverts for looking at me; as if the fault
was in them. But was it? So, why do we as women take joy in being attractive to
others in body? How many of us choose our attire for the day, solely on
practicality for the days events? It’s not strange to desire to be beautiful.
My first plea
can begin here…let us not be in denial that beauty of body is short lived; due
to the reality of gravity & other elements of nature. Not only do we have
natural aging warring against us, but the reality of unexpected misfortune. Ask
yourself: would life’s joy be forever lost in my heart if (for example: ) You
got caught in a fire that disfigured you? Or if you lived in a place of war
where women are unexpectedly hit by shrapnel? Or if you were in an unexpected
automobile accident that left you…(this may all sound extreme, but the point is
physical beauty is vain; temporary for us all). A writer of old put it well
saying, “Esteem not thyself for the height of thy stature, nor the beauty of
thy person, which may be disfigured & destroyed by a little sickness.” Our
joy in this life should not be dependent on our outward beauty when it can be
taken from us in a moment. If it is approval of others that affects our choice
of dress, seeking acceptance, or a plain old need for being loved; then let’s
make sure we’re being chosen/accepted/loved for what is in our hearts &
minds & not what’s nice to look upon today. Surely it is not true
acceptance, or true love if the choice is being made because of our looks.

So, being a seeker of TRUE LOVE,
I finally found that which I was looking for. And it was not
where I wanted it to be. Before I reveal my discovery let me tell you a
bit
about my present life…For the last 15 years I have chosen to live a
simple life
of self-denial & service to others. I say this not to put myself
above any;
but to help you know where I am coming from. --The Grace of God that
teaches us to DENY ungodliness helped me make the change in my life.
"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live
soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;"  A love for the Truth has constrained me to
desire a life of purity, modest dress, & self-denial.

What exactly is modest dress? (There are various opinions in this subject).
This has been a major question asked in recent generations by women who have
learned that modest dress helps create a more pleasant and peaceful environment.
So how did I go from a wild & careless dresser to a woman concerned about
modesty? I hope not to lose your interest by my following words…

My search for TRUE LOVE surprisingly coincided with my search for Truth &
purpose in life. Perhaps you have read or heard other people’s search for this,
& the conclusion was Jesus? Well, my story may sound similar; but as the
current dreaded label is, “closed minded” let us not be so. In seeking Truth I
was very opened-minded. I was actually ready to be done with this Jesus
character that was imposed on me in my youth. I was ready to know the Creator
of Heaven & Earth, whoever & whatever they/it are/is.

One thing I didn’t understand about Jesus was that people who called themselves
Christians didn’t seem to find His manner of life totally applicable to them.
They just seemed to take parts of it; creating a feud of divisions with the
name Christ. If Christ is God then why are not people truly following Him? Or
are they? Where are His true followers?

(I truly desire to stick to my original purpose in making a plea to women. A plea in the sense of “a call for aid,
support, mercy, an earnest request”. I just need your patience as I try to explain the perspective
I have. I will cut out some details to try to make the following long story
short).

So, one day I woke up & went to take pleasure again in choosing my attire
for the day, but this time my heart felt different. I no longer had the desire
to put the time & energy into it. (From my youth I had many influences
ingraining it in my mind to dress in an attractive way. This is what I believed
people expected of me. And perhaps it is what provoked me to add a rebellious
twist to “attractive”) I naturally selected something alluring that morning.
When I got to the Trade School I was attending, a classmate looked upon me in
wonder & asked me what the “Good News” was. I did not have any idea what
she was talking about. (She was persuaded that something wonderful had happened
to me, and continued to try to urge it out of me.) Meanwhile, another classmate
came walking down the hall toward us with a smile & look of joy. They both
agreed that I was “absolutely glowing!”. Well, I couldn’t help but want to see
for myself so I pushed the bathroom door open & looked in the mirror. They
were right. There was an intense glow about me!

After class I went to a farmer’s market, where I saw a table that had a “Free
Bibles” sign on it. I really did not want to have to get into words with
“Christian” people, but I was interested in reading the Bible for myself. I
thought since they were “free’ I should be able to just take one & go. But,
to my initial disappointment the woman at the table asked me if the Lord was
dealing with me in my life. From my former experience with “Christians” I had
preconceived thoughts about her. But she did not fulfill those thoughts. She
had a really meek & peaceful manner about her that drew my interest. As I
looked upon her to discern what manner of woman she was I realized I was
not able to judge that. I could not discern how old she was, she could have
been anywhere from 20-40 years old. And her manner of dress did not give me any
strong impressions either. But one thing that I did recognize was she was
glowing with that same illumination I saw upon myself!

It did not work out to speak much with her at that point, but I took a New
Testament & some literature. When I got home I took a great interest in
reading the literature. One of the papers was titled (something like) The Christian Woman’s
Manner of Dress. When I read it I was
so affected by it that I felt as if shackles fell off my arms & legs, &
I took my first breath. Why did it have this affect on me you may wonder?
Because it brought light into my darkness & caused me to realize, I had been
a captive to lust & vanity. But not only did it point out my bondage, it
set me free at the same time by giving me the understanding that I no longer
had to be a captive. I did not have to try to allure men with my body. As a
matter of fact, it was this very act that was causing unnecessary pain in my
life & in the lives of others. I never considered myself to be a “bimbo” or
a whorish woman; perhaps because I was not wearing fluffy stuff, or pink, or a
bunch of make-up? And I did not think it was right to have sex with just
anyone. So I esteemed myself smarter/better than the “bimbo’s”, but really I
was not. It did not make a difference that I was not wearing the typical bimbo
outfit. I was still wearing things that could stir up a desire in the hearts of
others. A desire that can be avoided in some cases.

I am not seeking to change the world with this plea, but I am seeking to get you as an individual
to consider these things. As individuals we can make a big difference, even if
we do not get the world to agree with us. We can at least bring greater respect
into our lives & the lives of those whose paths we cross. I realize that
the damage of sexual allurement has already been done to this world which has
bred many a pervert. But that does not justify us as women to keep taking
pleasure in the latest styles/alluring styles. If those styles are causing respectable men, as well as
perverts to be allured, then we are causing an injustice. People do not
seem to realize the gravity, the weighty effect that simply putting on clothes
can have on our world. People have become so accepting to the daily sight of: a
woman’s cleavage, of a woman’s backside squeezed into jeans, of a woman’s
thighs, of a woman’s hips & navel in her low-cut pants
& short top.
It was not that long ago that these body parts were only (mainly) seen of men
that had wives. Not by your neighbor’s husband, not by your son, not by your
father, or uncle, & certainly not by the general public. Some of you may
think, what’s the BIG DEAL? Well, the BIG DEAL is, that whether someone’s a
pervert or not, those body parts are known to stimulate the mind toward a
desire. And it is not just affecting the hearts of the men. In my own
experience, I seemed to have provoked another woman just passing me on the sidewalk
to sensual excitement due to my appearance. It was an unusual experience; but
none the less I affected this person in a way I was not intending to. Other
effects it has on women: is that of envy & competition, jealousy, strife,
anorexia, bulimia, despair, etc. Again these are the effects as well as others
which our manner of dress can cause.

A friend of mine who has worked for the rape crisis center has told me that in
the cases she has dealt with the women were wearing typical jeans & a
T-shirt that were attacked. Which some may not consider provoking because it is
currently the “norm”. They’re not the “bimbo’s” style. Yet a woman’s figure is
very well displayed in the typical t-shirt & jeans. Although what she’s
wearing at this point probably has nothing to do with what is about to happen
to her. I believe what happens (in some rape cases) is, that men see continual
sights of women displaying the parts of their bodies that provoke the natural desire
of a man for a woman. They get to a point of feeling so stimulated that they
can not contain any longer, & impulse takes over reason. You can be simply
crossing paths with one of these men when the urge overcomes him & suddenly
you are the victim & perhaps he is too. Not that I would justify a man for
raping a woman; more so, when women all over the world are provoking the lust
of men what good can we expect to come from this?

Do we really think that we have a right to show off the beauty we have been given as
women? Should we hold to this as “a right” beyond reason?

Dressing modestly is not a manly oppression being forced upon women, or “a
right” being taken away from women. Dressing modestly is loving your neighbor
as yourself. It does not matter what faith you subscribe to, or if you have any
at all. In choosing to dress modestly you will bring greater respect to
yourself & those around you. You’ll be more likely to discern who really
loves you, & who is just using your body for pleasure, or esteem. In
choosing to dress modestly you may be sparing many a man from having perverse
& twisted thoughts about you & other women as well. By dressing
modestly you may be sparing your best friends “boyfriend” from desiring you
over her. By dressing modestly, you may be preventing a married man from
committing adultery (as the New Testament teaches, that even for a man to look
upon a woman to lust upon her in his heart he is committing adultery).

With men & women working so closely on the job these days it would be wise
for women not to force men to have to see their cleavage, or thighs or navel,
etc. all day. Some of these men have a wife they spend less time with than you,
because they are at work all day with you! Some of these men are lonely &
wish they had a woman in their life. They may go home with the images of
yourself that you have impressed in their minds all day, through your choice of
clothes. Or they may become persistent in wanting to date you. We do not have
to win men by these means.

In Christ’s time there was a lunatic, a man out of his mind, possessed by
spirits. He was known to be naked. But Christ cast out the demons & it was
recorded after this that he was found in his right mind &
clothed. Not only do I see
“average” women in public showing what once was considered a “private part” but
men also! Are we in our right minds when we make bare our flesh in public?
These people I see are not considered crazy it is just the fashion of our time!
Am I really expected to accept the fact that an “average” man sitting on a park
bench with his bare bottom busting out of his shorts is okay? Or walking down
the street with his pants below his “privates” & his backside in his
underwear showing? Are we any better than the men who are choosing this style
of clothing when we show our bodies? I personally do not want to see a man’s
backside when I am walking down the street whether he is attractive or not!
Just as well, not all men want to see cleavage, etc. when they are walking down
the street.

Believe me or not, you are making yourself an oppressor when you choose to
dress immodestly. People are human, the nature of humans is to desire beauty.
Not that it is wrong to be beautiful, but when we wear things that emphasize
this, or expose those more private beautiful parts we are provoking a desire in
others that can have negative consequences. Once again, I am not expecting to
change the world. I understand that negative consequences will continue whether
or not you choose to start dressing modestly. But I hope you would not use this
as an excuse to carelessly dress yourself.

The longer this plea gets I realize I could write a book. Seeing the damage
that is done by people’s choices of clothes, stirs a great passion in me to do
what I can to help change the perspectives of others. Since I started dressing
modestly I have experienced: less hoots & hollers, men respecting me &
sharing appreciation for my choice to cover myself, a greater sense of peace
within myself, my skin has become softer due to less sun exposure (protection
is a major purpose for clothes) and then the affects that I may never realize
I’m having in the hearts of those who see my modest appearance (rather than
provoking appearance). One time it did work out for me to find out that I was
affecting a total stranger without knowing. A woman had been waiting to cross
an intersection and beheld our modest attire (as we also waited to cross) &
started to think about how vain her “boyfriend” was about his clothes. She saw
that being vain about clothes was not a positive thing. For truly there are
more important things in this life than putting our time & energy into our
outward appearance.

If I may add here a witness to my point…I was on my bike (wearing a full length skirt) waiting for a red
light to turn green when I discerned that a man was standing at the corner of
the street beholding me. The light turned green & I rode a short distance
to my destination. Possibly five minutes had passed & suddenly that same
man was standing in front of me. He said (something like), “I would have kicked
myself if I did not tell you this…” (I had no idea what he’d say!) “…you are a vision of
loveliness”. He then hasted away!
I could hardly finish saying, “Praise God!” That may have been one of the most beautiful
things a man had ever said to me. All the efforts of my past, when I had been
seeking my own glory, no man had ever been so kind to speak such encouraging
words while expecting nothing in return!

This reminds me of the wisdom brought forth in the New Testament when Peter
speaks of women:

“Whose adorning let it not be that outward appearance of
plaiting (braiding) the hair, & of wearing of gold, or of putting on of
apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not
corruptible, even the ornament of a meek & quiet spirit, which is not
corruptible, which in the sight of God is of a great price.” (1 Peter 3:3-4)

So I plead with you as a woman, to see the wisdom & peace (prosperity)
in this message. It is the purifying of the heart that will do us & those around
us more good than wearing whatever we feel like. This world could use more
examples of purity, gentleness, sweetness, humility, in women. The present
examples are provoking young girls to choose the attire of harlots (which I
have actually seen dress less provocatively than business women.) It is no less
grieving to see an adult woman exposing her body then to see a child follow the
example. It is a grief of mind, a cause of sorrow, in those of us who can
honestly see the consequences.

My discovery is that Christ is God in the flesh, & He created me to love
& be loved by Him. Learning the depths of this reality has brought great
peace & satisfaction in my life. I was seeking love in all the wrong
places, by wrong means. I was liberated by this knowledge from the bondage of
deceitful lusts & vanities. And I take great comfort in His words when He
says:

“Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his
stature? And why take ye thought for raiment (clothing)? Consider the lilies of
the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say
unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Wherefore, if God so clothed the field, which today is, & tomorrow is cast
into the oven, shall he not clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore, take
no thought, saying, What shall we eat? Or What shall we drink? Or
Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the
Gentiles seek) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these
things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, & his righteousness, &
all these things shall be added unto you.”

So my plea
is: Clothe yourself in righteousness, for your own good, & the good of
those whose paths you cross. This is an earnest call to women, for aid, support & mercy.

What we do, say & wear affects others
........ set the example

This page will contain numerous testimonies for the encouragement & inspiration of readers. I will start with one I wrote: