Today we are going to talk about a so beloved topic of modesty. It’s a topic that we either love or hate to talk about and it really should not be because modesty first and foremost is a virtue.
Modesty is a fruit of the Holy spirit. A lot of times we’re presented with modesty as a bunch of rules but the truth is it starts with our own hearts. It is a disposition of the heart. when you are filled with the Holy Spirit you want to be modest. Also we often present modesty as just a clothing thing but really it is how I present myself, how I glorify God with my body, in my speech, in my conduct etc.
There are people on the church who say modesty is a bunch of rules and say that people have to follow these rules and if they don’t do, they are immodest or sinful. But catholic church is wise and doesn’t have a modest code like other religions. Because Catholic church is universal and the modesty varies from culture to culture. As CS Lewis once said, a bare-breasted tribal woman is modest in her culture and a Victorian woman with buttons up to her neck is modest in her culture.
There can be some extremes in modesty. Some people say that the body is bad and soul is good. But we don’t believe that. We believe our bodies and our souls are so good because they are made in the image and likeness of God. But also we glorify God with our bodies.
Another extreme is making modest just pure laws and just pure code instead of a disposition of the heart from sin to God. Other extreme is “don’t tell me what to do with my body, how dare you tell me what to wear, how to speak or how to act”. That is fine if you are not a Christian but if you make the choice to be a Christian it says in Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life, I now in the body, I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me”
Further 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 it says,
“Do you know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit , who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own. You were bought at a price. Therefor honour God with your bodies”
When you say yes to Christ you are saying I want to glorify God with everything , with my speech, with my conduct, how I present myself , how I dress, even I want to glorify God with all my body
You can disagree with me because modesty is not a rule. I can give suggestions to be more modest but it is ultimately up to you to decide which is the best way to glorify God.
