This is a very good question that needs to be answered. It seems that today many are confused as to what modesty is. Modesty is defined in the Webster's 1828 as, "An act or series of acts, consists in humble unobtrusive deportment, as opposed to extreme boldness, forwardness, arrogance, presumption, audacity or impudence." Further the dictionary explains that modesty is also, "Moderation and decency," as well as chastity or purity of manners." "In this sense," Webster goes on to say, "Modesty results from pureness of mind." This is a very good explanation of the word for Christian women. Because Christian women are changed from the inside out, literally. When we become born again old things are passed away and we become a new person. Christ washes away our sins with His blood and we become righteous.
When a lady becomes born again as a child, a youth, a middle aged-woman or an elderly lady she wants to be all she can be for Jesus. We can offer Him nothing less than our whole selves.
Jesus tells us in Romans 12:1-2, "I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."
What are we to make of these verses above? What does it mean to present ourselves as living sacrifices? In the Old Testament, before Jesus came God's people had to sacrifice an animal for their sins. We no longer have to do this since Christ was the final sacrificial lamb who paid for our sins on the cross. Thank God for that. But, now we are called to offer ourselves up just like this, totally to God. We are not to hold back anything. He really wants all of us. He is interested in each part of our life. He cares for us.
The next part of the verse says, "Holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." How can we be holy and acceptable unto God? Dressing modestly just by itself does not make us holy. What makes us Holy is the Holy Spirit living inside of us. The Holy Spirit changes us and makes us able to do what God asks us to do. We are to give our whole selves to God, this is our reasonable service.
So what does all this have to do with modesty? Everything! Because God cares for us He first of all wants us to be saved, then after we are saved He wants to change us in to the image of His Son. We do this by taking every part of our life before the magnifying glass of His Word.
The roles for women are clearly defined in Scripture, the woman is to submit to her husband or father. She is the weaker vessel as Scripture tells us. She is the nurturer. She is the life-giver. Woman is the child-bearer, the helpmeet, the keeper at home, the instructor of her children. She does many wonderful things for her family. And because of this role she is also to dress the part on the outside. If on the inside she is submissive, holy and a lover of her husband and children she will also want to present an image of this to the world in the way she dresses. For the world only gets to see her for a moment at times. The world does judge by appearances and our appearances tell a lot about us.
If you see a woman who has on skin tight pants you get a feeling about what type of woman she probably is. You get to know her by her clothing. If you see a woman in a tight business suit with her hair tightly put together with a lot of makeup on you get the feeling she is probably a career woman of sorts. If you see a lady in a long modest dress who is neat and clean in her appearance with children all around her, what do you think? Do you think that she might be a Christian?
Our clothing should reflect our feelings for our Lord Jesus Christ. That we want all honor and glory to go to Him and to no one else. We do not want honor for ourselves, but only to Christ the King.
How can our clothing give honor to Christ the King? How can we send a message to the world by our clothing that we are His children? By seeking what Christ wants for us in His Word. In 1 Timothy 2:9-10, "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but which becometh women professing godliness with good works." So we can see from Scripture that God does care what women wear. He lays out the specifics here in 1 Tm. He tells women that they ought to adorn themselves in modest apparel. Adorning is to decorate. Women are to decorate themselves with modest apparel.
What is modest apparel? The word apparel means a long and loose garment. The verse goes on to say that she is to be shamefaced and sober. If she is shamefaced she will not want attention to be brought upon her by the world. She will want to be humble and bring all glory to God. If she is sober her clothing will also reflect this inner heart attitude.
Simple modest clothing best covers a woman quite well without the extra adornments. Because the beauty of her inward parts is what shines through as gorgeous. The Kings daughter is all glorious WITHIN! If a godly woman is spending hours on her inward heart she won't have as much time for outward adornments anyway. The woman will also be very, very busy with godliness and good works. Good works take a lot of hard work. And the woman who is doing them for the glory of God will shine like no gold or pearls has ever shone.
Have you ever observed a godly woman after she has spent time in her prayer closet? Have you seen the reflection of the Master on her face? This is something that is very rare to see these days. Let all of women who are called His daughters seek to have this same reflection of the Master each day.
Our garments should bring glory to God, not ourselves. May each of us seek to honor and glorify Jesus with our clothing.