Tuesday, February 3, 2015

You're Wearing a Tool of Mass Destruction

Recently there was a *phenomenal* article circulating around facebook declaring that leggings are in fact, not pants.  And that we as women yield very powerful weapons in how we dress our bodies, capable of destroying those around us.

Craziness.

How dare some one attempt to tell Christian women (and women in general) what they can and cannot wear! There's freedom in Christ, right? It's not our problem if men can't keep their eyes to themselves and minds out of the gutter, right?

Bologna. Pure bologna.

Ladies, let's be real. When we get dressed in the morning, or mid-afternoon as the case may be sometimes, what goes through our minds? I'll be the scape-goat here and give you a peek into my thoughts.....

When planning for a day at home, comfort is key. And since I just don't feel right about staying in my pjs all day, the next most comfortable thing is yoga pants, throw on a t shirt and I'm ready for chasing some toddlers. Of course, we all know that very rarely can you spend a whole day at home with toddlers... for sanity's sake you've got to get out of the house. How I look is ranked about 5th or 6th down on my radar, so I don't even change before heading to the grocery / out for a walk / to the playground.

On the other hand, when getting dressed to go out with friends, I care more about appearance than comfort. I try on a few outfits trying to find one that makes me feel attractive and stylish (or at least more stylish than I looked earlier at the grocery).

My thoughts in both those processes weren't intentionally aimed at destroying anyone. It's not like I'm walking around in my underwear or wearing hoochie shorts. I'm not hurting anyone!

Again, bologna. This line of thought is totally naive. It's turning a blind eye to how human weakness, temptation and sin work. And, Christian ladies, this is an area we cannot afford to be ignorant. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us we are to "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for some one to devour." Christian woman, the devil wants us to remain oblivious and non-chalant about how he attacks, especially how he attacks the purity of men.   (For more on this, please check out here)

Ladies, take time to have an honest conversation with your husband. Ask him to walk through the thoughts and images he is bombarded with when the Victoria Secret ad comes on during the super bowl. Then ask him if women wearing short dresses with skin tight leggings / low cut tops / bikinis (gasp, I  know, I just went there) is really any different. It's not. They all encourage temptation in an area of weakness. And that's a deadly combination.  James 1:14-15 tells us that we all battle fleshly desires.... and that those when given in to... give birth to sin, and sin when it's allowed to grow gives birth to death.

God doesn't take the holiness of His children lightly. Don't be an avenue allowing a brother to walk to his death. Don't encourage him to commit adultery against his wife (or future wife). PLEASE, read 1 Corinthians 6, especially v12-20.  (here's a link so you have no excuse. Do it now!)

So, you're telling us to dress in moo-moos and sackcloth, never to look attractive?

No way! All I'm saying, and I think what Scripture encourages, is to care more about our personal holiness.  Honor God with how we treat our bodies. They are not pieces of meat to be given freely to every male we pass by in hopes of getting our pride stroked by eliciting a response. Honor our husband by reserving our sensuality and nakedness solely for him. Demonstrate our love for others by refusing to be a means for temptation, and an encouragement to pursue what is of great worth in God's sight... the inner beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit (1 Peter 3).

It takes effort. I'm still in process of clearing out my closet as I try on clothes and think through whether a certain garment draws attention sexually instead of being modest. It takes a lot of prayer and begging God for wisdom (we know He's faithful to give it! James 1:5). It takes parting with some really beloved outfits - at least getting rid of their public use. (By all means, dress to impress your husband! Be creative and really surprise him! Have outfits that are for his eyes only, what a gift!) It takes not always being able to shop what's currently available in stores. It takes wrestling with our flesh that says we can do what ever we want. It's hard.

But isn't it worth it to do what is pleasing to the Lord? Isn't it worth it to know you are not being used to destroy some one? Can you think of a better gift to give your husband than sole access physically and visually to your body?

The battle for our and our Christian brother's holiness is on and it's high time we started to fight back.