In previous posts, I have intentionally used misleading titles to lure web surfers into reading my content. As I begin this post, it occurs to me that my title today may evoke certain ideas in my readers about my content that are inaccurate. I am not intentionally trying to be misleading so let me clarify right from the outset. This is not an article about vaccinations, violent video games, or genetically modified food (Sorry, I couldn't think of another "V" word). Those are things I might not give my children, but they are not my focus here. The three items on my list today are not bad things. On the contrary, they are actually quite good things. The reason I will never give these things to my children is not because I won't by choice but because I can't by nature. As the holiday and gift-giving season is wrapping up, I have been thinking about and spending a lot of time with my kids. It has occurred to me that there are several items I would love to give them as a parent but I simply cannot. I submit them here for your consideration:
1. True Happiness - Some people are adverse to the idea of giving gifts at Christmas time because they resent the commercialization of what is supposed to be a spiritual celebration. I can certainly understand their sentiments. For our family, however, we view Christmas as an excellent opportunity to celebrate and reflect the goodness of God's gifts to us by giving gifts to others. Thus, we buy Christmas gifts for our kids. We certainly aren't extravagant, but we try to get each child several gifts including one "WOW" gift that will really surprise them. This year was no exception. In the days following our Christmas morning gift extravaganza, I have realized that the danger is not in the gifts we give our children but in the message we send to them. My kids are still at the stage where they believe their possessions will make them happy. (Truthfully, their parents still grapple with this lie as well.) One of the challenges my wife and I face in our gift-giving is to help our children understand that the one present we cannot give them is contentment and true happiness. They will have to find this for themselves, and they will not find it in a box or on a shelf somewhere. Our job is to point them in the right direction and to reflect true happiness to them as we have found it ourselves.
2. A Baggage-Free, Damage-Free Childhood - The Friday after Christmas, something occurred in my life that I have dreaded and feared for at least two years. I dropped my iPad on a tile floor and irreparably cracked the glass on the multi-touch screen. This may sound childish and materialistic (it probably is), but I almost started crying when I saw the damage. Now, before you condemn my reaction as a selfish, first-world problem let me explain two things. First, the iPad is not technically mine as it was purchased by my employer and I use it primarily for work purposes. Second, it is really important to me to have a few things in my life that I keep in really nice, almost-new condition. Having three young children makes this endeavor difficult, as you can imagine. The iPad was one of those things that I really tried to protect and keep nice. (For those who are wondering, the other ones also start with the letter "i".) When I dropped the device, it bothered me because it was now damaged goods. It still works just fine. It does what I need it to do, although reading through a spider-web shaped crack gets annoying at times. It just bothered me to have something that was less-than-perfect.
As parents of young children, my wife and I are trying our best to be thoughtful, careful, prayerful, and intentional as we guide our children to adulthood. We refuse certain vaccinations (but not all). We don't allow them to play violent video games. We try to avoid most genetically-modified foods. We attempt to be balanced, loving, and gracious while still being firm, consistent, and authoritative. We try to allow them to be themselves while still confronting their depravity and pointing them to the Savior. In short, we are trying our best to provide them with a baggage-free, damage-free childhood experience. This is an admirable intention on our part, but I have reached the conclusion that it is an unattainable goal. Despite our best intentions, my three kids will have mental/emotional/spiritual baggage through which they have to work as adults. Much like my iPad, they will have cracks, dings, and dents in their lives. Some of this will come from Danielle and me. Some of it will come from other sources. Either way, we have to understand that we cannot keep our kids in that new, out-of-the-box condition forever. They will get damaged, but this is part of what makes our life-journeys so amazing. God is an expert in working with cracked pots.
3. Their Convictions, Beliefs, and Values - A few nights ago, my wife and I went on an impromptu trip to Longhorn Steakhouse for dinner. During the course of the meal, we began having one of those New Year-type of discussions where we were evaluating how we are doing as parents and how we ought to change for the better. We wrote down a list of values that we want to instill in our children. The list included items like true spirituality, perseverance, an open/curious mind, gratitude, love for God, respect for others, creativity, etc... As we made the list, we looked at each other and acknowledged the inconvenient truth that, despite our concerted efforts, there is no guarantee that our children will have or maintain these things throughout their adult life (Proverbs 22:6 notwithstanding). The truth is, we cannot give any of these things to them. We can simply model them to our kids through our own lives and emphasize them through the way we conduct our family life. Beyond that, our only recourse is to pray and trust the hand of their Heavenly Father.
Coming to this understanding about our role as parents and the limitations of that role has actually been quite refreshing. I fear that too many parents put far too much pressure on themselves as they bring up their kids. Please don't misunderstand, parenting is by far one of the hardest (to date) and one of the most important tasks I have ever undertaken. We, however, have found it helpful and healthy to consider the exact nature of our role as our kids' parents and to come to grips with what we can and cannot do for them or give to them. Right now, the word that I feel best describes our job is the word influence. I am sure that word has some shortcomings and baggage with it, but it resonates with me and gives me a framework for my parenting as we enter another year in this adventure called life. Perhaps some of the thoughts I have shared here will prove helpful for you or someone you know.
Showing posts with label Parenting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Parenting. Show all posts
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Saturday, December 14, 2013
The (Other) Final Word in the Modesty Debate
In part 1 of this article, I postulated some postulates (what else would a person postulate?) about the so-called "Modesty Debate." Summarily speaking, I tried to argue that the Biblical expectation for women/girls in their clothing choices deals primarily with their attitude and motive although I Timothy 2:9 does create a basic standard for the clothes themselves. The good ol' ESV renders this standard as "respectable clothing." At that point in the article, both my brain and my fingers were reaching the point of exhaustion so I stopped typing.
After a week, both my brain and my fingers feel sufficiently rested to continue. Actually, I am really excited about this part of the post because it will allow me to speak about an area in which I am a genuine, qualified, first-rate expert--my own opinion. I am also excited because submitting my own opinion prohibits anyone from disagreeing with me or trying to dissuade me because I can just say, "Well, you have your opinion and I have mine." (Note - Although the previous sentence was included primarily for humorous purposes, I do have a less lighthearted reason for including it. I think individuals engaged in the so-called "Modesty Debate" do need to realize that much of the conversation on both sides is opinion because the Bible does not give a great deal of specific prescription for New Testament believers in this area. At least, in my opinion, it does not.) So, with no further ado, I will now continue...(Wait, I just thought of one more piece of ado. I want to include a warning. Warning - I am planning on speaking fairly frankly (though not explicitly or inappropriately) about certain aspects of this issue in the paragraphs below. Please don't be mad at me when you get to those parts. I told you they were coming!) Okay, now there is no further ado...
Section Two - My Personal Opinions about Various Aspects of the So-Called "Modesty Debate"
For what it's worth, here's what I think about...
1. The definition of "respectable clothing" - As I said earlier, the only specific Biblical guideline I have thus far been able to identify for the actual clothes a New Testament era woman/girl wears is that they be "respectable." (By the way, I see no reason why this same word shouldn't apply to men's/boy's clothing as well.) This, of course, begs the question, "What makes for respectable clothing?" Ah! Therein (as they say) lies the rub! For being a specific guideline, this mandate isn't really all that specific. I find it noteworthy that God did not further define/explain what He meant by "respectable." He certainly could have done so, but...He didn't. I believe His reason for doing so is two-fold. First, God expects each Christian to think through, pray, and consider for themselves what "respectable clothing" looks like. Second, God knows that the specific look of "respectable clothing" will vary and change according to the culture. I know that this second idea will make some of my readers uncomfortable, but I just don't see how one can ignore the fact that clothing (like several areas of the Christian experience) is very much dependent on cultural contexts. The ambiguity of God's dress code is actually a testimony to the brilliance with which God designed Christianity because it makes it timeless and borderless. God giving very specific guidelines for clothing choices would be a lot like buying a new computer or cell phone--in a matter of time it will be outdated and obsolete. By limiting His expectation to our clothes being "respectable," God has allowed both 1st century believers and 21st century believers to adhere to the guideline despite the fact that clothing styles are vastly different between the two.
All of that leads me to to say this--we should choose clothing that is, within the larger scope of culture, generally considered to be "respectable." That is--will most people using common sense who see us consider our clothes to be appropriate and respectable? Undoubtedly, there are some styles that even the general culture understands to be provocative or inappropriate. Believers shouldn't wear these. Outside of those, however, I believe that the circle which includes "respectable clothing" is a pretty big circle encompassing a variety of different looks--including looks that might be considered more conservative or more liberal. To put it bluntly, I think that, as long as our private parts are covered, we have a great deal of freedom when it comes to how long, how high, how loose, and how whatever our clothes are. "Respectable" is a big concept, and anyone who tries to define it more narrowly than God is overstepping their bounds, in my opinion.
There is another idea that often creeps its way into the discussion, and so I would like to expend my last bit of mental dexterity for the day on that topic...
2. The responsibility of women/girls to protect men from lusting after their bodies - As the so-called "Modesty Debate" rages on, those who take the more conservative approach (Please note above where I said there is plenty of room in the "Respectable Circle" for those who want to dress more conservatively) often support their specific dress preferences and (sometimes) seek to force them upon others by appealing to a woman's responsibility to protect the men around her from lusting after her body. This, in their way of thinking, is accomplished by dressing conservatively. Although there is no verse that specifically states this responsibility, it is true that there is a fairly well-developed Biblical concept that believers should not create situations that they know will most-likely cause other believers to sin. I have no problem with the statement that women/girls should never dress in a way that they know will cause the males around them to lust and commit adultery in their hearts. My problem with this line of thinking centers around the assumptions that often accompany it. There is an assumption that all men are leering, lust-driven maniacs who cannot control their gaze or their thoughts. While it may be true in general that men are primarily stimulated by sight, this does not necessarily mean that every guy around is a slave to his lust. Many men have learned how to see a woman and appreciate the beauty of her respectfully-dressed body without lusting or committing heart-adultery. Some will say, "What about those who haven't learned to do this? What about the leering, lust-driven maniacs out there? Shouldn't we try to help them out?" This reasoning reveals another assumption, namely, that women have it in their power to prevent a man from lusting after their bodies by dressing more conservatively. This simply is not true. Writing transparently and seriously as a man for whom lust has been and is an ongoing battle, I have to speak frankly to the women who are reading this. It doesn't matter if you are covered from head to toe. If I am in the grip of lust at any given moment (please notice the if at the beginning of this sentence), I have the capability to inappropriately gaze at you and objectify parts of your body. Unless you are dressed in a rectangular cardboard box, I can look at your clothes (as long and loose as they might be) and focus lustfully on your chest, your legs, your backside, your lips, your hair, or any other part I want to. This is not your fault, it's mine. If I am in the grip of flesh rather than Spirit, my lust might have nothing to do with your clothes at all but rather the simple fact that God created a woman's body with the shape and look that He did. For me to expect you to stem the tide of my depravity by your clothing choices is an unrealistic expectation and a grievous burden to place on your shoulders. For you to believe that you can stem the tide of my depravity by your clothing choices is a well-meaning, but utterly misguided thought.
"Should not women do their due diligence to make it easier for men to resist their lust?" some might ask. Of course they should. This is accomplished by choosing clothing that is "respectable." (See point number 1 above.) Beyond that, however, I just don't think that women/girls have the responsibility or the power in relation to men's eyes and thoughts that some would have us believe. As with most things in the Christian experience, it comes down to an internal heart issue for the man rather than external influences.
And with that, I will complete my contribution to the so-called "Modesty Debate" and thereby wrap up the discussion for believers worldwide so that we can all move on to other points of debate/disagreement like politics, music, or Santa Claus.
Thank you for reading all the way to the end.
After a week, both my brain and my fingers feel sufficiently rested to continue. Actually, I am really excited about this part of the post because it will allow me to speak about an area in which I am a genuine, qualified, first-rate expert--my own opinion. I am also excited because submitting my own opinion prohibits anyone from disagreeing with me or trying to dissuade me because I can just say, "Well, you have your opinion and I have mine." (Note - Although the previous sentence was included primarily for humorous purposes, I do have a less lighthearted reason for including it. I think individuals engaged in the so-called "Modesty Debate" do need to realize that much of the conversation on both sides is opinion because the Bible does not give a great deal of specific prescription for New Testament believers in this area. At least, in my opinion, it does not.) So, with no further ado, I will now continue...(Wait, I just thought of one more piece of ado. I want to include a warning. Warning - I am planning on speaking fairly frankly (though not explicitly or inappropriately) about certain aspects of this issue in the paragraphs below. Please don't be mad at me when you get to those parts. I told you they were coming!) Okay, now there is no further ado...
Section Two - My Personal Opinions about Various Aspects of the So-Called "Modesty Debate"
For what it's worth, here's what I think about...
1. The definition of "respectable clothing" - As I said earlier, the only specific Biblical guideline I have thus far been able to identify for the actual clothes a New Testament era woman/girl wears is that they be "respectable." (By the way, I see no reason why this same word shouldn't apply to men's/boy's clothing as well.) This, of course, begs the question, "What makes for respectable clothing?" Ah! Therein (as they say) lies the rub! For being a specific guideline, this mandate isn't really all that specific. I find it noteworthy that God did not further define/explain what He meant by "respectable." He certainly could have done so, but...He didn't. I believe His reason for doing so is two-fold. First, God expects each Christian to think through, pray, and consider for themselves what "respectable clothing" looks like. Second, God knows that the specific look of "respectable clothing" will vary and change according to the culture. I know that this second idea will make some of my readers uncomfortable, but I just don't see how one can ignore the fact that clothing (like several areas of the Christian experience) is very much dependent on cultural contexts. The ambiguity of God's dress code is actually a testimony to the brilliance with which God designed Christianity because it makes it timeless and borderless. God giving very specific guidelines for clothing choices would be a lot like buying a new computer or cell phone--in a matter of time it will be outdated and obsolete. By limiting His expectation to our clothes being "respectable," God has allowed both 1st century believers and 21st century believers to adhere to the guideline despite the fact that clothing styles are vastly different between the two.
All of that leads me to to say this--we should choose clothing that is, within the larger scope of culture, generally considered to be "respectable." That is--will most people using common sense who see us consider our clothes to be appropriate and respectable? Undoubtedly, there are some styles that even the general culture understands to be provocative or inappropriate. Believers shouldn't wear these. Outside of those, however, I believe that the circle which includes "respectable clothing" is a pretty big circle encompassing a variety of different looks--including looks that might be considered more conservative or more liberal. To put it bluntly, I think that, as long as our private parts are covered, we have a great deal of freedom when it comes to how long, how high, how loose, and how whatever our clothes are. "Respectable" is a big concept, and anyone who tries to define it more narrowly than God is overstepping their bounds, in my opinion.
There is another idea that often creeps its way into the discussion, and so I would like to expend my last bit of mental dexterity for the day on that topic...
2. The responsibility of women/girls to protect men from lusting after their bodies - As the so-called "Modesty Debate" rages on, those who take the more conservative approach (Please note above where I said there is plenty of room in the "Respectable Circle" for those who want to dress more conservatively) often support their specific dress preferences and (sometimes) seek to force them upon others by appealing to a woman's responsibility to protect the men around her from lusting after her body. This, in their way of thinking, is accomplished by dressing conservatively. Although there is no verse that specifically states this responsibility, it is true that there is a fairly well-developed Biblical concept that believers should not create situations that they know will most-likely cause other believers to sin. I have no problem with the statement that women/girls should never dress in a way that they know will cause the males around them to lust and commit adultery in their hearts. My problem with this line of thinking centers around the assumptions that often accompany it. There is an assumption that all men are leering, lust-driven maniacs who cannot control their gaze or their thoughts. While it may be true in general that men are primarily stimulated by sight, this does not necessarily mean that every guy around is a slave to his lust. Many men have learned how to see a woman and appreciate the beauty of her respectfully-dressed body without lusting or committing heart-adultery. Some will say, "What about those who haven't learned to do this? What about the leering, lust-driven maniacs out there? Shouldn't we try to help them out?" This reasoning reveals another assumption, namely, that women have it in their power to prevent a man from lusting after their bodies by dressing more conservatively. This simply is not true. Writing transparently and seriously as a man for whom lust has been and is an ongoing battle, I have to speak frankly to the women who are reading this. It doesn't matter if you are covered from head to toe. If I am in the grip of lust at any given moment (please notice the if at the beginning of this sentence), I have the capability to inappropriately gaze at you and objectify parts of your body. Unless you are dressed in a rectangular cardboard box, I can look at your clothes (as long and loose as they might be) and focus lustfully on your chest, your legs, your backside, your lips, your hair, or any other part I want to. This is not your fault, it's mine. If I am in the grip of flesh rather than Spirit, my lust might have nothing to do with your clothes at all but rather the simple fact that God created a woman's body with the shape and look that He did. For me to expect you to stem the tide of my depravity by your clothing choices is an unrealistic expectation and a grievous burden to place on your shoulders. For you to believe that you can stem the tide of my depravity by your clothing choices is a well-meaning, but utterly misguided thought.
"Should not women do their due diligence to make it easier for men to resist their lust?" some might ask. Of course they should. This is accomplished by choosing clothing that is "respectable." (See point number 1 above.) Beyond that, however, I just don't think that women/girls have the responsibility or the power in relation to men's eyes and thoughts that some would have us believe. As with most things in the Christian experience, it comes down to an internal heart issue for the man rather than external influences.
And with that, I will complete my contribution to the so-called "Modesty Debate" and thereby wrap up the discussion for believers worldwide so that we can all move on to other points of debate/disagreement like politics, music, or Santa Claus.
Thank you for reading all the way to the end.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
The Final Word in the Modesty Debate
During this past summer (2013), I began to notice an emerging trend on my Facebook feed. In addition to the usual fare of rants against Obamacare, coupon posts, sports team trash talking, and pictures of people's dogs and/or foot injuries, I saw an increasing number of links to blog articles with the word "modesty" in the title. These articles usually discussed an issue that is (in certain smaller segments of American Evangelicalism) a hot topic--girls' and women's clothing choices. Having read many of these articles and the accompanying arguments being waged in the comments sections of said articles, I decided to sit down and articulate the final word in the so-called "Modesty Debate." I figure that, if no one else is willing to settle this issue once and for all, I might as well go ahead and get it done.
The last two sentences were written with my tongue in my cheek. Obviously, I do not have the market cornered on the modesty debate, and I am certainly not one who is qualified to settle the arguments. I will freely admit that I chose the title of this article for the sole purpose of catching your attention and surreptitiously inducing you to read what I have to say. So far, my ploy appears to have worked in light of the fact that you have read all the way to this point. In reality, my intent in this article is far less ambitious than my title would have you believe. I would simply like to offer my own two cents about this issue. I will accomplish this by dividing my comments into two sections. Read them and do with them what you will.
Section One - My Personal Interpretation of the Biblical Guidelines for Women's Clothing
Ignoring for the time being the fact that discussions about modesty and dress choices almost always omit any mention of boys'/men's clothing, I would like to tell you what I believe the Bible teaches about girls'/women's clothing. This is also what I plan on teaching my children (my daughter in particular) about this area. I will be forthright with you, Reader, and admit that I have not spent a great deal of time studying the issue in all of its intricate nuances. I have, however, done a fair amount of marinating on the passage in I Timothy 2:9-10, as this seems to me to be the primary passage in which God has given clear instructions about female clothing choices. Many will argue with me and assert that the Bible contains a great deal more instruction about clothing, but I am always a bit wary when someone has to resort to an obscure, context-stripped verse in Hezekiah 45:11 for support. (Yes, I know that there is no such verse as Hezekiah 45:11. Everyone knows there's only 44 chapters in that book.) Based on my marination on the passage in I Timothy, I have formulated the following 4 principles about female clothing choices:
1. God's expectations in this area appear to focus far more on the heart attitude of the wearer than they do the specific clothing styles that the wearer chooses. Even the passage in I Peter 3:3-4 (which is the other location in which we find mention of female clothing choices) puts the focus squarely on the inward rather than the external. God's primary concern seems to be the attitude behind and the motive with which a woman wears her clothes. One of the aspects of the I Timothy passage that I was quite surprised to discover is the fact that the idea of modesty is more accurately applied to the attitude of the wearer than it is to the clothes themselves. In other words, it's not necessarily the clothes that should be modest but the person wearing them. Certain Bible versions seem to be the culprits in propagating the semantical misconception that clothes themselves can be modest in the sense of humble and meek. The ESV translates the clothing guideline as "respectable apparel" with the accompanying attitude of modesty and self-control. To be sure, God did make a statement about the clothes themselves, and I will say more about that farther down the page. At this point, however, I would simply like to point out that the majority of what God says about the issue deals with an inward state of the soul rather than a particular guideline about style. It seems to me that our teaching on this topic should reflect that emphasis as well.
2. There is nothing inherently wrong about a girl/woman dressing in a way that flatters and beautifies the body God has given her. One of the bothersome (to me at least) aspects of the numerous modesty articles I have read recently is the implicit declaration to girls/women that their body is something to be hidden, camouflaged, or even ashamed of because of its alleged power over the male mind. The female body is a powerful image and presence, to be sure. (More on that later.) I do not, however, subscribe to the notion that this power requires a woman to stifle the inherent physical beauty God has given to her or to limit the flattering/beautification process to only those parts of her body above her neck or below her knee (or ankle in some circles). I find it revealing (almost no pun intended) that I Timothy 2:8 actually instructs women to adorn themselves. This word does not simply mean to clothe. It carries the idea of "decorating" or "beautifying." In my mind, this seems to imply that there is nothing wrong with wearing clothing that flatters a girl's body and enhances her natural beauty. I Peter 3 makes it clear that this adornment should not be exclusively external (refer to point 1 above for more details), but I do not believe God has prohibited girls/women from wearing styles that accentuate and decorate their bodies. I do believe there is an appropriate and inappropriate way to do that, but I am going to save those thoughts for my big finish down in point number 4. Before we get to that, however, let me present number 3...
3. If, as I have posited above, modesty is an internal heart issue, then a woman who does not have this attitude is not fulfilling the requirements of the verse, regardless of what she is or isn't wearing. This, in my moderately humble opinion, is where many a well-meaning follower of Jesus has missed the proverbial boat. In some circles of American Evangelicalism an assumption is firmly entrenched in the minds of moms, dads, youth pastors, youth pastor's wives, and Christian school principals that their girls are just plain better off with "safer" or "higher" dress standards. A girl's heart may be as far from modest as you can get, but at least her necklines and hemlines are appropriate. If I am understanding Paul's inspired instructions in I Timothy correctly, then it is accurate for me to say that it doesn't really matter what clothes a woman is wearing or not wearing. If her spirit is not one of "modesty" and "self-control", then she is not in adherence to the Biblical standard. Dress codes certainly have their place in various contexts, but it is time to stop assuming that adherence to a dress code somehow puts a girl in a better place spiritually even though her soul is far from being spiritually healthy. Even as some of you are reading those sentences the word "But..." is forming on your lips so I will hasten on to my finale...
4. There is a standard of respectability and appropriateness for female clothing choices. If a girl does not meet this requirement, she is out of harmony with God's expectations, regardless of what her attitude and motive might be. This, in my moderately humble opinion, is where many a well-meaning follower of Jesus has missed the proverbial boat. (Yes, I intentionally chose to repeat the same sentence I used in number 3, and I did it for dramatic effect.) One of the problems that I have sensed in the comments and writings of those who argue against the "modest clothing" approach is the implicit idea that it doesn't really matter what a girl is wearing as long as her heart is modest and her intention is pure. I do not agree. Let us not forget that God did issue an instruction in the I Timothy passage about the clothes themselves. The standard is listed in the ESV as "respectable apparel." This implies that there exists in this universe styles we can call "un-respectable or unacceptable apparel." If I am understanding Paul's inspired instructions in I Timothy correctly (Yup, I did it again.), then it is accurate for me to say that it doesn't really matter what a girl/woman's attitude or motive is. If her clothes can be deemed to be inappropriate or lacking in respectability, then she is not in adherence to the Biblical standard. Now, the crux of the issue comes when we ask the question, "What should be considered respectable clothing?" You may not be surprised to discover that I have some ideas about that. However, it has taken me a lot longer to type this much than I thought it would, so I think I will save those ideas and the rest of Section 2 for a follow-up post in a few days...
Please be honest but kind in any comments you may choose to submit...
(Read part 2 of this article by clicking here.)
The last two sentences were written with my tongue in my cheek. Obviously, I do not have the market cornered on the modesty debate, and I am certainly not one who is qualified to settle the arguments. I will freely admit that I chose the title of this article for the sole purpose of catching your attention and surreptitiously inducing you to read what I have to say. So far, my ploy appears to have worked in light of the fact that you have read all the way to this point. In reality, my intent in this article is far less ambitious than my title would have you believe. I would simply like to offer my own two cents about this issue. I will accomplish this by dividing my comments into two sections. Read them and do with them what you will.
Section One - My Personal Interpretation of the Biblical Guidelines for Women's Clothing
Ignoring for the time being the fact that discussions about modesty and dress choices almost always omit any mention of boys'/men's clothing, I would like to tell you what I believe the Bible teaches about girls'/women's clothing. This is also what I plan on teaching my children (my daughter in particular) about this area. I will be forthright with you, Reader, and admit that I have not spent a great deal of time studying the issue in all of its intricate nuances. I have, however, done a fair amount of marinating on the passage in I Timothy 2:9-10, as this seems to me to be the primary passage in which God has given clear instructions about female clothing choices. Many will argue with me and assert that the Bible contains a great deal more instruction about clothing, but I am always a bit wary when someone has to resort to an obscure, context-stripped verse in Hezekiah 45:11 for support. (Yes, I know that there is no such verse as Hezekiah 45:11. Everyone knows there's only 44 chapters in that book.) Based on my marination on the passage in I Timothy, I have formulated the following 4 principles about female clothing choices:
1. God's expectations in this area appear to focus far more on the heart attitude of the wearer than they do the specific clothing styles that the wearer chooses. Even the passage in I Peter 3:3-4 (which is the other location in which we find mention of female clothing choices) puts the focus squarely on the inward rather than the external. God's primary concern seems to be the attitude behind and the motive with which a woman wears her clothes. One of the aspects of the I Timothy passage that I was quite surprised to discover is the fact that the idea of modesty is more accurately applied to the attitude of the wearer than it is to the clothes themselves. In other words, it's not necessarily the clothes that should be modest but the person wearing them. Certain Bible versions seem to be the culprits in propagating the semantical misconception that clothes themselves can be modest in the sense of humble and meek. The ESV translates the clothing guideline as "respectable apparel" with the accompanying attitude of modesty and self-control. To be sure, God did make a statement about the clothes themselves, and I will say more about that farther down the page. At this point, however, I would simply like to point out that the majority of what God says about the issue deals with an inward state of the soul rather than a particular guideline about style. It seems to me that our teaching on this topic should reflect that emphasis as well.
2. There is nothing inherently wrong about a girl/woman dressing in a way that flatters and beautifies the body God has given her. One of the bothersome (to me at least) aspects of the numerous modesty articles I have read recently is the implicit declaration to girls/women that their body is something to be hidden, camouflaged, or even ashamed of because of its alleged power over the male mind. The female body is a powerful image and presence, to be sure. (More on that later.) I do not, however, subscribe to the notion that this power requires a woman to stifle the inherent physical beauty God has given to her or to limit the flattering/beautification process to only those parts of her body above her neck or below her knee (or ankle in some circles). I find it revealing (almost no pun intended) that I Timothy 2:8 actually instructs women to adorn themselves. This word does not simply mean to clothe. It carries the idea of "decorating" or "beautifying." In my mind, this seems to imply that there is nothing wrong with wearing clothing that flatters a girl's body and enhances her natural beauty. I Peter 3 makes it clear that this adornment should not be exclusively external (refer to point 1 above for more details), but I do not believe God has prohibited girls/women from wearing styles that accentuate and decorate their bodies. I do believe there is an appropriate and inappropriate way to do that, but I am going to save those thoughts for my big finish down in point number 4. Before we get to that, however, let me present number 3...
3. If, as I have posited above, modesty is an internal heart issue, then a woman who does not have this attitude is not fulfilling the requirements of the verse, regardless of what she is or isn't wearing. This, in my moderately humble opinion, is where many a well-meaning follower of Jesus has missed the proverbial boat. In some circles of American Evangelicalism an assumption is firmly entrenched in the minds of moms, dads, youth pastors, youth pastor's wives, and Christian school principals that their girls are just plain better off with "safer" or "higher" dress standards. A girl's heart may be as far from modest as you can get, but at least her necklines and hemlines are appropriate. If I am understanding Paul's inspired instructions in I Timothy correctly, then it is accurate for me to say that it doesn't really matter what clothes a woman is wearing or not wearing. If her spirit is not one of "modesty" and "self-control", then she is not in adherence to the Biblical standard. Dress codes certainly have their place in various contexts, but it is time to stop assuming that adherence to a dress code somehow puts a girl in a better place spiritually even though her soul is far from being spiritually healthy. Even as some of you are reading those sentences the word "But..." is forming on your lips so I will hasten on to my finale...
4. There is a standard of respectability and appropriateness for female clothing choices. If a girl does not meet this requirement, she is out of harmony with God's expectations, regardless of what her attitude and motive might be. This, in my moderately humble opinion, is where many a well-meaning follower of Jesus has missed the proverbial boat. (Yes, I intentionally chose to repeat the same sentence I used in number 3, and I did it for dramatic effect.) One of the problems that I have sensed in the comments and writings of those who argue against the "modest clothing" approach is the implicit idea that it doesn't really matter what a girl is wearing as long as her heart is modest and her intention is pure. I do not agree. Let us not forget that God did issue an instruction in the I Timothy passage about the clothes themselves. The standard is listed in the ESV as "respectable apparel." This implies that there exists in this universe styles we can call "un-respectable or unacceptable apparel." If I am understanding Paul's inspired instructions in I Timothy correctly (Yup, I did it again.), then it is accurate for me to say that it doesn't really matter what a girl/woman's attitude or motive is. If her clothes can be deemed to be inappropriate or lacking in respectability, then she is not in adherence to the Biblical standard. Now, the crux of the issue comes when we ask the question, "What should be considered respectable clothing?" You may not be surprised to discover that I have some ideas about that. However, it has taken me a lot longer to type this much than I thought it would, so I think I will save those ideas and the rest of Section 2 for a follow-up post in a few days...
Please be honest but kind in any comments you may choose to submit...
(Read part 2 of this article by clicking here.)
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Raising a Rebel
"Evelyn, don't keep your eyes crossed like that. If you do they will stay that way."
I am in the kitchen cleaning up after lunch on a lazy Saturday afternoon when I hear my seven-year old son issue this admonition to his younger sister.
"Eldan, what did you just say?"
"I told Evelyn not to keep her eyes crossed or they will get stuck that way."
"Where did you hear that?"
"Everyone at school says it."
Oh boy. Here we go.
I knew this day would eventually come, but I will have to admit--I didn't necessarily expect it this soon in the parenting process and I definitely didn't expect it to come in the form of such an inane old wives-fable. (I guess I am a bit naive.) Now that it's here, however, I can see the advantages. He's young and impressionable. He hasn't yet passed the "my dad is my hero" stage of his elementary years. He will probably give me more of a fair hearing now than at any given time in the next 20 years. Plus, it's such an innocuous topic that it may provide the perfect case study for him to consider his personal ontological leanings.
So...as I continue putting the clean pots in the cupboard and the dirty ones in the dishwasher, I decide to engage...
"Just because everybody says it doesn't mean it's true."
"Yeah, but you're the only one I know of who says it isn't true."
"Well, it doesn't really matter what people say. Do you have any proof? Have you ever met anyone who kept their eyes crossed and they stayed that way?"
"No."
"So you don't really know if it's true, do you?"
"But everyone says it is."
"So? You can't believe things just because lots of people say it. Lots of people might be wrong. You have to look for proof. Bring me some proof that keeping your eyes crossed will freeze them that way and then we'll talk. Without the proof, you have to admit that it might not be true."
"Yeah, but it might be true."
"Yeah, but it might be false, too."
And so it begins...
In a way, I am really excited. The process is beginning. (In truth, it has been underway since they day they were born.) This is the way we are going to raise our children. I want them to question. I want them to challenge. I want them to examine the issues (whether it is crossed eyes or same-sex marriage) and to base their decisions and beliefs on the fact that they are convinced in mind and conscience that something is true. I don't want them to take what any human says--whether it is a preacher, teacher, politician, or parent--at face value. Of course, there will be times (probably many) when they will have to temporarily submit their opinions and choices to me, my wife, or some other authority figure in the interest of honor and obedience, but I don't want either of those interests to become so overpowering that it causes them to lose their God-given ability and responsibility to think for themselves. This lunch-time discussion was just the first of what I hope will be many opportunities I have to challenge my children's status-quo and push them to think. Like they say--it isn't illegal yet.
But, in a way, I am also scared. The process has begun in earnest. The process of raising a child to become an adult--a responsible, thoughtful, opinionated, conviction-driven, truth-seeking adult. By encouraging my kids to question, consider, and challenge, I realize that I am also creating a situation in which they might reach different conclusions than I. These differing conclusions may come in areas of very little significance such as crossed-eyes or reading in the dark. They may also come in areas of incalculable significance such as their view of God and themselves. I know that I may have begun the process of raising a rebel who will reject the moral absolutes that we have been trying to calmly and consistently inculcate into their fiber from day one. I know. I know. Questions can be dangerous. Debate can be dangerous. I know--and it scares me a little bit. Okay, it scares me a lot of bit.
But my fear of my children reaching different conclusions than I cannot be allowed to overcome my desire (and the need) for them to reach conclusions--on their own. In the end, I don't want them to agree with me because I say so. I don't want them to believe what I believe because I believe it. I want them to believe because they believe it. I am fully aware that the process of reaching their own answers may lead them through some dangerous waters, but I have full confidence in the power of God and His truth to help them find their way.
So, for now, I'll just keep putting the dishes away and issuing my challenges...
"Show me some proof, Eldan. It might not be true."
"Yeah, but it might be."
Oh, boy! Here we go!
God help us...
I am in the kitchen cleaning up after lunch on a lazy Saturday afternoon when I hear my seven-year old son issue this admonition to his younger sister.
"Eldan, what did you just say?"
"I told Evelyn not to keep her eyes crossed or they will get stuck that way."
"Where did you hear that?"
"Everyone at school says it."
Oh boy. Here we go.
I knew this day would eventually come, but I will have to admit--I didn't necessarily expect it this soon in the parenting process and I definitely didn't expect it to come in the form of such an inane old wives-fable. (I guess I am a bit naive.) Now that it's here, however, I can see the advantages. He's young and impressionable. He hasn't yet passed the "my dad is my hero" stage of his elementary years. He will probably give me more of a fair hearing now than at any given time in the next 20 years. Plus, it's such an innocuous topic that it may provide the perfect case study for him to consider his personal ontological leanings.
So...as I continue putting the clean pots in the cupboard and the dirty ones in the dishwasher, I decide to engage...
"Just because everybody says it doesn't mean it's true."
"Yeah, but you're the only one I know of who says it isn't true."
"Well, it doesn't really matter what people say. Do you have any proof? Have you ever met anyone who kept their eyes crossed and they stayed that way?"
"No."
"So you don't really know if it's true, do you?"
"But everyone says it is."
"So? You can't believe things just because lots of people say it. Lots of people might be wrong. You have to look for proof. Bring me some proof that keeping your eyes crossed will freeze them that way and then we'll talk. Without the proof, you have to admit that it might not be true."
"Yeah, but it might be true."
"Yeah, but it might be false, too."
And so it begins...
In a way, I am really excited. The process is beginning. (In truth, it has been underway since they day they were born.) This is the way we are going to raise our children. I want them to question. I want them to challenge. I want them to examine the issues (whether it is crossed eyes or same-sex marriage) and to base their decisions and beliefs on the fact that they are convinced in mind and conscience that something is true. I don't want them to take what any human says--whether it is a preacher, teacher, politician, or parent--at face value. Of course, there will be times (probably many) when they will have to temporarily submit their opinions and choices to me, my wife, or some other authority figure in the interest of honor and obedience, but I don't want either of those interests to become so overpowering that it causes them to lose their God-given ability and responsibility to think for themselves. This lunch-time discussion was just the first of what I hope will be many opportunities I have to challenge my children's status-quo and push them to think. Like they say--it isn't illegal yet.
But, in a way, I am also scared. The process has begun in earnest. The process of raising a child to become an adult--a responsible, thoughtful, opinionated, conviction-driven, truth-seeking adult. By encouraging my kids to question, consider, and challenge, I realize that I am also creating a situation in which they might reach different conclusions than I. These differing conclusions may come in areas of very little significance such as crossed-eyes or reading in the dark. They may also come in areas of incalculable significance such as their view of God and themselves. I know that I may have begun the process of raising a rebel who will reject the moral absolutes that we have been trying to calmly and consistently inculcate into their fiber from day one. I know. I know. Questions can be dangerous. Debate can be dangerous. I know--and it scares me a little bit. Okay, it scares me a lot of bit.
But my fear of my children reaching different conclusions than I cannot be allowed to overcome my desire (and the need) for them to reach conclusions--on their own. In the end, I don't want them to agree with me because I say so. I don't want them to believe what I believe because I believe it. I want them to believe because they believe it. I am fully aware that the process of reaching their own answers may lead them through some dangerous waters, but I have full confidence in the power of God and His truth to help them find their way.
So, for now, I'll just keep putting the dishes away and issuing my challenges...
"Show me some proof, Eldan. It might not be true."
"Yeah, but it might be."
Oh, boy! Here we go!
God help us...
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Wet Cement
Last weekend was a busy one for our family as we celebrated my son Eldan's 4th birthday. I know it sounds cliche, but I really do find it hard to believe that 4 years have passed already. It seems like only yesterday that I was watching him....Okay, okay. I'll stop with the nostalgic reverie.
As his birthday approached, I was struck with a unique thought--Most likely, we have reached a point in Eldan's life where he will begin to remember things. I mean, really remember things. As in--remembering them 30 years from now. Think about it. What and when are your earliest memories? I can distinctly remember life before kindergarten, which would put my earliest remembrances around 4 years old. If my experience is at all typical (Based on my informal survey of my Sunday School class this morning--it is), then from this point on Eldan will be able to look back as an adult and grasp various scenes from our lives together.
This fact intrigues me on several levels. In a way, it's a bit sad to think that he will remember very little (if any) of what we have experienced as a family thus far in his life. On the other hand, it's a bit comforting to think that he will remember very little (if any) of what we have experienced as a family thus far in his life! (Think about the preceding statement for a minute if you need to.) On a totally different level, it is quite sobering to think that my wife and I are officially beginning the process of formulating and influencing our son's thinking, his personality, his very view of the world around him. His mind is like a slate of wet cement, and for the next 12-15 years we will be the primary source of impression on that slate. Wow! Happy Birthday to us!
To really grasp the significance of what I just wrote, think for a moment about your own upbringing. How much of who you are (whether positive aspects or negative aspects) is the result of the influence of parents, grandparents, teachers, and others in positions of influence? If we are honest, the answer is, "A great deal of it." It makes sense why God has instructed us in the Bible to teach our children in His way and His truth. He hasn't commanded us to teach or influence our children, for we will do that whether we want to or not. He has, however, commanded us to teach and influence our children in righteousness. The fact is, we will leave our mark on the cement of our children's lives. The question is, what kind of mark will we leave?
With that in mind, I would like to postulate four principles by which Danielle and I will try to abide as we carry out our parental mandate. I offer them here for your consideration and comment as you feel so inclined.
1. There are certain essential, non-negotiable, core elements of our faith that we must transmit to our children in order to be successful as parents. I believe that one of our main responsibilities as parents is to disciple our children. I believe that we should do this primarily by inculcating the heart of Christianity into their minds. This should be our focus. "What exactly is the heart of Christianity?" you might ask, "What are those essential core elements of our faith to be transmitted, and just how do you plan to transmit them?" Those, my friend, are excellent questions--ones on which Danielle and I have already been ruminating. My purpose here is not to give an answer (I don't know that I have one), but to simply establish the fact that, as parents, we must consider what is most important (the sine qua non) in the training of our children.
2. There are certain non-essential, negotiable elements of our faith that we should be willing to allow our children to decide for themselves. Modern Christianity is a big proverbial forest with a lot of proverbial trees in it. I think it is unrealistic and unwise to approach the parenting process with the insistence that our children end up in the same "neck of the woods" as we are. The fact is, our kids are not us. As much as they are like us--they aren't us. As they mature and begin to think through the myriad of choices that each Christian must make about their personal standards of living and personal beliefs, I believe we must allow them the freedom to do so for themselves. Our job as parents is not to clone ourselves in our children, but to bring them to a point of knowing, loving, and serving God for themselves. If they choose a different "campsite" than us in areas of personal preference, this is...okay. This is acceptable. I would even argue that it is preferable because our children will be living and believing purposefully as opposed to habitually.
3. In the transmission of our faith to our children, we as parents must find the delicate balance between requirement and encouragement. I believe it is foolhardy to simply force your children to "do Christian things" (i.e.-pray, read the Bible, witness, go to church, memorize scripture, etc...) and expect them to understand the point of such activities and truly put their heart into it. On the other hand, I believe it is just as foolhardy to place no requirements on your children in things relating to Christianity and simply encourage them to "find God for themselves." There is a balance to be found here--especially as they get into the teen years. (I say that, not because I have a teen but because I work with them as a teacher.) Where is that balance? How can it be achieved? I don't know exactly. What I do know is that every Christian parent ought to be asking themselves these questions and praying earnestly for the wisdom to find the answers to them.
4. I can only truly transmit my faith to my children to the extent that it is real and genuine in me. Jesus said, "The disciple is not above his teacher." (Luke 6:40) Although this should not be taken as an absolute statement, it is true that, to a large extent, my children will progress no further in their walk with God than I have progressed myself--at least while they are still in their formative years. Perhaps one of the greatest things I can ever do for my kids is to seek God with all of my heart and strive to find a true, genuine walk with Him. If they see the genuine in me, I believe they will want the genuine for themselves.
There you have it--just a few of the thoughts about parenting that have been buzzing my brain in recent weeks. This post is by no means an exhaustive authority on the subject, but it may serve to get us thinking about our parental strategy. That, in my opinion, is a good thing about which to be thinking.
Sorry for going so long...
So long!
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