Recently I came across an interesting survey compiled by The Rebelution, a blog run by two Christian teenage brothers who are rebelling against our culture’s low expectations of teens. Their blog is an excellent resource for teens who are serious about pursuing God and serving Him.
Anyways, they did an onine survey of over 1600 Christian guys of various ages on the topic of modesty. The goal was to assist Christian women be a help to Christian men in the area of modesty. The survey allowed men to anonymously point out how potentially harmful certain types of clothing are to them. The specific questions for the survey were brought up by over 200 different Christian women who raised them.
Its really kind of hard to describe in words, so you better just go see the survey results. This seems like a great tool to help Christian women dress in ways that help Christian men stay mentally pure.
This survey is not designed to be a cureall. And obviously, men are culpable for their own evil thoughts, not simply “victims”. That being said, however, the survey still seems like it will prove to be immensely helpful both for women themselves, as well as for fathers or pastors giving counsel to their daughters and others.
So once again check the survey out, it is first class and quite simple to use.
[HT: Sharper Iron Filings]
Even though men bear their own responsibility for how they respond to the ways females dress, it is not asking too much for females to consider the effect their clothing choices have on others. In fact, it is their moral duty. If they are careless about the effect of their own clothing choices on men, then they are in violation of the positive duty implied by God’s command against committing adultery.
I like the way the Westminster Shorter Catechism deals with it.
Q. 71. What is required in the seventh commandment?
A. The seventh commandment requireth THE PRESERVATION OF our own and OUR NEIGHBOR’S CHASTITY, IN HEART, SPEECH AND BEHAVIOUR (1 Corinthians 7:2-3,5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5).
Bob,
Thanks for that survey. I am actually getting ready to do a week of lessons on modesty in my jr. and sr. high bible classes and it will be very beneficial to have the opinions of so many guys…thanks again.
I hesitate to even say this, but I feel it is imperative that you understand a woman’s perspective. Let me preface this by saying that I think what the boys at Rebelution have done is in the clearest of conscience, with an attitude that strives to honor Christ. I like the site, have visited frequently and have endorsed it many times.
However, the modesty survey comes across as very legalistic. I understand that modesty has been thrown out the window today by most ladies. They don’t think about it and maybe don’t even care. Please understand that I do not advocate that mindset. I think we should strive to be modest, not only in the covering of our skin, but also in the way certain clothing fits. But the sheer magnitude of the survey’s questions and the focus on the littlest of details was discouraging to me.
Now understand, I am a grown woman, a mother of 2 (including a little girl) and desperately convicted about Godly living. But when I read the survey questions, I felt as the Israelites must have felt when faced with the Law. It was overwhelming and gave me the feeling of, “I can’t wear anything but a jean jumper with a turtleneck sweater underneath!”
I believe it is important to teach our girls how their choice of dress can affect others, and we should NEVER wear something if we know it is causing someone to stumble, but we need to put as much emphasis on pure thoughts to the guys. We don’t live in a bubble, they will leave our homes and see billboards and other girls out in the world that don’t dress modestly. And they need to know how to reign in their thoughts so they may exist in this world. Boys are not robots and they have the ability to see something immodest and not let their mind “go there.”
After all, lust was a problem in Bible days, in Victorian culture, and in Taliban run countries where women are covered from head to feet. It is not an “eye” problem, but a heart problem, and until we teach our boys that Christ has given them the freedom to fight ANY sin, including lust, then teaching girls to totally cover themselves up will not change anything.
Hi,
Perhaps a little more background to the survey would help.
This link describes why and how the survey happened. It wasn’t born out of a legalistic vendetta.
This link (see the “Approaching the Results” section) shows how to use the survey. I think all the articles they link to would shy away from being legalistic about this.
I am very much aware of the need for men to fight for total mental purity. And yes pitfalls abound in this day and age. So I understand that the solution is not to dress all Christian women in “burqua”s.
But the point of the survey, I believe, is to help women who are naive about the issue to really understand what men think.
Personally, my wife and I both grew up in a church culture which guided our clothing choices. This was not all bad. But many other people, increasingly more so these days, are really clueless about modesty issues. The sheer number of the questions reflects that, as it was Christian women who asked the questions. They were the ones who wanted to know. The men just gave their opinions.
All that being said, I do think Donette’s point is important. It is easy to attempt to “legislate” purity in a legalistic way which is more harmful to women and ultimately men, that it is helpful. And a temptation would be to use this survey to serve that end.
Hopefully this helps, Donette. And I’m glad you brought the issue up, as it is helpful to think through all sides of this issue.
Blessings in Christ,
Bob Hayton
Josh,
I would agree such a survey would be a great help in those lessons. May I suggest to also check out the articles linked to from the “survey overview” page (Approaching the Results) section. I’ve read some of them, myself, and they would be great resources for you as well. Obviously though, there is a great deal that Scripture teaches directly and indirectly on the issue as well.
May God bless those young people in your classes through that series of lessons!
Blessings in Christ,
Bob
Personally, I don’t care what a bunch of teenagers agree that Scriptural dress is. It’s like Bill Clinton sitting down with a group of children asking them what he should do as president. I can be happy they are thinking about it, but I don’t trust Rebelution, the Harris family especially, and a group of children in their opinions about modesty or any other principles of dress.