FAMILY NEWS AND NOTES
Volume 10 04 May 2008 Issue No. 10
Don’t forget the PROM ALTERNATIVE BANQUET for all 9th grade thru 12th grade at the First National Bank Century Room in Mount Vernon on Friday, May 9th. See Janice or David McCain for more information.
And then … Boy’s and Men’s Retreat—Beaver Bend State Park—hosted by Broken Bow, OK church of Christ on Friday & Saturday—May 16th & 17th.
R.C. Grissom was moved to Hospice at Tyler on Thursday. It is located on the University Highway, across from UT Tyler, off the Southeast Loop. Keep him in your prayers..
Bronson Roper is having a difficult time right now and would appreciate cards of encouragement. His mailing address is:
Bronson Roper
801 Culver Street Apt. 105-E
Commerce, Texas 75428
Thank you ..
Karen Roper
THANK YOU … “Dear Christian friends … thank you for all the cards calls and visits during the time of my recent sickness. They mean so much to me.
— Tina Brown
THANK YOU SO MUCH … Your kindness and thoughtfulness are greatly appreciated. Many thanks to the gentlemen who helped me to move.
In Christian Love
Ettie Wright—Stephenville, Texas
Other upcoming events which we will continue to remind you of …
Gospel Meeting at Blodgett begins TODAY
SYBSNET begins June 2nd;
Friends & Family Day June 8th
VBS begins June 9th
PRAYER LIST:
Justin Barker, Rachel Barker, Doris Bell, Louis & Nona Bell, Winell Blackard, Billye Campbell, Patsy Duncan, Joyce Lee, Georgia Lide, Ben McCain, Rebecca Tippitt
ALSO: Wesley DuBose, Dana Morton, Betty Newman, Whayln Payne, Don Shuette, Paul Unger
COMMUNION FOR MAY 2008
SOUTH SIDE NORTH SIDE
AM Wayne Charlton Grady Duncan
Daniel McCary Royce Armstrong
David Neal George O’Neal
PM Jimmy Jay Fox Charles Kyle
ANNOUNCEMENTS ….…..….................Rhodney Freeman
SONG LEADER (AM) ……....................David McCain
(PM) ……...…..............David McCain
Wednesday Nite …...….................David McCain
PRAYERS —– Sunday.
AM First Prayer …...……...…....................................Hal Roper
Closing…………....................................Rhodney Freeman
PM First Prayer……..….....................................Daniel McCary
Closing……….……….…......................................Hal Roper
PRAYERS — Wednesday Nite
First Prayer…………....................................Wayne Pickrel
Closing…………………..…...............................??????????
OFFERING INVITATION ON WEDNESDAY NITE:
??????????
The Case For Modesty
(Faithful Christians Will Avoid Dressing Immodestly)
Summer is just around the corner, but already the clothes have started “coming off” and once again it seems “modest apparel” has gone the way of the Dodo bird. From the lack of clothing seen in public today, it is evident modern society scoffs at the idea of dressing immodestly. The Biblical concept of the “shame of nakedness” (Gen. 3:10, Rev. 3:18), is all but forgotten in an age where “anything goes,” as far as public attire is concerned.
I’m sure worldly folks will laugh at the premise of this article. Likewise, I know I would be “hooted down” in most public forums for even suggesting there is such a thing as being “dressed immodestly.” However, what really saddens and concerns me is that more and more people in the Lord’s church seem to believe God’s plain instructions on modest attire have become outdated. Have we become so “enlightened” that there is no sin involved anymore in our being seen naked or half-naked in public? Has God changed His instructions on modest apparel for the modern “Christian” (I Timothy 2:9-10, Titus 2:4-5), or does He now suspend those commands for the warmer months of the year? If you are honest with the Scriptures you know that is not the case, however, the clothing I’ve seen some of my own brethren wear in public, might cause a weaker brother or sister to think otherwise.
As little as 30 years ago, it was not uncommon to hear sermons on “The Sin of Immodest Apparel” in pulpits across America. Our “Christian” colleges and camps all had strict dress codes that prohibited wearing “immodest apparel,” that was either too low cut on the top, too high cut on the bottom, too tight, too slit, too sheer, too suggestive, or too revealing. But, over the years, as society’s views on modesty have changed, so have the views of the brotherhood in general. In most pulpits today, sermons on modest attire are a relic of the past. Dress codes have just about been done away with completely at most of our summer camps, and so greatly amended that shorts are now the status quo on our “Christian” college campuses (if there even is such anymore).
Sadly, this relaxed atmosphere is becoming more and more common even in assemblies of Christ’s church, where it is not uncommon in some congregations today to see even adults wearing shorts to the worship services, not to mention what the teens and kids wear. Quite frankly some of our “ladies” ought to be ashamed for the way they appear in public and sometimes even at worship services or other church activities in too short or thigh-high split skirts, bare-midriffs (a virtual plague among teens today), plunging necklines, too tight, too sheer, or too revealing clothing that often looks as if they were melted and poured into it, and has but one purpose, and that is to appeal to the sexual lust of the opposite sex.
Some brethren would argue, “so what?” They would say modesty is dictated by culture, and since our culture has changed, we can now change with it. Let’s explore that argument to its logical conclusion. Our culture says it’s OK for men to wear shorts and a T-shirt in public. We see that kind of dress all the time in society today, everywhere you go. So what would you think if I wore that outfit to services next Sunday? I know that’s not a pretty picture in your mind’s eye, but if culture is the only determining factor in matters of modesty, what would be wrong with me preaching in attire like that? What if my wife or one of our elders’ wives wore one of those little short jumpsuits to services? Why, we/they would never hear the end of it. Is there a double standard in the Lord’s church? You know the answer to that too, don’t you? What if our culture decides it’s OK for women to go topless (it seems we’re not far from that conclusion in today’s society)? Will that then become an acceptable standard of undress for Christian women? Hopefully you get the point!
Sometimes I hear folks say the Bible doesn’t define modesty. Wrong! You’re not reading your Bible enough if that’s what you think. When Adam and Eve felt shame because of their nakedness, they made fig leaf “aprons” (Gen. 3:7). However, God thought they ought to cover up more, so He made them “coats” of animal skins to “clothe” them (Gen. 3:21). Later, the priests were warned not to use stairs in approaching the altar, lest their nakedness be discovered (Ex. 20:26). They were further instructed to wear linen britches that completely covered their “loins” and their “thighs,” lest God strike them dead for revealing their “nakedness” (Ex. 28:42-43). To hear most folks tell it, modesty is an issue of concern only for females, if it’s an issue at all. However, please remember that these were men who were told not to reveal the “nakedness” of their “thighs.” That kind of lets the wind out of the sails of those who say men can’t dress immodestly, doesn’t it?
Someone might object, “That’s Old Testament doctrine and we’re bound by New Testament authority.” Be careful lest you end up hanging on your own gallows like Haman (Esther 7:9-10). The New Testament has plenty to say about “avoiding the appearance of evil” by dressing modestly! In the New Testament, “nakedness” is often equated with being in a destitute or demented condition. The poor and the persecuted may find themselves naked, but Christians are taught to benevolently provide clothing for such folks (Mt. 25:36-44, Jms. 2:15-16). The Gadarene demoniac ran around naked, but he was “out of his mind,” because of being possessed by devils (Luke 8:27). Finally, have you ever considered that at least part of the “shame of the cross,” which was “despised” by Jesus (Heb. 12:2), was that He was crucified naked (Jn. 19:23)? Cruel Roman soldiers forced nakedness upon Jesus, but now some “Christians” flippantly flaunt their nakedness in public without regard for the “shame” of being unclothed in public places.
Brethren, immodest apparel is sinful, not because I said so, but because God said so. It has always been so, and always will be so, no matter what our culture says, and no matter how far a corrupted brotherhood will go to be culturally accepted. Faithful Christians are commanded to be distinctive in every manner of life, including dress (Rms. 12:1-2, I Pet. 2:9). Christian women are instructed to adorn themselves in modest apparel, in such a way as to be identified as one who professes godliness with good works (I Tim. 2:9-10). Finally, every Christian is warned, “Abstain from all appearance of evil” (I Thess. 5:21-22). Please think carefully, wouldn’t “immodest apparel” be equivalent to the “appearance of evil,” when clothing is worn to incite lust in normal members of the opposite sex?
Rather than ask, “is it in style,” or “is it culturally accepted,” to dress a certain way, the faithful child of God, who is interested in pleasing only the Father, will ask the following questions. Will it cause others to lust (Mt. 5:27-28)? Will it put a stumbling block before anyone (Rms. 14:13)? Is it modest (I Tim. 2:9)? Will my clothing, or lack thereof, lead to lasciviousness in others or myself (Gal. 5:19-21)? Does my attire edify others and myself to be more spiritual and to have a pure heart (Rms. 14:19, Mt. 5:8, Phil. 4:8)? Finally, one serious question ought to cause us all to give prayerful consideration to what we wear, and where we wear it. Would I be embarrassed to wear this attire around spiritual brethren, or in the Lord’s presence (Rms. 12:17, Gen. 3:8)? If you’ll honestly answer these questions, you’ll feel compelled to always avoid the appearance of immodest apparel.
Sadly, many brethren today are seemingly blind to the sin of immodesty. Lamentably, some have become so much like the world that they are like those of Jeremiah’s day who were “not at all ashamed, neither could they blush” (Jer. 6:15 & 8:12). What we need is more men like Joshua, who have enough gumption to stand up and say, “…as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15), and that includes modesty. Remember, we are talking about your soul and the souls of your family. Is any soul worth throwing away just to be fashionable or “in-style?” Please give the matter some serious thought as you decide what to wear this summer that will be modest in God’s sight. That’s always been the standard of modesty. David McCain
