We've talked about the importance of
modesty, and we've talked about how to be modest. We haven't yet
talked about what to do when someone else is immodest, and that's
what we're going to do today. You've probably seen lots of immodest
girls in your life. Sadly, we've grown used to short shorts, tight
dresses, and low shirts in today's society. They're everywhere, even
in the winter (depending on where you live. I live in Texas, so this
is a problem due to our warm weather). We've all run across people
who dress immodestly, even if it's on accident. How do we approach
them about this?
First, you have
to be dressed modestly. You can't tell someone that what they're
wearing is wrong if you're dressed the same way. That doesn't make
any sense at all.
Second, you have to be gentle about it. Most of the
time, immodesty stems from a lack of education. The girl probably
genuinely does not know it's wrong, usually because her parents
haven't taught her about modesty. Making her feel guilty or ashamed
is not effective. If she's not a Christian, that could drive her away
from Christ. If she is a Christian, she deserves to know the
information to help her be a better Christian. In no way should you
use harsh words.
Third, offer an alternative, or a
solution. Usually, it's not helpful to just tell someone that
they're in error, and leave them on their own. Be prepared to help
her out. Offer her your sweater if her shirt's too low, or ask if she
wants to borrow something of yours. Depending on the situation, you
might be able to help or not.
Finally, make sure you have the
authority. What do I mean by
that? In Titus 2, we're told that older women are supposed to teach
the younger women. If you're thirteen years old, do you have the
right to tell a thirty-five year old that she's dressed immodestly?
No, not really. If you're fifteen., do you have the right to tell a
twelve year old that her clothes are too revealing? Yes, you do.
Again, just be
careful about how you do it. Tell the truth in love.
~Sarah
