on dressing modestly: more from the Mahaneys

Much of the reading I've done on the topic of modesty is material written by various members of the Mahaney family: there is much on the topic of modesty on the girltalk blog (written by Carolyn Mahaney and her three married daughters), and a chapter of C.J. Mahaney's book Worldliness is devoted to the topic, as well.  I would highly recommend reading it all, but I know many of you probably don't have the time or interest for that!  However, on his blog in 2008, C.J. Mahaney posted seven excerpts from Modesty: God, My Heart, and Clothes -- the chapter from his book Worldliness.  You can click here to view part one of the series.  And since it's seven parts long, why not sit for five minutes every day, reading one part each day for a week?

If you are sitting there, rather skeptical of this family who is so into modesty, wondering just how out-of-date they must be... let me tell you that quite the opposite is true!  They are way more trendy that I ever am (okay, I know that doesn't say much!).  But really.  Check out the about page of their website to learn a little more about the ladies at girltalk.

Some practical suggestions about modesty still to come...

on dressing modestly: a mini-series

I've been wanting to write about modest dress for a while now, but writing about modesty in the middle of winter (for most of you) seemed a little unnecessary.  Or at least less-necessary.  But now it is April and spring is on it's way for many of you.  And for some of us, the hot weather never ended.  :)

There are so many angles from which you could address the issue of modesty.  But rather than me expanding on any number of arguments, let me share with you the thoughts of John Calvin, via the girltalk blog.  (Because if anyone knows about fashion, it would be John Calvin, right?)

As we stand in front of the dressing room mirror or our closet at home, John Calvin, the great reformer, has two questions for us. In short, he wonders, what do our clothes say about our relationship to God?

“Where is our gratefulness toward God for our clothing if in the sumptuousness of our apparel we both admire ourselves and despise others, if with its elegance and glitter we prepare ourselves for shameless conduct?”

and

“Where is our recognition of God if our minds be fixed upon the splendor of our apparel? For many so enslave all their senses to delights that the mind lies overwhelmed.” (HT: Justin Taylor)

If other words, what brazen ungratefulness is expressed if we proudly admire ourselves for the clothing God has provided, if we dress to attract the attention and admiration of others instead of drawing their attention to God, and worst of all, if we dress to “allure men sexually?” What kind of “thank you” is this to God for His good gift of attractive, comfortable, and warm clothing?

And how can our minds be fixed upon the goodness and the glory of God if they are consumed with thoughts of what we wear? If we are preoccupied with the latest fashions, which (like the grass) will be here today and gone tomorrow, how can we worship and love the eternal Savior with all our minds?

(original girltalk blog post September 10, 2008, found here)

I'll most some ideas, suggestions, links, and more articles on modest dress in the next few days...