It's not just about them

            Growing up I was taught to believe strongly in dressing modestly. I was taught that I should dress modestly so I don't cause the men around me to lust. I still believe this... only my view may be slightly altered. Yes, dress modestly so you don't make yourself a stumbling block. "Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way." (Romans 14:13) But there are times when a man will look at you and think the wrong things no matter what you're wearing! Does this mean we're free to wear whatever we want? No. At the root of it dressing modestly is not about them. It's not about us. It's about God. It's about bringing glory to Him! 

              Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't recall anywhere in the Bible where we are told to dress modestly "in order that you cause not your brothers to stumble." No, instead  "I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.  In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works."  ^{(1 Timothy 2:80-10)}    

                    "Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;  But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." (1 Peter 3:1-4)

             ^"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) 

     Modesty is for God's glory. When we dress in a way that is modest and appropriate it shouldn't just be to try to protect the men around us. Is it our responsibility to protect them? Yes, we are commanded to
"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2) To love everyone around us. So yes, I do believe we should do what we can to help protect them. Notice I said "help." We should help protect them. We are not responsible for their thoughts. Everyone one of us is responsible for his or her own thoughts and actions. We as women are not responsible for what goes on in a man's mind when he looks at us. 

     That being said, is it ok for Christian women to flaunt our bodies in the short, low-cut, tight, skimpy clothing we see all around us? Or is that even the right question? My Dad has often said "the question shouldn't be 'what's wrong with that?' but 'What is God's best?'" So I firmly believe the real question is, "What is God's best in the area of dress? How does He want us to dress?" 

      It's about God and His Word, not about the men around us, not even about respecting our own bodies! If we dress modestly only for the sake of the men around us we're doing it for the wrong reason. My body is the Temple of the Most High God! Should I not treat it as such in the way I dress?