I have been reading about modesty. I came across an interesting argument. It wasn't against modesty per se but was making an argument for not appearing different from the world. The argument was that Jesus looked just like the people around him and that is why he had to be identified by a kiss on his cheek. Hudson Taylor (famous missionary to China) was quoted to support looking as much like the people you wish to reach as possible.
What are your thoughts on this argument?
Personally I am aiming to be modest. However, it is very challenging because I am currently in a beach going culture where it is normal to show a lot of skin. Unfortunately the bare bodies are increasingly covered in tattoos (e.g. half the leg or arm). This is true for males and females.
I guess it doesn't take much to look different from the world today. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
This is an often over-looked subject, but one that is important. Reading the Bible, you see that God's people, while dressing neatly, were called to dress differently from the world. Am I doing that? As a man, is it OK to wear jeans/running pants, and a T-shirt? I'm not sure. I did start putting a little ribbon of blue on my pants a few years ago, but don't see that as an absolute requirement today. What about shorts on a hot day? What about socks in a country where the people don't wear socks? Just what does it mean to be "modest"? Different cultures have different expectations of what "modesty" means. If I went around wearing a robe like Jesus did, I would be quite queer, and not in a good way!
The subject of dress reform was very big in the 1850s-1860s in the SDA church, and God even gave visions to Ellen about what women should wear. Sadly, very few ventured out in faith to follow it. It is interesting that in 1881, God showed Ellen that the previous instruction was not to be resurrected. That seems to mean that God sees how the culture changes, and gives direction based on that in some instances. That is also very difficult for me to swallow, as I usually think of God's instructions as being timeless, for all people in all situations. Anyway, it is very true that if someone today wore what God instructed in the 1860s, that person would be making themselves a "gazing stock", something that would be exactly opposite of the intended purpose!
Ed has given great resources with those websites. Here is the personal story of the woman who started remnant raiment:
There is an opposite ditch to fall into - that of pride. Some people think that dressing modestly makes them more holy, and they are very loud in telling everybody about it. We need to keep in mind the ultimate goal of our appearance - to give glory to God.