The Low-Cut Top Epidemic: May We Be Holy

I’d like to address the current ‘fad’ of women wearing low-cut tops, because I’ve spoken with both men and women who call themselves ‘Christians’ who actually told me that it’s okay for Christian women to dress this way.

Fairly recently, a pastor even responded: “how low is too low,” after I brought up to him that women on staff were wearing low-cut tops during church services. I probably wouldn’t have said anything, but this pastor had been emphasizing how he wanted us to do what Jesus did, and I was very enthusiastic about being a part of this. But then I started seeing a pattern that I hoped wasn’t a big red flag that would put a kibosh on what I had hoped would be real Christianity.

I noticed how he would teach over and over the promises that Paul wrote, while glossing over the adjacent passages that clearly mentioned the cost. He would expound on the glorious inheritance that is ours, now, as children of God without teaching what Paul stated is required to be a child of God.

In the 80s, I was blessed to be able to attend a church in which some the elders’ wives [thank you, Carol & the others!] taught the women specifics on dressing modestly. It wasn’t over-the-top stuff like women could only wear dresses, never pants, but rather practical ways to live out what the Bible teaches, to dress modestly. Basically, tight and revealing clothing were not appropriate for Godly women, because inappropriate attire could be a stumbling block for guys.

And in this setting, we guys and gals saw God move in many significant ways during some of our Bible school classes and during “Prayer and Praise.” It was great!

Today, few churches have the conviction and courage to teach the truth about modesty. And lust reigns in many a “Christian’” heart—both men and women. And this is not just one of the issues that will keep the kingdom of God happening among us, this is absolutely also a salvation issue, which I cover in Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures.

This is really a big deal; though, many who have truly been born-again now have their consciences so seared by the lack of modesty in our society that they no longer feel shame when wearing revealing clothing or when willfully looking. And it’s come to the point that some “Christians” will actually say that ‘Christian’ women wearing low-cut tops is no big deal.

Perhaps there are some women who don’t understand how visually God made most guys to be—how attractive the female form is to most guys. I say “most guys,” because perhaps there are some men who really do have the gift of singleness, and aren’t in this way attracted. But most of us do not have this gift.

I’d like to share an experience that I had about 20 years ago, long before the low-top craze. I was attending an exercise class in a small studio. The instructor was female. I was doing just fine, concentrating on her instructions until she bent over, facing us. I freaked! She was close to my type, and I was seeing things I shouldn’t see.

I think she saw in the expression of my face my reaction. And I never returned; though, doing these exercises probably would have benefited my health greatly.

Since then, I’ve learned to train my eyes to quickly look away (some call this bouncing the eyes), for when in close proximity, the field of view of non-peripherial human vision is so narrow that we can look at a woman’s face without seeing clearly what is below. But ladies, most guys are not going to be this careful. But every Christian man should be. For example, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount teaching is so crystal clear:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery;’ but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. (Matthew 5:27-30)

Likewise, Paul was clear in his teaching toward Christian women:

I will therefore that men pray everywhere, 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 2:8-10)

One online author interprets shamefacedness this way:

The word shamefacedness comes from a Greek word which means literally “downcast eyes,” but it is meant in a good sense and refers to one who is ashamed to overstep the limit of womanly reserve.

In my Let Us Be One prophecy, God said it this way in the chapter I call Jesus’ Dress Code:

My people, live as one, not judging one another, being critical of how they dress, one more popular than another. We are all different. Everyone is unique. Give people space, as long as it’s holy. You need to have righteousness girded about your loins. Hide yourself. They don’t need to see everything. That is for your husband, only him. Be careful; this is right.

God designed women to be very attractive to men. And there are certain things that only the woman’s huband should see—no matter what the Devil through society is telling us.

Freedom in Christ is in part freedom from actual lust demons that drive probably the majority of Americans to not be free in the lust area. Not giving the demons a place at all is the only way to be lust-demon free.

We need to “be careful. This is right.”

Praise God!

Jeff Fenske : )

Related:

A Nation ‘Bewitched’: Farrah Fawcett — “When the show [Charlie's Angels] got to be No. 3, I figured it was our acting. When it got to be No. 1, I decided it could only be because none of us wears a bra”

All of my lust-freedom posts

Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way