The High Calling of God: why we should dress modestly

I've gotten many questions as to why I wear skirts, and dresses, all the time, and what is so important about modesty. To be able to answer the questions that people ask, and to strengthen my own convictions about why I do what I do, I did a study through Phillipians 3, and through some other verses in the Bible and here's what I found:

"Bretheren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things before. I press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Phil 3:13-14

When we are saved by Christ and become a Christian we are to leave behind our natural sin nature, the ways of the world in conversation, thoughts, behaviour, lifestyle, and the way we dress. We are to put on the "new man" which is Christ, and we are to strive for the "mark of the prize of the high calling of God." In the Greek text, "high" means: upward/on the top, and "calling" means: invitation/to becalled forth, so as Christians we have been "called" or "invited" by God, to strive to do our best, to reach the top in our convictions about how we portray Christ to the rest of the world by the way we talk, act, and dress.

"Let us therefore as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this to you" vs. 15. By "otherwise minded" Paul is talking of anything that doesn't include Christ as the center. This could be "little" compromises: music that may be titled "christian" but sounds exactly like the music of the world, thoughts that are pleasing to others but not God, or even a desire to dress in a way that is more appealing to worldly people (or young men) so that they will be attracted to us and won't think that we are "weird" or "strange."

"Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained let us walk by the same rule let us mind the same thing. Bretheren, be ye followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example." vs. 16-17. We are to watch others as an example of how we want to live our life and how we want to turn out in the end. Those who live, talk, think, dress, and act like Christ, have a meaningful relationship and walk with the Lord. These are the type of people we want to follow, and fellowship with, and watch as an example. We are to beware of what is evil, by observing what happens to those who claim to be Christians, but live like the world.

"For many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ. Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things." Vs. 19. There are many girls today who claim to be Christians, but the only difference between them and their unsaved neighbors is that they go to church, carry a Bible, and wear a dress on Sunday. I heard a question asked by a preacher one time that made a huge impact in my life, he said: "if you were taken to court, and put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" Christian means "like Christ" and refers to living, talking, acting, thinking, speaking, and dressing, in a manner that is honoring and glorifying to God. We are to copy Christ in everything that we do, for he is our example and we are to "follow in his steps." As Christians our main goal and purpose here on earth is to bring glory to God, and to point others to Christ, how can we do that if there is no difference between those who are lost and us? If we dress exactly like non Christian girls do, showing as much skin as possible, trying to be "flashy" and "Hot", why would they want to become a Christian if the only difference between us and them is that we take one day out of the week to dress differently and act a part?

If we are dressing to attract young men, and hope that they will think we are "cute", then we need to check our hearts and ask God to help us focus on serving, and pleasing him, until he brings the right man into our lives, at the right time. All Christian girls hope to marry a godly, strong Christian, young man someday, and how would your future husband feel if he saw you in the type of outfit that any unsaved girl would wear? or acting in a flirtatious way with other guys? would he feel like he's getting a grand prize, a virtuous godly young lady, someone who has completely saved herself for him? or would he be dissapointed and decide that you're not the one? is it really worth it to dress immodestly, and flirt around, for a few years of pleasure, and possibly miss God's best for you? or to commit yourself to God and to saving every part of yourself for that special one?

If you truly desire the best, then make the decision no matter how difficult, to "Commit thy ways unto the Lord, trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass." Psalm 37:5