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Which denominations teach there is an objective, theological standard of decent/modest dress?

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What is appropriate for a person to wear? Do those standards change for men or women? How do we know? Why does this, which seems like an important topic, not have much of an explicit commandment in the Bible (for example, you ought to wear something up to the knees, or not show cleavage, like many Christian churches and colleges)? Clearly, the Bible forbids nudity. Genesis 3:7 >And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. Genesis 3:21 >Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them. Nudity was taken very seriously. Genesis 9 >Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent. **22** And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. **23** But Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father’s nakedness. Uncovering someone's nakedness is considered a sexual act. Leviticus 18 >**6** ‘None of you shall approach anyone who is near of kin to him, to uncover his nakedness: I am the Lord. **7** The nakedness of your father or the nakedness of your mother you shall not uncover. She is your mother; you shall not uncover her nakedness. Nudity includes at least the genitals. The priests were to wear undergarments that extended from the waist to the thigh to avoid uncovering themselves (this is the closest to a formal instruction I know of; it seems like one should at least wear something equivalent to boxers in coverage). Why not specify to wear this all the time? Exodus 28 >**42** And you shall make for them linen trousers to cover their [m]nakedness; they shall reach from the waist to the thighs. **43** They shall be on Aaron and on his sons when they come into the tabernacle of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister in the holy place, that they do not incur iniquity and die. Exodus 20:26 >Nor shall you go up by steps to My altar, that your nakedness may not be exposed on it. There is a passing mention of nudity of the legs, though it isn't clear to me whether the first line about having bare legs isn't a poetic building up to the nakedness being uncovered, and not the act itself. Isaiah 47:2-4 >Take the millstones and grind meal. Remove your veil, Take off the skirt, Uncover the thigh, Pass through the rivers. Your nakedness shall be uncovered, Yes, your shame will be seen; Here, one might deduce an association between sexual appeal and nakedness: Ezekiel 16:7-8 > 7 I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou > hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent > ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas > thou wast naked and bare. 8 Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon > thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt > over thee, and covered thy nakedness: Another passage of interest: John 21:7 >Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. Later in the New Testament, dressing appropriately is clearly desirable, but no clear definition is given to what that means, that would not perhaps vary. 1 Timothy 2:9 >in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation..." How would one determine what bathing suit to wear? Whether clothes are too tight? Too short? Whether wearing crop-tops or two-pieces is ok; and if, for example, men can bare their chests? Personally, I have a very conservative view on these topics. However, being married has brought out this topic as a source of considerable worry and pain. Having an objective standard would be helpful either way. It seems like every person has his own standard, and is difficult to explain without offense. Not only that, but cultural issues change the decency of what people wear. For example, in some places, it is normal for women to uncover their breasts for lactation, but it might seem sexual to wear tight pants, whereas in the West it is rather the reverse. (Indeed, one could make an extreme argument that notwithstanding cultural norms, the only requirement about covering nudity goes from the waist to the thigh.) However, we are the same humanity, with the need for, presumably, the same decency. So, one could pose this question another way: how did God clothe Adam and Eve in the garden; and if it is important to follow that standard, why is it not expressed more clearly? Were the Israelites, as God's people, strict on this, as there is seemingly a gap in the law on this topic? A related question: https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/39600/does-the-bible-command-women-to-cover-their-breasts
Asked by Denis G. Labrecque (163 rep)
Jul 18, 2022, 11:37 AM
Last activity: Jul 23, 2022, 06:46 PM