Page 402 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

MOLADAH - MOLECH

silly, flippant, careless, intoxicated, shallow, worldly, and gazed upon her nakedness. The Bible warns that “the
vain. We see from this passage that the Christian strange woman,” the immoral woman, can “catch” a
woman’s modesty must come from the inside out. It man with her seductive dress and actions (Pr. 7:10-13).
comes from a sober and shamefaced spirit. It is a matter “Whether you realize it or not, men look at certain
of the heart, which reminds us that it is not enough to portions of the body, and it doesn’t matter whether you
set forth dress standards. Every effort must be made to think that is good, bad, or otherwise, they are going to
educate the women so that they understand the biblical do it. And if you wear clothing that attracts attention to
principles of modesty and know the reason for the that, you are just helping them in their sin. That’s why a
church’s standards, and every effort must be made to dress, unless it’s too tight, is better than pants, because
reach their hearts, to challenge them to surrender a dress does not draw the attention to that part of the
themselves wholly to Christ and to live for His glory. body that people look at and lust after” (Bruce Lackey,
“Broided hair” refers to braiding the hair. This does not Bible Guidelines for Clothing).
mean that the Christian woman should not take care of The Way of Modesty. The Bible says God “covered”
her hair; it is a warning against spending a great deal of Adam and Eve (Ge. 3:21). This is a good pattern for
time adorning herself in the manner of the world, of modesty. The man and woman should be covered
making this her focus in life. We agree with the Barnes decently so that the body is not improperly displayed in
commentary, which says: “It cannot be supposed that a sexual way. There are three areas which must be
the mere braiding of the hair is forbidden, but only that addressed when dressing modestly: First, the nakedness
careful attention to the manner of doing it, and to the must be covered. It is obvious that it is immodest to
ornaments usually worn in it, which characterized wear clothing which exposes the parts of the body
worldly females.” The mention of “gold, or pearls, or which have sexual appeal. This includes short skirts, low
costly array” reminds us that it is God’s will that the blouses, shorts, and skimpy swimsuits. Second, the
Christian woman refuse to display an extravagant, sexual organs must not be sensually accented. Tight,
showy, worldly appearance. The goal of this world’s clinging attire is as immodest as skimpy attire because
godless fashion industry is to create a haughty, the outline of the body is emphasized and exposed, and
ostentatious, worldly-wise look, as well as a sexual look. man’s attention is directed to that which is forbidden.
The godly woman will reject such fashion and clothe Third, the attire must not be extravagant. When the
herself and her daughters in “modest apparel.” “It is not Apostle deals with modest attire in 1 Ti. 2:9, he
to be supposed that all use of gold or pearls, as articles mentions “broided hair, gold, pearls, and costly array.”
of dress, is here forbidden; but the idea is that the Obviously, then, it is God’s will that the Christian
Christian female is not to seek these as the adorning woman refuse to show an extravagant, worldly
which she desires, or is not to imitate the world in these appearance. The goal of the world’s wicked, proud
personal decorations. It may be a difficult question to fashion designers often is to create a haughty,
settle how much ornament is allowable, and when the ostentatious, worldly-wise look. The godly woman will
true line is passed. ... It is, that the true line is passed reject such fashion and clothe herself and her daughters
when more is thought of this external adorning, than of in “modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety.”
the ornament of the heart. Any external decoration Modesty Contrasted with the Strange Woman. The
which occupies the mind more than the virtues of the immoral woman of Proverbs 7:10-13 is in contrast with
heart, and which engrosses the time and attention more, the modest woman. (1) Different in attire (Pr. 7:10).
we may be certain is wrong” (Barnes). The immoral woman has “the attire of an harlot”—
The Reason for Modesty. Before the fall, the man and skimpy, tight, suggestive—to draw attention to herself
the woman were naked and were not ashamed, but sexually. The modest woman is clothed in such a way so
after the fall man’s heart became darkened, and it as NOT to draw undue attention sexually. (2) Different
became necessary that men and women be clothed. One in spirit (Pr. 7:10-11). The immoral woman is “subtil of
of the first things God did after the Fall was to cover heart ... loud and stubborn.” The modest woman has “a
Adam and Eve (Ge. 3:21). Immodesty increases sin meek and quiet spirit” (1 Pe. 3:4). (3) Different in
among men (Le. 19:29; Pr. 7:10-13; 23:27-28). Some countenance (Pr. 7:13). The immoral woman has “an
women excuse their immodest dress by saying lust is the impudent face.” The modest woman is “shamefaced” (1
man’s problem, but Jesus Christ warned that fornication Ti. 2:9). [See Adultery, Chaste, Discreet, Fornication,
begins as lust (Mt. 5:28), and the woman who does not Legalism, Lust, Mincing, Nakedness, Shamefacedness,
clothe herself properly is guilty of stirring up unlawful Trim.]
passions in the man. David and Bathsheba both were MOLADAH (place of nativity). Jos. 15:26.
guilty in the transgression. Bathsheba should not have
been bathing in a public place; David should not have MOLECH, MOLOCH. [See Idolatry.]

402 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity