I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and in a moment we’ll talk about this plague of humanity that is in effect destroying our nation …

… There are many plagues that have attacked humanity, but I believe the ones most dangerous of all are those, which are not seen, or understood until it is too late. Usually plagues are identified with viruses and bacteria that today can quickly take down and kill many unsuspecting people. However, there are more sophisticated plagues that affect humanity that we often fail to realize are upon us, much less are harmful or deadly. As a result, they destroy all of those whom they consume, and the world seems to not be wiser. Today, I want to talk to you about one specific plague that the vast majority of Americans will laugh at, even some in the church of Jesus Christ will “scoff at.” But nonetheless, it is something I am seriously exercised about and see happening to us that warrants everyone’s’ attention Christian or not. So after another pause for musical refreshment, I’ll return to talk with you about this plague of immodesty shredding American lives and homes, in its destructive path...

…Here we are basking in the advancing sunlight of the future now upon us. Yes, the 21^st century has arrived and with it has come many new freedoms and pleasures that before seemed to be lost to Americans. One of these so-called new freedoms accepted these days is freedom from the prudishness and stodgy dress of our forefathers. Next year, I’ll reach the age of having lived three score years. That entitles me to be considered a “senior” saint. To be honest, I’ve never felt like one and frankly still do not at least in my mind, heart and eye. However, I’ve witnessed many exciting and wonderful changes occur from my early days of living to today. Yet, I’ve also witnessed many so-called advances and changes that really weren’t as advertised, one in particular I’m compelled to comment on for your consideration is the change of lifestyle and culture that has resulted in a “plague of immodesty.

Oh, don’t turn me off yet without at least hearing what I have to say. For I’m witnessing this plague as it consumes the world around us, and worse now it is thoroughly entered and attached itself to the Church of Jesus Christ. What am I talking about? I’m sure you have caught the jest of it already. I’m talking about the abbreviated clothing so openly worn these days especially by young females in our society. Now don’t get me wrong at the start, I’m no old “fuddy duddy.” But I’m also a man of God that knows God’s word and wants to gently and lovingly remind all of you of what the Bible has to say about the wearing of clothing. Yes, God has some specific things to say that are not part of any changes in culture, and His Word comes not only with comment but warnings as well as to the consequences which by the way we are experiencing today all around our nation.

To begin, what I mean by a plague of immodesty is the dress décor of men and women these days, especially women that leaves little to the imagination, or perhaps greatly adds to it. This plague of public immodesty has permeated every area of society, especially promoted by our Hollywood types and films of entertainment, not to forget also our books, magazines, advertisements, clothing stores and catalogs. Now some will say, but what’s wrong with our dress these days? The answer is plenty. You see or actually you don’t see, that many forces, spiritual forces, are at work to disrobe humanity, and bring us to a state of virtual and public nudity that is acceptable to the populace. We’ve almost reached this state today. What has resulted -- freedom as some boast? No, on the contrary we’ve experienced an acceleration of the breakdown of morals and are reaping the results in growing crimes of sex, violence and life threatening sexual diseases.

Yes, these can be directly connected to the plague of immodesty God warns in the Bible, will bring devastating consequences and also the wrath of God against all who break His rules for living in His universe when it comes to our dress and décor.

Now from a secular viewpoint, our clothing designers and entertainment industry have gone “hog wild,” with the desire to undress the American population. We can’t do anything today without seeing women or men in their underwear, or less, seeing young people today walking around even in the workplace dressed provocatively and sensually. There seems to be a contest to see how much clothing can be taken off that will be acceptable.  As a result, more and more is becoming acceptable, while most do not realize the consequences it has on us. Let me explain.

The Bible speaks very explicitly about clothing and humanity. It all began of course in the Garden of Eden. We all know God created Adam and Eve and they lived for a time physically naked together. Of course such a thing to this day is not wrong or evil. Adam and Eve were man and wife, and the Bible makes no condemnation. You see nudity between a husband and a wife is never condemned in the Bible. We read about this in,

Gen 2:25 (NIV)  The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

However, when sin entered the world through Adam and Eve’s willful disobedience to God’s commands, it changed the nature and relationships of a man and a woman. Instantly, this first couple realized they were naked. Listen,

Gen 3:7 (NIV)  Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

Immediately, through conscience, they saw their physical nakedness and realized they should cover themselves in public. Yes, although there was no one else around, they still had this sense of shame God placed in them. Now the Bible says their earlier nakedness may not have been that at all. There is a verse of Scripture that implies in their creative purity, being made in the image of God they were clothed, not with cloth or skins, but with “light.”

Psa 104:1-2 (NIV)  “… O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. 2 He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent.”

Yes, Adam and Eve were clothed with a veil of purity and light. In their sinfulness they lost this and were ashamed and so fashioned the barest of clothing to cover their bodies. However, just before God drove them from the Garden of Eden to live in the world now refashioned by sin, God became the first clothing designer. We read,

Gen 3:21 (NIV)  The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 

Now this verse has spiritual meaning, but also it reveals God’s will for mankind the moment they sinned and were to live in this fallen world. Two things God set in us and for us to remember He wanted sinners to live by.

#1 WE ARE TO EXERCISE SHAMEFACEDNESS WITH REGARDS TO PERSONAL PUBLIC NUDITY.

#2 WE ARE TO ADEQUATELY CLOTH OUR BODIES IN PUBLIC SURROUNDINGS.

To reinforce this God’s Word has commented on public dress, regardless of the culture in which it is found. For instance, God gives us His mind on the matter. Listen again to Scripture,

Isa 47:2-3 (NIV) “… take off your veil. Lift up your skirts, bare your legs, and wade through the streams. 3 Your nakedness will be exposed and your shame uncovered. I will take vengeance; I will spare no one.”

Here a curse is pronounced on the basis of exposed nakedness. God warns He wants women to be fully clothed and modestly dressed so that she does not entice the men of society. Now here are some interesting Scripture that speak of God’s mind and observation concerning how women dressed in public and the reason behind it as well. In ancient Israel there was a plague of immodesty that surfaced and God observed and warned.

Isa 3:16-24 (NLT) “… the LORD will judge the women of Jerusalem, who walk around with their noses in the air, with tinkling ornaments on their ankles. Their eyes rove among the crowds, flirting with the men. 17 The Lord will send a plague of scabs to ornament their heads. Yes, the LORD will make them bald for all to see! 18 The Lord will strip away their artful beauty—their ornaments, headbands, and crescent necklaces; 19 their earrings, bracelets, and veils of shimmering gauze. 20 Gone will be their scarves, ankle chains, sashes, perfumes, and charms; 21 their rings, jewels, 22 party clothes, gowns, capes, and purses; 23 their mirrors, linen garments, head ornaments, and shawls. 24 Instead of smelling of sweet perfume, they will stink. They will wear ropes for sashes, and their well-set hair will fall out. They will wear rough sackcloth instead of rich robes. Their beauty will be gone. Only shame will be left to them.

Prov 7:10 (NIV)  Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.

Now this is not to say, nor do I advocate that women go to the extreme of wearing the traditional black Islamic “Burka,” as pleasing to God. That is a religious legalism gone crazy! But the Bible does refer to God observing the modest and immodest dress and decor of society and the reasons behind it. In fact, the Bible further tells us that nudity and the quest to publicly display it among men and women is really Satanic inspired. Yes, hear me out. The quest for extreme physical fitness today, and the goal of fashion designers, Hollywood producers, magazine publishers and television programmers are all bent on taking as much clothing off the woman and the man these days as possible. Why? First of all, Satan’s plan is to desensitize Americans and especially young people. How is this working? Well it has had its devastating effect. You see the Bible equates nudity with moral degeneracy and even demon possession.

Luke 8:27 (NIV)  When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs.

Possessed with demons, this man tore off his clothes and publicly walked around naked and unashamed. But notice what happened to him when Jesus exorcised the demons controlling him,

Luke 8:35 (NIV)  and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

Let’s face it, where do we find the most emphasis on nudity and immodest dress? The answer is where Satan and his works are most active. Hollywood, the “Red light” districts of cities where prostitution and pornography abound, and nude bars proliferate the streets, nakedness, and immodesty is their stock and trade.

Yes my friend, Satan is the originator of the plague of immodesty we see today in the dress of young females. They unwittingly are the minions of demons whose goal is to destroy the morality of society for both men and women. Why today a young girl can’t go on a date without being expected to sleep with the guy for the dinner and show he treated her to. If she refuses, she may even be date raped. All this seems acceptable. Almost every Holly wood films made today show women, even in cold climates, half naked in dress and almost always looking for a bedroom to disrobe before some sex starved man. Now what does the New Testament say about clothing?

Well in every case we see God’s angels and even the resurrected and living Lord Jesus Christ as fully clothed. John the apostle said upon seeing Christ,

Rev 1:13 (NIV)  and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,” dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.

Even in His earthly life, Christ was always modestly dressed too. Moreover, God is concerned how we dress and what types of clothing we wear too. For instance, God condemns the homosexual crowds the so-called transvestites or cross-dressing promoted these days. Again listen to God’s warnings to Israel,

Deu 22:5 (NLT)  “A woman must not wear men’s clothing, and a man must not wear women’s clothing. The LORD your God detests people who do this

 Now what constitutes a man’s clothing as contrasted to a woman? Well the answer is simple. What ever is women’s wear in a culture is not to be the attire of a man. Clearly, God wanted the sexes observably different. For a woman or a man to desire to wear clothing unique to the opposite sex, indicates a perverse and sinful mind in rebellion to God. Such is condemned.

Now I’m not advocating that everyone return to cultural styles of the past. However, concepts of those styles were more in line with biblical principles of modesty in dress. Why, the New Testament apostles give some instructions concerning that which pleases God in such matters.

1 Pet 3:3-5 (NLT)  “ Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty that depends on fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4 You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. 5 That is the way the holy women of old made themselves beautiful…”

1 Tim 2:9 (NIV)  I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,

A goodly number of today’s modern fashions for women are nothing less than sexually provocative attire. I’m not condemning the young women who wear these “styles,” they are victims of today’s acceptance of it. Yet look at our society and see the plague of immorality that given is the deeper plague of pornography running rampant and sexual immorality and sexual diseases that are consuming people everywhere. It all stems from the disrobing of our bodies before one another, outside the confines of the privacy of marriage. Now admittedly, one cannot get away from it. From shopping malls, to beaches, from movies to magazines, we are forced to see nudity and the emphasis towards it. God’s Word warns that it will destroy the society that adopts such a culture of immodesty. The eye gate remember, is the direct route to the mind and soul. Satan knows this, and is using today’s immodesty to produce immorality and to destroy God’s highest creature mankind.

Well am I old fashioned? “You betcha,” when it comes to God’s Word and the reasons behind it for modesty of dress among men and women. Now what type of clothing should we wear? Well that’s up to you! I’m not against changing cultures, except whatever a culture adopts it should maintain modesty for men and women in public places. Today’s bathing suits, high skirts, tight and low cut blouses are all quite immodest and sexually enticing. Now don’t say it’s the fault of men, they should not to look. Ladies, you should know by now God made men to appreciate the female physique. It’s God’s plan for the enjoyment of men and women within the confines of a monogamous marriage relationship. Why the Bible is blunt about this attraction and desire. In Prov. 5:19, and throughout the Song of Solomon, intimacy of relationships between a husband and his wife are graphically spoken about.

Prov 5:19 (NIV)  A loving doe, a graceful deer—may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love.

Song 1:13 (NIV)  My lover [husband]  is to me a sachet of myrrh resting between my breasts.

Yet today, since nudity is pushed to the envelope through media and society, we are becoming dulled and insensitive to it. Therefore, it’s time to speak out in a way that is not legalistic nor fanatic.

Women are according to God’s Word are to choose their own fashions, but to stay within the bounds of modest dress that covers their body enough not to inflame the sexual desires of a man. Obviously a man will be attracted to women, but we must avoid feeding that normal attraction with sensual overtones. The same goes for men. We must avoid dressing provocatively on the beach or boardroom with clothing styles that cause women’s eyes to wander. Now how can we as Christians handle this? Well, here are some guidelines:

1. For women, dresses, skirts, blouses, yes even slacks are certainly permissible for her to wear provided she keeps herself covered and as loosely as possible so as not to accentuate her curves and figure beneath. Dress and skirt lengths still need to be kept down, regardless of culture, and legs covered above the knees. Sound old fashioned? If so, it reveals how far from God you have come. Can these concepts fit today’s styles? Certainly.
   

2. For men, we don’t need to wear three piece suits all day, nor in worship for that matter. That’s just a cultural style that can come and go. But wearing clean, well tailored slacks, shirts or sweaters that loosely cover men as well, this is important. We should avoid drawing attention to our physical bodies in any way possible. Now on the positive side, many of today’s casual dress styles for men have maintained an element of modesty for which I am thankful. However, the grunge look, the torn clothing, disoriented mis-matched shapes and sub-culture clothing worn by some young people is just another act of rebellion to God saying decency and order will not be observed. Stay away from suich excesses to be pleasing to God.
   

3. We must set the example for our youth by adults maintaining modesty of dress at all times. Even in the home, Mom and Dad, you need to be dressed and well-clothed before children. The wearing of bedroom clothes should be carefully avoided with children in the home. Also, mom’s and dad’s need to be careful about the magazines, and catalogs lying around, and TV programming children can have access to. Why clothing advertisements today are extremely sensual and can influence your children and yourselves too, to succumb to immodesty which moves to immorality and even the enslavement of pornography.

   Make sure you as adults monitor your own and family eye gates too. Don’t watch films or view magazines or read books where immodesty and nudity are promoted. Throw out the catalogs that show women and men in their underclothing. The Psalmist of old said it well,
   
   Psa 101:3 (NIV)  I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me.

Although we cannot isolate ourselves from the plague of immodesty around us, we can guard ourselves, our children, spouses and our homes. Yes my friend, it’s up to you to see that you are not a victim of the plague of immodesty consuming our nation. You can do that by protesting all such promotion of it when you see it, and writing to advertisers, TV and Radio talk shows, newspapers and magazines about it when you see it blatantly displayed.

Yes, we must employ every means at our disposal to keep ourselves pure from the sensuality around us, and seek God’s power to resist the temptations and lust it produces in humanity. Especially men, I’m talking to today. You need to police yourself, and keep away from anything that leads to exciting your sexuality outside of your marriage relationship. God will hold men and women accountable. Now on the positive side, the Bible says,

Phil 4:8 (NLT)  And now, dear friends, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

This plague in society that is leading up to the end times may not be contained by Christian people, but we can contain it in our homes, hearts, family and churches. God is looking for His children to maintain decency, modesty and righteousness. It begins in the way we dress, which is indicative of our inner heart. For those who are already enslaved to the immorality, immodesty brings, God can deliver you, if you confess your sins to God and accept His Son Jesus Christ as your sin bearer and Savior. All who call upon Him shall be saved, and granted a new heart and life to life godly and righteously for eternity. Join the family of God. All it takes is your surrender to Jesus Christ by your prayer of faith. May God so grant you ability today to turn to Him and be saved from this perishing generation now plagued with immodesty. May you not be a part of that corrupt way of life, which one day will be judged by God.