Warm Weather Warnings
Doctors repeatedly warn of the danger of our bodies being overexposed to the sun's rays and/or becoming overheated during the heat waves of the summer months. "Use lemonade—enjoy the shade," they advocate.
Spiritually, there are also some warm weather warnings we need to be reminded of continually. Summer sins abound in the world, and among professing Christians, in relation to immodesty and indecency.
Adam and Eve's fig-leaf type of dress doubtless would have been more comfortable for warm weather wear, but God rejected their flimsy, fractional, fig-leaf pattern and instead made "coats of skins and clothed them" adequately.
Since the first failure of man to clothe himself properly, the Bible repeatedly warns of God's displeasure on the inadequate and improper clothing of our bodies.
Today in our church settings we may be found wanting in adequately clothing our bodies through the use of sheer materials in men's shirts and women's dresses, in the wearing of sleeves too short or pulled up on the arms above the three-quarter length standard, in the use of T-shirts and form-fitting trousers, in dresses that are too tight and too short, and in the non-use of hosiery or the use of hosiery that is too sheer, and so forth.
The Scripture encourages and warns, "Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame" (Revelation 16:15).
This Scripture, understood contextually, may well have a spiritual significance, but when the thought of shame related to being inadequately clothed is used symbolically to illustrate something of serious consequence, then it should also warn us against being literally guilty of the same thing.
The term "modest apparel," in 1 Timothy 2:9, comes from the Greek word catastola, which means a garment let down. In anticipation of wearing the long robes of glory, and out of respect for God and His holy standard of modesty, we really should have no problem properly clothing our bodies now, even in the warmest of weather. On the other hand, to knowingly follow worldly trends that are in opposition to God's standards, the Bible warns, will eventually lead to the ultimate in discomfort from which there will be no relief —ever!
It is indeed refreshing and mind relaxing to see individuals or groups of persons giving a silent but visible testimony of "that which becometh [those] professing godliness' (1 Timothy 2:10).
Aaron M. Shank
September 1990