Without A Word

There can be little doubt that we live in an immodest society.  Indeed, the only thing that could be called modest about it these days are our expectations.  That old Greek self-destructive pride called hubris abounds.  We are unremittingly sure of ourselves with little cause.

This attitude has its effect in the church.  We have come to judge our success in worldly not spiritual terms.  The best is the biggest, the loudest and the newest thing.  Many have left behind the idea of seeking first His kingdom (Matthew 6:33).

Our world’s lack of modesty intrudes into our personal lives.  Peter has a section in his first letter in which he instructs married women in the sometimes delicate process of winning their non-Christian husbands to Christ.  It is often that the more sensitive spirit of the woman sees first the blessing of Christ.

As part of his direction Peter reminds Christian women of the need to follow the leadership of their husbands (as with Paul in Ephesians 5:22-23).  His purpose: “that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives” (1 Peter 3:1).  “Without a word” he said.

Peter goes on to explain what he means, that this winning will be accomplished as the husbands “observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.”  He elaborated: “Do not let your adornment be merely outward – arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel – rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”

Now, we often look at passage intended to help a man and draw out a lesson for us all.  We can do the same here and argue from a specific instance of instruction in modesty a general principle.  Modesty is a perspective that begins within a person and comes through to show on the outside.  As Peter makes plain by teaching it is a learned behavior, somewhat akin to the moderation of Philippians 4:5.

Modesty is a necessary characteristic of the Christian.  We think of the obvious use of the word with regard to the way we dress, particularly the way women dress.  Women are wonderful creatures of God who sometimes use no sense whatsoever in what they put on (or don’t).  Women must realize what men are thinking when they see a woman dressed in an alluring fashion.  Most men conclude that the woman means to allure.

The Christian woman should be aware of her environment and understand the effect she has on it.  Young men are influenced visually and may interpret what a young woman means to be stylish as an invitation to promiscuity.

There is a greater matter here.  What do we say by the way we conduct ourselves as Christians in this present world?  Our world is given to a sort of sexual mania.  We should not appear to have a part in that, man or woman, whatever age.

And yes, the man.  How is he to be modest and moderate?  Ours is a time of immodest tempers and the glorification of rashness.  The Christian man must be a man known for consideration.  A Christian man is modest when he does not think too much of himself and in place of vacuous selfishness thinks of others.  In other words, like the Christian woman, he allows the truth and principles of Christ within him to be seen by the world as his modest Christian conduct.  We thus argue that the world see we are Christians, without a word.

Bill Irby