Modesty and decency are another one of those sensitive topics to many nowadays yet both are extremely important. Despite this, Scriptures only give indirect hints to things such as dress codes while dedicating a great deal to actions. Since this subject is often a distinguishing characteristic between the world and believers, we have taken a great deal of interest in this. Some of this may seem a little subjective and not completely Scriptural (because of the noted incompleteness of explicit information) but we will note where this is the case. Accepting our views on these areas is completely optional – they are here only to give perhaps another view on traditional ideas.
Decency can be a very difficult concept to grasp. After all, Torah only gives a single definition in Sh’mot / Exodus 28:42: “And make linen trousers for them, to cover their nakedness, reaching from the waist to the thighs”. Obviously, only covering the flesh from just above the knee to the waist would not be exemplary decency for either a male or a female believer! At this point personal discretion is required. Yeshua provides an important concept to consider in Mattityahu / Matthew 5:28 when He says that “Everyone looking at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart”. Mere lusting is actually as grave a sin as actual enactment! It is thus important for all believers to take care to remove this stumbling block from another’s path. We believe that applies to men and women alike – both must be attentive to this in order to go above and beyond the Biblical minimum in a discretionary manner.
This concept extends beyond simply covering skin but concealing one’s form (again with discretion). Tight clothing should be treated with extreme caution. As a good rule of thumb, one should honestly ask his or herself why there is a desire to wear more questionable clothing and what he or she thinks about possibly putting another in danger of violating Yeshua’s command.