Each year young women and even men begin to wear less and less. They say, “It’s much too hot to have on all those clothes” Those who would rightly instruct a young woman that her attire is too revealing, thus, immodest would not consider the same young lady to be dressed inappropriately at a swimming pool with males present. The reasoning used: “This is different”. My question is: “What makes it different?” Consider this: What’s the difference between wearing a bikini or swimsuit in public and wearing lingerie around the house with mixed guests?
We are not saying that swimming is wrong for it is not? But we are expressing that mixed swimming is wrong when individuals are dressed (or I should undressed) in skimpy attire.
If a man expresses that he is not somehow affected by an exposed woman – such a man undoubtedly is not being honest. It is widely known that men for the most part are visual creatures.
Jesus expressed the matter this way: “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh (keeps on looking) on a woman to lust (to desire that which is forbidden) after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matthew 5:28).
Subsequently, when our first parents sinned they “made themselves loincloths” (Gen. 3:7 ESV). Obviously, this attire was not adequate for the two because the “Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins [a long shirt-like garment; a tunic] and clothed them” (Gen. 3:21 ESV). It should be also observed that this applies to both woman and men.
In Exodus 20:26; 28:42, 43 – God instructs the priests as to what type of garments to wear and the punishment that would be issued if they did not heed His word. Furthermore, altars were not to be too high as to expose their shame.
We should always remember that the garments we wear affect others as well. Both men and women should consider the way that they dress because such could be the stumblingblock that determines the eternal destination of your brother or sister.
Tavares D. Mathews