"Despite the frost on my tulips this morning, summer is quickly approaching, and with it, especially here in NC, comes some really hot and humid days. We’re talking 98 degrees and sweaty–so hot that the pavement burns your feet and moving to Canada seems like the best idea anyone has ever had, eh?
With the ever increasing temperatures also come summer fashion. Break out your shorts, tank tops, t-shirts, dresses, and flip flops, chacos, keens, rainbows, tevas–whatever foot fashion your feet fancy. And I’ll be the first to admit that I love summer clothes. The flowing dresses, capri pants, tanks, flops, bare feet, the whole nine yards. While summer isn’t my favorite time of year (I’m all about moving to Canada, seriously), I definitely dress the part, mostly to simply survive the walk from my car to the grocery store without dying of heat stroke.
There is something about summer fashion, however, that is difficult. Its really hard to dress the part and not show all of my parts, right? Seriously, in some clothing choices, I bend over to pick of my child and anyone standing in front of me sees down my shirt while anyone standing behind gets the true meaning of “low rise”. Not cool, people. No one needs to be seeing that, not on my or anyone else.
And this is especially true for women who follow Jesus. Unfortunately, church has become another event where the line between appropriate and inappropriate has been blurred.
Is this really a problem in church, you may ask? It is. Let me recount to you a story, one I wish I could forget. I was visiting the Summit church’s Brier Creek campus last summer. I’d just had a baby and wasn’t feeling all that cute in any clothing choice, but I had my sweet Emmeline and didn’t care as long as we both managed to stay dry the whole morning. I was leaving the service, smiling and saying hello to those gals I don’t see very often, when something caught my eye and I nearly dropped my child. No kidding. There is front of me was a very pretty girl, with long blond hair, blue eyes, and an even tan that went all the way up to her butt. How do I know that her tan went that high? Well, I could see that it did. Her dress was so short that I caught a glimpse of some cheek. No joke, cheek in church. Now I will say, cheek in church is definitely not appropriate, but is it really necessary anywhere else either?
I would venture to say that most gals would agree that wearing a dress short enough to answer several burning questions about what one’s underwear choice might be a bad idea. But what about cleavage, or “shadow cleavage” as my sweet husband likes to call the result of a too low top on a girl who hasn’t rammed her tatas together but still lets you know they are there. Trust me ladies, we know they are there. And then there is what Chris calls “pseudo-cleavage”, which is when girls wear things cut so low you can see where their cleavage should be, but they don’t have any, so even those girls who don’t think their tatas can draw attention because they don’t have any are wrong. They do!
And the skin tight stuff that leaves very little to the imagination. Often, from the stage at West Club where I’ve stood many Sunday mornings and watched pretty girls walk down the aisle of church like its a runway wearing the latest in summer fashion, looking totally trampy and vampy, and I feel so sad. I feel sad for them because they have no idea that I’m thinking they look they are trying to bring sexy back to church. I feel sad for the guys around them trying to honestly focus on and worship God while trying to not stare at those short shorts or low tops. Its so hard for them to spend time with God when they are thinking about boobs. Being married has taught me many things, and this is one of them. GUYS GET DISTRACTED. Married, single, young, or old, they like to look at women, and they especially notice women who dress like they want to be noticed.
Ladies, spare our men in your clothing choices. Help them to love and worship God by NOT being a distraction, and if you do distract them, may it be because of your gentle spirit or passionate worship, not your long legs or substantial cleavage.
Summer fashion, especially, requires women who follow Jesus to make some decisions. I’m not saying don’t look cute or fashionable or pretty. What I am saying is think about what you are wearing and how it might affect those around you, especially men. Guard the hearts and minds of your brothers in Christ by choosing an awesome t-shirt over a totally hot halter top that makes your B cup look like a C. Go for the capris instead of the booty hugging denim “panties”.
Followers of Christ are supposed to be different. I’m not saying go out an purchase a burka or mumu and head covering. I am saying to THINK about what your clothing choices say about you and how they might affect other people, and not just for church on Sunday morning, but anytime and anywhere. Let people see your personality in your clothes. Let them see your joy and love. Let them see your heart, not your crack."
