Trinitarians on Our Platforms

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In a message dated 97-07-04 08:19:19 EDT, you write:

<< Yes, but the concept is modesty is left as only an *undefined* term in
 the scriptures.  >>

Not really; *no* teaching of the Bible is left ambiguous, or open to any
private interpretation.

In fact, a little *study* of the *entire* scripture:

1 Tim 2:9,10
9	In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in *modest* apparel, with
*shamefacedness* and *sobriety*; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls,
or costly array;
10	But (which becometh women professing *godliness*) with good works.
(KJV)

reveals a great deal of the *spirit* and *attitude* necessary to serve the
Lord in modesty.

We need to remove the emphasis from apparel, hair, gold , pearls, and costly
array, while very quickly skipping over the real teaching of being modest
with

shamefacedness- 
SHAMEFASTNESS (KJV, SHAMEFACEDNESS) 

 "Shamefastness is that modesty which is `fast' or *rooted in the character*
(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)
(Copyright (C) 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers)


127  aidos-

a sense of shame or *honor*, modesty, *bashfulness*, *reverence*, regard for
others, *respect*

and sobriety-

SOBERNESS, SOBRIETY 

"soberness"; <1 Tim. 2:9,15>, "sobriety"; "sound judgment" practically
expresses the meaning; "it is that habitual *inner self-govern- ment*, with
its constant *rein* on all the passions and desires, which would hinder the
temptation to these from arising, or at all events from arising in such
strength as would overbear the checks and barriers which aidos
(shamefastness) opposed to it" (Trench Syn. Sec. xx, end).#
(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)
(Copyright (C) 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers)


4997  sophrosune (so-fros-oo'-nay);

from 4998; *soundness of mind*, i.e. (literally) sanity or (figuratively)
*self-control*: 

KJV-- soberness, sobriety.


GODLINESS, GODLY 

	2. theosebeia ^2317^ denotes "the fear or *reverence of God*," from theos,
"god," and
(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)
(Copyright (C) 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers)



We need to quit over-emphasizing the *natural* result of holiness, and put
the emphasis back where it belongs: on the *spiritual*, the idea of reverence
toward God, honor, respect, sound judgement, inner self-control (through the
*Holy* Ghost).

Anyone can give an outward *appearance* of modesty, (there are a lot of
clean-shaven, well-dressed sinners out there); but a study of the scripture
shows that modesty is not complete without shamefacedness, sobriety, and
godliness. These qualities of character and spirit will cover *all* questions
of modesty in *all* situations. Instead of asking a person to look in a
*natural* mirror to see if they *look holy* (whatever that means), they
should be taught to look into the spiritual mirror of God's Word:

James 1:23-25
23	For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man
beholding his *natural* face in a *glass*:
24	For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth
what manner of man he was.
25	But whoso *looketh* into the *perfect law of liberty*, and continueth
therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man
shall be blessed in his deed.
(KJV)

It is obvious that, by some *people's* standards, if we look into a *natural*
mirror to see if we look like Jesus, we can't pass their test of *looking
holy*, especially if we look like Jesus did in a *natural* sense, complete
with beard.

But, if we try to look like Jesus in a *spiritual* sense, we are doing
exactly what the scriptures teach:

1 Pet 2:21
21	For even hereunto were ye called: because *Christ* also suffered for us,
leaving us an *example*, that *ye* should *follow his steps*:
(KJV)

Pastor Joe