Modest Swimwear

It is beautiful outside: the sun shines brightly, it is clear which brings us hope that summer will be here soon. As I think of this, I also think of the many who will be heading for the beaches and the exposure of flesh will feed many carnal minds and tempt many with sinful desires, wanted or not.

Last summer I was made aware of modest swimwear. Until then I did not know one could use these words in one sentence: I thought they were oxymorons. But I did a search on the web and found a lot, to my surprise. After studying the pics, I proceeded to sew one for myself and have been real pleased with it. I wore it when we went white water rafting in the Smokies last summer and plan to wear it in the future. It is a garb I do not have to be afraid who sees me nor do I experience any reluctance to ask the LORD for his protection while dressed like this!

I am including some links to websites for your consideration. I hope this will challenge all who are concerned about this issue and perhaps we can demonstrate to the world that "we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Eph. 2:10 (NASB).

Links: http://www.danzfamily.com/archives/2004/06/modest_swimwear.php

http://www.modest-swimwear.net/

http://www.liliesapparel.com/

Moderators: if you consider this subject inappropriate, please remove it.

Blessings,
ginnyrose

Amen Sister !!!

May God bless you in your quest for modest dress. I am so thankful for your post and the links. I wish more women would embrace this style. I think modesty is simply beautiful.

I once heard a young Christian woman address her congregation and talk about the hard decisions young women have to make nowadays. As an illustration she related a story about not knowing which style bathing suit to wear to a pool party, single or two piece.

I think Ravenhill mentions the fact that not only can you not preach holiness anymore, you can’t even preach modesty.

This is also a concern I have about “good” or “Christian” movies. People never mention the immodest dress and behavior. It’s all about the language for many.

Thanks again for this wonderful post.

Peace be with you.

TJ

Thank you for the links, ginnyrose. I am looking for more modest clothing. I was in a store today and the clothes they are marketing even for young girls were horrifying!

I just emailed the links to my mother begging her to sew one for my wife and two daughters. Now the problem is finding someplace to swim where these suits are all thats worn so I don't have to stare at the sand all day at the beach.

In Christ,

Craig

I know of a lady that told me she wouldn't make her daughter dress like an old lady and she was just talking about a one piece suit.

When my girls were growing up they had to wear one piece suits with long tshirts over the top.

Thanks for sharing this. I don't even go to the beach any more as I don't want to go to a peep show.

the problem is finding someplace to swim where these suits are all thats worn so I don't have to stare at the sand all day at the beach.

Craig, you are right on! This is a problem. When we went white water rafting, there were others there who were dressed so shamefully. Fortunately, they put us with a family that were dressed more respectfully. And what helps is when they make you wear lifejackets!

Your mother in law should not find it difficult to sew any if she is a skilled seamstress. Or, maybe you do not even have to be all that skilled - just use a little imagination.

I am glad I could help you...

ginnyrose

tj wrote:

This is also a concern I have about “good” or “Christian” movies. People never mention the immodest dress and behavior. It’s all about the language for many.

tj, you bring up a subject that has really bothered me. A couple years ago we went to see a play, "Annie, Get Your Gun". It is a very fun play to see, I enjoyed it until the very last part where the two key players embraces so tenderly, so romantically. Brother, these two were not married to each other! The lady was married to another man. Let me tell you, I had to avert my eyes after a while because of what it did to me! Understand what I am saying? Now I just told you one story: I experience this also when I see this kind of kissing, etc. on a movie...Look, I am a married woman, a grandmother! I find this 'experience' very upsetting! And I assume this is the kind of thing males feel when they see immodesty.

So what does this mean to me, now? It means that if I value my purity, I will be very selective what videos/DVDs I will watch. As it is, I view very few...do not have time for it...am too busy, PTL!

Thanks for the post....

ginnyrose

perish the thought :eek:

I always ask girls, "What's the difference between a 2-piece bathing suit and underwear (besides the fabric)"?? No answer.

If females knew how men REALLY thought, there whole wardrobe would change overnight! What a sensual society we live in today.

I praise God for winters :-P

Do you guys think the Muslims are to strict with there female swimwear?

Do you guys think the Muslims are to strict with there female swimwear?

Anyhow, I don't know extensively on the topic of "Muslim" swimwear-- i just know the "Muslim" part. It depends on the family, the community, etc. But generally speaking, Muslims to tend to be very modest in their clothing. Generally-- not absolutely. Depends where and how and who and what :-)

Jordan

I loved the sites except for the comments made on them, I absolutly believe in modest dress

Thank you so much for this post as the subject of modesty in dress is dear to my heart. The Word urges us not to be conformed to this world or be moulded into it's image, but to be transformed. It's a shame that the majority of Christians don't take this caution seriously when it comes to clothing, jewellry make-up and so on. It was so encouraging to read the posts in response to ginnyrose.

True beauty comes from the inside, and it is a shame to think that the only way to get attention, or to fit in, is to dress in a certain fashion. If we respect the Lord, ourselves and our families we would adhere to the Word of God which is our manual for life.

I see nothing wrong with the clothing featured in the sites that ginnyrose kindly shared with us. What a breathe of fresh air it is to see. Many ladies are nifty with needle and thread and can easily whip these items up for themselves and their daughters.

May I add that modesty in dress is not just to be aimed at the females. It is possible for men to be imodest as well - but not often spoken about.

As with movies. I saw a Ken Davis video. His father-in-law was not happy with his choice of movie and said something on the lines of:
What happened if strangers burst into your homes and abused your wife and daughters etc etc. Ken replied that he would throw them out. His father-in-law replied: "They're here".

Something to think about. What do we let into our homes without realising it. What do we expose our children and loved ones to.

Once again, thanks for all the posts.
Blessings

I think women that wear revealing outfits do so to get men to react.

Corey, you are absolutely right. Let me tell you a story....

One day I was at Wal-Mart, waiting for my DH to drive up when I saw a pretty young thing come walking up to the store with a cute little smile playing on her lips. She had fairly long hair, was dressed in a blouse with a long slit skirt, the slit was in front that came up so very far...as she was walking up to the store I watched her eyes and they were running to and fro as though to see who was watching her. (Lest someone accuse me of being judgemental, let me assure you this is what her body language was telling me.) This was so obvious, there was no mistaking what the girl was doing. She wanted attention and she got some, but I think she got the most from me! I was standing at a place where I could observe the entire thing.

I would like to float an idea here I would like some response: do modern females not like themselves? is that why they dress so provocatively? Or is it a perversion of God's curse on Eve "and thy desire shall be to thy husband.." (Gen. 3:16)?

Modern feminism has told us we need to compete with males, inferring that female roles are inferior, have less value. So in response to this they want - and do- dress like men, act like men (too bad they did not grow up on a working farm where the daughters had to work hard, get all dirty and stinky, clothes get torn, then patched). So they will dress immodestly to get male attention and the results will only deepen their feelings of guilt, inferiority because the attention they get is on the fleshly level, not the mind. Do females not want to be appreciated for the mind they have? the person they are, the character they are? Why concentrate on the reproductive facilities? Everybody has that machinery..nothing unique about that! Really! I know females want to be loved and admired by people, be they males or females....

Perhaps someone else can give us a better expositon on the reasons why this problem is so widespread - other then just wanting to fit in.

Blessings,
ginnyrose

I wonder if part of it is to gain authority over a man. Women can easily do that.

Pro 6:23 For the commandment [is] a lamp; and the law [is] light; and reproofs of instruction [are] the way of life:

Pro 6:24 To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

Pro 6:25 Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.

Pro 6:26 For by means of a whorish woman [a man is brought] to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.

Pro 6:27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?

Pro 6:28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?

Pro 6:29 So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.

I think it is a fact that a woman can easily manipulate a man. Society even knows it and plays along with it. How many have ever heard of a man being on a "chain?" Or about "the look" that a woman can give a man and make him whimper like a pup?

It's somewhat humorous, but I think we all know it is true.

This is an interesting topic for me. I was married to a porn addict/alcoholic, and I recall the first time we went to Mexico together (while still dating), I put on a nice, modest, one-piece bathing suit and he immediately sent me back to the hotel room to change into a bikini, and he said that he never wanted to see me in anything else but a bikini. I recall being very uncomfortable in a bikini, because I have never been one who liked to draw attention to herself. This is a theme that has permeated my entire life.

It's been a long time since I've put on a bathing suit, I only do so to take my niece and nephew swimming at the local pool. Because of the sin and the "indoctrination" of my former husband, all of which I allowed because I was not walking in the Light, I have even moreso come to loathe how I look because it was never good enough for him. No matter what I did, it always had to be better. Tighter, more low-cut, more revealing, higher heels, well, you get my drift. He even took me to get me fitted for breast implants. I probably would have gone through with it too, had he had the $5K and been able to afford it. :-(

Now God is slowly dealing with me on that issue, healing the wounds and my self-esteem is slowly being lifted by the grace of God and His love for me.

All that to say this about the swimwear that is on those websites, I am not convinced that, to maintain holiness before God, one needs to go to the beach completely covered, but a nice, modest, one-piece bathing suit with maybe a wrap would be fine too. We are responsible to not lead others into sin, and that means dressing in a way that does not lead to impure thoughts on the part of another person.

I see 1 Corinthians 10:31-33 as a guide:

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved."

There will be such people who will think impure thoughts regardless of how modestly we dress, though. Over that, we have no control.

Just my thoughts on all this.

Mia and Bailey, Dugan, Buddy & Agnes the beagles.