You're wearing a sign.

I have wanted to write about this topic for so long but, for various reasons, haven't. I suppose it can be a difficult topic to talk about, but we, as followers of Christ, must be willing to discuss difficult topics with a loving spirit.

The fact that my family just recently got passes to a local theme park might have helped me along in saying, "Finally! This needs to be discussed"

Let me explain. You see, sometimes you want to go up to people and say, "You are wearing a sign." Of course that's not what you'd say at first because it sounds crazy. So let's see how we should begin.

Disclaimer: I share the stuff that weighs on my heart. Maybe it doesn't weigh on yours and that's okay, it really is! But maybe, just maybe, it does weigh on your heart a teensy bit and you just needed to know others feel the same. Sometimes, someone's gotta say what a lot of people are thinking but don't feel comfortable saying. Clear as mud? :-)

In our society, we see it more and more. Girls and women scantily clad in provocative clothing that really leaves nothing to the imagination. For the sake of brevity, I'm going to use the term "girls" to refer to girls, teens, and grown women. In general: females.

Society has always had those who push the limit. Believe it or not, it used to be provocative for a woman to wear a dress that showed her ankles. Oooh la la. 

But we do live in an age where there's an "anything goes" attitude. Our culture is a sexually saturated culture. 

And it's sad. Very very sad. Even very young girls are dressing in provocative clothing. They're starting younger and younger and it's all culturally acceptable these days. 

We recently went to a theme park as a family. These are the things you'll see there (and just about any place you go these days.)....shorts so short that butt cheeks are hanging out, boobs pushed up so high and spilling out of tops (that looks reeeeally uncomfortable, by the way.) Tight, short, form-fitting everything.

There's something in me, something deep in my heart that wants to embrace these girls (women/females.) I saw this one girl who had two young girls. The girls were dressed in normal little girl clothes-thank God- but the mother was dressed...well, to be honest, she was presenting herself as loose. Slutty, even, and I HATE using that word but it does appropriately describe the vibe her clothing was giving off. 

I wanted to approach this woman, put my arm around her shoulder and give her a squeeze. I wanted to give her a warm smile and talk privately with her. First, I would have told her, "You know, you are really pretty." 

Going on, I would have gently asked her, "But are you aware that you are wearing a sign? A sign for all to see?" I'm sure this would have been received with confusion. Let me explain. "Your clothing leaves nothing to the imagination, sweet girl. Your whole body is on display. On display. For all to see. Little girls who might be looking up to you thinking they want to dress like that someday. Women looking at you with jealousy and shame about their own perceived flaws because they've yet to realize where their worth comes from. Men looking at you, lusting for you. Men looking at you then looking away quickly because they love the Lord and try to avoid temptation at all costs.  Yes, sweet girl, you are wearing a sign. 

It says

I'm desperate, please look at me!

I need you to think I'm hot, that I'm sexy, that I'm desirable and 

I think this is all I have to offer...

my body,

exposed for all to see.

I don't have any confidence that my intelligence could win you over..

or that my funny sense of humor can make you stay..

or that my kind, soft heart will keep you around.

So I desperately need to use the only thing I have to offer.

My looks.

My body.

My sexuality. 

Girls, this makes me want to cry! If I could tell you, I'd say that your worth doesn't come from your looks. Your value is not measured by whether or not you look like those sex objects on magazine covers. I'd tell you that if a man is attracted to you because of the flesh you are showing, then this man is seeking to fulfill his flesh and that is not what you want! 

We've all heard the verse, For the Lord does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. I Samuel 16:7

I'm not going in depth here but this verse is often taken out of context. It does not mean what a lot of people think it means. The truth is, the outward appearance usually (I said usually) reflects what's IN the heart. You can leave me comments of the many times this is not true and I will AGREE with you. Truth is, God knows our heart, but strangers don't. You might think, "Who cares what strangers want to think of me?" You're right. If strangers want to see you as flesh on display, as meat hanging outside of the meat market for sale, then that is truly your business.

Sadly, I've seen this in the Christian community as well. It seems as if the worldly adage, "If you've got it, flaunt it," still sounds like the truth to those who proclaim Christ. We must be careful to weigh everything against God's Word. If the world says, "Show'em what you've got" but the Bible says we are to be modest, then we know one is lying. It's not God's Word. It never is. This is a case where, what strangers think, IS important. You see, we are ambassadors for Christ. We are imitators of Christ. It's important that this comes across in our attitudes, in our love, in our kindness, but it's also important that we represent Him in all ways. There are no hard and fast rules, but wearing barely there clothing cannot be considered modest and Christlike.

I still feel sorry when I see women young and old walking around on display like they are wearing a sign. Lord, I pray you open their eyes to their true worth that can only be found in You. I pray you replace their "Desperate" sign with a sign that reads "I am a daughter of the one true King. A princess. I am more than my body. I am more than my outer appearance. I am precious and I am loved." 

While we were at the park, my teenaged son whispered something to me. He said all these girls are so different from "Mary" (name changed to protect her privacy.) He did not say this in a complimentary way towards them, believe me. He wasn't being mean, he was being truthful. He shared with me that he didn't see anything attractive about the way they dressed and presented themselves. He shared with me that "Mary's" modesty was ATTRACTIVE. Yes, Mary is a pretty girl who dresses very cute and fashionable but always like a lady. My son says this makes Mary even MORE attractive. 

Girls, you have a gift. Wear a sign that shows the world that you know you have a gift and it's not a gift you want to put on display for all to see.

For His glory alone,