Home Outreach Leaders Articles for Outreach & Missions Sisters, Are You Helping (or Hurting) Your Brothers With That Outfit?

Sisters, Are You Helping (or Hurting) Your Brothers With That Outfit?

A woman’s wardrobe choices can be either a buoy or an anchor for a brother who is trying to keep himself afloat.

Ladies, as a pastor of a church full of young men who are struggling, please trust that I am telling you the truth on this even if you don’t “get it.”

Third, each man is absolutely ultimately responsible for the way he looks at a woman, regardless of what she wears or does.

No brakes. No qualifications. No excuses.

Every man is responsible for the choices he makes once images of any kind enter his mind.

However, in light of the truths from Jesus we started with today, I do believe it is worth pointing out that women can wear (or do) certain things that can help (or hurt) their brothers in this particular area of struggle.

But, before you resolve to burn all of your yoga pants or drag the measuring tape with you whenever you shop for clothes, I want to speak to the internal fundamentals of the human heart. Otherwise, we’ll end up just like the Pharisees: washing the outside of the cup while leaving the inside full of filth.

Consider these practical steps to get started in the right direction.

Truth in motion.

1. Check your heart when you check your closet.

Jesus taught us that “out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Matt. 12:34). This reveals a clear connection between our hearts and our behavior.

Thus, there is often a similar connection between our hearts and the clothing choices we make.

We wear what we wear for a reason. To look successful. To attract attention. To look “hot.” We are foolish to ignore the propensity of our depravity to spill over onto our jeans.

Perhaps questions like these could be helpful in checking our hearts:

What is my motive in choosing to wear this?

Is this the right choice for this setting?

Are these clothes going to help the men around me to obey Jesus, or make it harder for them to do so?

As my daughters grow older, these are the questions my wife and I will be teaching them to ask.