Last week Spiritual Perspectives presented three articles written by various preachers over a period of time on the subject of modesty. However, for some brethren, such topics are a waste of time because they made up their minds a long time ago not to pay any attention to anyone who says anything that disagrees with what they have decided to do.. This attitude can be found in a number of people on a variety of issues. We have often noted, for example, that those who insist on using instrumental music have one final argument they use after all others have failed: “We like it, and we’re going to use it.”
The same thing is true of those who want to imbibe alcohol, play the lottery, or go to the beach. In over 40 years of preaching, this writer has yet to see any written justification for any of those practices. Certainly no one has set forth a logical argument, the conclusion of which is, “It is pleasing to God for me to engage in this practice.” Frequently, even half-hearted efforts are not attempted. It usually boils down to, “We like it, and we’re going to do it.”
No one has an answer to that attitude because it arises from a stubborn will that will not let go of a practice that cannot be justified—kind of like Israel’s refusal to give up idolatry despite everything that God commanded or taught on the subject through Moses and the prophets. About the only response one can make is to affirm that anyone has the freedom to do whatever he wants, but God will call us all to account for what we have done in our bodies (2 Cor. 5:10).
However, a second response involves an oddity. Even those in the world recognize worldliness for what it is. A Christian who frequently practiced social drinking tried on one occasion to get a fellow-partier to study the Bible with him; the man responded by saying, “Are you serious? You’re as much of a boozer as I am.” It would be nice if that reaction had sobered him up—permanently, but it is unlikely. Many are more committed to their favorite sins than they are to the Lord. The “friend” who spoke so harshly to the “Christian” had no objections to drinking alcohol (especially for himself), but he recognized that this is not proper behavior for one claiming to be a child of God.
Suppose a preacher or his wife had played the lottery and won it. (Actually, one does not need to suppose it; it’s already happened.) How would members of the congregation feel about that individual preaching on Luke 12:15-21, which deals with the warning to be wary of covetousness? Would such a message carry any weight from such a man? Could he quote the verse about the love of money being the root of all kinds of evil (1 Tim. 6:10) without people wondering about him? How about him quoting verse 9 about those who want to be rich falling into temptation? Would not most Christians view him as a hypocrite?
So what do those in the world think about modern swimsuits, bikinis, and so on? Most people wear them, but that does not mean they are not aware of the implications of what they are doing. They would not try to excuse themselves by saying, “Oh, some people just have dirty minds,” or with some other red herring. Worldly folks know that the undress at a beach causes lust, but they don’t necessarily object to that. They might think it is wrong for a Christian to participate in it, however. Or maybe they just think it is incongruous.
Sometime last year (June or July) Brian and Greg Walker published an interesting perspective in their daily comic strip, Hi and Lois. Now Hi and Lois and the kids are sometimes at the beach; so the authors probably have no religious or moral objections to being there or to the clothing worn at such locations, but in this comic strip they record what perhaps they think is ironic. It only contains two frames.
In the first one, their cartoon son Chip is walking alongside a girl who identifies herself as Jenny. They are both wearing winter clothing, and snowflakes are falling. She is wearing a snug hat, and he has a baseball cap on, which is turned backward. In the second frame there is snow along the sidewalk; trees and rooftops are also covered. She is wearing a thick coat and boots. He is dressed in street clothes with a scarf around his neck; his footwear appears to be regular shoes. In the first frame, after she introduces herself, Jenny says, “We met at the beach last summer.” Chip says, “Sorry.” Then, in a matter-of-fact manner, he adds in the second frame, “I didn’t recognize you without your bathing suit.”
In the first frame, Jenny’s face is quite friendly, and she is smiling. After Chip’s comment in the second frame, her mouth is down-turned, and her eyes are wide open. Apparently, it has dawned on her that it was not her personality that he had noticed the preceding summer. She may be stupefied, but most people are not. Men (and lads) are attracted to a girl’s figure. Pleasant conversation is just a necessary social requirement. Some have yet to comprehend why so many lie exposed on the sand rather than swimming in the ocean. After all, one could lay out at home.
One church critic said a number of years ago that only members of the churches of Christ referred to beach attire as “bathing suits.” No, even in 2015 non-members still refer to them as such. However, immodesty by any name remains precisely that. So, maybe those who refuse to listen to preachers might take a lesson from the writers of a comic strip who have pointed out a fundamental truth that even those in the world recognize. Going to the beach is about lust—not athletic prowess—or even innocent fun.