Modesty as Reverence

The Heart is NOT Enough

In a world increasingly shaped by personal preference and cultural drift, the biblical call to modesty has not only been ignored, it’s been redefined, even within the church. Some argue that modesty is simply a matter of the heart, disconnected from how we dress or present ourselves before God and others. But Scripture tells a different story.

This teaching series, “Modesty as Reverence,” was born out of a deep concern, not just about fashion choices, but about the heart’s response to divine instruction. Drawing from both Old and New Testament foundations, the lessons examine how modesty is an expression of godly fear, rooted in reverence, shaped by clarity, and confirmed through obedience.

In these lessons, we address:

The foundational garments of Genesis and Exodus.
The meaning of "covering nakedness" from God’s point of view, not man’s.
The critical need to train our hearts, not merely follow them (Proverbs 4:20-27).
The danger of reducing modesty to a vague emotional standard rather than God’s revealed pattern.
The harmony between 1 Timothy 2 and 1 Peter 3, showing that modesty includes both internal reverence and external action.
What Scripture and respected scholarship say about the Hebrew word for "thigh" and the region God expected to be covered.
The dangers of doctrinal drift, when bloodlines erase God's line, and lexical butchery.

We also look at sobering biblical case studies, like Uzzah, Saul, and Ananias, who teach us that zeal, fear, or sincerity without obedience still leads to judgment. By contrast, the heart of Apollos reminds us of the beauty of receiving correction with humility and a desire for greater accuracy in God’s way (Acts 18:24-28).

Why This Matters

Modesty isn’t about legalism—it’s about Lordship. When we wear the name of Christ, we are called to reflect His holiness in every part of life. That includes the way we dress our bodies. A heart that reveres God will not resent His instruction—it will seek it, cherish it, and obey it.

Too many Christians have been content with unclear slogans like “just follow your heart,” or “if you love Jesus, you’ll know what to wear.” But God has never left holiness to guesswork. He gives us clarity because He loves us, and clarity is a blessing, not a burden.

A Call for Clarity

The question is not “How little can I wear and still be called modest?” but rather, “How can I honor God in my body with reverence and clarity?”

As you read, watch, or study through this material, I urge you: Look into the mirror of God’s word. Examine both your heart and your habits. Be like Apollos, not Ananias. Walk in clarity--not confusion. Dress in reverence--not rebellion.

“Let all things be done decently and in order.”1 Corinthians 14:40
“...present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God...”Romans 12:1
“...adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation...”1 Timothy 2:9

--Steven J. Wallace.

These articles are sortable. Just click on the Lesson, Author, Date or file tab to sort.
Lesson	Author	Date	File
1. A Holy Priesthood Wholly Dressed: Godly Apparel Tied to Our Identity	Wallace, Steven	2025.06.15	video charts
2. From Fig Leaves to Faithfulness: Modesty's Original Story	Wallace, Steven	2025.06.15	video charts
3. Modest Apparel: Did God Keep Man Guessing?	Wallace, Steven	2025.06.22	video charts
4. Modesty as Reverence: When the Heart is NOT Enough	Wallace, Steven	2025.06.29	video charts
5. Modesty as Reverence: When Clarity is Rejected	Wallace, Steven	2025.06.29	video
6. Babblings on Modesty	Narmore, Brett	2025.07.20	mp3, outline
7. The False Pen of the Scribe: Family Loyalty and Lexical Butchery	Wallace, Steven	2025.08.10	video, charts
8. The False Pen of the Scribe: Shamefacedness and the Old Testament Anchor	Wallace Steven	2025.08.10	video, charts

OUTLINE OF LESSONS 1-5: PDF
Revelation And Creation PowerPoint and Audio Material

Historical Note:
This material was prepared in response to doctrinal error introduced in May 2025 by Brett Hogland at the Southside Church of Christ in Blue Springs, Missouri. That same teaching was later adopted and presented by Jeremiah Cox at the 84th Street Church of Christ in Oklahoma City. In August 2025, Stan Cox joined them, apologizing for having used Exodus 28:42 to define modesty. This series seeks to bring biblical clarity and needed correction to the modesty discussion—emphasizing reverence, obedience, the danger of lexical butchery and doctrinal drift, and encouraging a return to God’s revealed standards.

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