Toy Stories: Barbie — Modest vs. Manipulative - Wednesday
Today’s Verse
1 Peter 3:3-4
Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. (ESV)
In a 2006 interview with Blender magazine, hip-hop and R&B artist Mary J. Blige was asked an interesting question regarding “bling” in the context of her faith.
“Mary, you’re a devout Christian,” the interviewer started out. “How do you reconcile ‘bling’ with God?”
Blige responded, “My God is a God who wants me to have things. He wants me to bling! He wants me to be the hottest thing on the block. I don’t know what kind of God the rest of y’all are serving, but the God I serve says, ‘Mary, you need to be the hottest thing this year, and I’m gonna make sure you’re doing that.’ My God’s the bomb!”
That interview may have been nearly 20 years ago, but it still paints a pretty accurate picture of a mindset still prevalent today: faith blended with the cultural influences of materialism and self-glorification. But contrary to what Mary J. Blige believed back then (and hopefully has changed her mind on since), God isn’t interested in our self-glorification.
As you may have noticed, Peter’s words in our scripture today sound very similar to Paul’s words we studied yesterday in 1 Timothy 2:9-10. The common themes include elaborate hair styling, fancy jewelry, and expensive clothing. Geeze, what do these dudes have against braids, gold necklaces, and Lululemon tunics? Cultural context is key here: In New Testament times, physical adornments, like braided hair, gold jewelry, and certain kinds of clothing, were status symbols indicative of wealth. So the sentiment here is not anti-braids, but rather the discouragement of vanity and self-glorification among women who follow Christ. It’s a call to a higher standard of internal beauty, humility, and serving others.
You might be thinking, Okay, I get it. It’s all about humility and heart posture. But practically speaking, what does it actually mean to dress modestly? While dress codes have their place in certain settings and specific wardrobe guidelines can be helpful, the reality is that there’s no holy hemline. However, Jon gave us some great advice on Sunday: keep it classy, and keep some mystery. I’ll also add:
Consider Context: That swimsuit may be a great choice for the neighborhood pool or beach, but you’re more likely to draw attention to yourself if you wear it elsewhere.
Evaluate Intentions: Did you choose that dress in hopes you’ll catch someone’s eye? Are you wearing that brand because you like the quality, or because you want to stay on trend and impress other people?
Invite Accountability: When in doubt, ask someone who exhibits wisdom in this area and will be honest with you.
APPLICATION
Read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. Think about the way you approach your physical appearance—your clothes, makeup, hair, etc. Ask yourself: Am I using any of those things to bring attention to myself or to manipulate others? If so, what goal am I trying to achieve: attention, affection, status, power/influence, etc.?
PRAYER
Talk to God about your answers to those questions. Confess any intentions that don’t honor Him, and ask Him for wisdom in what you need to adjust.
