Modesty is a touchy subject. Even I see the word and I groan. It's mocked in the world, and the church has come to despise that term as well. I'm currently in the process of writing a book about the true definition of purity, and how modesty is just a sub-category of that, but I wanted to share a few thoughts on here.
1) As Christian women we do not cover our body because it is bad, but rather protect it because it is valuable. The Lord created us, man and woman separately, and each of us are unique. The way I was designed, is different from the way my best friend was designed, which is different from the way her neighbor was designed, etc etc. We're all different. But we have a couple things in common. All of us a. were created in the image of God, and b. we were all fearfully and wonderfully made by the Lord of all creation.
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him;
male and female He created them.| Genesis 1:27
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you
because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,
I know that full well. | Psalm 139:13-14
I don't know about you all, but those are some pretty heavy things to take in. I am made in God's image, carefully pieced together. The same God that made the stars designed us. That makes me, and consequently my body, inherently valuable. The way I live my life, including the clothes I choose to wear each day, should reflect that value.
Or
do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is
in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. | 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
2) I don't dress for others, but rather I dress for the Lord. Perhaps it's my stubborn side, but it frustrates me to no end when the only argument heard for a woman to dress modestly is because a man might lust. It equally frustrates me to hear women say "well it doesn't matter what I wear, a man is going to lust anyway, so I'd rather wear what I want and be comfortable". As women, we have the power to tempt men; as Christians, we have the responsibility to prevent that. Men are ultimately responsible for what they mediate on, but as Christians, we are called to love everyone! One of the best ways to show love to our brothers-in-Christ is by not placing another lustful stumbling block in their way. This world is filled with temptation, and lust is glorified in our society. But I want to be a safe place for my brothers to turn - when they are around us, its not right that they would have to fight the same temptations as they have in the world. We serve the Lord when we serve the people around us. We dress modestly for our Lord, because HE tells us how valuable we are, and our worth comes from HIM. I remember getting rid of some of my favorite clothes - it hurt. But, it hurt me more to dress for the world, and not for the Lord. When how we dress prioritizes our flesh, and not our Jesus, then our priorities need to change.
But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat,
lest I make my brother stumble.
1 Corinthians 8:12,13
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
John 13:35
3) It DOES matter what you look like. Okay, I'm waiting for the gasps and shocks to subside. Please take your arguments about "it's the heart that matters", "Jesus knows who I really am" and "modesty is nothing more than a mindset" elsewhere. The way that you choose to present yourself will say more about you than your mouth ever will. We are a human culture within a human society; people determine who you are and what you stand for by what you are wearing. When people look at me, I would rather they see the peace that Jesus gives me, and the joy that I can hardly contain, than be distracted by a low-cut top or bare legs.
She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future.
Proverbs 31:25
3) "Modest is hottest" still has an end goal of being "hot". As a Christian, the end goal for how I dress should be to glorify the Lord. Everybody wants to look good, and there's nothing wrong with that! But we can be fashionable and look good and still radiate the love of Christ. I don't want to look "hot" or "sexy" or anything else that modern Christianity is trying to promote alongside the world. If I'm beautiful, I want it to be because I'm filled with the Lord. If people are attracted to me, I want it to be because Jesus overflows from me and attracts them. I don't want people to see me, I want people to see Jesus.
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God,even as I try to please everyone in every way.
For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
1 Corinthians 10:31-33