KneEmail - a devotional by Mike Benson associated with Forthright Magazine
Modesty
ASIDE FROM CLOTHING, the Christian's standard of modesty, for both men and women, also differed from those of Roman society...
This was particularly apparent in public and private baths. Few other societies, except for the Japanese, have had such a penchant for hot baths. Bathing was the national pastime, and public baths were one of the primary meeting places of Roman society. In the early days of the Roman Republic, baths for men and women had been strictly segregated. However, by the second century, mixed bathing in the nude was customary.
In sharp contrast, Christians taught that men and women should not bathe publicly in each other's presence. Their attitudes toward modesty weren't a reflection of Roman culture, but of godly culture.
THOUGHT: Don't the Roman attitudes on modesty also have their parallels in today's American society? Most Americans would be quite embarrassed to be seen in public in their underwear. Yet, they think nothing of relaxing at a poolside in swimsuits that are no less revealing. And don't we Christians generally follow right along with our culture? We appear in public in swimwear that would have shocked even non-Christians only 50 years ago. Yet because swimwear is acceptable to the modern conservative community, we think nothing of it. (David Bercot)
KneEmail: "In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation..." (1 Tim. 2:9; cf. 1 Pet. 3:3).