Leave Something to the Imagination

Romans 14:13
“Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.”

“Leave something to the imagination.”

That is what I was told by the women in my family growing up.

What did that mean?

Keep yourself covered.
Everything everybody could see did not mean everybody needed to see it.

In other words, stop showing all your goods.

And although the phrase may sound old-school now, there was wisdom behind it.

As believers, we cannot say that we desire to live pure lives while completely ignoring the message our presentation may send.

I know…but keep reading.

Modesty is not about being ashamed of your body.

Your body is not dirty.
Your shape is not sinful.
Having curves is not sinful.
Being attractive is not sinful.

And another person's lust is ultimately their responsibility.

Jesus made that clear when He addressed the condition of the person doing the looking. (Matthew 5:27-28)

But I also believe we have to be honest enough to admit that sometimes we know exactly what we're doing.

There is a difference between simply having a body and intentionally putting that body on display.

I once heard a gospel artist say that if seeing a woman's shoulders provokes something sexual in a man, then that man is dealing with perversion.

Now, I understand the larger point: women should not be made responsible for every thought a man has simply because she has a body.

I agree with that.

But I also believe we have gone so far in defending personal freedom that sometimes we refuse to acknowledge the power of presentation.

I've been minding my own business and done a double take at another woman because what she had on was so revealing or so tight that it immediately caught my attention.

And trust me, sis.

I am not interested in women.

Sometimes something simply draws the eye.

That does not automatically mean the person looking is lusting. But if something is intentionally designed to highlight every curve, expose intimate areas, or draw sexual attention, can we really pretend presentation has nothing to do with it?

And gentlemen...

Don't get comfortable.

This message is not just for women.

Sir, you cannot post a thirst trap on Instagram talking about:

“Just finished working out.”

Meanwhile, your shirt is nowhere to be found, your entire body is glistening, the camera angle has been carefully selected, and somehow we're supposed to believe the post is about fitness.

Please.

You know what you are doing.

And yes, men's clothing can be immodest too.

Clothing can be so tight that it exposes or emphasizes areas that do not need to be emphasized. A man's body can be intentionally displayed for sexual attention just as easily as a woman's can.

Modesty is not a women's issue.

It is a Christian issue.

And modesty goes beyond the amount of fabric covering our bodies.

It asks:

What am I trying to communicate?

Am I simply getting dressed?

Or am I trying to be noticed?

Am I choosing something because I genuinely like it?

Or because I know exactly what kind of attention it is going to bring?

Am I presenting myself in a way that honors God?

Or am I craving validation from people?

Those questions require honesty.

Because purity isn't only about what we refuse to do sexually.

Purity also involves our motives, our thoughts, our boundaries, and the way we choose to present ourselves.

Romans 14:13 tells us to make up our minds not to put a stumbling block in someone else's way.

That does not mean we must walk around terrified that someone somewhere might find us attractive.

That's impossible.

Nor does it excuse someone who refuses to exercise self-control.

But love should make us considerate.

If I belong to Christ, the question cannot always be:

“Can I wear this?”

Sometimes the better question is:

“Should I?”

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:23:

“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial.

That's maturity.

Not simply asking what we are allowed to do, but considering whether what we are doing reflects the God we say we represent.

WAIT is about more than abstaining from sex.

It's about learning to honor God with our entire lives while we wait.

Our bodies.

Our relationships.

Our conversations.

Our social media.

Our motives.

And yes...

Even our clothes.

You don't have to hide your beauty.

You don't have to dress like you're headed to Bible study every time you leave the house.

And you certainly don't have to carry responsibility for somebody else's inability to control themselves.

But you also don't have to put everything on display.

Sometimes Grandma's advice still works:

Leave something to the imagination.