Loving Our Neighbor (Leggings & Lust)

 

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.””

(Galatians 5:13-14 ESV)

 

As believers, we take comfort in the great freedom we have in Christ. We take comfort in the fact that we can do nothing to earn or to become deserving of God’s blessings. And we take comfort in the fact that forgiveness and salvation have been provided to us as a free gift.

 

Yet, even though this is true, we still tend to get caught up by law. In our effort to live for the Lord, we tend to make value judgments. We make such judgments based on our own experience. And we, then, hold others to these standards.

 

One place we see this, and one place where it is argued extensively, is when it comes to the way in which we dress. If you, for example, attend a youth retreat or conference, girls are often told that they can wear only a one-piece swimsuit. Bikinis, in other words, are not allowed.

 

This rule is put in place because of a simple reality. Although it’s true of men in general, it’s especially true that teenage boys tend to struggle with lust. This, of course, is sinful. And being in the presence of girls, who are almost naked, does nothing to help in this regard.

 

This argument surrounds not only bikinis, but also leggings or yoga pants, because of their form-fitting nature. And many Christian women are quick to say that they should not be punished because of a problem possessed by men. They should have the freedom to wear whatever they please, and whatever they find comfortable. Men, they tell us, should deal with their own issue and not place the burden of it upon women.

 

Both sides of this debate have valid points to consider, and either can be taken to an extreme. Both sides of this debate also share something else in common: They focus their attention only on the other side of the issue.  They look only at what others can do for them, rather than what they can do for others.

 

It’s true that men are responsible for their own temptation and sin. The burden of controlling these desires cannot be rightfully thrust upon women. Men cannot and should not constrain women based upon their own sinful desires. They should not dictate to women what they should and shouldn’t wear. They must recognize their sin, confess it to the Lord, beseech his forgiveness, and seek his strength that they might live in a way that is pleasing to God.

 

Women, however, should consider the needs of those who surround them. They should not be concerned only, or even primarily, with their own desires or comfort.  In all things, they should seek to serve their neighbor. And this includes the clothing they choose to wear.

 

In saying this, I don’t intend to lay down any rules or guidelines for you. We must recognize that much of this is cultural. Here in the United States, it isn’t considered revealing or immoral for women to wear shorts. In India, however, for a woman’s ankles to be visible is considered quite risqué. Shorts are not acceptable even for men. And other standards, other definitions of modesty, apply in other parts of the world. It’s hard, then, for us to set a guideline that applies across the board in the church.

 

When I’ve traveled to India, where it is very hot, I haven’t worn shorts even though it would’ve been much more comfortable to do so. I concerned myself not with my comfort, but with the sensitivities of others. Here in America, however, I feel free to do so.

 

What it comes down to is this: Although we certainly do have freedom, we are not to use our freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. We are not to use our freedom as an excuse for sin. We are, rather, to use our freedom to serve one another.

 

Paul brings it back to the one standard that applies in every situation. He reminds us that the whole law is fulfilled in one word. And that word, to which he’s referring, is that we should love our neighbor as ourself.

 

Our focus as we make decisions, then, is not ourselves. Our focus is not our own desires. Our neighbor is to be our focus. And we’re to consider his needs ahead of our own.