Wow Charles! GREAT point. I hadn’t really considered that angle. Well worth exploring further. Crazy how we love to take the Bible out of context if it fits our preconceived notions, isn’t it?
Interestingly, lots and lots of folks have brought up this “don’t cause your brother to stumble” argument. It seems to be the only Scriptural fallback when you realize Scripture doesn’t actually talk about cleavage or miniskirts — at all. I keep pointing out that “causing someone to stumble (sin)” intentionally is absolutely a sin, a grievous one! But an arbitrary standard of “modesty” is absolutely NOT the same as actively trying to seduce someone. It seems to me that many Christians don’t know the difference. To them, if it’s skimpier than what THEY would wear, it’s immodest/slutty. I grew up in a culture like that — conservative women (usually women, ironically) judging and reading into motives of other women who happened to have a better (tighter?) sense of style than they did. To equate that with seduction is incredibly presumptuous and downright hurtful!

)

    Joel Michael Herbert

    Written by

    Husband. Father. Artist. Bible teacher. Shepherd. Sinner/Saint. Armchair Theologian. Beer aficionado. #Syracuse