Why do we wear clothes?
Now I know people can explain the answer to my question in many ways.
They can tell me it has to do with adapting to the climate. Or they can explain that skin is sensitive and vulnerable to scrapes, cuts, and other injuries. Also there is a societal argument that we display our power and authority through clothing selection. All well and good. None of these are the primary reason we wear clothes.
We wear clothes to protect our own modesty.
We wear clothes in public because it just feels uncomfortable not to.
Of course some pro-nudist people will jump in about now and support their ideas because they believe we must overcome modesty. They believe it’s an old taboo.
Nudism is a first-world problem and activity. Sure, some indigenous tribes wear little clothing, but then they lack money and stores. Those interested in being nudists around us have the luxury of time and money to do so.
So why bring this subject up?
Because modesty came with the fall. Embarrassment came with the decision to disobey God and go our own ways. From this perspective, shyness, embarrassment, modesty, are behavior brakes. They stop us hopefully at least long enough to consider our ways before choosing the next path.
You might say as well that humility is modesty of the mind.
Humility is the admission of personal weakness and is designed to turn us back toward God, or at least seeking him. If we do choose humility, we are more inclined to walk with less pride and arrogance.
Which brings to my mind a few familiar lines in the Bible.
Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:11-12 (NLT)
We are instructed to put on armor. Yes. It’s a metaphor. Don’t go shopping for a metal medieval suit.
So what was the Apostle Paul’s point?
We need to be covered.
We need to walk spiritually protected.
As there are weaker parts of the human anatomy, there are places of human spiritual vulnerability as well — and it is a mistake to ever believe that one day we won’t need God’s protection and strength. Also, note we aren’t told to put on just one thing. We aren’t to pick and choose, thinking we know what exactly we will need in the spiritual conflicts of our lives, both present and future. It isn’t about style and flexibility, as if we can adapt or blend into current societal norms. Anyone walking around today in a suit of armor will stand out. They cannot hide. At the same time they, unlike those around them, are uniquely protected — something the world is not capable of really understanding, no matter how smart in general they might be.
Finally, note that we are told who our true enemy is and who he is not.
Human beings are not our enemies in and of themselves. Human beings captured by evil lose their autonomy. They are slaves. The true enemy is further back and hidden in darkness.
Back there are “evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world… mighty powers in this dark world, and… evil spirits in the heavenly places.” Bad hombres.
Let’s consider what this last one, about “spirits in heavenly places” is telling us. It is indicating that evil sometimes comes as if it is God himself or one of his angels of light. It’s the oldest trick in the book and still amazingly effective because it messes with our most necessary connection for strength, power, and stability as we live in this usually tranquil-appearing world. It is the false message to trust ourselves and remove our bulky annoying restrictive embarrassing armor. It is the sweet and gentle whisper that we don’t need old religion and stodgy stupid people in places like church. We have what we need to go it alone.
Borrowing from today’s warfare terminology, we might call this scheme one of the devil’s psycho-spiritual operations. It’s intent is to capture and destroy without revealing that a war is even taking place.
“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
1 Peter 5:8