Girls of Purpose ~ Women of Destiny: April 2010

Before I get into this post I want to say three things 1) I do not wear T-shirts when I swim 2) I do not wear fully body drag suits and 3) I do not particularly like to wear a plain old one piece. (There is nothing wrong with these things, I just wanted to let you know where I am coming from).

Okay, I love swimming! I practically grew up in the water. Both my parents were lifeguards, so my brother and me learning to swim was pretty important. I even did a few summers of Swim Team. Needless to say, we have been around the water a lot. But, as I grew older I became faced with the question "how does modesty address swimwear?" Now that we are heading into summer this question has been on my mind again. To address this question I would like to look into the past first.

Over the Centuries women have been conscience about modesty and would try to maintain their modesty as much as possible when swimming. The first swimsuits were very modest but also very cumbersome and I would admit I would not be too thrilled at the prospect of wearing one. However, as the years progressed, swimsuits changed to both maintain modesty but allow for more comfort and flexibility. Sadly, in the last 50 years we have crossed the line when it comes to swimwear, and we are no longer achieving either modesty or comfort. Our bodies are not meant to be flaunted, but to be valued and protected. Many (I would hope to say most) Christian women and girls have thought about modesty and do try to be modest in their day to day lives. We know the verses that talk about how a women should adorn her body; how we are to be beautiful on the inside and out; but, many times we seem to think that all those rules and restrictions somehow vanish as soon as we want to go swimming or to the beach.

I was thinking about these things and asked myself the question, "Would I go out in public in my undergarments?" Ask yourself that question. Would you go to the store in your underwear? Probably not. How about an ice cream store by the beach? I would say no. What about the swimming pool; would you leave the changing room in your underwear? I know I would not! And, most of you probably would not want to either. So let me ask you, what is the difference between a bikini and undergarments? They are made of different material, one we wear under things the other we don't… one is actually more immodest than the other (bikini being the more immodest). If you would not go out in your undergarments why would you go swimming in them? Especially if they are more revealing than your undergarments!? I do not understand it at all. How is it that we as women want to be valued as people and treated as such, but then we go and dress in a way that is provocative and alluring. Wearing a bikini is not going to help guys see you as a person; all they will see is what you have to offer. You are making yourself a thing not a person. Why do we allow the culture to tell us it is good to look that way? I get uncomfortable just thinking about it. It cannot be comfortable to wear a bikini, maybe not just as clothes but, how it makes you feel. Girls, we are supposed to feel awkward when we are not dressed properly. I just want you to think about that. When you wear a String bikini (or any bikini for that matter) what is it, covering? Not much, only what is absolutely necessary. It still fully portrays what is under the little coverage, leaving you with literally nothing on to anyone who has an ounce of imagination. One pull of that string, one pull, and everything is gone! I do not want to seem harsh, but that bikini is one pull away from your total exposure. It is a sensual outfit meant to entice, and just another way to enable your friends, and your brothers in Christ to stumble. We are hurting ourselves by wearing immodest baiting suits and we are harming others around us too.

I want to take it the next step. I never wear bikinis, but, I have worn one-piece suits and I got to thinking, "this is much more modest than a bikini or even a tankini, but would I wear this out?" Never! I do not wear short shorts or short skirts because I believe they are immodest, so why would I wear a one piece that exposes all of my legs and much of my back? I really had to think about that. I had to admit to myself that I know bikinis are wrong to wear, but I did not feel that a one-piece was wrong or immodest. Why is that? I might know it is wrong and immodest, but why do I not feel it? One word: Culture. Our culture has numbed our sense of right and wrong, modest and immodest, when it come to the swim suit. Because of this I am encouraging myself to take that next step and go though my swimsuits to see what should stay and what should go. Please ditch the bikinis, and think about maybe even tossing some of those other questionable suits. I promise that you can find very feminine, cute, and modest swimwear, which will make you more comfortable and keep you up on the lastest styles without having to forgo your modesty and pure winsome allure.