As U.S. citizens, we are given the freedom to express ourselves in many ways that people in other countries are not. Two of those ways are through our dress and speech.
First Timothy 2:9 says, “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety…” Most people would not argue that a Christian should be modestly dressed. But, what is modest? That is where there is a difference of opinion.
Freedom in Dress
I will be the first to admit that it is hard to find well-fitting clothes–I am tall and very curvy. Especially clothes that make me feel pretty and comfortable, and still are modest at the same time.
As Christians, we know that everything we do or don’t do is watched by others. Anywhere we go, one of the first things that people notice about others is what they are wearing. While I do not believe in judging a book by its cover, I do believe, as Christians, we need to at least have a cover on! We all have our own standards on what is modest and what is not. I cannot sit and tell you what you can and can’t wear, but I can help you make your decisions based on God’s Word.
As young women, we deal with our bodies changing almost every day. We begin to have curves that we didn’t have before, and suddenly we begin to be recognized by boys. I am not going to say that the recognition is based solely on looks, but you have to ask yourself when you put on your clothes if it is going to give someone the wrong impression of you.
If a boy can see a lot of your skin, will he then want to touch your skin? Will that make him want something more? I am in no way saying that you have to be covered from head to toe, but I am saying that maybe we need to think a little more about what is covered and what is not before we go out with our friends, or even to worship service. We need to train our hearts to want what is right to God, rather than what we think should be right.
Freedom in Speech
Another way we express ourselves is through speech. I know that slang changes with every generation, so even though I am not that old, I know the slang from my day is out. But, it seems as though more and more internet slang is being used in everyday life. We have to be careful not to get pulled into this. Just because you are using acronyms instead of the word doesn’t make it acceptable by any means. And I am not only talking about curse words. The hate that can be displayed through acronyms is astonishing to me. It is almost as if there is a completely different language online used to hurt people and gossip, to abuse and defame.
James 3:5-6 tells us, “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.”
What we say affects all of God’s church. If someone knows you are a member of the Church but hears you saying something horrible about someone or using language that is questionable, he or she will think that the Church is full of hypocrites. It is the same thing with online acronyms. Just because it is a letter of the alphabet and not the actual word does not mean that it is not effective. To the person who reads it, it still means the same thing.
Using inappropriate language is, unfortunately, becoming more and more acceptable in our world. Like any habit, cursing is one that is hard to change. If you already use that kind of language, perhaps to help yourself to stop, you should fill your vocabulary with other words. Find a word in the dictionary and try to learn a new word each day (of course, it has to be one that is appropriate). Force yourself to find words to express your feelings without using vulgar language.
Whether you decide to pull out your dictionary or not, it is always best to think before you speak. I know we have all heard that many times, but it is definitely one of the easiest ways to keep yourself from saying something you do not really mean. Perhaps if we all thought a little more about what we were saying, and doing, we would not make many of the mistakes that we do.
So, as we celebrate freedom as a nation, let’s remember that as a Christian, we must always express ourselves in a way that shows others who truly sets us free, Jesus.
By Sarah Ancheta
Freedom Book of the Month
What does it mean to be free in Christ? Even more, what does it mean to enjoy that freedom? Some people see Christianity as having a bunch of rules to follow, or a list of “thou shall nots.” Christianity is so much more than that! Being a Christian is more than just going to church on Sunday mornings and more than having a list of rules to follow. Christianity is having a real, growing and thriving relationship with Jesus Christ. Christianity is not about being a slave to God; being a Christian means being set free from the heartache of sin, which the following song describes beautifully.
One freedom we have, which more easily allows us to enjoy this freedom in Christ, is the freedom of religion. Some countries are not free, and are not allowed to worship freely. Some people have to meet secretly in houses to worship God, and they risk their lives in doing so. We are all so blessed that we had men who desired to form a country based on this freedom. We can go to a church building with other Christians, or we can worship on the beach or in our front yard if we want to. We could even sing worship songs during the Fourth of July fireworks without worrying about having our Bibles taken away or being thrown into jail. As we celebrate our freedom as a nation this Fourth of July, we can all take great joy in expressing and living our ultimate freedom, the freedom only Christ can give. When we know, believe, and live to serve Christ, that’s the greatest freedom of all.
I love to read about the life of Jesus, which is what we’ll continue doing this month. Jesus walked on water, healed diseases, saved souls, and lived a life free from all sin. Jesus Christ is the perfect example. We can all enjoy our freedom in Him this month as we read our Bibles in a park, on our front porches, at our work, or anywhere else we desire to read. Turn the pages and imagine you are there—watching the miracles happen, listening to His sermons, and witnessing His unselfish love. Allow the Bible to come alive to you. Read in a quiet place outside and pretend you’re reading where Jesus prayed, walking where Jesus led, and sitting where Jesus taught. Choose to experience the love of Jesus and to let the Bible pierce your heart so you can fully respond to Christ, who chose to die for our sins so that we may live, and enjoy, being free in Him.
I want you to think about the meaning to the words of the following song, by James Rowe and J. W. Gaines, arranged by H. F. M. Something that I do too often is sing a song and not think about the words. It’s something that I’m working on, and on a recent Sunday, this song caught and held my attention.
Many of us have friends or family who are not believers, and because they are our friends and family, they are often the hardest to talk to. But remember this important fact: unexpected things happen. If you don’t start a conversion now, you may never get the chance again. A friend of mine recently died unexpectedly, and I am very glad that she was a Christian. Other friends and family may move away. Many of us are afraid of being ridiculed or rejected. But remember, they are not rejecting you, they are rejecting God. This is a concept that took me a long time to understand. Even Jesus was rejected (Luke 4:22,28-30 ):
I was just a toddler when I remember first hearing about Heaven. The Sunday-school teacher said, ”Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, and He has gone to Heaven to prepare a place for us.” She described the beauty of Heaven, as set forth in Revelation 21:21-22. Then she said, ”If we live for Him, and do His commandments, He will come one day and take us there.”
When we obey God’s commands to the best of our ability, and confess our sins, repent of them, and continue faithfully in His way, then we can say, with Paul, at the end of our life here, ”I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but to all them also that love His appearing“ (2 Timothy 4:8-9).
Is Christianity logical and verifiable? Is it reasonable? Is it true?
DOES THE BIBLE TEACH THERE IS SUCH A THING AS ABSOLUTE TRUTH? The answer: Yes! The Bible affirms the reality and certainty of truth (see 
Faith never has anything to fear from honest investigation. Indeed, the deeper you look into the evidences for Christianity, the stronger will be your faith. If you have questions, please ask. We will address your questions, your interests, and your concerns. If you are an unbeliever, all we ask is that you keep an open mind. Give us an opportunity to explain the Christian faith.
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