[quote author="Craig Schwarze"]I think I understand your point. By Christian standards, you consider the girls clothing immodest?

Yes. But let me stress again that I don’t think any less of the Huxleys nor will I condemn them for the reasons stated above.

Knowing the background that Jeremy gave us, if I had been the editor of Southern Cross I still would have (reluctantly) published the photo but I would have made it much smaller so less attention would have been drawn to it.

Yours in Christ,
Mark

I’d be interested to hear more about your standards of modesty for females, Mark. I fully realise everyone draws the line somewhere differently, so I’m just seeking your views.

Is the display of cleavage always wrong? Is it ok for chicks to wear jeans? To show their bare arms? etc.

[quote author="Craig Schwarze"]
Is the display of cleavage always wrong?

No (it might be inadvertant, as when a woman loses the shawl which would otherwise cover it.)
[quote author="Craig Schwarze"]Is it ok for chicks to wear jeans?

As with men, that depends on the cut (from what I recall, the Ancient Greeks thought that the wearing of trousers is effeminate (along the reasoning that only sissies thought of protecting their testicles.))
[quote author="Craig Schwarze"]To show their bare arms?

Not sure, but I once complimented a disagreeable woman on her elbows.

The family seemed modestly dressed for being on a beach.

Yeah when was the last time someone wore pants/jeans to the beach? Over here you get bikini’s or worse!!!

Though with a husband who struggles with images such as those I understand the sentiments, though as a wife, I would not be uncomfortable with my husband seeing women dressed as such and that is how I measure appropriate and inappropriate if people do ask me.

In the case of myself and the way I dress- as a teacher I feel burdened to be very careful, so as not to stir up ideas in the minds of my students - what I ask myself as I look in the mirror is “would I be comfortable wearing this infront of John Smith*?” (Also would I be comfortable if Lee saw someone else dressed like this?)

*Name changed to protect identity - John Smith* is a guy I went to Uni with and who I studied the Bible with on Campus there as part of a small group, I don’t know why I ‘picked’ him, except he is a Godly guy, who I wouldn’t like to cause to stumble

Re: Raunch in Church

[quote author="Craig Schwarze"]Anyone got any thoughts on the so-called “raunch” phenomena amongst young women?

Jim & Lesley Ramsay had some harsh things to say about the raunch culture at KYLC, during their “Personal Life of a Leader Pt. 2” workshop.

Jim bluntly mentioned that young Christian men had come to talk to him during church time, asking if some of the young Christian women could be spoken to about their choice of outfits.  These young men explained that they found it hard to kneel and pray behind these girls in meetings because their g-strings could be seen from under their short skirts as they knelt down.

Lesley observed that every year she came back to KYLC, the necklines of female fashions appeared to be going lower and lower - even down to the waistline.

Niether Lesley nor Jim pointed the finger at anyone.

They did strongly advise the girls in the workshop to consider very carefully the effect of current female fashions on their brothers in Christ, and whether or not what they were wearing/choosing to wear was really helpful for their brothers in Christ.

To the credit of my sisters (I myself was in baggy high-waisted slacks and a loose-fitting neck-to-hip-covering cotton T-shirt bearing an Australian flag design), none there were really wearing majorly “raunchy” fashions…

Although, in terms of sun protection, I did silently question the wisdom of so many of the girls who wore tank tops, exposing their shoulders for five days to the strong UV rays...I foresee a new generation of unsightly sunspots appearing in the next 20 years....

TZ.