The Modesty Survey

Dress is at all times a frivolous distinction, and excessive solicitude about it often destroys its own aim.
Jane Austen

I remember when I first found the Rebelution's Modesty Survey. You hear so many do's and don't's when it comes to dressing with modesty, so it was nice to get some gentlemen's input into the matter. Especially since many of them were so down to earth about it. As one wise young man replied:
"Take these answers as advice - not a rules or regulations. It's very dangerous to get legalistic. Modesty is state of being - not what you wear." Very solid advice, indeed!

But the part of the survey that touched me the most were some of the guys encouragements to dress modestly. The first time I read these, I started tearing up. They're so sweet and beautiful. I haven't looked at these in a long time, but I was revisited them yesterday. I think I needed to hear their encouraging words.
Here are some of my favorites:


"Sisters in Christ, we men in society have miserably failed at appreciating true womanhood. On behalf of every man out there who has painted a distorted picture in your life of what a real woman is, especially along the lines of modesty, I apologize deeply. There are many Godly men out there, as I'm sure this survey will prove, that are dying to give you their utmost respect when you choose to follow God's leading in this area of modesty in your life. We back you up all the way and want to do anything we can to help you. And we ask that you do all you can to help us as we struggle through this world of sin together."

"Girls, you are so much more beautiful than the other girls in the world because you are modest. Your purity is beautiful and I find you attractive because you guard it."

"Thank you to all my sisters who seek to please God with modest clothing and behavior. You really show love and care for others when you dress modestly and do not flirt. There are some especially modest, attractive women in my church who realize that their brothers need help in this area. We men don't appreciate and thank you sisters enough for the thoughtfulness and work you put into dressing modestly. Please keep it up."

"As a young man, I have grown to appreciate and respect greatly girls who present themselves physically in a pure and Christ-centered way. Whether in dress or an attitude of modesty, God will honor and reward you for your goal and efforts to keep him as the center of your life in clothing and the way that you interact with those of the opposite gender."

"Keep going, no matter how hard it gets, keep at it, for not only are you helping your fellow brothers stay clean for their wives, but you are keeping yourself pure for your husband. It may seem like guys don't notice or appreciate, but they do, in ways you don't see."

"I understand modest attire is extremely difficult to find these days, but please don't give up! Don't spoil your inner beauty by parading your physical beauty. Godly men certainly DO notice women who behave and dress like godly women, and absolutely WILL displace themselves from women who behave and dress in an ostentatious way."