I found an interesting little point the other day in studying 1 Timothy 2:9-10. The text says, "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works." I was looking up this word sobriety in Strong's concordance. According to Mr. Strong, this word means "soundness of mind, i.e. (lit.) sanity." Thus I learned that when women (and men) dress in modest, decent apparel; having the attitudes of shamefacedness and sobriety, that they have a soundness of mind, that they are showing forth "sanity" of mind by their good choices in the modest clothes they wear.

Also along this line in Luke 8, we read an interesting account of a man that was demon possessed, in the country of Gadarenes. In verse 27 the text records, "And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs." As we read on in this account in Luke 8, verses 28-34 describe how Jesus cast out the demons from the man, and how they entered into the swine. Then the record goes on to say in verse 35, "Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid." Thus we would learn from this passage that a man in his "right mind" will be wearing his clothes. And that a man that does not wear his clothes, is not in his "right mind." I guess we would have to say, that folks who dress immodestly, are displaying "in-sanity." And we would also have to say, that folks who dress modestly, are displaying "sanity."

I suppose a lot of you have seen Susan Powder (she is the blonde headed lady that wears a burr haircut) on TV, advertising her video and her book called, Stop The Insanity. It is a diet program that laments the myriad of diet books and programs out there in the world, some that Susan feels are way out. On the cover of Susan's book, they have a picture of Susan cringing, with her fists at her temples, and the caption and title that says, Stop The Insanity. Now this brings me to the point of this article. When one sees all about us, all the people who dress immodestly, folks who shed their clothes almost to nothing when the weather gets a little warm, when you drive through town and have to go by the public swimming pool and there are all those people who are running around in "colored underwear," when one feels almost embarrassed to go to the store in the summer-time because of all the brief, scanty attire, it just makes you want to put your fists to your temples and say, "Stop The Insanity!"

Guardian of Truth XLI: 6 p. 17
March 20, 1997