There are a multitude of worldly practices creeping into the Church of our Lord and among the people that claim to be Christians.

It seems that if we live along the seacoast, that this gives us a right to dress in any manner we see fit. At least, this is the thinking of some.

We are taught in the scriptures that God is no respector of persons (Acts 10:34). With this in mind we see God is not going to require one person to do, or not to do anything that He doesn't require another person to do. The location we live in doesn't have anything to do with a thing being right or wrong. If God's word condemns a practice, it is a sin to engage in that practice.

Anytime we are out of our houses we carefully should consider our dress. If we should dress in a way that would cause someone to lust after us, we have caused that person to sin (Matt. 5:28). In the sight of God it is just as bad to look on and lust after a woman as it is to commit adultery. I cannot believe that if one as a Christian causes another person to commit this sin, that Cod will hold either party guiltless.

We are to abstain from all appearance of evil (I Thess. 5:22). In other words, if we even suspect a thing to be evil, LET US STAY AWAY FROM IT. If being scantily dressed causes another person to lust and commit sin, this is reason enough for us as Christians to be properly dressed when we are in public.

We are taught in 2 Cor. 5: 1a that we will have to give an account of the things done in the body, whether they be good or bad.

I fail to understand how any person that has been a Christian any length of time at all can, with a clear conscience, say that it is alright for boys and girls, men and women, to adorn themselves in bathing suits and go swimming together, and be pleasing to God.

You might say I can engage in mixed swimming and keep my mind clean, but how about the other person? Is it not possible that they cannot control their thoughts? We should not do or say anything that would cause a brother to stumble.

A Christian is not born full grown. As we study God's word, We grow in knowledge from day to day. If we do not there is something wrong with us. If by our study, or through the teaching of another person, we find we are practicing something in religion that is not scriptural, we should cease that practice. This should be true if we are doing that which is morally wrong.

We are taught in I Pet. 4:8, "that the righteous will scarcely be saved." Let us not let worldly desires and practices keep us from going to heaven.

Truth Magazine VII: 11, pp. 7a
August 1963