Baby It’s Hot Outside
I don’t know why the old song that Dean Martin sang many years ago came to my mind. You remember it, don’t you? The one that is actually a duet entitled – “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” I’m certainly not a writer of lyrics, but that song came to my mind while watching a news report about just how HOT it is outside. I heard numbers like the heat index being up to 123 degrees in the bootheel of Missouri, and my mind, along with the title of this post, sang, “Baby It’s Hot Outside!”
Something I read a short time ago prompted this post as much as the song did. It had to do with the scanty clothing many people wear when the weather gets hot. Her point of view was from that of a young person and she was spot on with her arguments concerning modesty in clothing for both men and women. I couldn’t agree more.
However, those of us who are “old people” have been teaching this for years on end, and we were once young ourselves. I wish I could tell you that I have always dressed modestly, but that would be a lie. I wore shorts and skirts that were shorter than they should have been. But I’m not proud of that and I have repented of those sins.
This isn’t new teaching. Immodesty has always been a problem and it isn’t just seasonal. Immodest clothing can be seen in all four seasons – winter, spring, summer, and fall. Granted, we tend to cover more skin in the winter because of the cold, but I’ve seen skin tight clothing that rivals wearing a swimsuit.
So, what is the purpose for wearing clothes that show our skin? Is it to make us feel more comfortable? Most of us live in an air conditioned home, and work in air conditioned buildings, and worship in air conditioned church buildings. Let’s get real, isn’t part of the reason for short shorts, halter tops, and short skirts or dresses so that you will be noticed. If not that, how about this reason – to fit in with everyone else.
I know in my heart that there are some good hearted Christian people -men and women- who would do anything they could for those around them, but at the same time, they want to fit in with the world in how they dress.
It’s hard to be different, but God calls all of us, young and old, to be set apart from the world – to be different. We shouldn’t want to talk like, act like, or dress like the world.
So when we’re singing “Baby It’s Hot Outside,” remember, we can do better and set an example for all to see.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your
mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).
AUTHOR: Donna Faughn
