A Safe Place?

Unfortunately you can't avoid it … at sporting events … at fast food locations and restaurants … in Bath and Body Shop advertising mail … on television … in the windows of Victoria's Secrets … at vacation spots … on billboards … in shopping malls … everywhere you go. But why at church? Have you guessed what I am talking about? It's women in skimpy attire … low necklines … short dresses, all of which reveal more than should be revealed to anybody except their husband. Now I'm sure that many of you are saying "What's wrong with this guy?" "Can't he control himself?" "He must be an ancient prude!" You may think what you want about me, but I know how God created man and I know how men can be affected by these visual situations. And I also realize that this is life in today's world – sex sells and sex attracts. But my concern is that church should be a safe place for men. It should be a place where men can come to worship and not be distracted by women who are dressed improperly and are revealing too much of their body. You think it doesn't happen? Then just look around your church as the weather gets warm. My wife and I both remarked last week about several mothers who revealed too much to others, even without bending over. A female, with too low a neckline, came to talk to me as I was seated. As she bent over, I was embarrassed and was forced to look the other way. This just shouldn't happen in church, of all places. Now I realize that dress for church has become very informal to attract folks who wouldn't normally attend a church service. And so they come in flip flops, sloppy dress, shorts, swimming suits, and sweat suits. This I guess I can and must accept. But many of the worst offenders are established, regular attending church members who should know better. And many teenage girls are allowed by their parents to conform to modern dress standards and they come immodestly dressed. Now why is this happening? Maybe Christian women desire to be too attractive to others and they don't really care. After all, it is the man's problem, not theirs. Maybe some just want to conform to the world's standards. Maybe some are just naïve and don't realize what they are doing. Unfortunately, the problem is too sensitive and too controversial for pastors or teachers to deal with it. Many parents have no control over their kids and are afraid to say "no". That leaves it to youth teachers and speakers at women's activities to try to handle it. I understand that the speaker at our church's Mother's Day breakfast discussed it. I hope it has some effect, for church should be a safe place for men and I hate to think that the only way to experience such an environment is to attend an Amish service. Call me a prude, but I think it is a legitimate concern that few recognize or know how to handle. What do you think?