Is Showing Your Stomach a Sin? Inappropriate to Show Belly Button?

Mr. Good Faith · Jun 30, 2004

I would have to agree with BB here, but add that church is a place to worship God and to present ourselves before. We should not dress to physically impress anyone there but God.
How do you want to present yourself before the Lord of all Creation?
Also, know that scantily clad women can be a major distraction for the men who want to try and worship God and pay attention to His word (scripture, sermon or homily). If a woman is dressed scantily, she is helping the enemy to keep our eyes off of Jesus and on to the female body.
Please dress wholesome in church.

kayanne · Jun 30, 2004

Mr. Good Faith said:
If a woman is dressed scantily, she is helping the enemy to keep our eyes off of Jesus and on to the female body.
Please dress wholesome in church.

well said

vanshan · Jul 1, 2004

Don't do anything that may make your brother stumble, should be considered here. I have to admit when women dress sexy, even at church, it can be a distraction which is hard to ignore. We must all account for our own sins, but we are also accountable for any way we make contribute to another persons sin.

Modest clothing is attractive in my opinion, if you're into the virtuous sort of woman. On Orthodox monasteries here in the U.S. women must wear long skirts and men must wear pants or jeans, not shorts. This is a great practice of modesty, IMO.

Basil

Sketcher · Jul 1, 2004

BronxBriar said:
I take even greater issue with belly-button piercings which draw even more attention and are becoming more prevalent.

I don't know about the piercings drawing more attention. If there's a belly button, it will get looked at, piercing or no.

Daughter of His · Jul 1, 2004

I suggested to my thirteen year old, stay in shape and she will look good in anything she wears. I especially dislike the immodest clothing for girls because I think they even confuse themselves as to how to behave. I vote no belly.

duh_hikki_zealot · Jul 2, 2004

If the woman knows she's getting men to have certain thought about the way she dresses. She should stop.

Dust and Ashes · Jul 2, 2004

How does this work the other way? Well, not completely the other way but where does it cross the line from just wanting to look good and be attractive to causing someone to stumble?

For instance, when I go shopping or just loafing around town, I will wear some nice (not tight, ack I hate tight pants) jeans and a black tshirt (usually tight ) because that is a good look for me. I have a mesomorphic build and I want to look nice but I never go around in public w/o a shirt, though I do like muscle shirts and tank tops for comfort in summer.

What is too far and can we draw an arbitrary line when what makes one person stumble might go completely unnoticed by someone else?

kayanne · Jul 2, 2004

forgivensinner001 said:
How does this work the other way? Well, not completely the other way but where does it cross the line from just wanting to look good and be attractive to causing someone to stumble?

What is too far and can we draw an arbitrary line when what makes one person stumble might go completely unnoticed by someone else?

you're right to a point, that what makes one person stumble might not even be noticed by someone else. but i think few people would totally not notice a bare stomach showing. now, some men may have the moral fortitude to immediately look away, and not let it become a source of lust. but i think that, in our culture today, bare bellies (think: brittney spears) are intended to be a sexy look and not just an attractive look.

i personally don't like the other extreme, the no make-up, plain hair, loose jumpers with ankle socks and tennis shoes---just to avoid looking attractive and put-together. and yes, even an attractive look may cause some people to stare lustfully, but i think it's their problem at that point.

it is an arbitrary line, slightly different for every christian, but God knows our hearts and our intentions.

covenant914 · Jul 2, 2004

Tempest in a teapot.

Historical Note: I have been a guy my whole life.
I have been faithfully married for 19 years.
I have a 15 year old daughter who is tattoo free, piercing free (except for her ears).

Having said that...

1. Guys get excited by a breathing girl. Regardless what she is wearing.
2. How can belly buttons be okay at the beach - and not anywhere else? Are the girls competitive swimmers and the extra clothing will cause drag? No, it's just a double standard. Or a battle not worth fighting.
3. I gave age considerations earlier.
a. Before 7 - ever see a child run around without a shirt - [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]!!!!!!
b. After 16 - If they are old enough to drive - then they will dress how they like and they should have enough sense when to dress appropriately.

Again, I make the assertion (mostly tongue in cheek - though some never understood this), if they are cute.

Victrixa · Jul 2, 2004

I really don't like the belly button fashion for girls and young adults. I don't personally find it very flattering nor pretty. I much prefer to see a woman (young or older) dressed classically (classical fashion). I think that women/girls would be much more respected by men/boys if they dressed modestly - classically.

I'm a lady and very classical in my style and the belly button fashion really bothers my husband, as some have mentioned here also. I think it's a very provocative fashion, certainly not suitable for Christian women! Some girls/woman are walking around almost naked!

I'm also offended by men walking around on the street with no top on. I think it's very impolite for a man to do this. To walk around topless is nakedness, ya know? It's unacceptable. It offends me.

I'm really typically classic. For example, I love the Victorian era and the 1950's fashions. Good ole times!

Classically yours,

Caroline

angelnstix · Jul 28, 2004

To each his own....but I cannot stand to see a lady walk around with her huge gut hanging over her pants...lol. Its very gross to me. I see it a lot when I go to town and it is just icky to me. But for someone that takes care of their stomach and works hard to form their 6 pack..I say heck yeah...show it! I prefer not to show my tummy, but I did when I was younger before I had kids. I did NOT do it to be sexy, but did it because I thought the shirts were cute. I guess its about how people portray the human body.

aggie03 · Jul 28, 2004

Does it really matter what your intentions were if what you are wearing causes your brother to stumble? I'm not trying to be antagonistic, I'm just curious to see what your answer will be

It seems like Paul was making the same point about meats. If his eating of meat was going to cause someone else to sin, then he said he would never eat meat again. Shouldn't we have that same attitude about things?

angelnstix · Jul 28, 2004

I do NOT think it is ok to show your belly in Church, I even think it is inappropriate in public, but going to the beach, going to a pool party, wearing a half shirt over a bikini top I think is ok. I guess it boils down to what kind of people you are going to be around...I would not be comfortable with my belly showing at all, when I was younger like I said earlier, I did, and I think it was ok. It was the "in" thing.

New_Wineskin · Jul 29, 2004

Anti-Fear said:
I have met girls who are Christian but they also wear clothes that reveal their stomach and belly button. It feels kinda too revealing to me.
In this matter, I am not as much asking what Bible says, but what do you think is the right way from what you read in Bible.

I have met very great Christians who either show their stomaches or their wives and daughters show their stomaches while wearing bikinis . I have seen many Christian males with their shirts off out of doors . But , one says that these are ok . Well , given time , so will the current situation . The idea that wearing a bikini at the local swimming pool is ok but not down the street or at work is rather weird . It is the same clothing . They are all public .

MadeInOz · Jul 29, 2004

Oh man, I was on the bus today, and there was this very pregnant young lady wearing a very short midriff top. It was just... ewww... not a pretty sight.

angelnstix · Jul 29, 2004

indeep,

I saw a lady walking across the street like that the other day. I bout croaked!! I would never have let my preggo belly hang out...lol. I guess to each his/her own! lol

Iosias · Jul 29, 2004

Anti-Fear said:
I have met girls who are Christian but they also wear clothes that reveal their stomach and belly button. It feels kinda too revealing to me.
In this matter, I am not as much asking what Bible says, but what do you think is the right way from what you read in Bible.

I believe that women should dress modestly (2 Tim) and shewing one stomach is wrong.

Crispie · Jul 30, 2004

I see the belly button being shown as a sign of more trying to be "sexy and attractive". This is of course different if they are at the beach and are wearing a bathing suit (because the purpose of showing it is different). Id rather a girl be modest than try to be "sexy". Yes in this culture belly buttons and short shirts are commonly reffered to as being sexy.

aggie03 · Aug 4, 2004

New_Wineskin said:
I have met very great Christians who either show their stomaches or their wives and daughters show their stomaches while wearing bikinis . I have seen many Christian males with their shirts off out of doors . But , one says that these are ok . Well , given time , so will the current situation . The idea that wearing a bikini at the local swimming pool is ok but not down the street or at work is rather weird . It is the same clothing . They are all public .

Perhaps the answer, then, is that it is not okay to wear a bikini at all. The Scriptures say to dress modestly. This means at all times without giving any exceptions (swimming included). I also don't think that men should be walking around without their shirts on - as this is immodest.

BInC · Aug 4, 2004

I think that showing the belly is wrong. As a teenage guy, if the girl is a good-looking girl I don't think it's disgusting I find it very attractive, and it is a big distraction. I understand how you can want to wear a shirt like that just because you like the shirt, the color or design on it or somthing, and that is ok with me. But please don't wear it around me. If you are having a "girls night out" or whatever, I don't care what you wear, but if I have to look at you I don't want to be distracted. As far as the swimsuit thing, I can't see how you can justify wearing a bikini to the pool but not downtown. Sure, you may have a different reason for wearing it. Maybe you aren't wearing it to attract attention. But what I'm saying is, it doesn't amtter why you are wearing it. It will still cause us guys to stumble, whether we are at the pool or at the mall. As a lifegaurd, I see all sorts of swimsuits. When girls where suits like that, it can be a problem. My job is to watch them, but now I can't. So for all of you girls who think "oh it's ok cause I'm not doing it for attention," please just try to think how it is for the guy.

Is Showing Your Stomach a Sin? Inappropriate to Show Belly Button?

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