I struggle with summer in Central Florida for more reasons than one.

Yes, the heat and humidity score high on my displeasure meter for sure. But the physical discomfort that comes with temps in the nineties takes a back seat to the spiritual angst of increased temptation to lust complicated by immodest dress amongst the fairer sex.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not blaming women for any of my battles with impurity. Lust, if entertained, shows my heart and its sin and not that of anyone else .

However Jesus issued stern warnings to His followers about the risk of acting as an accessory to sins like lust by becoming a stumbling block. For example, Matthew 18:7-9 says:

[7] “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! [8] And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. [9] And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.

Jesus emphasizes the necessity of forceful elimination of stumbling blocks in our making war on sin, but in so doing pronounces woe upon those who wittingly or unwittingly function as conduits for temptation.

Dear sisters in Christ, may I humbly and earnestly entreat you that your wardrobe choices can and do make a significant difference in this regard for the godly man who wants to please Jesus with the thoughts of his mind and the trajectory of his eyes?

Robert G. Spinney, in an article in this quarter’s Free Grace Broadcaster entitled Modest Apparel, called “Accessories to Adultery” asks:

Why do some Christians dress so as to make themselves “lusting events”? Often it is due to innocent ignorance. Many believers simply do not realize that other Christians are easily tempted to sin by immodest clothing. This is especially true for Christian women: they often do not understand that many Christian men experience great anguish of soul as they fight with sexual temptation. Without intending to, they wear clothing that is a stumbling block. Be mindful that Christian men are saints, not angels! Sisters, please love your brothers enough to avoid tempting them to sin. Margaret Buchanan is right when she writes, “By dressing in a provocative way, girls and women are actually sexually harassing men.” This is true even when there is no deliberate intent to promote sensuality with one’s clothing.

Again, by no means do I mean to hint even remotely that any of this excuses men for our various and egregious sins of sexual harassment toward women. But I would remind, especially women of God, of Paul’s appeal in 1 Timothy 2:9-10 – women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, [10] but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.

Godly men, let us wage war with drastic action this season of “lusting events” against sin through the power of the gospel and our accountable support of one another. And may our godly women join the fray by coming to our aid with their adornment of respectable apparel.

Ladies, we who too often sin against you with our lust, thank you for this most beneficial assist.