Gouge out your eye: What if Jesus actually meant what he said?

Matthew 5:29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

This will probably shock you: I believe that Jesus meant it literally when he said that. But wait, please. Do not call me a fundamentalist, or heartless, or a wooden literalist, before you hear the rest:

It is not the thief’s hands that make him stumble.
It is not the liar’s tongue that make him stumble.
It is not the fornicator’s eyes, which saw someone he now lusts after, that make him stumble. Nor is it his genitals, her dress or her body.

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Answering a Kelly Reims quote

“To wear inadequate clothing is to deny that you are a sinner and that you need a Saviour. Immodesty is actually a denial of the gospel, and it has no place in the life of a believer. Wearing inadequate clothing says that you don’t need God’s covering, that you don’t think you’re sinful, or that you are content in your sin. Calvin said that immodesty was an expression of despising the Master, “who intended clothing to be a sign of shame.”

“To wear inadequate clothing make up new laws God did not give is to deny that you are a sinner and that you need a Saviour, instead pretending to be as God the law-maker. Immodesty Kelly Reins’ statement is actually a denial of the gospel, and it has no place in the life of a believer. Wearing inadequate clothing says that you don’t need God’s covering, Holding others up to outward appearance laws which are not from God says that you think you know better than God, that you don’t think you’re sinful as you are perfect enough to make the rules, or that you are content in your sin.

Calvin Paul said that immodesty legalism in outward things was an expression of despising the Master, “who intended clothing to be a sign of shame. freed us from the law.”

Modesty and respect for Scripture – do they fit together in your world view?

This picture – the black and white, not the red – is a screenshot from “A return to Biblical Modesty”, a pdf book by Mrs. Daphne Kirkland:

According to Mrs. Kirkland, “God’s Word Says The Uncovered Thigh Is Shameful.” She quotes:

Modesty: Is too much clothing immodest?

These quotes are not mine. But since people from what I would call modesty culture have occasionally visited my blog and even liked insights like “Who are the babies” and “Purity  balls – one virgin’s perspective” , I present this, which may be insightful to some of you:

   Modesty actually deals with what is put on the body, not what is taken off or absent.  We say a person has a modest income we are describing the small amount they make. 

Patriarchy, modesty and training up children: Who are the babies?

Sixteen-month-old Faith reaches for a glass bowl on the coffee table.

Faith, no, don’t touch that.

Faith touches the glass bowl. *pop* I slap her hand. She looks startled.

I said no.

Faith reaches for the glass bowl again. *pop*

No.