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Evolution of Underwear - What Part of Underwear is 'Under' Anymore?
It used to be that showing your underwear in
public was reserved for plumbers or in those stirring nightmares
of showing up to school wearing only your underwear. Things have
changed. In recent years, the public display of underwear has not
only become acceptable, but a fashion statement. With the fad of
"sagging" (we hope its just a fad) oversized pants in
the last few years has come the marketing wars of companies who
produce underwear in a variety of styles and statements. This year's
MTV awards witnessed Britney Spears displaying one new trend for
young women wearing thongs. Wearing thong underwear is certainly
not new-- letting everyone else know you are wearing it is new on
the scene. In the female version of "sagging" it is popular
to pull the sides of the thong up over the outside of pants in order
to let everyone else in on the shade and design being worn. So popular
is the trend that Victoria's Secret (not many of those secrets left)
is selling "Thong Clips," which assist in keeping underclothing
on the outside of the clothing. In an attempt to bring the market
share of "tidy whities" back on the scene the company
who produces "Jockey" underwear recently unveiled an ad
campaign with a set of handsom young men with their pants dropped
to their ankles to let the world know they prefer a more traditional
style of underwear. Not to be left out of the display window, bras
are revealed for the world to admire by ladies (young and not so
young) with unbuttoned blouses. One has to ask the question, "What
part of underwear is under?" The possibilities are under consideration.
How does a teen, young adult, parent, youth
worker, or teacher deal with this acceptable trend in society and
hold it up to the "Light?" It is difficult. However, it
is an excellent discussion opportunity for spiritually mature adults
to address these fashion issues with the teens and young adults
in their lives. A study of the first nine chapters of Proverbs should
address most of these issues and answer King David's question in
Psalm 119:9, "How can a young man keep his way pure?"
Jesus addressed the umbrella of this issue in Matthew 5:27-30 by
stating that even the thought (or creating the grounds for such
thought in someone else) is the same as the action. Admonishing
students and children to change their attire by punishing or threatening
reduced privileges has its place. However, we have all experienced
the concealment of appearance until out of our sight principle.
Show up at school, the party, the movie, or the mall dressed differently
than when they left. The issue is in changing the mindset from the
pressure to be in style to making sure the heart is changed. Ps
51:10, "Create in me a new heart, O God." Challenge them
to set a new style as in 1 Timothy 4:12, "set an example for
all believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity."
2 Timothy 2:22, "Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue
righteousness, faith, love, and peace…" The Holy Spirit
is the only "change" agent for their heart. Be sure to
approach this issue on purity from a pure heart yourself and change
more than the "outer-wear" fashion.
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