Yesterday I read a very interesting and eye-opening article, a lovely Christian lady named Veronica Partridge wrote about why she chose to stop wearing yoga pants. Her arguments consisted of; It causes a man to look at you, it may create a stronger attraction, and it may cause lustful thoughts. She made that decision for respect to her husband and as a role model to her young daughter.
Now, Veronica’s Blog was posted on a local site I follow supporting Lululemon specifically. It immediately began receiving much negative response such as,
"I hope lot's of ladies stop buying yoga pants now. Makes them cheaper for the rest of us sinners."
"This frustrate me! I am a christian and not once has my husband EVER asked me to change or not wear yoga pants, I am wearing them to youth group tonight...pretty sure god has more important things to worry about than being mad at me for wearing yoga pants..."
"I agree, we all should wear what WE want, no need for articles saying women who wear yoga pants are basically sinners and don't have loyalty to their husband."
“Another Christian here! I wear my leggings all day, everyday. I choose to dress cute and COMFY. My husband has no problem with it and would probably laugh at this discussion. You're husband is either respectful or not. And honestly, if he has a problem looking, they bigger issues in their marriage. It's not some women's yoga pants causing the problem, it's what's in his pants. By the way, I teach Sunday school in my Wunder Unders.”
And so many more...
Girls, I am challenging you,
1) What example are you setting?
What example are you setting to your family, to your peers, and to strangers? It is not about how comfortable the pants are because I am well aware of the ‘out of this world’ magical movement they provide to our legs. It is, however, about your womanly, childbearing, beautiful curves God has blessed you with. Who should see these parts of you? For me, my husband (soon-to-be!), and him alone. God created you fearfully and wonderfully, he want's you the glorify his name in all that you do. He also expects this of your brothers in Christ. Do you think in enhances these goals when you are giving them the opportunity to lust or have wandering thoughts over you and your curves? Yes, they should learn how to control it, BUT are you helping them at all? It just makes it harder for the poor boys for you to flaunt your stuff in front of them every single day.
2) Men’s Opinion on ‘Yoga Pants’
“I think yoga pants are... Well let's just say I've never not looked at a girls butt that was wearing yoga pants. Mind you tight jeans are not much better. In general they are not ideal and I wouldn't go around making them a ‘go to’ outfit but if they are used occasionally because preferred in the gym or whatever go for it, I just think there are classier things to wear. There's a million hot things for women to wear. And yoga pants are the way to say I don't really have style but I have a cute little booty…” -Anonymous male, single, 20 years old.
“Yoga pants, in all honesty, are the most pretentious thing a woman could wear. It really doesn't help much for those who want to present themselves with dignity, and respect when a man is drawn only to what is too tight on the woman. How is a man, or other people supposed to take a woman seriously if they are not dressed to be respected. It may come off as harsh but I find it more appealing when a woman (being my girlfriend now) is wearing clothes that compliment her body. Something she can be respected in. A woman's body is supposed to be of beauty. God created a woman's body to be the way it is. Sadly our society is forcing the perspective of their body as "the tighter the better," "the luscious the better," and "The bigger the better." There will always be those who are going to wear it... so I think what I'm trying to get at now is; How are we, as a Christian community, going to react to those who live freely and dress however they want. If you are creating temptation for other males, you are pretty much giving options for a man to sin. Lust begins at the heart. Not at the penis.” -Brad , in a serious relationship, 24 years old.
“Coming from a man that is in a relationship and now engaged. Madi knew that I didn't like yoga pants at all. But I knew that they were very comfortable for her. So as a man that was trying to respect her I made a compromise. She could wear them but not with anything that didn't cover her butt. Aka Cardigans, long shirts etc. And that was a way for us to compromise. Madi knows that's the only way that I will let her wear them. I think girls who wear them with just a t-shirt are in the wrong.” - Ben, engaged, 20 years old.
Why would any father want boy or men looking at their daughters butts, they also don't leave anything to the imagination. God created man with the ability to be sexually stimulated by what we see. Yoga pants I believe are designed to show sex appeal to men, making them desire what they see. This desire can turn into lust or impure thoughts, which is sin. It's like hanging a piece of meat in front of a hungry dog. The biggest struggle a christian man has is lust or sexual desire and women don't understand how what we see is the primary root of the problem. Pornography is rampant - magazines, internet, television which are all visual. What is more terrifying is that for a man, it's not what they can see but what the can't see that lets their imagination run wild. Yoga pants leave lots to a mans imagination… why do you think Paul said to poke your eye out if it causes you to sin? - Michael. father, 47 years old.
3) As a child of God, what does He think?
“Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or Gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” 1 Timothy 2:8-10
"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. "1 Corinthians 6:19-20
"Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and Gold or pearls or costly attire," 1 Timothy 2:9
"Do not let your adorning be external - the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear - but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." 1 Peter 3:3-4
"Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Proverbs 31:30
Now I understand how comfy they really are, I wore them for a number of years myself. I am not saying "STOP WEARING THEM!". I am saying be very careful where and how you wear them. I will continue to wear the pairs I own, for purposes of a warm, comfortable day at home, and occasionally under a long knit sweater of some sort.
Sending Love,
Madison Mae
