Comments and Letters
"Does LAF advocate wearing burkhas?"
By Mrs. Chancey
Jul 31, 2004 - 12:30:00 PM

Ladies, I fear I must disagree with your statement that a woman 'needs to be at home' if she does not have essential tasks to do in public. Christians must be in the world, though not of it. We must be seen to be enjoying God's Grace and blessings, fresh air, lovely scenery and warm sunshine, that others may see how rich our lives are. Christ did not hide himself away from the world; he entered it and taught in it. We, as Christians, must strive to be more Christ- like. Yes, we must be modest, but we must not wear burkha- like sheets. We must not be so unappreciative of our God- gievn beauty. Our upper limbs and chest, our genitals must be covered, indeed, but eyes that look to God, hands and feet that do his work, lips that sing His praises and faces that shine with His glory must be displayed proudly, not hidden under a bushel. (Signed), Interested

Mrs. Chancey responds:

Thanks for taking the time to write! If you'll peruse our Femininity and Modesty section, you will clearly see that we do not advocate wearing burkhas! Femininity is beautiful and to be enjoyed and displayed in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. He does not mean for women to look like frumpy potato sacks. He also does not mean for us to be holed up in our homes, trembling with fear. We are, indeed, to enjoy his beautiful creation, spend time with others, bless others with charity outside of the home, etc.

Mrs. Sherman's point in her article is not that young girls should never be allowed to go out of the house -- only that our current culture of "hooker-chic" fashion, paired with the tendency to let very young teens wander around alone or with peers, is dangerous in a society that does not protect womanhood. When women go out in public, they need to be careful. Some areas are safer than others, and families know best how safe it is to be in certain places in their own cities and townships. LAF is not advocating some top-down, legalistic set of rules for public safety. Mrs. Sherman's point is just to urge parents to watch over their young girls and dress them modestly. Older women also need to take precautions when they are out in public (again, according to what is needed in the particular area in which they live). No one is trying to create a list of "don'ts" like "no going to the grocery store by yourself" or "no delivering meals to the sick without an armed guard." ;-) But we cannot pretend we do not live in dangerous times. Sending young girls off (scantily clad or modestly dressed) without the protection of an older brother or father is simply unwise. This doesn't mean young women are never to set a foot outside of their home! It just means we cannot take our safety for granted and need to be wise as we plan our activities.

I hope you will continue reading to round out your idea of what LAF is about. Modesty is not about denying femininity or making it ugly; it is about displaying that femininity in a way that glorifies God and brings joy to ourselves and others.

Warm regards,
Mrs. Jennie Chancey

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