The Tough Stuff: Modesty in the Locker Room

Can I ask you a question?

Do you ever catch yourself staring at something?

Anything. Something apaling, something beautiful, something shiny… something provacotive?

I took a spin class last week and it’s come to my attention that it’s kind of ridiculous the amount of staring that goes on in a public gym. This spin class was in a separate room in the gym, but it’s a room with mirrors all around on the inside, and on the walls facing outward, there are windows that let you look into the whole classroom. Right outside the classroom are tons of weight machines facing towards these windows. So, I can see in the mirrors, the people that can see in the room. It’s kind of creepy in all honesty. (And one more reason not to wear leggings or yoga pants since your behind is facing an audience).

Anyways, this got me to thinking about modesty while working out. I know I’ve hit this topic multiple times, but this is something I still struggle with and so that’s why. This helps me more than it helps anyone.

Something I’ve thought about since I purchased a gym membership is modesty in the locker room. This might sound super odd, but I thought of something a few months ago that had litterally never crossed my mind.

In high school I ran Track and Cross Country. Every single day for 4 years after school I headed to the locker room with tons of other girls and got changed into my athletic clothes right in front of my locker, in front of all those girls. I did the exact same thing every time I worked out at the rec center in college, too. No big deal, we’re all girls… right?

Right, but, never did it ever cross my mind that I could have caused one of those girls to have sinful thoughts. I don’t struggle with homosexuality, but it is a real thing. We know this because Christians in the first century struggled with this just like people do today. Unfortunately today, this mindset is not seen as a struggle by most, but a slight difference in genetic makeup. But it’s a sin. And it’s not okay.

9Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

(1Corinthians 6:9-11)

After going to the gym this year the first few times, I was out on the tredmill one afternoon and I saw two women walking on tredmills next to one another. One was very feminine. The other was dressed very manly, had a very masculine haircut, and looked as if she was trying to cover up that she was a woman (and not for modesty reasons either).

This took me aback, and I realized that I probably had just gotten changed in front of them, or at the very least they had walked by while I was changing in the locker room.

So, I’ve stopped doing that. I change in a bathroom stall everytime I’m at the gym now. Just because we aren’t the one sinning, doesn’t mean we can’t cause another to sin- and then that, would be a sin for us.

12So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. 13Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.

(Romans 14:12,13)

I think it’s so important to evaluate every aspect of our modesty. It’s more than the clothes we wear, it’s more than where we put those clothes on, it’s about your whole mindset and the attitude of your heart. Modesty should be a goal to not provoke others to sin based on our appearance or actions.

I hope this has been beneficial to you in some way, and that you will keep these types of things in mind as new year’s resolutions come around.

If you have any questions about my beliefs, feel free to contact me from the contact page or leave your questions/comments below.

keep on keeping on…