Mirror, mirror on the wall

So I have been intrigued by this particular question for a little while now. I have heard passionate arguments for both sides of the issue, and I have passionately argued about it myself. I have been thinking about it now, because I am starting to wonder if my persepective has been a little off. . . Here it is (and sorry guys, if you're reading - you might want to skip this one):

Can a girl love and live for Jesus and wear a bikini?

Don't laugh. I seriously think about these things. The conservative Christian circles would easily and definitively answer this question NO. I would have answered the same way without doubt a few months ago. Now I'm wondering if on some level I was making black and white rules that Jesus himself didn't make.

There are verses in 1 Timothy and 1 Peter that talk about modesty and where true beauty should originate. . . but there is certainly no section of scripture dedicated to proper swimsuit attire. So, we must take the principles that God's word teaches and apply them to our context. My original thought was to do that for you here. . . but I've decided I'm going to let you do your own homework. I'll give you a couple verses (in the Message translation - though you should certainly read them in NIV or NAS as well), and you can read them on your own; make your own informed decision of how Jesus would want you to look not just at the beach, but in every scenerio you enter through out the day.

Ultimately, I don't think the question needs to be, "can I wear a bikini?" I think the true question is how deeply, intimately, passionately, and faithfully am I walking with God? The closer I are to him the more I will see the world the way he sees it and the more I will long to honor him in everything that I do. I don't ever want to get so tied up in legalistic rule-making that I lose sight of the simplicity of the Christian faith. . . Jesus summed it up in three words.

"Come, follow me." Mark 1:17

So as you open God's word pray for the wisdom that comes from his Spirit, and the insight to connect these truths to your life now. And if you feel convicted on any level - don't be ashamed, or afraid - boldly make the choice to change your life and live to honor God in all that you do!! He is worth any sacrifice - even your favorite bikini. . .

"And I want women to get in there with the men in
humility before God, not primping before a mirror or chasing the latest fashions but doing something beautiful for God and becoming beautiful doing it."
1 Timothy 2:9-10

"What matters is not your outer appearance - the styling of
your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes - but your inner disposition. Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in."
1 Peter 3:3-4