Does the Church Get Modesty Wrong? Dr. Sandra Richter & Noël Tsoukalas

What does the Bible really mean by modesty, and why have Christian conversations about clothing so often produced shame, especially for women and teenage girls?

Dr. Sandra Richter is a renown biblical scholar, author, and professor of Old Testament at Westmont College. The 2nd edition of her killer book, The Epic of Eden, releases in November 2026. Sandy is also a faithful mom, and one of her daughters, Noël Tsoukalas, joins us in this conversation about modesty. Noël is a Pop singer-songwriter and worship leader. She made a name for herself on Season 21 of American Idol, where she received a golden ticket and three “yeses” from celebrity judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan. Check out her music on Spotify!

00:00:00 “Your Outfit Is Causing My Husband to Stumble”

00:06:55 Sandy & Noel on Modesty and Purity Culture

00:12:50 How the Church Has Mishandled Modesty

00:18:10 Sandy’s Experience with Christian Dress Codes

00:21:26 When Modesty Culture Makes Girls’ Bodies “Public Property”

00:27:21 The Billy Graham Rule and Women in Church Leadership

00:32:21 What Does Biblical Modesty Actually Look Like?

00:36:18 Body Shaming and Modesty in the Church

00:38:26 Teaching Girls to Set Boundaries with Church Leaders

00:42:51 Should Churches Have Dress Codes?

00:51:26 Body Types and the Subjectivity of Modesty

00:53:36 What Does Modesty Look Like for Men?

00:56:28 Biblical Modesty Is About More Than Sexuality

00:59:12 Double Standards for Men and Women at Christian Camps

01:01:41 How Should Christian Camps Handle Swimsuit Dress Codes?

01:06:15 Does Modesty Culture Discourage Women from Ministry?

01:08:30 Social Media, Body Image, and Female Musicians

01:11:30 Healing from Shame Around Modesty and Purity Culture

01:14:05 Who Should Talk to Women About Their Clothing?

01:15:20 Forrest Frank and Cory Asbury make the internet stumble

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