... that the word of God be not blasphemed.

When Christians, of any walk, neglect their responsibilities or fail to live up to the standards that Christ has set forth, then we are opening up the church...and God Himself, to the derision of the world.  In the 2nd chapter of James, the example is given of Christians showing partiality to the wealthy and mistreating the poor.  Jas 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?  6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

Also in Romans, the Jews are admonished for teaching that the Gentiles need to follow the old law but fail to live up to it themselves...being hypocrites.  Through this God is blasphemed among the world.  Ro 2:17  Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, 18 And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;  19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, 20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. 21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? 22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? 23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? 24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

Servants are also instructed to be obedient to their masters so God will not be blasphemed.  1Ti 6:1  Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.

The young man, Timothy, is exhorted by Paul to be an example of the believers to avoid being despised, or thought of badly.  1Ti 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

All Christians are instructed to be good people so that "foolish men" will have nothing of which to speak evil.  1Pe 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.  13  Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

For Christian women, and ALL Christians, we must take heed to our lifestyle, our speech, our mode of dress, our character, etc. to keep ammunition from those who would try to take potshots at the church for only being a bunch of hypocrites.  Our lives should show forth Christ and His teachings in everything we do.  If we, as wives, do not provide the warm, stable and loving environment for our families and be the submissive women that we are instructed to be, then we bring reproach on Christ and His church.  As the young shepherd boy, David, realized...when "Philistines" are able to speak reproachfully against God's people it defiles His name.  We should strive diligently to be the women (and people) that we should be...to let our lights shine in the world so others might be drawn towards the source of that Light!