A Biblical
Look at Jewelry And Make-Up
(Selected)
Romans 12:1-2, "I
beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto
God, [which is] your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
By
general appearance, what we mean is: the manner in which you "carry yourself." Now God is concerned about this: BECAUSE...
II Corinthians 5:20,
"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: pray [you] in Christ’s stead, be ye
reconciled to God."
As a child of God
we cannot be overly concerned with what the world thinks. If you are, it will cause you allot of grief.
Psalm 1:1-2, "Blessed
[is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of
the scornful. But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night."
NOTICE THE REWARD:
"And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall
not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly [are] not so: but [are] like the chaff which the wind driveth
away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous."
Don’t sit in
the counsel of ungodly, or even sit in the seat of the scornful: If you detest drunkenness: then don’t be seen in bars
and clubs, keeping that type of company. Jesus only kept company with sinners to win them, not to enjoy their sin! Away from
church, as well as at church: CONSISTENCY IS OUR GOAL!
MAKE-UP
This
is an issue of association: Without exception, every example of makeup in the Bible is associated with wicked women. Queen
Jezebel when trying to seduce Jehu: (Jezebel was a VERY WICKED WOMAN).
II
Kings 9:30, "And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard [of it]; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked
out at a window."
Painted: root Hebrew: = paint, dye, (stickum for the eyes) fair colors, glistening paint.
Tired: perhaps a better word: attired (adorned)
Let’s
be honest: We would have to recognize that what we call makeup is really nothing more than painting your face. THEREFORE,
I could say I am going to Builder’s Square and buy a five gallon bucket of makeup for my house. The only difference
between normal & a clown is the amount. Somehow, paint sounds cheap, but makeup is "cultural." - but it’s the same
thing. Even the world acknowledges someone "overdone" as a "Jezebel.”
Eye
makeup started in Egypt about 3000BC. Egypt is a type of sin and bondage throughout the Bible. (it sure didn’t start
in Israel among God’s people) Look at Solomon’s advice to young men:
Proverbs
6:25, "Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids."
Painting
the face is direct, simple pride & vanity at its rawest form. It is simply designed for sex appeal; it has no other purpose.
In the scripture: it always denoted boldness, seduction, ostentation and even prostitution. NOTICE THESE TYPES OF GOD SPEAKING
TO BACKSLIDING ISRAEL.
Jeremiah
4:30 "And [when] thou [art] spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee
with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; [thy] lovers will
despise thee, they will seek thy life." Ezekiel 23:38-40 "Moreover this they have done unto me; they have defiled my sanctuary
in the same day, and have profaned my sabbaths. For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the
same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and, lo, thus have they done in the midst of mine house. And furthermore, that ye
have sent for men to come from far, unto whom a messenger [was] sent; and, lo, they came: for whom thou didst wash thyself,
paintedst thy eyes, and deckedst thyself with ornaments."
NOTICE
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JEZEBEL & ESTHER.
Esther 2:13-15, "Then
thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto
the king's house. (14) In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the
custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king
delighted in her, and that she were called by name. (15) Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of
Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's
chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her."
The
royal courts of the king used cosmetics & jewelry. SHE RELIED ON INNER BEAUTY RATHER THAN MAKEUP TO WIN THE KING All she
used was oil of myrrh perfume, and preparations to beautify the skin: (i.e.: perfumes, lotions, skin care, etc...).
Esther 2:12, "Now
when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner
of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months
with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women."
DID YOU KNOW?
In American colonies
between 1700-1800, makeup was outlawed. Up until 1945-1950, it was considered [unacceptable by many] churches.
DO WE FOLLOW
SOCIETY, OR THE SCRIPTURE?
Acts 5:29, "Then
Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather that men."
These are issues
that do not always have specific scriptures of complete prohibition. (Rather these are issues of Biblical Association.)
PRINCIPLE
OF INTEREST TO CONSIDER...
Exodus 38:8, "And
he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the lookingglasses of the women assembling, which assembled at
the door of the tabernacle of the congregation."
The Laver of water
was a piece of furniture that gained them access to the Holy Place! It was made of the mirrors of the woman... It was one
time said..."Revival will come when we get the mirrors out of the women’s hands!"
The point (symbolically):
Our woman must get over this self conscious hurdle of the world.
JEWELRY
The
Scripture often associates "excessive" jewelry with Pride & Idolatry. Look how consistently the association is made. When
Jacob went back to Bethel to renew his relationship with God, he disposed of all the idols & earrings owned by his family.
Genesis 35:2,4 "Then
Jacob said unto his household, and to all that [were] with him, Put away the strange gods that [are] among you, and be clean,
and change your garments... (4) And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which [were] in their hand, and ]all their]
earrings which [were] in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which [was] by Shechem."
Look
at God’s response to Israel after they made the golden calf out of their jewelry.
Exodus 33:4-6, "And
when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments. For the LORD had said unto
Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye [are] a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment,
and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee. And the children of
Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb. "
Where did God’s
people get the jewelry anyway?Exodus 11:2 - God told them to borrow it from the Egyptian neighbors prior to the Exodus: His
intent was to use it for His use, not their personal ornamentation. It was due to its value, not vanity! Another time Israel
received gold from the Midianites, they offered it to God (which is the proper response).
Numbers 31:50-51,
"We have therefore brought an oblation for the LORD, what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, chains, and bracelets,
rings, earrings, and tablets, to make an atonement for our souls before the LORD. And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the
gold of them, [even] all wrought jewels."
In
Gidean’s day, Ishmaelites & Midianites were distinguished from the Israelites by their use of Jewelry & earrings.
Judges 8:24-26, "And
Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they
had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) (25) And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread
a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey. (26) And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested
was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings
of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks. "
REMEMBER: ISRAEL IS A TYPE OF THE CHURCH
Hosea 2:13, "And
I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, wherein she burned incense to them, and she decked herself with her earrings and
her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgat Me, saith the LORD." (Unfaithfulness is likened unto an adulterous women.)
LISTEN
TO GOD’S JUDGMENT UPON THE PROUD, HAUGHTY WOMEN OF ISRAEL:
Isaiah 3:16-23, "Moreover
the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and
mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet: (17) Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the
head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts. (18) In that day the Lord will take away the
bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon, (19) The chains,
and the bracelets, and the mufflers, (20) The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets,
and the earrings, (21) The rings, and nose jewels, (22) The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples,
and the crisping pins, (23) The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the veils."
Even the articles
of clothing that can be worn innocently, are judged here because of the spirit of pride. The same could be true for our generation.
SOMETHING
TO THINK ABOUT:
If pride & vanity
is not the reason for wearing jewelry, then it should be no problem to dispose of it for the sake of your Christianity.
DEFINITIONS:
Cauls: a jeweled
netting for the hair
Round Tires: round
pendent for the neck (moon shaped)
Mufflers: a long
veil
Wimples: a wide cloak
If we want the glory
of God in our life, in our homes, and our church, let’s deliver ourselves of our symbols of our vanity. Take these things
into consideration when choosing your dress and appearance, etc. Some good advice for our local church is the following:
Philippians 4:5,
"Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord [is] at hand." (Excessive jewelry is improper for a child of God.)
What
about the New Testament? (the subject here is wives:)
I Peter 3:3-4,
"Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
But [let it be] the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, [even the ornament] of a meek and quiet spirit,
which is in the sight of God of great price."
REMEMBER
BALANCE:
It is obvious that
a total prohibition of gold was not the point. For if that verse was an instruction to not wear any gold, then we would have
to submit to not wearing any apparel either. Surely that is not the point! (smile) For us a good rule is : Let’s not
wear things that have no value or use, other than ornamentation. Example of things that do have use beside ornamentation:
wedding rings, tie tacks, watches, glasses, etc... LISTEN FOLKS... IF YOU WANT TO GROW IN GOD LOOK FOR PRINCIPLES AND NOT
JUST LAWS IN THIS BIBLE. Therein lies real growth material! Here is one of those principles... (recall the story of Esther).
Esther 2:12-17, "Now
when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner
of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months
with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;) (13) Then thus came every maiden unto the king;
whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house. (14) In the evening
she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain,
which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by
name. (15) Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter,
was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed.
And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her. (16) So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into
his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. (17) And the king loved Esther
above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown
upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti."
LADIES: You do not
need to endeavor to be overly trendy in the worlds eyes... Listen to the chamberlain... (pastoral ministry) God is pleased
with woman and men that will concentrate on holiness.
SO WHAT SHOULD
YOU DO WITH OUR JEWELRY THEN?
Exodus 25:1-9, "And
the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, (2) Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that
giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering. (3) And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold,
and silver, and brass, (4) And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, (5) And rams' skins dyed red,
and badgers' skins, and shittim wood, (6) Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, (7) Onyx stones,
and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate. (8) And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
(9) According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof,
even so shall ye make it."
(A Personal Note from Dad O'Connor):
It is not our policy
to dictate to any of our brothers and sisters in any area, nor to attempt to enforce "codes" of behavior,
or dress, etc. We do believe that we have been sent to call the Body of Christ back unto the Paths of Righteousness
and Holiness. For this reason, we feel a responsibility to point folk, in the right direction, and to hold-high
the goal and standard of a more excellent way!
Our position concerning
the matters at issue may not be necessarily as stringent as those of the selected author, but we deem his article to be excellent,
and thoroughly researched and presented. Surely, we all can benefit from such teaching from our Lord's Word.
My final remark is
that if any of our dear sisters feel a need to wear make-up/jewelry; please, for the sake of the Gospel, and for
your own personal witness, let it be done as sparingly as possible! Please remember, dear sisters, that true beauty
comes from within! If you feel it necessary to enhance your complexion, let it be with the result of a very natural,
understated effect; not with the result of appearing as a circus clown! Moderation, dear sisters! Moderation!
