Can Christian Women Wear MAKEUP and JEWELRY?
Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Peter gave these instructions to women in the Church:
3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
1 Peter 3:3-4
The encouragement was for women to not focus on “outward adornment,” but rather on the true attractiveness of her “inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”
He wasn’t saying that female believers can’t wear attractive clothing, makeup or jewelry in a moderate and modest sense, just that their focus should be on the true beauty that stems from a spiritual heart, which Paul also stressed in 1 Timothy 2:9-10. This is what attracted me to Carol, my wife, when I first met her. Of course I found her physically attractive, but she didn’t dress like a courtesan and didn’t need to. It was her gentle, quiet, godly spirit that shown like the midday sun and captured my attention.
This was in contrast to some women of Zion in Isaiah’s day. The prophet denounced them for their haughtiness (Isaiah 3:16-24). Hence their focus on outward ornamentation was the byproduct of vain, snobbish hearts. Keep in mind that pride is sin numero uno (Proverbs 8:13 & 16:18). Lucifer’s insurgency in Heaven was due to pride and can be observed in his five “I will” statements, which reveal Satan’s arrogance (Isaiah 14:13-14). This was the first sin ever committed. You’ll notice that sin is traced to what’s going on in one’s heart, which is corroborated by Christ in the New Testament (Mark 7:20-23). No wonder Jesus emphasized this in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28).
At the end of the day female believers are to be led of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13, John 14:26, John 16:17 & 1 Peter 1:2) and make their own decisions on apparel, makeup and jewelry as they grow spiritually. Obviously the wisdom of moderation will be at play as they mature in the LORD. Please be careful of rashly reprimanding ladies in the Church on such things unless she is dressed & acting like a brazen prostitute and, even then, it’s important to correct in a sensitive way so that she will receive it.
Religionists go awry with their “holiness” teachings because they lose sight of what the Bible itself calls worldly. Worldliness is any sin that springs from three things: the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life (1 John 2:15-17). With this understanding, a lot of activities or behaviors are only worldly depending upon the intent of the person’s heart. For example, two females might wear the exact same scanty apparel, but one does so merely because it’s the style she grew up with and she is comfortable with it while the other does so to incite lust. I’m not saying that the former girl shouldn’t learn to dress more modestly, which is a matter of wisdom, but she’s not guilty of worldliness if her intentions are pure and she simply doesn’t know any better. The intent of the heart makes all the difference.
Speaking of which, even something considered good can be worldly if the intent of the heart is fleshly. Giving a sermon is good, but what if the pastor uses the occasion to brag on himself and tear down others (2 Corinthians 13:10)? Ministering at a revival is good, but what if the evangelist’s main interest is fleecing the flock and making a lot of moolah from the gig (Luke 12:15)? Both the pastor and the evangelist are guilty of worldliness even though they’re doing something good.
Elaboration on “a Gentle and Quiet Spirit”
By praising “the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit” Peter wasn’t encouraging women to be shy pushovers, but rather admonishing against being obnoxious loudmouths, like odious LIEberals and their opinionated falsities & slander (the hosts on The View is a relevant example). There’s a pleasantness to a gentle, quiet spirit that doesn’t constantly bloviate and isn’t rash with jumping to conclusions.
While Carol has a palpable gentle and quiet spirit in this manner, she has no qualms about wisely holding me accountable to the Word of God; and I do the same with her, which is a form of tough love. This kind of love doesn’t fail to correct others when necessary, in love and led of the Spirit. Yet the Scriptures don’t just encourage women to be gentle and quiet as these are positive attributes for both men and women. For instance:
- Paul said to all the believers at Philippi: “Let your gentleness be evident to all” (Philippians 4:5).
- James instructed “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19).
- And the book of Proverbs says “The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered” (Proverbs 17:27).
In short, the Scriptures exhort both men and women to not be loathsome loudmouths. Yet this doesn’t mean there isn’t a time & place for righteous reprimand and Holy Ghost-inspired preaching.
Related Topics:
Women of the Bible / Women in Ministry
Hermeneutics — Proper Bible Interpretation
Legalism — Understanding its Many Forms
What Does BECAUSE OF THE ANGELS Mean in 1 Corinthians 11:10?
In 1 Corinthians 11:3-16 Paul addresses the cultural issue of wives wearing a head covering while praying & prophesying at the fellowship. Within this context he makes the puzzling statement:
It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels.
What exactly does “because of the angels” mean here? There is no clear interpretation since Paul neglects to explain it. As such, the most obvious reading is likely the answer, which is that angels in the spiritual realm participate in worship with humans on earth, specifically the believers of whom they’re assigned (Matthew 18:10 & Psalm 91:11), although it could also refer to the angels assigned to watch over that particular fellowship in Corinth (e.g. Revelation 2:1 & 3:1).
This makes sense when you consider that angels participated in praise & worship when God created the earth & universe (Job 38:4-7). If this reading is true, the angels in the scenario of 1 Corinthians 11:3-16 would evidently be offended by wives disrespecting their husbands in that culture by not wearing a head covering while praying or prophesying. (See this article for why it’s not wise to provoke angels).
Related Topics:
Should Women Cover Their Heads When They Pray & Prophesy?
ANGELS — What Are They? What’s Their Purpose?
How to Enlist the HELP OF ANGELS
Should Women COVER THEIR HEADS When They Pray & Prophesy?
Paul gave a curious instruction to members of the church in Corinth that wives should wear head coverings when they pray & prophesy (1 Corinthians 11:3-16). Is this a universal law for all the churches throughout Christian history or was it simply a cultural thing pertaining to the customs of a certain time & place?
The answer is the latter since Paul’s instruction had to do with respecting the customs of a particular region: Wives in the Corinth church were to show respect for their husbands by having their heads covered when they prayed or prophesied at the gathering, which obviously didn’t apply to single women. Please understand that the Greek word for “woman” or “women” in the New Testament is guné (goo-NAY), which is also the same word used for wife/wives, as observed in verses like Matthew 1:20,24.
A woman wearing a head covering in that culture signified that she was married; in other words, it acknowledged the fact that she had a husband and was therefore ‘taken.’ It’s comparable to a wedding ring in our culture. Or consider the Amish custom of males not having beards unless they’re married. These types of things signal if the person is available or not available in the corresponding culture. Just as going to a formal social occasion without one’s wedding ring would be disrespectful to the spouse in our culture, so a wife not wearing a head covering at the Corinth assembly would be disrespectful to her husband.
Let’s face it, there is nothing intrinsically spiritual about wearing a head covering — a hat of some sort — or not wearing one. So the issue of married women wearing a head covering in public was a cultural thing, just like the length of men’s hair (11:14). It’s also a love-walk issue as was the case with eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols, which Paul covered earlier in chapter 8. Eating meat that was sacrificed to idols and then sold in the marketplace was permissible for believers with strong consciences, but the open practice of it could cause a fellow believer with a weak conscience to fall, which isn’t love, so mature believers had to be wise in the matter, as explained by Paul.
This all ties into the two greatest commands (with three applications): Love God and love others as you love yourself (Matthew 22:35-40). If doing something in a certain situation or culture is going to create unnecessary social havoc and possibly cause a brother or sister to stumble, it’s not walking in love and not conducive to the ministry of God’s Word, both of which link to the believer’s prime directive.
Consider the example of men taking off their hats when entering an abode. This used to be a custom in America, but not anymore. Now we see men wearing hats indoors all the time. Back in the 80s a friend of mine was asked to leave a big fellowship in Columbus because he refused to remove his hat. This was a rule this particular assembly had, possibly because their services were recorded & televised (it was Rod Parsley’s fellowship). By not complying with this custom my friend caused undue strife in the situation (even though he had understandable reasons for not removing his hat). While a small number of churches in America may still have this rule it’s no longer the customary trend for men to automatically take off their hats indoors.
Obviously if you’re at a service of a ministry that has certain rules, the best policy is to go along with the relevant customs for the sake of peace and effective ministry; and even more so if you want to minister to the people and have them receive from you. Keep in mind that Paul wasn’t talking about issues of morality and God’s commands thereof, but rather issues of customary practice, which explains Paul’s reference to “practice” in the context of his instructions (1 Corinthians 11:16).
Say a Scottish assembly had a custom about men having to wear a kilt, particularly if they want to minister in one way or another (e.g. pray, prophesy, teach or preach). This has zero to do with morality, but rather culture. If you’re a guy and you want to minister at this hypothetical Scottish fellowship, what would you do — make waves by objecting to their custom or put on the kilt and serve the people? Obviously the latter. It’s the same principle.
If you’re at a service where the pastor adheres to the belief that women must wear a head covering when ministering (praying, prophesying, whatever) due to Paul’s instructions in 1 Corinthians 11:3-16 then I suggest complying since the pastor is the head of that particular fellowship in the sense of an under-shepherd — under Christ of course (Colossians 1:18, 2:10, 2:19 & 1 Peter 5:1-4). The Bible puts it this way: “everything that does not come from faith [belief] is sin” (Romans 14:23). So, if the pastor believes something is intrinsically wrong — even though it’s not — please respect their belief/custom when functioning at that particular fellowship. It’s a matter of humbly walking in love, peace and harmony for fruit-bearing Christian service.
This is different from complying with a legalistic rule that actually hinders effective ministry. For instance, the Pharisees had a rule against healing on the Sabbath, which Christ refused to obey when a man desperately needed a healing (Mark 3:1-6). In such cases, don’t follow the rule, but rather minister to the people as led of the Holy Spirit and let the stuffy legalists be offended. Such people need rebuked (Proverbs 27:5 & 27:17).
Speaking of legalism, Paul was concerned about wives respecting their husbands during a church assembly in Corinth, which corresponds to his instructions in Ephesians 5:33. In that culture a wife wearing a head covering in public showed respect for her husband, which is good, but such a rule can become uselessly legalistic if the wife just goes through the motions of “respecting her husband” by following the custom, but otherwise has a disrespectful attitude. The Lord denounced this kind of legalism because it’s hypocritical, aka putting on an act (Matthew 23:28 & Mark 7:6).
Related Topics:
Hermeneutics — Proper Bible Interpretation
Legalism — Understanding its Many Forms
Spiritual Growth — The Four Stages
Women of the Bible / Women in Ministry
Bible—Is it Full of Contradictions? Does it Promote Slavery, Tyranny and Discrimination?
Should You PUT OUT A FLEECE to Determine God’s Will?
“Putting out a fleece” refers to trying to determine God’s will in a matter through a sign in an arranged scenario. The phrase comes from Gideon’s actions in this passage:
36Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised— 37look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” 38And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water.
39Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” 40That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.
Judges 6:36-40
The LORD called Gideon to deliver the Israelites from the oppressive Midianites (verse 14). Yet, despite the Angel of the LORD literally appearing to him in verse 12, Gideon was so humble and understandably unsure of his qualifications (verse 15) that he required further confirmation in order to carry out God’s instructions, which is why he arranges the test with the wool fleece and the dew; not once, but twice.
Since accounts chronicled in the Old Testament serve as lessons to us, the worldwide Church (Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11), should New Covenant believers “put out a fleece” to determine God’s will in a situation? I suppose they could if, like Gideon, they are humbled in the situation and have serious doubts, keeping in mind that God deals with us according to the light we have, which corresponds to one’s level of spiritual growth (John 9:39-41, 15:22 & 15:24).
Yet I can’t recommend “putting out a fleece” in good conscience because, unlike Gideon, we believers have the Holy Spirit residing within us for the purpose of divine guidance (John 16:13; Acts 16:6). The Bible says to “let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts” (Colossians 3:15). In other words, what do you have a peace about doing or not doing in a particular situation?
Let me give a recent example. The Lord ministered to me concerning doing something, but I joked with my wife, Carol, about “putting out a fleece” on the matter. Of course I didn’t need to “put out a fleece” because the Spirit had already directed me in my spirit and I had a peace about it (Ephesians 3:16; Romans 8:16). Thus the decision was already made.
Related Topics:
ALTARS & ALTAR CALLS and How They’re Relevant
Is the Holy Spirit God or a Divine Force?
How God Sees YOU (video)
What Are THE BASICS of Christianity?
Who Should You Receive from—OFFICIAL Ministers or INDEPENDENT Ones?
I remember an occasion where I went to the hospital to visit someone. It was in the heat of the summer and so I naturally wore shorts, sandals and a t-shirt (with cut-off sleeves). By happenstance, the woman in the elevator with me was clearly a member of some religious sect in light of her apparel.
Official ministers tend to wear some outward sign that they’re a minister, like a clerical collar; not always, but more so than independent ministers. The latter tend to take the more casual approach in order to fit in à la 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. Despite our polar opposite approaches, both of us were at the hospital for the very same reason, to visit the sick and minister accordingly.
So who do you receive from — official ministers or independent ones? Why not both since the Bible includes each type in the Old and New Testaments? Learn to “eat the meat and spit out the bones,” whether you’re receiving from an official minister or an independent one. This is a modern rephrasing of something encouraged in the New Testament (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21).
Be aware of the strengths and potential weaknesses of both official and independent ministers. Reject the problematic or dubious, but receive the good. If you’re not sure something is scriptural put it on the back burner, so to speak, until you acquire more detailed information in order to draw a proper conclusion.
But don’t just blindly accept whatever your camp/sect/assembly says is true, because it might not be. Keep in mind that all fivefold ministers are human beings with individual quirks. All of them have a downside, all of them. There’s no such thing as a perfect minister, just like there’s no such thing as a perfect church/camp/sect.
However, the minister should be free of sin as a lifestyle and it’s important that they show evidence of the fruit of the spirit on a consistent basis (Matthew 7:15-23; Galatians 5:19-23). They must be completely freed-up from major sin and, when they miss it in smaller areas, they should be humble enough to admit it and spiritual enough to quickly ’fess up, receive forgiveness, and move on (1 John 1:8-9).
If you sense in a minister an abusive, accusatory or rigidly legalistic spirit with little evidence of fruit of the spirit, head to the hills, whether it’s an official minister or an independent one. This is what Christ instructed us to do (Matthew 15:14). Since pride is sin numero uno, arrogance is the worst indicator (Proverbs 16:5 & 8:13). I’m talking about a pompous, boastful, condescending spirit that refuses to ever admit they’re wrong and loves to manipulate.
The starkest evidence of arrogance is when a supposed minister insists that only he/she and their particular group is the “one true church” and every minister/assembly outside their group is false. These types are quick to call anyone a “false teacher” who happens to disagree with their conclusions on any jot or tittle of Scripture. Of course they justify such rash pomposity under the guise of “spiritual boldness.” It’s both eye-rolling and cult-ish.
Needless to say, if you come across one of these types flee for your spiritual welfare. Even if they’re right on a particular issue, so what? Everyone is right about something. Their gross arrogance tells you everything you need to know. Leave them (Matthew 15:14).
Lastly, the doctrines (teachings) a minister teaches/preaches should be as biblical as possible because the Holy Scriptures are the LORD’s blueprint for authentic Christian doctrine and practice (1 Corinthians 4:61; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Ministers should be held accountable to what God’s Word teaches based on sound hermeneutics.
For biblical evidence to support both official ministers and independent ones see this article.
This article and much more is featured in…
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Related Topics:
Prophets — New Testament and Old Testament (There’s a Difference)
SECTARIANISM — What Is It? What’s Wrong With It?
Ministerial Abuse — The Diotrephes Spirit vs. the Davidic Spirit
Ministerial Pitfalls and Abuses
Should Ministers Be Addressed with Titles?
Legalism — Understanding its Many Forms
Kingdom of God — What Does it Mean?
Roman Catholicism – Is it the “Original Church”? (No)
Why LOYALTY (Faithfulness) Is Important
I remember a couple of old movie stars, like Kirk Douglas, making statements that they didn’t believe men can be monogamous. But this is a copout to commit adultery or live in fornication. It explains why the bride & groom vow to be faithful to one another. In other words, yes, humans — and especially males — have a predilection for successive romantic/sexual partners and this is precisely why it’s necessary for married couples to vow to be committed to one another till death do them part (Proverbs 18:21).
To be faithful is to be loyal. In other words, faithfulness is loyalty. It’s a fruit of the spirit and therefore the opposite of a work of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-23).
Loyalty is underrated these days. Honor the one who wears your ring. Write loyalty on the tablet of your heart — i.e. “love and faithfulness” (Proverbs 3:3) — and your marriage will last, assuming your partner feels the same way. Proverbs 20:28 says that love & faithfulness are crucial to the security of any “throne,” meaning any position of significance. This would include the husband or wife, the nucleus of any healthy family. Speaking of which…
Proverb 19:22 says “unfailing love” is what a person most desires in another. In other words, they want loyalty, faithfulness. Yet Proverbs 20:6 notes how hard it is to find a faithful person. In short, it’s a rare trait.
When looking for a spouse, loyalty should be high up on your list of preferences since it is one of the most priceless qualities for a secure, happy marriage. Perhaps the worst thing for a husband or wife to experience is an impenitent unfaithful spouse. Unfortunately it’s relatively common in this ignoble age.
You could say the same thing about finding a ministry associate or business partner.
Of course, loyalty or faithfulness doesn’t mean there isn’t a time and place for constructive criticism (Proverbs 9:8-9 & Proverbs 27:5-6), which is a form of tough love. Spouses should never condone godless carnality in their mates; and neither should ministry associates or business partners. It’s important to hold one another accountable, assuming it’s in a godly manner as opposed to a legalistic (Pharisaical) spirit.
For more on what the Bible says about love, romance, marriage & sex, pick up a copy of…
- The print book is available here for only $7.26 (171 pages)
- The Kindle eBook is available here for just 99¢!
Both links allow you to LOOK INSIDE the book.
Related Topics:
What’s the Secret of a Successful Marriage?
What IS Marriage? (and Related Topics)
Q&A on Solomon’s SONG OF SONGS
What Is the Secret of a SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE?
The Bible says that “a cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12). In a marriage the three-strand cord consists of husband, wife and the LORD. As the husband and wife draw nearer to the Lord (James 4:8), they naturally come nearer to each other, as illustrated here:
So “come near to God and he will come near to you” (James 4:8). See this video for some insights on getting tighter with the LORD.
Of course for this principle to truly work, both spouses need to be drawing closer to God (Psalm 105:4). But one spouse seeking the LORD can inspire the other to do the same, which will naturally draw them closer together.
For biblical insights on marriage and how to have a happy, satisfying one (not a perfect one) see this article.
For more on what the Bible says about love, romance, marriage & sex, pick up a copy of…
- The print book is available here for only $7.26 (171 pages)
- The Kindle eBook is available here for just 99¢!
Both links allow you to LOOK INSIDE the book.
Related Topics:
Why LOYALTY (Faithfulness) Is Important
Is Christianity a “RELATIONSHIP With God”?
The Four Types of LOVE in the Bible
What Does The SPIRIT, THE WATER AND THE BLOOD TESTIFY Mean?
Let’s read the whole passage in question with special focus on the key verses 5-9:
1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
6This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7For there are three that testify: 8the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
- At the water baptism of Christ, the Father and the Holy Spirit testified about the Son (Matthew 3:16-17).
- Mary was impregnated by the Holy Spirit and, later, the wise men from the East recognized who Yeshua was as a child (Luke 1:35 & Matthew 2:11).
- The death of Jesus also testified to who Christ was (Matthew 27:54 & Hebrews 9:14).
Meanwhile the Holy Spirit witnessed throughout the Messiah’s life on Earth concerning His identity (Mark 1:12, Luke 1:35 & Acts 10:38).
NOTE: Additional verbiage was added to verses 7-8 that is not included in the most reliable Greek manuscripts dated earlier than the 10th Century. English translations that relied on the newer manuscripts include these extra words, but they’re obviously not part of the original epistle. To observe the extra verbiage compare the KJV & NKJV text with the other translations of verses 7-8 here and here.
Related Topics:
Christ: “The Anointed One” — What Does it Mean? What Does “Jesus” Mean?
THE Angel of the LORD — Mighty Angel or Pre-Incarnate Christ?
Is the Phrase HIGHER LEVELS, BIGGER DEVILS Biblical?
The phrase “Higher levels, bigger devils” was coined to illustrate that the further a believer goes in spiritual growth the more he or she will attract satanic attack. The Bible refers to the maturation process of disciples in terms of going “from strength to strength” or “glory to glory” (Psalm 84:5,7 & 2 Corinthians 3:18). This of course reveals levels of spiritual development.
While “Higher levels, bigger devils” is just a saying, it is supported by scriptural data, like Daniel’s prayers being resisted by a “prince” of demons for 21 days until Michael the archangel came to his aid (Daniel 10:12-13). Daniel was the greatest man of God of his day and his spiritual warfare was thus resisted by a high-ranking evil spirit.
Speaking of which, Ephesians 6:12 reveals a hierarchy in the spiritual realm with the devil as the wicked despot of his spiritual forces of evil with “rulers,” “authorities” and “powers” under his command. What evils spirits will the devil send to resist a great man or woman of God who’s causing much damage to the kingdom of darkness — his lower minions or the higher-ranking ones? Obviously the latter. Hence, “Higher levels, bigger devils.”
Related Topics:
ANGELS — What Are They? What’s Their Purpose?
EVIL SPIRITS (Demons) — What Are They? What’s Their Purpose?