Jewelry, make up, and Christian women?

I know you wanted scripture but I have to tell you what a pastor once preached on this subject. He said "If the barn needs painting, then paint it". I think that is a great way to handle the make up and jewelery question.

In Christ,
Brian

 

Greetings MEE,
You asked
Are there any scriptures, in the KJV version, that forbids a woman to use make up, jewelry, or wear pants?

Well this is not the KJV, but it may be the verse you are seeking. You can check it out in your own KJV.

1 Peter 3:3
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such a braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4. Instead, is 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.

Opinion
MEE, I don't believe that this forbids jewelry. It just says that womens' inner beauty is more important. Don't neglect the inner self by hanging expensive jewelery or clothes on the exterior. I believe that just possibly some women who make a point of dressing "plain" and wearing no makeup and long straight hair, may in fact be falling into the same problem that those jewelery encrusted ladies were doing. In other words by dressing extremely different than the rest of the society, you draw attention to your outer self. "I am better because I reject modern dress style."

As for the pants business, even the men in testament time didn't wear the pants in the family. I imagine the "pants' issue, is the result of a particular pastor preaching that pants are immodest and do not reflect appropriate chastity.

some say that a woman can't cut her hair
The closest scripture I can come on this is
1 Corinthians 10:5-6

5. And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head-it is just as though her head were shaved. 6. If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head.

opinion
During testament times, a woman who uncovered her hair in public was considered to have loose morals and be sexually promiscuious. That's not the case today. Also a woman who shaved her head was trying to disrespect her husband or possibly she had committed a shameful act.

Don't know if these are a help, but it can give you a place to start. The issue about hair shows the importance of understanding the intent of the authors in their society. Not applying everything literally to today's society.

Grace and peace,
Uncle Ray

 

I suspect you may be misinformed. Not only did men in the biblical era wear pants (they are called "breeches" in MEE's beloved KJV, and include both inner and outer wear), but the bible also addresses the normative for a Christian lady's attire in 1 Timothy 2.9. The KJV says "modest apparel" - the Greek reading καταστολη κοσμιω or "lowered robes, appropiate."

 

I really don't see where καταστολη κοσμιω which translates respectable attire has anything to do with women wearing pants.

I agree with UncleRay on this one. There is only an admonition to dress respectably not any strict requirements to dress in a certain fashion. Besides wearing pants ain't gona keep you out of heaven.

 

It seems to me that imposing a dress code on women is slightly pietistic.

The Lord had some specific instructions for gender roles, but other than the head covering thing, I don't see any evidence in the bible that we were instructed to dress in any fashion.

However, even 40 years ago, women never wore pants. They also went to church with head coverings whether it ne a scarf or a hat.(to my understanding anyway-I am fairly young.)

 

Perhaps your Greek has become a bit rusty. The Greek word καταστολη is a construct, two words stuck together to make a new word. We do it in English all the time: railroad, baseball, etc. The Greek word κατα means "down from" as in "come down from" or "let down from" in the sense of "lowered." It can also mean "hanging" or "long." The rest of the word is στολη which is the common, everyday Greek word for "robe." The construct reads "lowered (in the sense of 'long') robe".

 

God has the right to impose anything He pleases on anyone He pleases to impose it on. That is called Sovereignty.

 

Maybe we need to define what we think Modest dressing actually is. The Bible doesn't actually say women in pants is considered to be immodest dress.....however you can wear pants in an immodest way.

Modest behavior as well......you don't have to be in a short skirt and low cut top to behave immodestly.

LaRae

 

The bible has already done that. "Let the women adorn themselves in modest hanging robes."

 

God has the right to impose anything He pleases on anyone He pleases to impose it on. That is called Sovereignty. </font>[/QUOTE]Yes, that's correct. But when the church imposses things on people that are GOD didn't impose, it's called pietism. A great example is how the Pentesostals do not allow french kissing and dancing before marriage. The Bible never says that either of these things are wrong.

The Bible meerly says concerning adultry and premarital sex:

Genesis 39
6 So he left in Joseph's care everything he had; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.
Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7 and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, "Come to bed with me!"
8 But he refused. "With me in charge," he told her, "my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.
11 One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. 12 She caught him by his cloak and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.

1 Thessalonians 4
3It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4that each of you should learn to control his own body[1] in a way that is holy and honorable, 5not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God;

Ephesians 5
5For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

If I am missing the verses where it says that these things are forbidden-pleae show me.

 

We are not talking about french kissing and dancing. We are talking about normative dress for a Christian lady. But it was a nice try to divert the discussion.

 

Ok so how many Christian women are walking around wearing "hanging robes"?? Why aren't Christian women walking around in a Burka?

Do you think that sometimes we can get so caught up in following the letter of the law...that we overlook the whole reason for it or the whole meaning of it?

Oh and for Tulpje...I don't think anyone should be french kissing before they get married either....but that's a different thread I am sure.

LaRae

 

Hi all,

In our discussion about Scriptural commands (and commentaries) on dress and apparel, I think we often confuse chastity with modesty or decency.

Of course the Bible is clear on the subject of chastity. This rule applies to all Christians at all times. We are called to be chaste (to refrain from premarital and extramarital relations, to keep our thoughts and actions pure).

On the other hand, there is modesty. This can change from society to society and from age to age. It includes what subjects can be referred to and in what context, and what is "socially acceptable" in a given culture.

C.S. Lewis wrote the following (and I think he makes a good point): "Thus, while the rule of chastity is the same for all Christians at all times, the rule of propriety changes. A girl in the Pacific islands wearing hardly any clothes and a Victorian lady completely covered in clothes might both be equally 'modest', proper, or decent, according to the standards of their own societies: and both, for all we could tell by their dress, might be equally chaste (or equally unchaste)." ( Mere Christianity ).

My question is, does anyone think that the girl of the Pacific islands is sinning? And if we are taking the "strict Biblical interpretation" road here, what about the covering of women's heads? How can one logically think that women have to wear dresses but don't have to cover their heads? They are both Scriptural, are they not?

God Bless.

IOA,
Deacon's Son

 

Most Christian ladies, and even most ladies on the streets. Dresses and skirts are fairly common on ladies where I live.

 

Romans 12:1
I urge you brethern, by the mercies of god, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Phillipians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever if pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.

Galations 5:19
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, .....

These scriptures do not specifically mention modesty or how to dress, but they are included in how a Christian is to conduct themselves.

Men and women view each other very differently when in comes to attractiveness and as women it is important to consider how we look and the signals we send that may cause our brothers to stumble. (And I'm not talking about walking on eggshells)

Scripture does not give us a direct list to tell us how to dress, what make-up to use or how much jewelry to put on, but the Spirit will direct you (if you are careful to listen) as to what is appropriate. I believe moderation is the key.

What signals are being sent when our clothing is form fitting? As a rule, if I'm spending more time on my hair, nails, make-up and clothing choices than I am in the Word, somethings off balance.

These are random thoughts because I don't have much time to respond, but hope they are of help.

suzanne

 

The Christian's standard of appropriate conduct, IE "modesty," has nothing to do with the ever changing whims of culture and society, but is based on the unchanging word of God, the bible. In fact the bible warns us not to be conformed to the culture and society of this world, but to be changed by putting on the mind of Christ, which has been revealed to us in the bible.

 

Being like the world in actions. Keep in mind, even Jesus went with the cultural look. He wore the long robes just like everyone else did. This is really a positiion of conviction and not a rule to be followed as long as it's not a stumbling block.

karen