COLORFUL COSMETICS AND JEWELRY
One of the most frequent and mistaken complaints that people make against
religion is that it is too restrictive. In this permissive age when all the
emphasis seems to be upon "doing your own thing," an unreasonable attitude of
self-will has developed. This attitude has even intruded into religion. Church
members and non-members seem to be in quest of the same thing: a religion which
doesn't interfere with personal rights and freedom. Suspicion is aroused
instantly against any doctrine which demands the "giving up" of anything.
As this liberal spirit has grown stronger, many church members have turned more
and more critical of the high spiritual standards upheld by the church.
Obviously embarrassed by the widening gap between the church and the world, and
unwilling to meet the social stigma of being a "peculiar" minority, these
members have sought to justify their compromise in the area of Christian
standards. They often argue that the church is being narrow and legalistic and
that many fine people are being discouraged from joining the church by this
"arbitrary imposition of rules."
If these complaints are valid, then some basic changes surely need to be made in
the doctrine of the church. If they are not valid, then we desperately need to
know how to present the standards of Christian conduct in their true biblical
setting. In other words, we must definitely establish whether these rules were
made by God or by the church. We must also find out if they are arbitrary
prohibitions or God's loving regulations for our own happiness.
In contrast to the popular revolt against any absolute law of individual
conduct, we must consider the Bible facts about the Christian life in general
and morals in particular. How compatible are these modem demands for personal
freedom with the standards of God's Word? Let us suppose that the true biblical
position could be presented with all the love and persuasion of an angel from
Heaven. Would the troth be easy for anyone to accept?
Let's face it. The path to eternal life is not a soft, flowery way of ease.
Jesus laid such emphasis upon this in so many texts that we cannot be blind to
it. He said, "Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto
life, and few there be that find it." Matthew 7:14. One of the very first
principles of being a Christian is self-denial. Christ said, "If any man will
come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow
me." Luke 9:23. To be a Christian involves complete surrender. Our Lord's
parable of the pearl and the merchantman reveals that we must be willing to
invest every single thing we have in obtaining that tremendous prize of eternal
life. If we allow one thing or one person to come between us and doing the will
of Christ, we cannot be saved.
Have we been guilty of discounting the price of discipleship so that people will
not feel that the path is too narrow and restrictive? Jesus said, "Whosoever he
be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." Luke
14:33. The rich young ruler was told by Jesus that he lacked only one thing in
his preparation for Heaven, but that one thing he was not willing to do. He
would have to surrender his wealth in order to be saved, but he was not willing
to give it away. He loved something more than he loved the Lord, and he went
away sorrowful and lost. The position of Christ was so strong on this point that
He even said, "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me:
and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." Matthew
10:37.
Now, I believe that we should search for the kindest, most tactful and loving
way to present the claims of Christ to men and women. But I also believe that it
will make little difference how it is presented, if individuals have no love for
the Lord Jesus. The fault does not lie with the message; some of the fault lies
with the preachers in the way they present it, but much of the fault lies in the
attitude of the complaining Christian who feels rebellious against the truth
because it requires a degree of self-denial.
Let me illustrate how personal feelings and attitude can make all the difference
in the world. Marriage is the most restrictive experience that any human being
can voluntarily assume in this world, aside from his spiritual commitment to
Christ. The man promises to surrender many of his former attachments and
practices. He yields up his freedom to date other girls, and solemnly binds
himself to that one-and-only for the rest of his life. The bride also makes
similar restrictive pledges, and agrees to forsake all others in her devotion to
the man at her side. The wedding vows are undoubtedly among the most narrow,
rigid commitments any human being can make in his lifetime. If restrictions and
rules are the cause of so much misery, then weddings should be the most
miserable, unhappy experiences for all concerned. But not so! They are the
happiest events. Why? Why is the bride so radiant as she stands up to pledge her
very life away to the groom? How can the man be so happy to make the promises
which will inhibit his activities for the rest of his life? The answer is
simple. They love each other. It is their attitude and feeling toward each other
that makes the restrictions a joy to accept.
Have you ever heard a bride complaining after the ceremony? Probably no one has
ever heard her say bitterly, "Now I can't date Jim and Andy anymore. It's not
fair. The State is forcing me to be faithful to my husband. This marriage
business is too restrictive." No, you've not heard that. Neither have you heard
a new bridegroom complaining that he is now compelled to give part of his salary
to support his wife. True, the law demands that he do it under penalty of
imprisonment, but he is not even conscious of the law. State law is ready to
convict the bride if she commits adultery, but she doesn't even think of such a
law. They are in love, and love changes everything. They are not being faithful
because of fear of punishment. They are being faithful because they want to
please the person whom they love so deeply.
The most miserable men and women in this world are the ones who are married and
no longer love each other. Here is almost literally hell on earth. They chafe
and complain about the restrictions and impositions upon them. Similarly, the
unhappiest church members in ail the world are those who are married to Christ
through baptism, and yet do not love Him. They are often bitterly blaming the
church and their instructors for imposing upon them their narrow, restrictive
religion.
But is it the religion or the pastors who are at fault? The sad fact is that
those people have never entered the personal love-relationship which is the
cornerstone of all true religion. Many of them have learned the right texts for
the Bible study course and are quite able to explain the order of last-day
events, but they have had no personal encounter with Jesus Christ. Somewhere,
and perhaps everywhere, along the lines of the indoctrination they were not
taught, or did not choose to accept, the true basis of heart religion. It is not
a set of rules or a list of doctrines, but a deeply personal involvement in a
love affair with the man Jesus Christ.
The difficulty with millions of Christians is their motive for being church
members. They have a fire-escape religion. They do certain things only because
they are afraid of the fu, e at the end of the road. They serve the Lord
fearfully because they tremble at the thought of being cast into the lake of
fire. No wonder they are long-faced and miserable! What a perversion of the
truth! Christians should be the happiest people in the world--happier even than
the newlyweds as they leave the wedding chapel! The Christian should love the
Lord even more than husband or wife.
Do you think a home Could be happy if the wife prepared her husband's favourite
dish each day because she feared he might divorce her? Earthly relationships
would collapse under this strain. She prepares that dish because she loves her
husband and wants to please him. When his wife's birthday approaches, a loving,
Christian husband often watches and listens for an indication of what his wife
would like to have. And usually she doesn't have to hit him over the head to let
him know! He gladly buys her the gift because he loves her and wants to please
her. In the same way the Christian will be searching the Bible daily to discover
ways of pleasing the Lord. He will constantly be looking for signs and
indications of how to please the One he loves supremely. In the Twentieth
Century translation of the Bible we read these words, "Always be trying to find
out what best pleases the Lord." Ephesians 5:10. What a motto for every
Christian! Indeed this is the supreme desire of those who love the Lord
sincerely. No wonder Christ summarised the first table of the law in these
words: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy
soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment." Matthew
22:37, 38.
The real reason some Christians chafe and complain about the rules and the
strictness is because they have only enough religion to make them miserable. The
scope of their Christian "experience" is based upon a constant struggle to live
up to the rules---an effort to keep the law. Now certainly there is nothing
wrong with obeying the commandments of God any more than there is with a husband
obeying the state law to support his wife. But if the demands of the law are the
only reason for obeying it, then something is seriously wrong with the Christian
and with the husband. Love lifts the legal load and makes delightful what could
be a burden and strain.
A mother of three boys was having a terrible struggle trying to enforce the laws
of good grooming and cleanliness. Like most little boys these three resisted the
rules about washing ears, combing hair, and shining shoes. It was a daily battle
which Mother won only through the long arm of authority and force. But one day
the oldest boy, in his early teens, walked out of his room looking the model of
impeccable neatness. Every hair seemed to be in exactly the right place, and the
shoes below the well-turned cuff were shining to perfection. The mother almost
fainted. Hardly able to suppress her surprise and delight, she wisely decided to
wait and watch for the answer to this turn of events. The solution to the puzzle
was not long in coming. The very next day Mother learned that a new family had
moved in down the block, and there was a girl in the family. Perhaps the girl
had not seen Johnny, but he had already seen her and it had profoundly affected
him. We'll not say that it was love which changed his attitude toward the laws
of good grooming, but he definitely wasn't cleaning up from fear of mother's
enforcement any longer.
The point is that the Christian life is not composed of just "do's' and"don'ts."
There are restrictions, to be sure, in this spiritual marriage, just as there
are in physical marriage. But those restrictions are imposed by love which seeks
always and ever to please the object of the affections. Those Christians who are
in love with Christ are exuberant, beaming witnesses that this is the way of
tree happiness. Unfortunately, there is a larger group of church members who are
miserably enduring what should be blissfully enjoyed. They are bitter and
complaining about not being able to eat what they please or dress as they wish
to. They blame the church for their being forced to "give up" so many things.
Their religion seems much like the man with a headache. He didn't want to cut
off his head but it hurt him to keep it. Their joyless attitude seems to assume
that their religion is the product of some committee of gloomy preachers bent on
including all the prohibitive rules that could make men, women, and young people
unhappy.
But is this true? What about the spiritual principles which make up the doctrine
which we call Christian standards? Is it an arbitrary church law that one should
not attend the theatre? Is it God's decision or man's decision that dancing is
improper for a Christian? And what about the use of colourful cosmetics and
jewellery-is it pleasing to God or displeasing? The truth is that every point of
our faith and doctrine should be based soundly upon the principle of doing God's
will as revealed in the Bible. Love for Him will always provoke the question,
How can I always be trying to find out what best pleases the Lord?
The answer to that question is found in scores of Bible texts which give
indications and clear signals on how to please Him rather than ourselves. This
is the only really relevant question concerning any activity or practice. What
does God think about it? It doesn't matter what this preacher or that preacher
thinks of it, or what this church or that church believes about it. The great,
all-important question is this: Is it pleasing or displeasing to the Lord? If we
find texts which reveal that God doesn't approve, there should be no further
debate with the genuine Christian. We love Him too much to risk displeasing Him.
Our delight should be to find and execute those things that please the One we
love, and to eliminate from our lives those things that displease Him.
When people are in love they do not need to threaten each other or lay down
ultimatums. They constantly search for ways to show their love and to please one
another. Those who fulfil the first and great command of Christ will not feel it
a burden to obey. God is searching for those who will be sensitive to the
slightest indication of His will. He is not pleased by those who must be
constantly prodded into line by fear of punishment. God says: "I will instruct
thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine
eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding; whose
mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee." Psalm
32:8, 9.
Many Christians are "bit-and-bridle" followers. They respond only to threats,
and obey because of fear of punishment. God says, "I want you to be corrected by
a look from me." Only those who love Him supremely and are watching for
indications of His pleasure will recognise the loving glance of correction.
Searching the Bible with one purpose--to discover what pleases Him---they will
immediately obey the slightest revelation of His will. This is the essence of
true Christianity--ordering every level of life in harmony with His revealed
will, because of love.
With this little background on how to make love the motivating factor in setting
up Christian standards, we are now prepared to illustrate how the principle
operates in practice. Although any one of the "conduct" standards of the church
could be used, let us choose one which has evoked considerable
complaint-colourful cosmetics and jewellery. Multitudes of sincere members have
laid aside the use of these artificial adornments "because the church says so."
This is a poor reason for doing anything in the Christian life. It is hoped that
the reading of this chapter will cause explanations about arbitrary church rules
on the subject to give way to personal conviction based on loving and pleasing
the Lord.
Repeatedly, pastors have faced the questions: "What is wrong with my little
wedding ring? Do you think God will leave me out of Heaven just because I wear
this bit of jewellery?" My own heart has been dismayed and troubled on many
occasions over this negative approach to Christianity. Please note what the
question implies. The questioner is obviously seeking to know how much he can
get by with, and still make it to Heaven. His attitude reflects a legalistic
desire to do only the things which are laid down as divine "do-it-or-else" laws.
But this approach is wrong, wrong, wrong! The true Christian will not ask, "How
much do I have to do in order to remain a child of God?" but rather, "How much
can I do to please Jesus whom I love?" This is the positive approach based on
seeking God's will on the questions and loving Him enough to obey His will
happily as revealed in the Bible. Once this open-hearted, loving premise is
accepted it remains only to search through the Scripture to find indications of
God's will concerning the use of colourful cosmetics and ornaments. This we
shall now proceed to do.
In Genesis 35:1-4, Jacob was told by God to take his family to Bethel where they
were to be presented at the altar of the Lord. This was a very sacred spot to
Jacob---the place of his conversion in earlier days, after seeing the heavenly
ladder in his dream. But before they could be consecrated at that holy spot,
Jacob told his household to "put away the strange gods that are among you."
Verse 2. Apparently the family had picked up some of the heathen customs in
their tarrying in the land. There were certain objects which had to be laid
aside before they went up to the altar, because they were pagan objects. Please
notice, in verse 4, what these objects were: "And they gave unto Jacob all the
strange gods which were in their hand, and all the earrings which were in their
ears: and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem." In Judges 8:24 we
are assured that earrings were worn by those who were Ishmaelites. The context
strongly implies that they wore the ornaments as a mark of their apostasy from
the true God. The thirty-fourth chapter of Genesis reveals that Jacob's sons had
committed some grievous sins, and Jacob was coming before God to make a solemn
atonement for them and for his family. It was a time of heart-searching and
repentance. Everything was done to make wrongs fight and to open the way for
God's blessing to come upon them. The custom of wearing heathen ornaments was
given up, along with the strange gods. The earrings were laid aside.
Under similar circumstances a reformation took place in Exodus 33:1-6. A
terrible apostasy had developed in the previous chapter while Moses was in the
mountain receiving the Ten Commandments. A large number of the Israelites had
worshipped the golden calf, bringing plague and destruction which threatened the
nation. Moses called for them to repent in these words: "Consecrate yourselves
today to the Lord, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he
may bestow upon you a blessing this day." Exodus 32:29.
In the next chapter, Moses went up to the tabernacle to plead with God for the
people, who were still adorned with their heathen trappings from the day of
indulgence and sin. The instruction God gave for the restoration of Israel
included a change of dress, just as it had earlier in the case of Jacob and his
family. God said, "Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiff-necked
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." Exodus 33:5, 6.
We are left in no doubt as to the attitude of God concerning the wearing of
those ornaments. God, who changes not, told them to take off those things and
present themselves for judgement, to answer for their apostasy. It is of more
than passing interest to note that this prohibition was laid down in connection
with their going into the promised land. God said, "I will send an angel before
thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite ... for I will not go up
in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiff-necked people." Exodus 33:2, 3. It is
significant that they were required to strip off the ornaments before they could
enter the promised land. Does this have anything to do with us? Indeed it does.
Paul assures us in 1 Corinthians 10:11 that "all these things happened unto them
for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of
the world are come." He likens their Red Sea experience to baptism in verse 2,
and in verses 7 and 8 he refers to the great apostasy experience of Israel in
Exodus 32, when they made their golden calf. Then immediately he explains in
verse 11 that these things which happened to them were for "our admonition."
This can only mean that God's dealing with them over their apostasy is to teach
us something. His command for them to remove the ornaments before going into the
land of Canaan applies to us before going into the heavenly Canaan. The parallel
is obvious in the context.
The earliest record in existence concerning the use of colourful cosmetics is
found in 2 Kings 9:30. Many have questioned the origin of the expression
"painted up like Jezebel." The answer is found in this text. "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." The history of that infamous heathen queen,
who put hundreds of God's prophets to death, is well known to Bible students. To
trace the biblical origin of the custom to Jezebel certainly casts an unholy
shadow over the practice. But we shall see in a moment that the use of colourful
cosmetics was a consistent mark of heathen women and unfaithful women throughout
the Bible record.
Through the prophet Isaiah God sent one of the most scathing denunciations of
jewellery that can be found anywhere in the Bible. Nowhere do we find a more
direct and unequivocal revelation of God's feelings toward the wearing of
ornaments. In Isaiah 3:16 God does not generalise about ornaments, but gives a
long list of specific articles which were being worn by the "daughters of Zion.'
Now, let's notice whether God, the same yesterday, today, and forever, was
pleased with the wearing of these things. "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 ...
In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments
about their feet, and their cauls .... The chains, and the bracelets, and the
mufflers .... the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and
the earrings, The rings, and nose jewels." Isaiah 3:16-21.
Let's pause in the midst of this recital and ask the question, How will God take
away these things? In the next chapter, verse 4, we read, "When the Lord shall
have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion ... by the spirit of
burning." Don't overlook the fact that God refers to all these objects of
adornment as "filth." He further describes most graphically the ones who survive
the "washing away" of the ornaments: "In that day shah the branch of the Lord be
beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely
for them that are escaped of Israel. And it shall come to pass, that he that is
left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even
every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem." Isaiah 4:2, 3.
In bold, clear strokes the prophet reveals the abhor-fence of God for the
manifestations of pride in wearing ornaments. After the washing away of those
artificial baubles, God describes the women as being "comely," "holy," and
"beautiful." Apparently He does not appraise beauty in the same way that we do.
The women put on all their jewellery to make themselves beautiful, but God said
it was filthy. When it was all washed away, He said they were comely and
beautiful. Do not miss the extreme significance of this troth. God uses that
word "comely" to describe His bride, the church. "I have likened the daughter of
Zion to a comely and delicate woman." Jeremiah 6:2. As if to reinforce His
assessment of the type of pride under consideration, God made the following
observation: "The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they
declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul for they have
rewarded evil unto themselves." Isaiah 3:9. No question is permitted to remain
about the impropriety of outward adornment. Their decorated faces were involved
in the vanity to such a degree that God used the women's makeup as an example of
brazen shamelessness.
It will be well to take note at this point that God identified rings as part of
the "filth of the daughters of Zion." What kind of rings was he talking about?
High school seniors will answer immediately, "My class ring is symbolic of my
being a senior. It's not worn as an ornament. God was talking about other kinds
of rings." The Mason will defend his Masonic ring in almost the same words: "God
wasn't talking about my ring. It simply represents my belonging to the Lodge."
And then there are the birthstone rings, the engagement tings, and the wedding
rings---they also have symbolic meanings. How easy to justify the one we happen
to be wearing and to claim that God was not talking about that one. But how do
we know God wasn't talking about the very one we are wearing? Would it not be
presumptuous to feel that God makes an exception for the one we are wearing,
just because we don't want to give it up?
After all, why are we searching the Bible on this subject? Are we not trying to
find out what best pleases the Lord? We are not seeking for ways to get around
what pleases Him. Our sole purpose is to find His will in order to do it. We
love Him too much to risk displeasing Him. This is why the true Christian will
not quibble over the kind offing, or seek a rationalisation in going contrary to
God's will. Lay aside all tings. Isn't it patently obvious that if one symbolic
ring can be defended, then all symbolic rings can be defended? In no instance do
we find any biblical-precedent for wearing a physical sign of marriage. The
history of the wedding ring is tainted with pagan sun-worship and papal
superstition. Not one argument put forward in its favour carries any weight in
comparison to the one great fact that it is not pleasing to the Lord! A carnal
Christian could argue that it is not clear that one will be lost for wearing a
ring. But the Christian who loves God supremely will answer that it is enough to
know that it displeases our Lover and Friend.
Incidentally, there is plenty of historic evidence of the pagan origin of the
wearing of a wedding ring. John Henry Newman, after he forsook Anglicanism to
become, later, a cardinal of the Roman Catholic church, wrote these words:
"Constantine, in order to recommend the new religion to the heathen, transferred
into it the outward adornments to which they had been accustomed in their own.
It is not necessary to go into a subject which the diligence of Protestant
writers has made familiar to most of us. The use of temples, and these dedicated
to particular saints ... incense ... candies ... holy water ... processions ...
the ring in marriage, turning to the east, images at a later date.., are all of
pagan origin, and sanctified by their adoption into the Church." An Essay On the
Development of Christian Doctrine, p. 373. (Emphasis supplied.)
The prophet Jeremiah, like so many other Old Testament writers, added more
counsel concerning the type of people who wore artificial ornaments. God moved
upon those holy men to represent the church prophetically as a woman. When God's
people were backslidden, they were portrayed by the prophet as a harlot or an
unfaithful wife. Thus we read texts like the following: "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." Jeremiah 4:30.
Through Ezekiel, God symbolised His apostatised people, Judah and Israel, by two
harlots named Aholah and Aholibah. His description of their bold ornamentation
matched the lewdness of their conduct. "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." Ezekiel 23:40.
Hosea expresses the same thought when he describes the hypocrisy of Israel.
Again, the unfaithfulness was well-dramatised by a decorated woman. "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." Hosea 2:13.
Over and over again, the Bible connects the wearing of colourful cosmetics and
jewellery with sin, apostasy, and heathenism. When they turned away from the
Lord they put on the ornaments which, as Isaiah said, "declare their sin." There
is no lack of texts which spell out the truth clearly and without
equivocation--the great God of Heaven was displeased with those things and used
them to symbolise departure from His will.
Turning to the New Testament, the picture comes into even sharper focus. John,
in the book of Revelation, describes the scarlet woman of sin (symbolising the
false church) as "decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a
golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication."
Revelation 17:4.
In contrast the true church is depicted in Revelation 12:1 as a beautiful woman
clothed with the glory of the sun. This woman is called the bride of Christ in
Revelation 21:9. Notice that no ornaments are worn by the bride of Christ. These
types of the true and the false religious systems also point up the estimate God
places upon the use of artificial adornment.
Two final texts from the writings of Peter and Paul will reveal the firm,
consistent views of the early church concerning this practice. Both of these
stalwarts occupied positions of influence among the disciples, and their
Spirit-filled letters represent the unchallenged view of the apostolic church.
Paul wrote, "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel,
with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or
costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works."
1 Timothy 2:9, 10.
Peter wrote in much the same manner, except that he especially addressed
Christian women who had unbelieving husbands. "Likewise, ye wives, be in
subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may
without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your
chaste conversation coupled with fear. 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." 1 Peter 3:1-4.
These words of Peter contain counsel for every Christian wife in the church
today, and they deal with one of the most perplexing problems that faces
Christian women whose husbands are not with them in the faith. How far should
the believing wife go in trying to please her unregenerate husband? To what
degree should she compromise the truth of God in little things to keep things
smooth at home and possibly to help win her husband? Peter's advice is simple
and clear-cut. Don't compromise truth and principle at all. Even if the wife is
not permitted to speak about her faith she can win her husband by her "chaste
conversation.'' Other translations use the more proper term "conduct" instead of
"conversation."
But notice how the conduct of the Christian wife will manifest itself. Peter
asserts that she will win her husband much more readily by laying aside the
outward adornment. Surely the Spirit of God anticipated the dilemma of the wife
who feels that she needs to wear a wedding ring to please her husband, even
though she knows it does not please the Lord. This text makes it exceedingly
clear that God should come first, and that such a decision also will do more to
win the husband than any other course. Hundreds of evangelists and pastors could
bear witness that this is true. The women who eventually lead their husbands
into the faith are the ones who hold firmly to the standard of God's Word. The
ones who do not win their companions are those who will let down the standard in
little things to be more compatible with their unbelieving husbands.
This may seem contradictory, but the practical results are demonstrable. As long
as the wife is not living up to all the points of her own belief, the husband
figures that it must not be very important. He cannot get excited about doing
something which does not even claim the full compliance of his sweet, Christian
wife. But if she does take a firm stand to please the Lord above all others,
even in the face of his own displeasure, the husband is deeply impressed that
this "religion bit" must be important. He probably will say nothing about his
true feelings. He may, in fact, affect great indignation, but his respect and
admiration will be secretly stirred by the firm, conscientious stand of his
wife.
We must anticipate right here the argument that is advanced by the wives who are
not inclined to part with their wedding rings. They say, "I don't want to give
up my ring because it shows that I am married. I'm proud of my husband. I want
everyone to know that I'm married. I think marriage is a most sacred and
important thing." No one can find fault with these sincere sentiments. Every
wife should love her husband, and be proud of him. Marriage is important, and
she should want everyone to know that she is married. But let's ask this
question: Is there anything in a person's life which is more important than
marriage? Yes, there is just one thing which is more important than being
married to a husband or wife, and that is to be married to Christ. The claims of
Christ's love are the only claims which should ever take priority over the love
of husband and wife. In the light of all the overwhelming Bible evidence, we
have discovered that ornaments are displeasing to the Lord, our Lover. It is
true that the wedding ring will tell everyone that the wife is married to her
husband, but it will also tell something else. It will tell that she has chosen
to please her husband rather than the Lord Jesus. It will reveal that she is
placing someone else's will above the Bible-revealed will of God. As such, it
bears a wrong testimony to the world.
Some may object that such a conclusion is too strong. Some are bound to say,
"You are judging and testing my Christianity by a little thing like a ring or an
ornament." No, this is not the case. It is love for God which is being tested,
and the Bible clearly points out the criteria for the test. That test not only
involves keeping the plainly revealed commandments of God, but also includes
laying aside everything else that we discover does not please Him. Here is the
evidence: "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his
commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight." 1 John 3:22.
Please do not overlook the two things which true Christians will always be
doing. They obey the direct, overt requirements that God lays down in His law,
but they also go further by searching out everything that would please Him. In
other words, they will obey the injunction to "always be trying to find out what
best pleases the Lord." Ephesians 5:10 (20th Century Translation). Jesus
exemplified and dramatised this divine principle in His own life and teachings.
He said, "The Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that
please him." John 8:29. The arbitrary commandments are obvious even to a carnal
man, but the little things that please God are revealed only to the loving heart
of the Christian who searches the Word for indications of His will. It is a
solemn fact that those who will be saved at the coming of Jesus are symbolised
by Enoch, who "was translated that he should not see death ... for before his
translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God." Hebrews 11:5. Paul
describes the glorious coming of Christ in 1 Thessalonians 4:16. In the same
text he portrays the resurrection of the righteous dead, and the catching up of
the righteous living. But, speaking of those saints who should be ready for
translation, Paul said, I "exhort you by the Lord Jesus ... how ye ought to walk
and to please God." 1 Thessalonians 4:1. One of the marks of those who are
redeemed out of the earth is their willingness to please the Lord in everything.
Listen, if you know a certain thing is pleasing to the Lord, and yet you refuse
to do it, what are you really doing? You are pleasing someone else above the
Lord. You may say, "But it's such a small, small thing." Of course it is a small
thing, but love is actually tested and proved by the little things we do for one
another. Ask any housewife if it isn't so. Her husband may give her a washing
machine on her birthday and she would appreciate it. But if he brings home
flowers in the middle of the week and says, "Honey, let me dry the dishes for
you," any wife will tell you that it means more than the washing machine. Why?
Because it reveals more of his true feeling to do the little things than to do
big things that are more or less expected. God is pleased when we keep His Ten
Commandments, but we really show our love more by going beyond the commandments,
to please Him in the little things which are revealed in the Bible.
Right and wrong never have been, and never should be, measured by the amount. It
is the quality of sin, not the quantity, which presents the larger problem to
the Christian. The Bible reveals the fact that colourful cosmetics, rings, etc.
are displeasing to the Lord. The Word of God does not reveal that a certain
quantity of colourful cosmetics is wrong, or that a certain type or number of
rings is displeasing to Him. Even the smallest deliberate violation of the
revealed will of God is serious. It indicates an inward rebellion against
placing God first. The devil's favourite argument today is, "A little bit is all
fight." This was Lot's foolish argument when he was ordered by the angels to
flee into the mountains. He begged for permission to go into another city close
by Sodom and Gomorrah. His argument was, "Is it not a little one?" Genesis
19:20. Can you understand why he wanted to go into another city after losing
everything he had in Sodom? Yet the same rationalisation is used by many
Christians today. They debate and quibble over the size of their rings, or the
amount of the immodesty.
Satan is delighted to hear people trying to decide just how much they should
violate the will of God. Never forget this: it is not the degree of the
deviation from the Bible standard which is so important, but it is the fact that
there is a deviation which constitutes the real problem. The size of the step is
not the thing of greatest importance but rather the direction in which the step
leads.
Sometimes ministers are accused of making a big issue out of the wedding ring,
because they wait for the candidate to remove it before being baptised.
Actually, experience has proved that the ring is not the problem at all. The
ring is merely the symptom of a much more serious problem---the lack of full
surrender. When the heart is yielded, and God is made first in the life, no
convert will allow a little ring to stand in the way of uniting with the body of
Christ by baptism. When love of Christ is stronger than love of self or husband
or wife, then nothing will stand in the way, least of all a small metal ring.
Now we shall give consideration to another aspect of biblical evidence on this
subject which some consider to be the most persuasive of all. It answers the
objection raised by the few who are still unconvinced that jewellery is
displeasing to God. In the most explicit manner it demolishes the last
stronghold of defence for even the wedding ring.
Before moving into Paul's eloquent discourse on this point, let us establish a
fact which is well known to all who are engaged in full-time soul winning. Those
who persist in wearing their ornaments, after becoming members of the church,
have been responsible for placing a stumbling block in the path of interested
souls. Almost any evangelist or pastor could break your heart with stories of
men and women who were turned back almost at the baptistry by the inconsistency
of a few church members. After being taught the full Bible troth about Christian
standards, these candidates are shocked to see church members, and sometimes
church officers, wearing rings or other adornment. Many drop back in
disappointment and refuse to join the church.
Someone is bound to object, "Well, they should not be looking at people so much.
They ought to accept the truth because it is the troth.' This is very good and
true, but just remember that we are dealing with souls who are searching for
loopholes around the unpopular message of the Bible. It is our business to close
every loophole patiently and meet every argument so that they finally surrender
in full obedience. The fact is that these people have a right to expect the
church to be practising what it preaches. A few inconsistent members can
counteract months of prayerful study and preparation of candidates on the part
of the pastor. It isn't right that anyone should be a stumbling block to another
individual.
Paul penned the most solemn warning to those who would discourage a single soul
in Christian growth. "Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge
this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his
brother's way." Romans 14:13. Jesus spoke out on the very same topic except that
He described the enormity of causing a child to stumble. Perhaps His words will
have more meaning for us if we read them with children's Sabbath School teachers
in mind. "Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it
were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he
were drowned in the depth of the sea." Matthew 18:6. Serious words indeed! But
no more serious than the offence it describes--the misleading of little children
who look to teachers as examples. How often have little girls questioned the
Bible standards about rings after seeing a ring on the finger of a favourite
teacher.
In one particular church, a kindergarten teacher who wore a wedding ring was
idolised by a little girl in her department. During the church service the child
would often be permitted to sit with the teacher and her husband.
Since they had no children of their own, the couple was delighted to have the
well-behaved little girl sit with them. She would usually occupy herself with
things in the teacher's purse, but, being of an affectionate nature, she would
cling to the hand of her teacher much of the time. One Sabbath during the
sermon, the woman glanced down at the little girl and noticed she had slipped
off the wedding ring and placed it around her small finger. Somewhat perturbed,
she recovered the ring and put it back on her own finger.
Week by week, much to her chagrin, she noticed how obsessed the tot seemed to be
with the ring. She fondled and caressed the ring, and often tried to remove it
unobtrusively, so that she could slip it around her childish fingers. The
growing fascination of the little girl for the golden circle became an
increasing concern to the older woman. Knowing the Bible teachings about
ornaments, her conscience had not been at ease from the time she had started
wearing the ring. Now she was unable to enjoy the worship service, as she sought
to divert the girl's vain attention from the article of adornment.
At last she could bear it no longer. Under deep conviction that she was placing
a stumbling block in the path of the child, she removed the offending ring once
and for all. Later, she related the experience to her pastor, and described the
feelings of guilt which tormented her for placing temptation before the face of
an innocent little girl.
"But I don't see anything wrong with rings. Why should I be a hypocrite and take
them off just to impress someone?" This is a question which Paul answers with
devastating effect in 1 Corinthians 8:1-13. That entire chapter is concerned
with the problem of foods offered to idols. The early church was seriously
divided over the issue. The Gentile Christians who had come in from paganism
believed that it was wrong to eat such meat. They remembered offering the food
in sacrifice to idols. Even though they were now Christians, they still felt it
was somehow giving allegiance to the idol to eat the food. On the other hand,
the Jewish Christians who had come into the church from Judaism, felt that the
food was perfectly good to eat. Since the meat was not "unclean" and since it
was sold along with other meats in the marketplace, the Jewish Christians bought
it with no question of conscience whatever.
The contention became so severe between the two groups that Paul finally had to
deal with it at considerable length in 1 Corinthians 8. Notice his decision in
the matter: "As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered
in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that
there is none other God but one ... Howbeit there is not in every man that
knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing
offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled ... But take
heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them
that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the
idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to
eat those things which are offered to idols; And through thy knowledge shall the
weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the
brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ." Verses 4-12.
These tremendous verses, with their spiritual focus on love for others, apply
with even greater force to those who feel at liberty to wear rings in the
church. The application is stronger because the ornaments are condemned by God,
whereas the meats offered to idols were not condemned. Still, Paul said it was a
sin to eat such food because it was a stumbling block, or hindrance, to someone
else. Since the rings have been stumbling blocks in the same way, to other
fellow Christians, we cannot escape the conclusion that such an offence is also
a "sin against Christ."
This brings us right back to the central theme of this little book--love.
Whether we are looking at Christian standards from the viewpoint of loving and
pleasing God, or loving our neighbour, the result is just the same. The whole
idea is to put self last of all. A religion based upon such love will not be
satisfied merely to fulfil the letter of the Ten Commandments but will search
the Word of God daily for indications of His will. As John reminds us, "We keep
his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight." 1 John
3:22.
May I ask a question concerning what you have read up to this point? Has it
raised a doubt about the wearing of ornaments? Does the evidence of all these
verses, scattered through the Bible, suggest that the practice is open to
question? One couple said, "We are not convinced yet that God would keep us out
of Heaven for wearing a piece of jewellery." I asked them, "Even though you
don't feel you would be lost by wearing it, do the many texts raise at least
some question about the practice meeting the full approval of God? .... Oh,
yes," they said,"we cannot say that the issue is not a bit cloudy." My next
question was this: "Do you think there is a 10 percent chance that wearing your
ring could be displeasing to God?" After thinking a moment, they both agreed
that there was at least that much chance that it was questionable. Then I asked
them this question: "As you stand on the brink of baptism and the complete
surrender of your lives to the Lord Jesus Christ, do you want to run a 10
percent chance of displeasing the Lord who has laid down His life for you?"
Slowly they reached down and began to remove their rings. "No," the husband
said, "we don't want to run the smallest chance of displeasing Him. We want to
go all the way with Jesus. Since there is a doubt, we'll give Him the benefit of
the doubt."
I will not try to pretend that this kind of surrender is easy. Jesus said, "If
any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily
and follow me." Luke 9:23. Saying "No" to self is what the Master was talking
about. He was saying that everyone will have to baffle it out with something
that self doesn't want to surrender. The individual who is coming to Christ and
learning His ways will have to deny self, or say "No" to something that his
whole nature craves to keep. That's what self denial means. Some people fail the
test at one point, and others at a different point. I've seen some who could not
deny self on the point of money. To obey God might jeopardise their jobs or cut
their salaries, and they were not willing to say no to their love of money.
Others had to give up friends to go all the way in following Christ, and they
were not willing to deny themselves their friends. Appetite has stood in the way
of many who were not willing to deny themselves the alcohol, tobacco, or unclean
foods as required in the Bible. A few have failed the test on the point of
vanity and pride. They:have been unwilling to deny themselves the inordinate
pride of dress.
It is always interesting to see how the truth weeds people out of an
evangelistic audience. No one drops out until we present the claims of God which
demand a change of life and practice. If we did not preach all the counsel of
God, most listeners would gladly respond to the invitation. Struggle takes place
when the truth challenges a darling self-indulgence. The tests of the Sabbath,
tithe, and diet are all aimed at some element of the self nature. Many fail on
each of these points. But strangely enough, the greatest baffle seems to ensue
when God's will touches the area of personal pride. Vanity is deep and
pervasive. Self-love has a thousand faces and exhibits itself in as many subtle
ways.
Mark it down, somewhere along the line for every soul the devil will use self to
make a last desperate stand against the will of God. Only those who love Christ
with all their heart, soul, and mind will be able or willing to make the 100
percent surrender to Him that is required. The happiest people in the world are
those who let nothing stand in their way of pleasing God in everything.
It has already been mentioned that Christians who live to please the Lord are
the happiest people in the world. Jesus said, "If ye keep my commandments, ye
shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide
in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in
you, and that your joy might be full." John 15:10,11. No wonder, then, that
fully committed Christians are so easily recognised. There is a holy radiance
and joy shining from within which even transforms the countenance. Although they
have laid aside the adornment of the world, they have put on another adornment
of the Spirit, which identifies them instantly. Some women feel almost naked
after removing their jewellery, but very soon they recognise that God has
replaced the artificial with the real. David wrote, "They looked unto him, and
were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed." Psalm 34:5.
It is this "new look" of the new-born Christian which has caused the world to
marvel. For every evil thing that is given up, the child of God receives a
spiritual replacement. As Paul said, "Let us therefore cast off the works of
darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." Romans 13:12. And please
notice how dramatic this exchange can be when it involves the clothes and
adornment of an individual. The bride of Christ receives special attention.
Isaiah contrasts the marriage dress of God's people with the dress of the world.
"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he
hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe
of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride
adorneth herself with her jewels.' Isaiah 61:10. When we are married to Christ
and take His name, we are not to adorn ourselves as worldly brides and
bridegrooms. We are joyfully to be clothed with the "garments of salvation" and
the "robe of righteousness." This is what lightens the face, and presents the
new radiant appearance which amazes the world.
This vital point should be given careful consideration. The face has much to say
about a person's character and experience. Our most powerful Christian witness
may simply be the witness of our shining countenance. One of the most convincing
arguments I've ever heard against the use of colourful cosmetics was based upon
this very fact. Frances Parkinson Keyes, the well-known Catholic author,
explained why she had never "touched up" her face or hair with artificial
adornment: "A quarter century of living should put a great deal into a woman's
face besides a few wrinkles and some unwelcome folds around the chin. In that
length of time she has become intimately acquainted with pain and pleasure, joy
and sorrow, life and death. She has struggled and survived, failed, and
succeeded. She has lost and regained faith. And as a result she should be wiser,
gentler, more patient and more tolerant than she was when she was younger. Her
sense of humour should have mellowed, her outlook should have widened, her
sympathies should have deepened. And all this should show. If she tries to erase
the imprint of age, she runs the risk of destroying, at the same time, the
imprint of experience and character." Words of lnspiration, p. 198.
What a tremendous truth is contained in that statement! Christian women have a
witness to bear by the expression of their faces. Righteousness, dignity,
purity, and calm faith in God--these attributes are often clearly revealed by
the countenance alone. Perhaps this is what Jesus meant when He said, "Let your
light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your
Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:16. The spiritual light and radiance of an
unadorned face may attract more attention to the religion of Jesus Christ than a
dozen sermons or Bible studies.
We have spent considerable time on the subject of artificial adornment in order
to demonstrate how love leads to the Bible, to search out what pleases the Lord.
We could just as well have used other examples of Christian standards. The same
principles provide the motivation for seeking always to please Him in what we do
about dancing, movies, gambling, diet, and dress. It could be shown just as
clearly that these high standards of the church are not based upon any committee
actions of men, but upon the revealed will of God in His Word.
Creeping Compromise
By Joe Crews
http://www.revealingtruths.org/?books&&creepc&Creeping Compromise