Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—, but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 1 Peter 3:3-5 I grew up in a very conservative form of Pentecostalism. We were called what is widely known as holiness pentecostals. The idea was that in those days, and because many simply did not have a genuine understanding of the cross and how holiness came about, they relied on an outward form of holiness (works). One of those areas which were deemed unholy was the wearing of gold or jewelery. The second aspect of religious decree found within many of these groups was the adorning of the hair. The third was the wearing of apparel. Now, over time, people have grown in word and in relationship with the Lord and what was considered holy then, can be seen for what it was now - religion. Let me state very clearly for all to understand, religion can never save anyone, nor can religion draw you nearer to God, for religion has no desire to bring you closer to God, but farther from God, because religion is man based, faith is God based. Without faith it is impossible to please God - not without religion it is impossible to please God. The word adornment is from the greek word kosmos. It literally means an ordered system. the Greek scholar Wuest put it this way, A Christian workers clothing should be in keeping with the simplicity, purity, and beauty of the Lord Jesus. The fact is, what a believer wears on the outside should (or will) be a reflection on the inside - the heart. There are still some within the Pentecostal circles (those who refuse to allow the Holy Spirit to show them their error) continue to bring individuals, mainly women, into religious bondage by suggesting that wearing modern clothes (pants) or adorning or the wearing of gold or jewelry, or cutting their hair, is wrong (sinful). Nothing could be further from the truth. The spirit of God speaks of the three parts of a Christian womans adornment, the way she wears her hair, the jewelry she puts on, and the apparel she selects. First, she is not to depend upon the plaiting of the hair in her effort to either win her husband to the Lord, or witness or preach the gospel. Second, when those who say it is forbidden to wear gold or jewelry, they need to re-read the word. The word wearing is from the Ggreek word which means literally to hang around as one hangs an ornament on a Christmas tree. The wearing of gold or jewelry is not what is forbidden, but it is the gaudy, extravagant, obtrusive display which is wrong. Third, dependence upon apparel is forbidden. The purpose of clothing is for the protection of the body. What is forbidden is donning of apparel for the purpose of making ourselves pleasing in the eyes of the unsaved so that we may win them to the faith in Jesus Christ. This goes for men too! Heres why, the Holy Spirit does not use the styles of the world in winning a soul to the Lord, he seeks to work through the believer. The second reason is simply because it puts the eyes of the unbeliever on the person and how they are dressed rather than what is being spoken. When a Christian woman depends upon the Lord Jesus Christ for her adornment, the manner of wearing the hair, the kind and amount of ornament (jewelry) she wears, and the kind of clothing she puts on, will all be in keeping with the purity, simplicity, and beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ. Religion and dogma will bring you into bondage each and every time, but if you understand the cross, why your holiness is NOT in what you do or dont wear, but in what (the cross) or in whom we believe (Christ), then and only then will you truly walk in the liberty and freedom the cross brings.
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 06:25:19 +0000
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