Adornment
One can debate the wearing of jewellery, and I will,
But why are the cries in defense of jewellery so shrill?
Might it be because Christians are in love with jewellery,
Caught up in the trappings of Egypt — seduced willingly?
Wouldn’t they rather use such money to ease poverty,
And to help save thousands dying of starvation daily?
After all, every dollar helps, and jewellery’s not needed,
But most importantly though, are the Scriptures being heeded?
Jewellery says, “Look at me,” — and let’s face it, that’s vanity,
Yes, it’s not Christian self forgetfulness — that’s a certainty.
Rather, it’s a bid for attention, which reveals inner pride,
Hence why jewellery’s not seen on Revelation’s waiting bride.
But it is seen on Revelation’s harlot — cause for thought —
And hence the question: Why then, have Christians jewellery sought?
Have they been, and are they still, paralleling ancient Israel?
Well, going by the Scriptures, seems we’ve another sad tale.
We’re to dress to please God, not self or others. Bottom line?
Jewellery appeals to pride, leads to spiritual decline.
The purpose of adornment is to attract attention,
It says, “I want you to admire me,” — its vain intention.
But given that folk are dying, and all the poverty,
Surely guilt and sin are attached to buying jewellery.
In my eyes, and surely God’s, such indulgence is a crime,
Given how so many have suffered and died overtime.
Our refusal of jewellery represents separation,
Separation from the world — and shouts, “No!” to temptation.
Yes, in the world but not of the world, lovers of Christ, not man,
Plus, jewellery on a fallen earth wasn’t God’s original plan.
Yes, the odd text may seem to endorse wearing jewellery,
But seem is all it is, for sound study shows differently.
And this is why Christians need to plumb the depths of Scripture,
Letting cumulative evidence provide the right picture.
Makeup?
Maybe God excuses makeup where there are birth defects,
Or other imperfections, that sadly, some poor soul afflicts.
But where it’s not necessary, makeup’s just vanity,
And like jewellery, a stumbling block, harmful spiritually.
Body piecing?
Body piecing is forbidden, and clearly pagan,
It’s primitive behaviour, a risk, harmful to the skin.
Likewise, those disfiguring tattoos that mar God’s creation —
(That’s you and I) — for both, are rebellious mutilation.
By Lance Landall
A) If adornment is acceptable to God, why did He ask the Israelites at
Mount Horeb to remove their ornaments as proof of their sincere
repentance for worshiping the golden calf (Ex 33:4-6)?
B) If
adornment is acceptable to God, why did Jacob at Shechem begin a
process of reform and preparation by summoning his family to remove
their ornaments before they met with God at Bethal (Gen 35:1-4)?
C) If adornment is acceptable to God, why did Isaiah reprove wealthy
Jewish women for their pride shown by adorning their bodies from head
to foot with jewellery and expensive clothes (Isa 3:16-26)?
D) If adornment is acceptable to God, why does Ezekiel use two women
decked out in ornaments, and with painted eyes, to represent the
apostasy [the turning away from truth] of Israel and Judah (Ezek chap
23)?
E) If adornment is acceptable to God, why does Jeremiah use a seductive
woman decked out in ornaments, and with painted eyes, to represent the
politically abandoned Israel [invaded, taken captivity], who is trying
without success to attract her [Israel’s] former pagan allies [foreign
powers] (Jer 4:30; Note Hosea 2:13)?
F) If adornment is acceptable to God, why does God’s Word talk about
Jezebel, decked out in ornaments, and with painted eyes, who made a
determined effort to seduce the Israelites into idolatry (2 Kings 9:30)?
G) If adornment is acceptable to God, why is a prostitute, arrayed in
jewellery, used to represent the End-time worldwide apostate [false]
religious power (Rev 17:4)?
H) If adornment is acceptable to God, why is the bride of Christ,
representative of the Church, dressed modestly in pure fine linen
without any ornaments (Rev 19:7,8)?
I) If adornment is acceptable to God, why are the angels shown as
dressed in pure fine linen, and without any ornaments (Rev 15:6)?
J) If adornment is acceptable to God, why did the apostle Paul tell
women to dress themselves modestly and not to deck themselves out in
ornaments [regarding public worship] (1 Tim 2:9,11)?
K) If adornment is acceptable to God, why did the apostle Peter tell
women not to deck themselves out in ornaments [regarding the home, and
in general] (1 Peter 3:1-4)?
Source available.