ANSWER
Should Christian Women Wear Jewelry?
Some Christians believe it is wrong for women to wear makeup or jewelry, citing a
couple of New Testament passages that seem to forbid such things. While we certainly
respect the convictions of born-again children of God, we also want to be sure that our
teaching does not go beyond what the Word of God actually says. We do not want to
“teach man-made ideas as commands from God” (Mark 7:7, NLT).
In examining the propriety of wearing makeup or jewelry, we start with 1 Samuel 16:7b:
“The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward
appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” This verse lays down a foundational
principle concerning the limitations of our perspective: we naturally see the externals;
God sees the internal truth. This does not mean that the externals are unimportant, of
course—we readily communicate with others via visual signals, and the appearance we
choose for ourselves can express rebellion, piety, carelessness, meticulousness, etc. But
appearances can be deceiving, and there is the deeper issue of the heart. Whatever is done
to the outward appearance is done for man to see, and we should be careful about that,
but God is more concerned with what is happening in the heart.
In the context of rules for public worship, Paul says, “I also want the women to dress
modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles
or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who
profess to worship God” (1 Timothy 2:9–10). This is one of the passages that cause some
women to avoid wearing makeup or jewelry altogether.
A couple of things to note in this passage: first, there is a standard of dress that is right for
a woman in a worship service. Paul gives no specifics, but a woman’s clothing is to be
modest and decent and respectable. Wearing anything that is immodest, indecent, or
disreputable is wrong. Drawing the line between modest and immodest can be subjective,
and modesty depends somewhat on cultural mores, but each believer should be
discerning enough to avoid giving offense.
Second, there is a proper adornment for women who worship God and an improper
adornment. The proper adornment for a godly woman is simply good deeds. Tabitha
adorned herself beautifully by “always doing good and helping the poor” (Acts 9:36).
The improper adornment for a godly woman is that which puffs her up with pride or
draws attention to her outward appearance: the examples are elaborate hairstyles, gold
and pearls, and expensive clothing. The focus of a worship service is to be the Lord, not
the latest fashion, the biggest diamond, or the most chic hairdo. Wearing a $3,000 dress
to church or flashing gaudy jewelry does nothing to truly adorn the woman of God. She
would be much better off—and the poor much better served—if she sold the dress and
gave the money to a Christian charity. Perhaps the time she spent on the elaborate hairdo
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would have been better spent serving someone in need.
In 1 Timothy 2:9–10, Paul sets up a contrast between trying to please God and trying to
please men. A public worship service should not be a fashion show. It’s not that a woman
can never wear jewelry or style her hair differently. It’s that overindulgence and excess
are improper in church. We must all guard against pride and be careful not to distract
others (or ourselves) from what is truly important: the worship of God and the service of
others.
Another passage that relates to the issue of women wearing makeup or jewelry is 1 Peter
3:3–5, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate
hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, 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. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God
used to adorn themselves.”
Peter emphasizes the contrast between the outward, fleeting beauty and the inward,
lasting beauty of a woman. A truly beautiful woman has a “gentle and quiet spirit.” She
may not be noticed much in this world, but God sees the heart. To flaunt one’s beauty for
selfish adoration is not in line with the humility of Christ, especially when the flaunting
takes place in a worship service. Again, it’s not that braided hair is sinful, but those who
rely on their hair, their jewelry, or their clothing to make them beautiful are chasing after
vanity. It is more worthwhile to develop godly character.
In summary, there is nothing inherently wrong with wearing jewelry, makeup, or braided
hair, as long as it is done in a modest manner. Also, such things can never replace good
deeds or a humble spirit. A Christian woman should not be so focused on her outward
appearance that she neglects her spiritual life. A worship service should be focused on
God, not on us. If a woman is spending an inordinate amount of time and money on her
appearance, the problem is that the woman’s priorities are misplaced. Expensive jewelry
and clothing are the results of the problem, not the problem itself.
Origin & Intention of the Belief of not wearing jewelry
There are many reasons as to why this belief originated of which the most obvious one
was the social status that was connected with gold and silver. The rich or the higher
castes in the society had good quantity of jewelry to boast of, while the poor who came to
church had none.
When the Indian Pentecostal fathers came to the Christian faith, many of them came from
influential and high caste families who threatened to strip them of their inheritance and
wealth for stepping out of their religious systems to embrace a new faith. The church
fathers also noticed that the caste distinction inside the church was hindering fellowship
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between the non-ornament wearing lower caste believers and the ornament wearing
higher caste believers.
Hence, in an effort to remove the barrier within the church and also to make it easy for
new converts from both castes, the church fathers came up with the system of giving up
their ornaments/jewelry when a person got saved and baptized. The intention was to unite
the body of Christ, remove discrimination and act as a sign for outsiders of their
consecration.
The Argument for Removing Ornaments
Many hold different verses from the scripture to prove removing of gold is what God
wants. I’d like to mention a few of those without trying to go into every detail.
From the Old Testament
Moses rebuked the Israelites for building a calf of gold to worship and as punishment
powdered their gold and made them drink it. But the problem with quoting that verse as a
principle to remove your jewelry is that Moses did that because the gold had become
their God and neither does mean that they did not wear gold again. In fact, even today I
believe that anytime gold takes the place of God and if you are obsessed by your outward
adornments then it is best you give them up for life or at least till you overcome that
weakness in your life.
In the New Testament… many mostly quote 1 Pet 3:1-5 “3 Likewise, wives, be
subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be
won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and
pure conduct. 3 Do not let your adorning be external – the braiding of hair and the
putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear – 4 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. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in
God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands..”
With this passage, we have to consider the verse in context or take it literally. Both would
have more questions we will need to address for example, if we take the verse literally as
if Peter was laying down rules for us to follow then: 1. Peter is speaking only to wives.
That means this does not apply to husbands or even single women. 2. Wives cannot braid
their hair. (Which is not apparently an issue with those that speak against gold.)
Or the other side of understanding the verse is that Peter is talking against the use of
fancy hair style or any kinds of ornaments that draw attention to one’s self and forgoes
modest and respectful presentation. Please note that he does not say not to wear gold,
only mentioning that it should not be the focus. So then it is up to us to decide which of
the interpretation we want to choose because both cannot be correct! Either you say don’t
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wear gold (and don’t braid your hair) and that it would only be applicable to married
women or you understand the scripture wholly. You cannot say Paul says not to wear
gold but it is ok to braid our hair and wear costly sarees!
Prerequisite for Salvation?
The problem starts when what was done as a solution to cultural issues becomes a
prerequisite for salvation. This, to the extent where many are not baptized or allowed to
partake in the Lord’s table when one wears ornaments or is not wearing a white dress
code.
The key here is this: Paul was not establishing a set of rules, but the Bible is clearly
encouraging us to cultivate inward holiness and not focus on the outward beauty. We
should dress modestly and discreetly doing all things for the glory of God.
If you are a woman reading this article, and if the Lord has led you to remove or not wear
jewelry then I want you to know that I respect you. In fact, my problem is not with you
but with a man-made rule and self-righteousness and (sometimes even hypocrisy) that is
associated with it.
It is fine if your church wants to follow that but it is also right to respect other churches
who don’t follow that. And to say that they would not go to heaven because of them
wearing ornaments is to insult the power of the blood of Jesus that was shed and saves all
those who believe in His name.
Here are other verses you may have missed:
Ezekiel 16:8-15, NASB
“Then I passed by you and saw you, and behold, you were at the time for love; so I
spread My skirt over you and covered your nakedness. I also swore to you and entered
into a covenant with you so that you became Mine, declares the Lord God. Then I bathed
you with water, washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil. I also clothed
you with embroidered cloth and put sandals of porpoise skin on your feet; and I wrapped
you with fine linen and covered you with silk. I adorned you with ornaments,
put bracelets on your hands and a necklace around your neck. I also put a ring in your
nostril, earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. Thus you were
adorned with gold and silver, and your dress was of fine linen, silk and embroidered
cloth. You ate fine flour, honey and oil; so you were exceedingly beautiful and advanced
to royalty. Then your fame went forth among the nations on account of your beauty, for it
was perfect because of My splendor which I bestowed on you, declares the Lord God. But
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you trusted in your beauty and played the harlot because of your fame, and you poured
out your harlotries on every passer-by who might be willing.”
Song of Solomon 1:10-11, NASB
“Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments, Your neck with strings of beads. We will make
for you ornaments of gold with beads of silver.”
Isa 61:10 NASB
“I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me
with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a
bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”
Isa 49:18 NASB
“Lift up your eyes and look around; All of them gather together, they come to you. As I
live,” declares the LORD, “You will surely put on all of them as jewels and bind them on
as a bride.”
In Psalm 45:13 ,14 the Holy Spirit gives a description in type of the church of Jesus
Christ, “The King’s daughter is all glorious within. Her clothing is interwoven
with GOLD. She (the church) will be led to the King (Jesus Christ) in embroider work“.
Was Jesus Against Ornaments?
In Luke 15 Jesus takes the example of the prodigal son and in fact this is one of the
scriptures that is most used to understand the Father heart of God. And please note Jesus
would not use an illustration that He does not believe in. For instance, I would never buy
you an alcohol or use that as illustration if I didn’t believe in it. But here Jesus is very
clear on how the Father restored the returning son. The father brought the best robe and
put a ring on his hand.
In fact Jesus in heaven has a golden sash around His chest (Rev 1:13 ) and
a golden crown on His head (Rev 14:14 ) and is building us a city with streets are of
pure gold. (Rev 21:18 )
And in the New Testament…
James 2:2 , is clear that people with gold and fine clothing was also a part of church
and was admonished not to look down on those that could not afford to be dressed well.
God is not against gold; but gold or any other accessories, this also includes watches,
cellphones, cars etc. However if those things replace the place of God then they are going
to be part of God’s wrath. (James 5)
The 3 ISM’s in the Church
Beware of the 3 ism’s that exist in the churches today:
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Legalism: where believers feel that their admittance into heaven would be determined by
their own work or performance rather than by simple faith in Christ’s atonement.
Elitism: where superior doctrines, strict holiness standards and being part of a particular
denomination and church alone makes one’s way into heaven.
Judgmentalism: where believers are taught that other Christians are hell-bound because
they watch television or wear jewellery.
Removing gold does not indicate “separation from the world”. Galatians 6:14 shows “I
am dead to the world (its traditions, its culture, its lust of the eyes, its lust of the flesh and
its pride of life) by the Cross of Jesus“. Now these are the areas that we must live in
consecration. According to Galatians 5:1 , Christ has freed us with freedom. Paul says,
“Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery“. “This is the
freedom with which Christ has freed us”.
To Those Who Believe in Wearing Jewelry
Do not look down on those who are convicted to live their Christian faith without the
ornaments. “…But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is
wrong.” Romans 14:14
And in wearing ornaments see that you do in a way that glorifies God. “For we don’t live
for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it’s to honour the Lord. And if we die, it’s to
honour the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” Romans 14:7
Do not become obsessed with jewellery or do it in extravagance. See that your passions
don’t take over your eyes from God. In everything we do let us walk closer to Jesus.
I humbly close this subject with one more verse, Romans 14:19 “So then, let us aim for
harmony in the church and try to build each other up.”
Be blessed.
