Dress
Revealed Truths
We are not to dress with physical ornaments.
We are to dress modestly, being arrayed with inner, spiritual adornments.
Some key verses:
Ex 33:3-6, 1Pe 3:3-5
Exposed Falsehoods
It is false to think that tatoos are OK.
It is false to think that there need not be a clear distinction between mens' and women' clothing.
Some key verses:
Lev 19:28, Dt 22:5
We are not to Dress with Physical Ornaments
We are not to dress with physical ornaments. (Ge 35:1-5, Ex 32:1-4, Ex 33:3-6, Jdg 8:23-27, Isa 3:16-24, Eze 7:18-20, Eze 23:1-4,36,37,40,41,48,49, Hos 2:13, Rev 17:1-5)
Notes on Ge 35:1-5:
Along with the command to be clean, Jacob required his household to change their manner of dress.
Along with the command to surrender idols, Jacob required his household to give up their earring ornamentation.
Notes on Ex 32:1-4:
The Israelites have just exited from centuries of slavery in pagan Egypt.
They have not yet received the formal, corrective instruction of the law.
Their widespread wearing of earrings provides insight into the popular ornamentation that was the accepted norm in Egypt.
As Moses decends from mount Sinai with the law of God, the people combine their earrings to conjure up yet another false god.
Notes on Eze 7:18-20:
The "beauty of his ornament" refers to the natural beauty given to us by our creator.
The people have covered this "majesty" with detestable and abominable ornamentation.
These ornaments are both a symptom and a symbol of their prideful apostasy.
Notes on Eze 23:1-4,36,37,40,41,48,49:
Samaria (Aholah) was the capital city of the northern kingdom (Israel).
Jerusalem (Aholibah) was the capital city of the southern kingdom (Judah).
Wicked Jezebel painted her face and adorned her hair with an ornament. (1Ki 21:25, 2Ki 9:7,30,33,36,37)
Note on 2Ki 9:30: Tire - "archaic : to adorn (the hair) with an ornament" (Webster's Collegiate Dictionary 2003)
Jezebel's last act was to haughtily adorn herself.
We are to Dress Modestly, being Arrayed with Inner, Spiritual Adornments
We are to dress modestly, being arrayed with inner, spiritual adornments. (Mt 6:25,28,29,31,32, 1Ti 2:9,10, 1Pe 3:3-5)
There is beauty in holiness. (1Ch 16:29, 2Ch 20:21, Ps 29:2, Ps 96:9)
God looks at the heart. (1Sa 16:7)
We are not to have Tatoos
We are not to have tatoos. (Lev 19:28)
Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. (1Co 6:19,20)
God Requires a Clear Distinction between Mens' and Womens' Clothing
God requires a clear distinction between mens' and womens' clothing. (Dt 22:5)
God proclaims that he will punish "all such as are clothed with strange apparel". (Zep 1:8)
For a man to be effeminate is a dire spiritual problem. (1Co 6:9)
Difficult
Does the Bible condone/praise jewelry? (Pr 1:8,9, Pr 3:21,22, Pr 25:11,12) (No)
These verses use a literary analogy that compares items of great spiritual value with physical adornments--commonly considered of great worth and beauty, but infinitely inferior to Christ-like character.