Bob Prichard

Topic(s): Christian Life, Women

When society puts so much emphasis on physical appearance, it is important to remember that God is more interested in the heart. Peter advises wives, especially those trying to win unbelieving husbands to the Lord: “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 [lifestyle] 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. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands” (1 Peter 3:1-5). The “hidden man of the heart” adorned with a meek and quiet spirit is what is really important.

Paul advised Timothy to teach women seeking to be godly that they should “adorn themselves in modest [appropriate] 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). Good works adorn godly women much more in God’s sight than “broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array.”

Wearing make-up falls in the same category of behavior as that of wearing jewelry, adorning the hair, or chosing clothing. The emphasis must be on what these things say about that inner person. Peter was not forbidding the wearing of any jewelry or requiring that a woman never “plait” her hair. If he was forbidding those things completely, then he was also forbidding “the putting on of apparel.” Peter and Paul both emphasized that the way women (and men) dress is important because of what it says to the world about who they are, and the Savior that they serve.

The world is often drab and ugly because it bears the marks of sin and worldliness. Christ came to make the world a better, more beautiful place, not one that is drab and ugly. He said, as the Good Shepherd, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). He wants us to have beautiful lives. There is nothing wrong with dressing neatly and attractively, or using make-up appropriately, as people try to present themselves as best they can. If the wearing of any make-up is wrong, then it is also wrong for men to wear fancy ties, highly polished shoes, etc.

There is no doubt that some women do not know how to, or either do not want to properly apply make-up or wear appropriate clothing. Make-up and clothing choices make some women look nice and wholesome, while others look cheap or tawdry. The way we dress implies many things to the world. We can say, “I follow Christ and I am concerned with my appearance,” or we can say, “I am worldly and have no use for Christ.” We must choose wisely! “Walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing” (Colossians 1:10).