1.  What does Scripture say we as Christians are?  2 Corinthians 5:20.

Answer:  We are for .


An ambassador is a representative.  If we represent Christ, people should be able to see Christ in us and in our dress and deportment.  We believe that those who have made Jesus their Lord and Savior will dress in a manner befitting their profession and which is in agreement with the holy Scriptures.

2.  What does the Bible say about Jesus’ physical appearance while He lived on earth?  Isaiah 53:2.

Answer:   "... He hath no or ."


The concordance tells us that "comeliness" means ornamentation or splendor.   This means that Jesus did not wear expensive clothing or jewelry.  If we are representing the meek and lowly Savior, as His ambassadors, we will wear simple but tasteful clothing too!

3.  Is the Lord interested in how clean we keep ourselves and our clothing?  Exodus 19:10.

Answer: .

4.  When the Lord was about to come close to the children of Israel, what did He tell them to take off their bodies?  Exodus 33:5-6.

Answer:  Their .


It is true that the primary reason the Lord wanted them to take their ornaments off was because they were supposed to be in mourning for Israel’s spiritual declension. But God’s command also reminds us that these people had been in Egypt for many years and had picked up pagan customs and dress from the Egyptians.   In verse 6, where it reads “by the Mount Horeb” in the King James Version, it literally means “from Mount Horeb ONWARD.”  In fact, this is how the Amplified Bible translates verse 6:

“And the Israelites left off ALL their ornaments, from Mount Horeb ONWARD.”

This is clear Biblical proof that the people understood that the wearing of ornaments (jewelry) was displeasing to the Lord.  Therefore, from that day forward they discontinued this practice they had picked up in Egypt.

The Bible teaches that self denial in dress is a part of the Christian's duty.  To dress plainly, abstaining from a display of jewelry and ornaments, is in harmony with the principles outlined in the word of God.

5.  What is the only kind of ornament that is pleasing to God?  1 Peter 3:1-4.

Answer:  The ornament of a and spirit.

6.  What is one of the first things the women of Israel did when they departed from God?  Hosea 2:13.

Answer:  They themselves with and , and in doing so, they God.

Often one of the first signs that a person is having spiritual problems is a change in the way they dress.  The Lord loves beauty and it was He who created beautiful things.  In fact, when Jesus returns we will receive from Him a “crown of glory that fadeth not away.”   See 1 Peter 5:4.   Lucifer, before his fall and rebellion against God, was adorned with a jeweled covering that the Lord gave him.  But now, because of sin, the wearing of jewelry and ornaments, instead of giving glory to God as it did before sin, now tends to glorify the person wearing the jewels. When sin is eradicated and the true purposes of God are again carried out, God’s glory will be reflected in us and in our heavenly adorning.  But for now the Bible gives us instructions against the bodily ornamentation exploited by secular society for purposes not in accordance with the word of God.

7.  What instructions did Paul give concerning dress when he wrote to Timothy?  1 Timothy 2:9-10.

Answer:  He said that women should not adorn themselves with hair (that is, hair wrapped around pieces of gold, silver, glass, etc.).  Neither should they wear or , or very costly clothing.  (High fashion with high prices!)

It is clear that “gold” and “pearls” are NOT for godly men and women to wear.  One item of jewelry that people most often ask about is the wedding ring.  The matter of wearing a wedding ring is discouraged, especially in church, because it sets a wrong example for others, especially young children.  They see the wedding ring and they say, “Why can't I then wear my ‘friendship ring’ or my ‘high school ring’, etc.?”   For this reason, even those who feel strongly about this matter should realize that their example may be inappropriate for the house of God.   See Romans 14:13 and 21.  

A godly woman really does not need a circle of gold around her finger to let others know that she is married and spoken for!  Her deportment will be enough.  In ancient times, it was believed that rings had “magical powers” and were sacred sun worship symbols in Egypt.  See Encyclopedia Britannica, Volume VIII, Micropedia, page 590.  It is sad that Christians in Rome picked up this pagan custom and brought it into the sacred wedding service!

8.  What kind of apparel does the Bible say Christian women should wear?  1 Timothy 2:9

Answer:  "In like manner also, that adorn themselves in apparel, with and ."


“Shamefacedness” means “modesty and reserve around men.”  Modest apparel is a part of the ideal God has for the godly woman.

9.  Jesus said if a man looks at a woman to lust after her, he has already committed with her in his .   See Matthew 5:28.

Would a godly woman dress in such a way as to cause a man to sin?  The answer should be a resounding no!

Every profession has its “uniform” that is the official uniform designated by the powers that be.  Mailmen must wear their uniform while on the job:  so must airline employees, policemen, firemen, nurses and doctors, etc.  In the same way the Lord of glory has designated a “uniform” dress for all His followers who are “on the job!”  His uniform dress code is His holy word!  From the Lord’s dress code it seems clear that the parading of bows and ribbons, ruffles and feathers, and gold and silver ornaments and immodest or revealing clothing is wholly inappropriate for the sacred service of God.

Some may have questions about colorful cosmetics.  The use of colorful cosmetics (those that give an unnatural color to the eyes, mouth, or face) is opposed to the modesty and bashfulness the Greek word translated shamefacedness means in 1 Timothy 2:9.  The cosmetic industry dictates what “beauty” is and the standards they set are based on the almighty dollar and not on Almighty God’s Word!

Using some natural appearing make-up to cover blemishes and facial defects is different from wearing colorful cosmetics.  The best way to have a good complexion is to follow the laws of health and get fresh air and exercise.  Plenty of vitamin A, water, exercise, and rest will do what no cosmetics can!

10.  If we love the Lord, what kind of things will we do?  1 John 3:22.

Answer:  Things that will the Lord!

If we are not ABSOLUTELY SURE that a certain habit or practice of ours, or our dress, is displeasing to our Lord whom we love, we should give Him the benefit of the doubt! We should say, “Lord, I am not sure about this, but if there is any chance that it is displeasing to you, I will discontinue it at once, because I want to do Thy will!”  This kind of faith will be richly rewarded!

11.  What was jewelry associated with in the days of ancient Israel?  Genesis 35:1-4. (answer is in verse 4).

Answer:  The worship of .


This verse makes it clear that in times past, “earrings” were associated with pagan worship and idols!

12.  Because everybody is doing something, does that mean that we must too? Exodus 23:2.

Answer: .

13.  In Exodus 35 verse 22, what good use did the people make of their jewelry?

Answer:  They gave it to as an .


This is still a good thing to do with jewelry!  Sell it and give the money as an offering to the Lord to be used in His work!

For many, these teachings about dress, jewelry, and colorful cosmetics may be new and may even seem harsh.  This is because the ways of the world are so different from God’s ways.  Many people dress with ornamentation because they were taught that this is the way to dress and that this is what constitutes beauty and style.  The Lord understands this and He through His word and Spirit leads us to higher ground in the area of dress.  As a loving husband to His bride the church, the Lord has a right to instruct His bride in the kind of dress that pleases Him and that represents Him.  Most people like to dress in a way that pleases their spouse; should we not do the same thing for our loving Savior Jesus?

Jesus gave up all the crown jewels of heaven.  He gave up a glorious crown, a majestic throne, the riches of glory to come down to this world to save you and me.  He wore no jewels or golden chains or bracelets.  There were no rings on His hands that were nailed to the cross.

When they pulled Him around in Pilate’s judgment hall, they had no necklace or chain to grab on to.  They must have pulled Him around by His beard for in a prophecy about Him in Isaiah 50, verse 6 it says:

“I gave My back to the smiters, and My cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I hid not My face from shame and spitting.”

The lowly Jesus was never decked out with ornaments.  He wore the ornament Peter spoke of:  a meek and quiet spirit which in the sight of God is of a great price!  We know He wore no ornaments or jewelry because when they nailed Him to the cross, He had nothing on for them to gamble for except His garment.

14.  Is it your desire to follow the counsel we have been given by God concerning dress and deportment?

Answer: .

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