Wearing Jewelry

Q

I am sure you must know about some churches which do not permit wearing gold or ornaments. Can you please explain this belief to me as to where it came from and if its actually true or not…..Can you give me some scriptural references along with it too.

Thank you ever so much for all the help.

A

In the Bible women are admonished not to depend on jewelry or other ornamentation to take the place of natural inner beauty.

1 Peter 3:3-4 says,

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead 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.”

This is not a prohibition against these things, but rather a warning against relying on them instead of cultivating the inner beauty the God desires.

Like many of the Bible’s teachings, this has been corrupted by man from its original positive intent into a legalistic prohibition, as if we can force someone to become a gentle spirit by making the wearing of jewelry a sin.