How should a young person dress? The answer is: with modesty and simplicity. The pressure is currently on, in fashion-conscious societies, to do neither. And millions of dollars are spent to encourage us to stand in line behind the fashion gurus. How we dress sends a message of some kind. The question every Christian, young or old, needs to ask is: Am I sending the right message?
As far as jewelry and make up is concerned, the apostle Peter said it best when he called for “pure, godly behavior” and told women: “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.” (1 Peter 3:2-4). It isn’t only women who need to hear that message!
Following Peter, the church encourages men and women not to rely on the outward appearance, but to develop the inner, spiritual life, which is the secret of real beauty (see 1 Peter 3:5). The Christian is not called to be a follower of fashion, but to represent Christ.
Should Adventists wear engagement rings?
In some parts of the world you will find that some Adventists wear engagement rings, and with the church’s blessing. Where this happens, the church has recognized that an engagement ring plays an important part in confirming and demonstrating the promise to marry. In other places, where it does not have the same significance, it is discouraged because it is seen more as a piece of jewelry than an important symbol of the promises made.
The Bible calls for Christians to dress with simplicity and modesty, and not to rely upon the wearing of jewelry to bolster their sense of self-worth or draw attention to themselves (1 Peter 3:3, 4). Where engagement rings are worn, these principles must also be upheld. A flashy and very expensive ring would fall outside those principles.
What the church has done in allowing this variation in its position is to recognize that there are important cultural differences within certain societies that should be observed when they do not go against biblical principles. It is the biblical and Christian principles that do not change.
Should women be allowed to wear pants to church?
That depends on the circumstances and the situation. In many cultural situations it is quite appropriate, in others it is not. There are no specific biblical instructions on the matter. It is not unusual for people to dress in different ways in different cultures.
Paul’s instruction for women to cover their heads (1 Corinthians 11:5) is a good illustration of a situation where the culture demanded that Christian women dress in a particular way. The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary explains that for Corinthian women uncovering their heads would be acting “shamelessly” and “immodestly.” Some commentators suggest that, with their heads uncovered, the women in Corinth could be advertising their availability as prostitutes.
The Bible says that men should not dress like women or women like men (Deuteronomy 22:5). But that has little to do with women wearing pants because, at the time it was written, both genders wore robe-style clothing. The difference was found in the style and design of the robes.
Modesty and simplicity should be the trademark of the Christian. However, there is a further responsibility. Christians should be careful not to give offence or to condemn others (Romans 14:17-23), which means both men and women will be sensitive to their cultural situations and dress appropriately.
The Bible doesn’t have a lot to say about make-up. The Old Testament only mentions women using make up in three places: In 2 Kings 9:30 is a reference to Jezebel wearing it (she is definitely not a healthy role model!). In Jeremiah 4:30, women put make up on as if the attempt at looking beautiful will protect them from death. Then, two cities, Samaria and Jerusalem, are pictured behaving like sisters who use make up as an aid to help them seduce men (Ezekiel 23, particularly verse 40).
This issue is a one where you need look at general Biblical principles, and then apply them in practical ways. A question to ask--whether it be about make up, or wanting to look different to how God made a person--is why? In other words, what is the motivation? Ask yourself: Am I doing this to simply enhance what God has given? Or am I doing this to draw attention to myself, or even to send a message, through make up, clothing or hairstyle?
It’s fine for people to want to present their “best face” to the world. But it’s also important to remember that God is more interested in what is going on in the heart than what the outside looks like (1 Samuel 16:7). The Christian principles of dress, simplicity and modesty (1 Peter 3:3, 4), remain an important factor in making decisions about how Christians should look.