OUTWARD ADORNMENT

OUTWARD ADORNMENT                                        by bro eric

Imposture shrinks from light,

And dreads the curious eye;

But sacred truths the test invite,

They bid us search and try.

O may we still maintain

A meek, inquiring mind,

Assured we shall not search in vain,

But hidden treasures find.

With understanding blessed,

Created to be free,

Our faith on man we dare not rest,

We trust alone in Thee.

-Anon.

The purpose of this article is to highlight certain aspects of our common faith, as well as share Christian fellowship with believers as we endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. As members of the same family, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, we do not choose our brethren by outward standards; in fact, we have no part in deciding who should belong to the family or who should not. We only come to know our brethren as the Father brings us together. So, our union is not based on the superiority of intellectual reasoning, neither does our faith stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. If the words of this write-up do not impress a desire in the heart of readers to consecrate their spirit more in godly devotion and motivate them to desire to please the Lord even more in the Christian walk, my efforts would surely be in vain. My motive is not to make a showmanship of intellectual prowess or to add another weapon for strife and contention. Many a sincere message have inadvertently sown seeds of discord and separated very friends in the one body. It is my prayer that the God of peace would use this humble piece to strengthen the union we have in Christ. It may not be proper to justify divisions in the family on the basis of diversity of doctrines.

Sin, Cause of Division, not Doctrine

Brother D S Warner says in the book, WHAT THE CHURCH OF GOD IS AND WHAT IT IS NOT:

‘The salvation of the Lord, which qualifies us for heaven, makes us one on earth. A religion of divisions will deceive the soul. The chief object of God’s ministers is to “perfect the saints.” The blood of Christ not only purifies from “all sin” and “all unrighteousness,” but also sweeps away all erroneous doctrines. The Comforter guides into all truth, which involves the removal of all error. It is true that cleansing from error is not as instantaneous as from sin. But the pure in heart have perfect fellowship, even though all previously educated errors have not yet disappeared. There is therefore no real cause of division but sin. Therefore to cry against sects and divisions without first being wholly sanctified, and then leading people into this precious paradise of holy love, is nothing but confusion mocking confusion, or satan buffeting satan, as the devil flogged the sons of Sceva. All efforts of union but that of God’s holiness is like pounding cold, crooked pieces of iron against each other to make them fit together. The more blows, the more crooks and differences. Put them into a furnace of white heat, and they will lose their cold, stiff, crooked individuality, and flow into one mass. That is God’s way of uniting His people, in the fire of the Holy Spirit. All tinkering up platforms of union is wasted time. Each effort has only molded another sect calf for the people to worship and wrangle over. Freedom from sin knits together in love. But all merely strapped-up unions are bundles bound together to be burned. Bible salvation is all that is needed. This obtained, both union of heart and soul, and harmony in outward worship and life, will follow as a result or fruit of the Spirit. When “baptized by one Spirit into the one body,” and made to drink in the one divine Spirit in His fulness, there will be no trouble to “worship God in Spirit and in truth.” For all such “know the truth, and the truth makes them free.”

‘On the plane of Bible holiness, no outward observances are made a test, in fact nothing is made a test of fellowship. For holy men “judge not from appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” I John 1:7. Fellowship is of the Spirit (Phil. 2:1), and exists where heart-purity exists. It is the conscious blending of hearts filled with the same Holy Spirit.

‘One may have been led into all truth, the other not. This does not interrupt fellowship. Nevertheless it is the duty of such as “know the truth,” in meekness to instruct others who do not. Ignorance of some truth does not destroy fellowship, but resisting the truth does, because it forfeits salvation. We must not sanction people’s errors, but if saved, show our love and fellowship to them, so long as they do not get the evidence that their wrong doctrines have become wilful, or they have in some way lost salvation. The fellowship ends, but love and kindness still continue in faithful efforts for their salvation. To ignore fellowship simply because of some doctrinal error is bigotry. To agree to disagree, or to put on an equality truth and error, is babel confusion. To know the truth is our privilege; to teach the truth our duty; but to have fellowship with the pure and upright of heart is an involuntary and spontaneous fact. Sects are the result of carnality. Nothing but perfect holiness destroys carnality, and thus removes both sectism and its cause. The fire of God’s love saves the soul, harmonizes all hearts that receive it, leads them into perfect and uniform obedience to all truth, and drives afar all who refuse to pass through its purging fire, and gain the plane of holy fellowship.’

Bearing the above in mind as we investigate the issue of outward adornment, let us not take the path of some who ‘strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel’.

1Ti 2:9 ¶ In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; {broided: or, plaited}

(KJV)

1Pe 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

(KJV)

First, I’ll present select commentaries of ancient and modern saints on these verses.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown says:

‘1Pe 3:3 … Plaiting--artificial braiding, in order to attract admiration. Wearing--literally, "putting round," namely, the head, as a diadem--the arm, as a bracelet--the finger, as rings. Apparel--showy and costly. "Have the blush of modesty on thy face instead of paint, and moral worth and discretion instead of gold and emeralds" [MELISSA].’

People’s New Testament Commentary:

  ‘Not with braided hair. The Gentile women were much given to arranging the hair in plaits over the head, with bands of gold. Such vain and idle show at worship is forbidden, as well as the wearing of pearls, or costly array. At the house of God a display is not comely.’

John Wesley says:

‘Not with curled hair, not with gold-Worn by way of ornament. Three things are here expressly forbidden:  curling the hair, wearing gold, (by way of ornament,) and putting on costly or gay apparel. These, therefore, ought never to be allowed, much less defended, by Christians.’

Adam Clarke comments:

‘…When either women or men spend much time, cost, and attention on decorating their persons, it affords a painful proof that within there is little excellence, and that they are endeavoring to supply the want of mind and moral good by the feeble and silly aids of dress and ornament.  Were religion out of the question, common sense would say in all these things: Be decent; but be moderate and modest.’

F.G. Smith says:

 ‘Women must be arrayed in ‘modest apparel…not with gold, or pearls, or costly array.’ These articles of adornment, then, are not modest apparel. The wearing of them is prompted, not by feelings of humility and modesty, but by pride in the heart. It is plain from this scripture that such things do not ‘become women professing godliness.’ Reader, are you a woman ‘professing godliness?’ Are you adorned with these things? If so, then they do not become your profession, and you are not arrayed in modest apparel.

 ‘These principles apply with equal force to the male sex. Do not deceive yourself, reader, in the belief that you can continue to wear things which the Word of God forbids, and still be a spiritual person, filled with the grace of God. It is impossible. God’s children are to be ‘obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance. But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation’ (I Peter 1:14-15).’

J W Byers comments:

‘Broided Hair: In the parallel text from Peter it is termed "plaiting the hair," which signifies the ornamentation of the hair as was the custom in those days. A writer says, "The Eastern women are remarkable for the great length and number of the tresses of their hair." One lady was seen who had one hundred and ten tresses, all natural on her head. These are frequently braided in with gold or pearl ornaments. This was an object of much pride and vanity, and was doubtless what is forbidden in these texts.’

"Salvation delivers from the desire, “lust,” and “pride” of such things. Where men and women get saved from these things and teach against them, then take to them again, the devil has seduced them." [The Gospel Trumpet June 12, 1902]

"We gladly refrain from wearing anything that only brings us nearer the world and adds nothing to comfort or necessity." [The Gospel Trumpet October 20, 1910]

Lastly, may we now read Brother Michael Smith of the Faith and Victory. His comment below can be found in http://www.churchofgodeveninglight.com/question.htm :

‘Broiding and plaiting of the hair refers not to simply braiding the hair, but to hair that was crisped, curled and fixed fancily. It was common for women of the time to weave silver wire, thin plates of gold and colored ribbons into their hair. They also placed pearls and precious stones in the hair as ornamentation.

‘Broided hair, gold, pearls, and costly array are just some specific things Paul mentions that are not becoming to a woman who professes godliness.’

I wish to draw our attention to the above quoted testimonies of beloved children of God about the outward adornment. The Word of God stands forever; ‘His truth endureth to all generations’. It is this Word that will judge the whole world on the last day. To resist or wrest it is to seal our eternal ruin.

Now, what have these men said about ‘plaiting’ the hair (i.e. plegma or emploke)?

·        It is unbecoming for women professing godliness.

What is this plaiting or broiding mentioned in the scripture?

·        All writers are in agreement that it refers to the practice of Gentile women of the East in Ancient times that were much given to arranging the hair in locks over the head, with bands of gold. A plait is a long piece of something, especially hair, that is divided into three parts and twisted together. Peter, the apostle, used the Greek word ‘emploke’,  pronounced: em-plok-ay'  meaning: ‘elaborate braiding of the hair:--plaiting’.

We understand that there is a slight difference between the African practice of plaiting and the Ancient Easterners. And most of the above commentators may know little or nothing about our modern African Model. Nevertheless, the Spirit of the Scriptures is same for the Jew as well as for the Greek. Therefore, we should seek for the spirit of these verses and not be led by the letters, as the Pharisees of yore. The emphasis of the verses is very clear. It is all about meekness of the heart or the quietness of the spirit, that is, sobriety. A meek person is marked by sobriety, whereas, proud souls seek all the attention and attraction outward adornment can offer. A meek servant does not desire selfish attention either for good, or for bad. His only desire is to please his Master. May I now ask, oh my beloved sister, why do you plait your hair, oh daughter of the Most Holy One? Are you also adorned to be adored, like the foolish women of this untoward generation? Is it because you seek to appear comely in the eyes of carnal men? How does your righteous soul fare before lusting eyes that stare and flattering lips that compliment the beauty of your tresses? How much time do you devote in meditation and discussion of the most fitting hairstyle for your outward adornment? The holy ones will definitely distance themselves from such unspiritual thinking; for they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

However, some may have one scripture or more to support the practice. For example, they may seek to preserve that glory of long hair given to them for a covering. If this is your sincere reason, dear beloved sister, you do well, since it is not for selfishness. However, the next question for your conscience is: does the Lord intend for you to help Him establish the standard of keeping long hair as an African woman? Has He anywhere given anyone that assignment? I say this because, our African hair being different in nature and texture from that of our European and Asian sisters, hardly grow naturally long like theirs; and some of our sisters have to plait their own so that it can grow long and be kept in proper shape. It is known that our hair cannot grow so long without plaiting. For those who do not know, styling and grooming black hair is often complicated and time consuming. This time spent at the hairdresser often results in close bonds between the stylist and the client. Consider the implication of that fact when the stylist is an unbeliever. The African practice of plaiting is so involved and complicated that it fits the description ‘elaborate’ so very well. By the way, elaborate means something carefully prepared and organized; it also refers to anything that is complicated and detailed. We know that plaiting is planned and executed with painstaking attention to numerous parts and details. It involves many carefully arranged parts or details

I share the plight of our sisters who go for days without using water to wash the hair; some bear much discomfort from the tightness of the tresses, and also for constant itching and irritation. A fine looking broided hair takes considerable pain, time and money. Women of this world forfeit comfort for their looks. See the sacrifice and devotion! They do so much for this god of beauty and prettiness. Should we also suffer our sisters to be subjected to the same cares of the foolish women of this shameless age? Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. What was the practice of the godly women in the beginning? When did this practice of plaiting begin? Was it practiced among the people of God in the Ancient times?

“In the early fifteenth century, hair served as a carrier of messages in most West African societies” (Tharps and Byrd 2001) These Africans--citizens from the Mende, Wolof, Yoruba, and Mandingo—were all transported to the “New World” on slave ships. Within these communities, hair often communicated age, marital status, ethnic identity, religion, wealth, and rank in the community. Hairstyles could also be used to identify a geographic region. Cornrow braids are not only widespread in Africa, they are also quite ancient. A clay sculpture with cornrows from the ancient Nok civilization of Nigeria  be as seems to be as old as 500 B.C. As Peters (1990) notes in her essay on black hairstyle history: "Hieroglyphs and sculptures dating back thousands of years illustrate the attention Africans have paid to their hair. Braids were etched into the back of the head of the majestic sphinx."  As saints called out from the world, should we conform to this spirit of the world? God forbid! We will not be conformed to this world: but we will be transformed by the renewing of our mind, that we may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Come to think of it, is it not possible for our heavenly Father to have given our African sisters naturally long hair, if this is very necessary for their salvation? Should we not be content with the kind of hair given and be full of thanksgiving for His love and marvelous works onto us ward? Should we now insult our maker by thinking that He has made an incomplete job on our body and offer to assist Him in the work of creation? This matter may seem to be of little importance yet it is worth considering, since it borders on the handiwork of the sovereign God.

Think about these things.