As a jewelry wearing Christian how do you rationalize you materialistic nature?

Question

Does it have anthing to do with the fall of man?

Answer 1

What makes materialism (at a moderate level) competitive with spirituality? Cannot both co-exist side-by-side? Must it be all-or-nothing?

Most things in the universe do not work that way.

Answer 2

1 Samuel 16:7b declares, “The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Timothy 2:9-10 tells us, “I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” Paul did not forbid women from wearing jewelry, makeup, or braided hair – rather he tells women to not let their outward appearance become more important than their inner beauty.



1 Peter 3:3-5 reminds us of this spiritual fact, "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. There is nothing wrong with wearing jewelry, makeup, or braided hair as long as it is done in a modest manner. A woman should not be so focused on her outward appearance that she neglects her inner spiritual life.

Answer 3

Perhaps the most striking demonstration of this fact was the experience of the Israelites with the golden calf. The Bible records: "And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt." Exodus 32:2-4.

When the children of Israel passed the plate, they had enough jewelry to make a small calf. I fear if we were to pass the plate today in the churches of those who profess to follow God's Word, we would have enough jewelry to make a whole golden buffalo!

After the golden calf experience, God commanded the people to remove their jewelry lest they be consumed. "For the Lord had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiff-necked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee. And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb." Exodus 33:5, 6.

Notice the similar warning God gives to His people living in the last days: "In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the rugged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth." Isaiah 2:20, 21.

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Answer 4

What about makeup, wearing new trends (clothes, shoes, etc)?

Shouldnt TRUE Christians just wear a piece of fabric that they cut holes in?

Answer 5

They live in houses, and have TVs too. They need to practice what Jesus taught, and go be nomadic shepherds in Israel. Give all their possessions to the poor. If it is a cross they were, it is idol worship.

Answer 6

Human. Hello!

Answer 7

Probably.
Touch my earrings and find out!
j/k

Answer 8

Only when I sleep.