What Does The Bible Say About Wearing Makeup

Question: Does the Bible allow women to habiliment makeup or is it wrong and a sin?

Answer: Permit us first begin with a definition before we tackle the upshot of sin. What we commonly refer to as makeup are diverse substances and chemical compounds people habiliment for the express purpose of enhancing their advent.

In modernistic times, the use of cosmetics (makeup) is non express to females, or to being applied just to the confront (non-facial scars or birthmarks are sometimes covered), or used merely past adults (teenagers sometimes use them to cover the effects of acne).

Without a uncertainty, makeup has been a hotly debated, and many times divisive, topic amid churches and fellowships. Some women take even been ejected from church services (and told never to come up back) because they dared to wear cosmetics. Discussions centering on whether the utilize of makeup, which is not clearly delineated in Scripture, are acceptable or non (a sin) have raged for quite a while.

"During the past several generations some of the strongest debate among fundamentalists and evangelicals (regarding sin) has centered effectually questionable practices . . . Some of the key issues take been drinking alcoholic beverages, smoking, bill of fare playing, wearing makeup . . ." (MacArthur New Testament Commentary on 1Corinthians).

Woman applying makeup

Japanese adult female applying makeup

It should be noted that English words such as "makeup" or "lipstick" are not plant in Scripture. Direct references to the employ of cosmetics are somewhat rare in the Old Testament, occurring but four times (2Kings 9:30, Isaiah three:14 - xvi, Jeremiah four:30 and Ezekiel 23:40). The outset Biblical reference involves former Israelite Queen Jezebel "painting her confront" (applying makeup) in club to effort to win the favor of Jehu, the newly anointed king of Israel (2Kings 9:1 - vi, 30). Her effort to win favor, however, failed miserably (verses 32 - 37).

We need look no further than the creation of human for a guiding principle regarding whether or not it is a sin to wear makeup.

The Bible states that God fabricated everything, including humans and the Garden of Eden, "exceedingly adept" (Genesis 1:31, HBFV throughout). He then placed Adam (and shortly Eve) in the garden with the express purpose that they "apparel it and keep it" (verse 15). What did he, notwithstanding, wait them to do since everything around them was unspoiled and did not so much as contain a single weed (weeds would grow AFTER sin entered the picture show, come across Genesis 3:17 - eighteen)?

God's will was that the offset man and woman use their creativity to alter and build upon what they were given. Rather than commanding they leave everything untouched (since it was already "skillful"), he expected and desired that they alter (guided by righteousness and wisdom) the garden to aggrandize and further beautify it as they saw fit. Enhancing what the Eternal made was non wrong. Based upon this principle, information technology is non a sin if a woman uses makeup to enhance her appearance and the natural dazzler she has received.

New Testament admonitions

What we find in the New Testament is Not a condemnation of makeup as a sin only rather admonitions regarding its proper place and priority in a person's life. The Apostle Paul encourages Christian women to apparel modestly and not describe unnecessary attending to themselves past how they await.

Though makeup and cosmetics in full general are not forbidden, emphasis should be placed far more on doing good than looking good (1Timothy 2:9 - x). Peter also admonishes females (especially those married) to identify their primary focus not upon how they wait but rather on manifesting a righteous character (1Peter 3:3 - iv).

Wearing makeup (like drinking booze) is a question of moderation rather than prohibition. While it is certainly not wrong to forego cosmetics, using them with wisdom and modesty is not a sin. It would be incorrect, however, to utilise them for the limited purpose of leading another person to lust and disobey God in their middle. Believers should always be mindful how what they say, and practice, will exist perceived by others (1Thessalonians 5:22 - 23).

References
Holy Bible, a Faithful Version
MacArthur's New Testament Commentary
Tyndale'due south Bible Dictionary