Can a christian wear ornaments?

The Bible does not enforce any law towards a believer to abandon ornaments. Many theologians’ accommodate different verses from the Bible to claim that a believer should not use ornaments. Let us look their claims.

OLD Testament

Quoting Exodus 32 & 33 as a principle to remove ornament.

Exodus 32:1-4 “When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.” Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” Moses took the calf they had made and burned it. Then he ground it into powder, threw it into the water, and forced the people to drink it. After that, God commanded them not to wear ornaments.

Here exist few problems when quoting this as a principle to remove your jewellery.

Neither God nor Moses initially asked them to remove their ornaments.
Aaron directed the children of Israel to remove their ornaments to make an idol.
In the past, God had commanded Israel "You shall not make with Me gods of silver, neither shall you make to you gods of gold" (Exodus 20:23). Now, they have violated it by making a gold statue with gold. As a result of this violation, God told them to remove their ornaments as a chastisement.
In fact, if they had tried not to remove their ornaments, they wouldn't have made that idol.
Last, but not the least. This is a commandment in the old covenant (given to the Jews). We are not under the old covenant. Otherwise, we are required follow all the other commandments given to the Jews too. We should not exercise a “cherry picking” habit from the old covenant Laws.

Anyway, before we move on to the new testament, lets examine whether the Israelites really removed their ornaments forever (or was it only at Mount Horeb?).

Exodus 33:4-5 (MKJV) - And Jehovah had said to Moses, Say to the sons of Israel, You are a stiff-necked people. I will come up into the midst of you in a moment, and I will consume you. And now put off your ornaments from you, that I may know what to do with you. And the sons of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by Mount Horeb.

This "stripping themselves of their ornaments" did not last for long. Read the above verse "I will come up into the midst of you in a moment". "And now put off your ornaments from you."

God did not command "Thou shall not wear ornaments from now onwards". God told them to put off their ornaments at Mount Horeb because He was about to come in the midst of them.

Only the 'Good News Translation' of the Bible states it as "they did not wear their jewellery any more". The amendment "any more" is added by Good News Translators. You may see all the other translations here.

Compare this with Exodus 3:5 (God spoke to Moses from the burning bush) "And He said, Do not come near here. Pull off your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground."

Does it mean that Moses did not put on his sandals forever? No.

At that particular occasion, Moses had to pull off his sandals.

Similarly at Mount Horeb, at that time of God's visitation into the midst of them, Israelites had to remove their ornaments.

Proof that the Israelites had kept their ornaments even after they removed it at Mount Horeb.

Children of Israel donating their ornaments

The Israelites donated their jewelry and other precious assets to help in building the tabernacle (40+ days after they took off their ornaments at Horeb).

Read Exodus 33:1 to 35:20)

Exodus 35:22 (MKJV) - And the men came in together with the women, as many as were willing-hearted, bringing bracelets and earrings, and rings and ornaments, all jewels of gold. And everyone who offered waved a wave offering of gold to Jehovah.

If they had given away or destroyed their ornaments at Mount Horeb (Obviously there is no point in keeping it if they had no intention to wear it again), from where did they get the ornaments to offer to the "building of the tabernacle" which was much later on? It is also written that they offered their bracelets, earrings & ornaments willing-heartedly. That means, they did not offer their entire ornaments. It was up to each individual's will.

Gideon wanted ornaments

Judges 8:24 (MKJV) - And Gideon said to them, I would desire a favor of you, that each man of you would give me the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)

After defeating Zebah and Zalmunna, why did Gideon (a judge of the Israelites) want each man of him to give him earrings?

David's Lament for Saul

2 Samuel 1:24 (KJV) - Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

From the above verses, it is easy to understand that the children of Israel did wear Ornaments after Mount Horeb.

NEW Testament

Many serious legalistic christians quote the following verses from the New Testament to argue that a christian should not use ornaments. Let us examine each verses and their meaning (as well as context).

Acts 3:6 (KJV+) – Then Peter said, Silver [G694] and gold [G5553] have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

In this verse, Peter was talking about money (silver & gold coins). He was not talking about jewellery. Please refer to the Greek Strong words used for Silver & Gold [G694] = silvery, cash; specifically a silver ling (that is, drachma or shekel) [G5553] = gold plating, ornament, or coin

Acts 8:20 (KJV+)– But Peter said to him, “May your silver [G694] perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!

Peter was talking about money as Simon (a man from Samaria) tried to purchase God’s gift (Holy Ghost) with silver coins.

1 Timothy 2:9-10 (KJV+)– “likewise also that women [G1135] should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.” [G1135] = woman, specifically a wife.

We should not misread the words of the apostle Paul. Paul did not forbid women from wearing jewellery, make-up, or braided hair. Rather, he told the women to not let their outward appearance become more important than their inner beauty. He was not prohibiting expensive clothing or beautiful arrangement of the hair in principle, but excessive concern about appearance at the expense of more important things, such as godliness and good works.

There is nothing wrong with wearing jewellery, make-up, or braided hair as long as it is done in a modest manner. A woman should not be very focused on her outward appearance that she neglects her inner spiritual life. If a woman is spending too much time and money on her appearance, the problem is that the woman’s priorities are wrong.

There are few problems if we use 1 Timothy 2:9-10 as a rule against wearing ornaments.

Paul wrote this passage to the women (specifically to wives, according to the original greek translation). That is why he specifically mentioned “women should”. So what about men? Nothing is specified.
It says braided hair, gold / pearls, costly attire. Why there is no problem when comes to braided hair and costly attire? The same people who opposes wearing gold / pearl have no problem when comes to wearing costly attire.

James 5:3 – “Your (the 12 Tribes of Israel) gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.” In this verse, James was talking about money, not ornaments. This word simply means “Do not be materialistic”. Many so called “serious Christians” have a lot of material possessions. They have no problem with it. Yet they come against wearing ornaments.

The next verse is the most quotted verse by the legalistic Christians as a principle to remove ornaments. 1 Peter 1:18 – “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors,”

Peter was talking to the Jews. That is why he quotted "empty way of life handed down to them from their ancestors". He was talking about the Jewish tradition (and called it as empty way of life).
To redeem = “gain or regain possession of (something) in exchange for payment.” He was talking about money (gold & silver coins). This verse has nothing to do with wearing ornaments.
Peter was simply telling the Jews that they were redeemed by the blood of Jesus, not by money.
I seriously do not understand how people had come up with the idea that "we should remove our ornaments in order to be saved" from this verse.

If we take 1 Peter 3:1-4 literally, we need to consider two things.

Peter was addressing the above statement to the married women. That means, this statement does not apply to husbands or single woman / man.
If the church restricts ornaments based on these words, then why there is no restriction on “elaborate hairstyles” & “fine clothes”? (Ironically this is not an issue with those that speak against gold.) Peter did not say not to wear gold, only mentioning that it should not be the focus. (Read that verse again)

You cannot say Peter says not to wear gold but it is OK to braid hair and wear costly sarees.

If you read the Bible carefully, you can find out that the Bible has more good to say about jewellery than it does badly.

Here are some verses from the Bible which the Pastors / Church Organizations never shown to the believers.

Genesis 24:52 – When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the earth before the Lord. And the servant brought out jewellery of silver and of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebecca. He also gave to her brother and to her mother costly ornaments. And he and the men who were with him ate and drank, and they spent the night there.

Song of Solomon 1:10-12 – Your cheeks are beautiful with earrings, your neck with strings of jewels. We will make you earrings of gold, studded with silver.

Isaiah 61:10 – “I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” (This verse actually tells that, during a wedding, a bride should adorn herself with her jewels.)

Jeremiah 2:32 – Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

If jewellery is so sinful, then how come God repeatedly used it as an analogy of beauty?

Was Jesus against wearing Ornaments? Let’s look at the parables given by Jesus.

Luke 15:22 – But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet’. If Jesus was against wearing ornaments, he wouldn’t have used the term “put a ring on his finger” as a parable for celebration.

Conclusion

Those churches / organizations allow women to braid their hair, but they don’t allow them to wear any jewellery.
They allow women to wear “costly dresses”.
To them, wearing gold watches are OK.
To them, using gold-rimmed glasses are fine, but wearing a silver necklace is “worldliness”.
They consider a christian as unholy if he/she wears even a simple ornament.

It is fine. You work hard and if you have the money, you can have it. But, do not ask someone who is wearing a simple wrist lace or necklace to take it off. It is called “Hypocrisy”.

This is a religious system that creates man-made rules and regulations and then demands that people follow them. This adds an offence to the cross.

On the other hand, we should dress modestly and discreetly and avoid gaudiness and extravagance so that people can see our good deeds and our good behaviour.

1st Samuel 16:7 – “The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.

If you are a person who doesn’t wear ornaments, you do not have to wear it deliberately.
Similarly, if you are a person who used to wear ornaments, you do not have to remove it to show that you are holy.

Under the new covenant, God has written the Laws in everyone's heart.

Hebrews 8:10 (NLT) But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts.I will be their God, and they will be my people.

You are to follow your conscience rather than telling another person on what he/she should do or should not do based on what you think.

In Romans Chapter 14, Paul clearly explained the danger of criticism. One thing / object look right to you may not look right to another person (and vice versa).

Romans 14:22 (AMP) The faith which you have [that gives you freedom of choice], have as your own conviction before God [just keep it between yourself and God, seeking His will]. Happy is he who has no reason to condemn himself for what he approves.

New Living Translation (NLV) Bible has translated it more clearly.

Romans 14:22 (NLT) You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right.

If you have decided to do something and you do not feel guilty about it, no one has the right to condemn / accuse you.

One believer / pastor has no right to ask a person to remove his/her ornament.
If your heart & conscience tells you to remove the ornaments, then remove it. It depends on each individual
If you are removing your ornaments and wearing an expensive watch/shoe/sun glass to show off your collection, you are just being a hypocrite.