From Vanity to Modesty Testimony: God Made Me Beautiful

This article contains my personal testimony on the subject of modesty and information I have gathered on the topics of makeup, adornment, jewelry, women’s trousers, and head-covering from the scriptures, church history, and early church fathers’ teachings. If you would like to do more study on this topic, this article will provide plenty of resources and scriptures.

My convictions came from listening to other people’s testimonies and extensively studying the scriptures to understand God’s heart on this subject. I also did a lot of research into early church history to see what the early Christians believed and practiced and looked into world history to understand the origins of some of the things mentioned in my testimony. I pray my testimony will be a blessing to you and provide some things to ponder, study the scriptures on, and pray about.

We shall all stand before the Lord to give an account for everything we do and believe. Therefore, please pray about this matter if you have any questions. As scripture tells us, test all things. Test everything based on God’s word, and then ask God to guide you into all truth because only he matters.

For me, the Lord convicted me to change everything about how I dressed, as explained in my testimony. It’s been years now, and I have no regrets, and in fact, my conviction is even stronger now. Although I share my testimony briefly, this is a topic where much could be said. This is a very deep topic that touches upon body, soul, and spirit. I have compiled this testimony and other articles on the subject into a free book, which you can download here.

I No Longer Dress to Kill

When I rededicated my life back to Jesus in April 2023, I was coming from a life of very immodest and seductive dressing. In June 2023, the Lord took me on a journey of relearning what modesty, beauty, and godly womanhood mean from his perspective and word. This journey has completely and radically changed how I dress and view myself. It has also changed how I relate to the world around me and how the world interacts with me.

The way I looked was a huge part of my identity. Sexual freedom and feminism were major aspects of my worldview. I believed that a woman could dress however she liked because I thought her body belonged to her (contrary to 1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

“Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

How It All Started

This journey started after I came across testimonies of women who claimed to have had divine encounters with the Lord Jesus. These encounters were in the form of either near-death experiences or visions. They said that the Lord revealed to them that the way they dressed and adorned themselves would lead or was leading them to hell. Since I had never really heard any teaching on modesty, dressing, and adornment in churches I had been part of, at first, I did not want to believe these testimonies. I tried to dismiss them, but they kept nagging at my conscience.

Desiring to obey the Lord, I went on a journey of extensively studying the scriptures to understand God’s heart on this subject of modesty. I also conducted extensive research into early Christian history to gain a deeper understanding of what early Christians believed and practiced about modesty. And I looked into world history to understand the origins of some of the things mentioned in my testimony. It did not take long for me to be personally convicted by the Word of God and church history to change everything about the way I dressed and adorned myself.

A Slave to My Appearance

My identity and self-worth revolved around my looks and my body for most of my life. The more of my body figure/shape I revealed, the better I seemed to feel about myself. I accentuated the things people complimented me most about to get attention: my legs, lips, eyes, and figure.

All this was quite subconscious, and I would have denied that I was dressing as I did for attention. But I later realized that it was because I was insecure. I did not feel beautiful if I did not look a certain way when I left the house, and I could not even leave the house without applying eyeliner. I would look at myself in the mirror almost every hour, even in public (I honestly have not carried a pocket mirror for over a year, I believe, a miracle in itself).

This spirit of vanity and lust came with a life filled with perversions, same-sex attraction tendencies, and promiscuity. I even delighted in boudoir photography, posting sexy and revealing (even nude) pictures of myself online for a season (back in 2018/19). Because of the way I dressed and appeared, it also influenced the kind of men I drew to myself. Men seemed only interested in my body and did not honor me. Low self-esteem kept me in a negative cycle of seeking external validation.

But praise God that he delivered me from this spirit of vanity and insecurity as I continued to submit to him. Through his word (the Bible), he transformed me and gave me a proper identity and self-respect.

“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that fears the LORD, she shall be praised.” Proverbs 31:30

What I Learned About Modesty and What I Stopped Putting On

After a period of searching the scriptures and seeking God’s heart on the matter, I made a decision based on conviction to no longer wear trousers/pants, make-up, nail polish, any jewelry, or artificial hair (including hair dyeing to change hair color).

It took months for the Holy Spirit to help me fully understand modesty. He showed me that it went even deeper than just dressing. I came to understand the deeper implications of immodesty on the souls and lives of men and women. And also the implications on society in general. This realization was liberating for me, and dressing modestly became a great source of joy and freedom.

I extensively studied the scriptures, church history, the history of fashion, and the women’s rights movement. I also listened to many women’s testimonies and read many articles and sermons on the topic. At last, I came away with a conviction that women putting on pants, jewelry, makeup, and artificial adornments (fake nails, hair, eyelashes, body parts, and so forth) does not please God.

“And you, O devastated one, what will you do, though you dress yourself in scarlet, though you adorn yourself with gold jewelry, though you enlarge your eyes with paint (this was me, literally)? You adorn yourself in vain; your lovers despise you; they want to take your life.” Jeremiah 4:30

My Modesty Journey and the Changes I Made

When the Lord convicted me about modesty in June 2023, I got rid of all my clothes since none were modest. I also got rid of my seductive perfume, nose rings, jewelry, makeup, and high heels.

I had no dresses to wear, but I was obedient to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. It was also difficult because I had no job, and so I could not afford new clothes. But I chose to obey the Lord regardless. I had to borrow about 3 old dresses from my sister before I could buy new clothes. Eventually, the Lord provided for me, and I began to buy modest dresses and skirts.

It was tough for a few months in the beginning after I changed my wardrobe. I felt strange, as I had been wearing only fitting pants most of my life (skinny jeans and especially leggings were favorites). Likewise, when I wore dresses, they were extremely short, revealing, and seductive. I was very self-conscious for a long time. Applying eyeliner was an addiction, and it was tough going without it. It was also uncomfortable not having long hair to hide my forehead behind.

It was a journey of growth. The kind of dresses and skirts I bought evolved as the Holy Spirit taught me what pleased him step by step. The Holy Spirit taught me over time to wear flowing dresses and skirts that do not bring attention to my body or shape or expose my legs. As well as upper clothes that cover my chest and upper arms. I choose to cover up my tattoos, too, even though I know God has forgiven me for marking his body.

“Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

Embracing My Natural Self

I had always hated my natural hair because I found it too coarse. To be honest, I had never known what I looked like with my natural hair or even how it looked because it was always hidden or changed. As a child, I always plaited/braided my hair and permed it when I was around 14. I braided my hair often until I changed to dreadlocks. I also always dyed my hair. In December 2022, I shaved my dreadlocks after Jesus delivered me from alcoholism. The dreadlocks were connected to a life of rebellion.

This is the first time in my life that I have kept my natural hair. It is now 2+ years later (as of this edit in November 2025), and my hair has grown long enough to tie into a ponytail, and I still keep it natural and do not plait it (stopped plaiting in November 2024). Salons are an ancient memory; what freedom and money saved. I realized I had believed lies about the hair, as many women do.

It is also the first time I have had a completely natural look without some form of makeup, nail polish, or artificial hair. Discovering the ‘Mwendwa’ God created rather than the image I created based on my low self-esteem, self-loathing, and worldly standards of beauty has been wonderful.

It has also been liberating to be free from slavery to beauty standards and keeping up with worldly trends and fashions, and obsessing over how I look. Financially, it is also a blessing, as I have more to use to help others rather than spend on adorning my body. God truly makes no mistakes. Hating what God has made is something this world has taught us to do, especially as women. If you think about it, it is a great disrespect to a perfect creator.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2

Consider the Fruit and Origins of Makeup and Adornment

Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruit” (Matthew 7:16). These fashions and adornments tend to promote vanity, competition, jealousy, insecurity, discontent, comparison with others, financial waste, idolatry, and discontent with how God made us. They also inspire lust and covetousness in self and others and war against godly virtues, femininity, and womanhood. All these things are works of the flesh and contrary to godliness and the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Exchanging God’s image for a lie: What God made is good.

The origins, inspiration, and desired ends behind many of these beauty products are also not godly. They typically tend to promote some sense of falsehood as well as conscious or unconscious seduction. The word “makeup” itself says it all. They hide what God has made and, in many cases, even seek to correct and replace what God made with a cheap imitation made by men. They seek to replace God’s body parts with others. This is especially so in the case of fake nails, fake eyelashes, fake eyebrows, nail polish, lipstick, plastic surgery, fake body implants, fake or human hair weaves, and all forms of makeup and hair dyes.

God has already made us fearfully and wonderfully with the hair, eyelashes, eyebrows, and nails he gave us. He doesn’t make mistakes. He is the one who created our bodies, fearfully and intricately, to reflect his excellence. We are his perfect design and masterpieces, and he does not need correction. Please reflect prayerfully on the following verses:

“Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.” Genesis 1:31

“Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.” Genesis 1:26

“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.” Psalm 139:14

“My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was woven together (embroidered/intricately woven) in the depths of the earth.” Psalm 139:15

“…and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.” Romans 1:23

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:10

“Woe to him who strives with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ Or shall your handiwork say, ‘He has no hands’? Woe to him who says to his father, ‘What are you begetting?’ Or to the woman, ‘What have you brought forth?'” Isaiah 45:9-10

“There is no truth in him (the devil). When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44

Defiling and destroying God’s temple, the body, is a sin.

The Bible tells us that if anyone destroys or defiles the body, which is God’s temple, God will destroy him. Many of these beauty products and fake body part extensions, like fake hair, eyebrows, eyelashes, nails, and so forth, tend to harm the body. It is well-documented research that many of these products cause hair loss, cancers, skin issues, and other inner body conditions. The natural nails are gradually destroyed by the fake ones, the natural hair is harmed by the fake hair and bleaches, high heels cause back and leg problems, and plastic surgery has been known to cause severe damage and even lead to death. These things cannot be good if you look at the harm they cause over time to the body.

“Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

The Carnal Nature Is Contrary to Modesty

Women’s bodies are naturally appealing and provocative, and inspire lust in men because of the way God wired the sexes. This is why, after the fall, God himself made proper skin coverings to cover up the nakedness of Adam and Eve completely (Genesis 3:21). They had made for themselves fig leaves to cover only their loins, but this was not sufficient.

The carnal nature is driven by passion and lust. When women take liberties to expose their bodies seductively, it stirs up lust in both themselves and men. The born-again Christian has been redeemed from the old nature with its corrupt desires and lusts. They should therefore not dress in a manner that stirs up lust. This is why God emphasizes modesty. Modest dressing is a natural fruit of being regenerated and having the Holy Spirit abiding in us.

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires/lusts.” Galatians 5:24

“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Romans 8:6

Modesty and Gender Considerations in Dress

I now, by God’s grace and mercy, aim to dress modestly, guided by what the Apostles Paul and Peter instructed in 1 Peter 3:3-5 and 1 Timothy 2:9-10, respectively. And also adhering to the distinction of dress for genders instructed by God in Deuteronomy 22:5.

My Conviction About Pants/Trousers

“A woman must not wear men’s clothing, and a man must not wear women’s clothing, for whoever does these things is detestable (an abomination) to the LORD your God.” Deuteronomy 22:5

Pants were originally made for men and were considered and designated as menswear for centuries among believers and unbelievers alike. Even in the Old Testament, trousers are mentioned as menswear (scriptures below).

I became convinced to stop wearing them after doing my research on the history of pants. Women began to adopt them as women’s wear, influenced by the women’s rights/feminist movement in the 1850s, and gradually this spread across the world in the 20th century. This convinced me that women’s pants violated God’s instruction in Deuteronomy 22:5 that the genders should be distinct even in dressing.

Bible verses on trousers and gender distinction in dress:

Deuteronomy 22:5: The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.
Genesis 1:27: So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Exodus 28:42: And you shall make for them (male priests) linen trousers to cover their nakedness; they shall reach from the waist to the thighs.
Leviticus 16:4: He shall put the holy linen tunic and the linen trousers on his body; he shall be girded with a linen sash, and with the linen turban he shall be attired. These are holy garments. Therefore, he shall wash his body in water, and put them on.
Leviticus 6:10: And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen trousers he shall put on his body, and take up the ashes of the burnt offering which the fire has consumed on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.
Daniel 3:21: Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace (in Babylon, the men wore trousers).
Ezekiel 44:18: They (male priests) shall have linen turbans on their heads and linen trousers on their bodies; they shall not clothe themselves with anything that causes sweat.
1 Corinthians 6:9: Or do you not know that the unrighteous ones will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (men acting as women, and this means the converse is not allowed for women since God hates blurring of gender roles), nor homosexuals…

God Desires Distinction Among the Sexes, Even in Dress

In the beginning, God made them male and female. God made Adam and Eve with distinct differences and roles. The issue of the sexes being distinct and separate, even in dress, therefore, is something that matters to God. This is why he warned against women and men putting on each other’s items of clothing.

When the sexes start getting mixed up, gender roles become blurred, and the result is that headship in society, church, and home, as God ordained it, gets destroyed. The result is the breakdown and chaos we can now see in the gender redefinition agenda that’s happening worldwide, and also the escalating transgender agenda.

The blurring of genders has also led to the growing popularity of the LGBTQ+ movement, family breakdown and collapse, societal confusion with women wanting to be like men in all respects and not wanting children, and men losing their God-given masculinity and ability to lead. I truly believe this is all connected to gender lines being blurred over the years, starting with the area of dressing.

I also noticed that wearing pants changed the way I (and other women) walked, sat, talked, and carried myself, and made me more masculine in some ways and also more seductive due to their design. After I started wearing only modest dresses and skirts, it completely changed how I walked, sat, and carried myself and made me more reverent and feminine even in my behavior.

Modesty, Biblical Femininity, and Gender Identity

“Likewise, I want the women to adorn themselves with respectable apparel, with modesty, and with self-control, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess to worship God. 1 Timothy 2:9-10

I now no longer get my identity from how I look, and I cover up my body. I do not aim to draw attention to myself or my body by how I dress. Keeping natural has been quite liberating and taught me to appreciate myself as God made me.

I now, by the grace of God, love myself for who I am and how I am. It has been very healing and freeing for someone who was so attached and even enslaved to her looks before.

I discovered how to be a godly and feminine woman for the first time through God’s word and modest dress. This was strange for me in the beginning since I had been a “tomboy” from childhood. I always had masculine tendencies. My gender identity was distorted for most of my life. This distortion was caused by a lifetime of sin, trauma, demonic influence, and confusion.

Changing how I dress has taught me modesty at a deeper level. The issue of modesty is a heart and soul issue. I now understand submission at a very deep level. Before, I was opposed to the idea of wives submitting to husbands because I was a feminist. I was also very opposed to biblical gender roles in general because I exalted “self” too much.

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes, but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight. For this is how the holy women of the past adorned themselves. They put their hope in God and were submissive to their husbands, just as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. And you are her children if you do what is right and refuse to give way to fear.” 1 Peter 3:3-6

Modesty and Cultivating Virtue

The apostles Paul and Peter both encourage women to cultivate their inner beauty rather than physical beauty. I strongly believe they both understood the innate temptation for all women to want to flaunt their physical beauty and even use it to their advantage; it’s a natural effect of the fall.

Peter says our beauty should come from the “inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight (1 Peter 3:3-4).” And Paul says we should adorn ourselves “with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess to worship God (1 Timothy 2:9-10).“

When you are dressed seductively, it is impossible to have a meek and quiet spirit. It is also very difficult for women to cultivate good deeds when they are obsessed with physical beauty. This is because all their attention and money will go towards maintaining their physical beauty. The obsession with physical beauty also tends to make women haughty and rebellious. This attitude is contrary to the submissive, gentle, and quiet spirit that God requires of godly women.

The Spirit of Seduction and Worldliness

Many ungodly women in the Bible used their beauty to seduce men to get them to do what they wanted. It is nothing new. I found myself doing the same almost unconsciously. It all began when the serpent seduced Eve to covet the forbidden fruit. She, in turn, seduced her husband into sinning against God. This desire in women to seduce is part of the curse of the fall. (“And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you.” Genesis 3:16)

An example of a woman who used her beauty for seduction is Jezebel. She painted her face to try and seduce the prophet Jehu, who had come to kill her for her wickedness. 2 Kings 9:30 says, “And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window.”

Delilah, Potiphar’s wife, and Herodias and her daughter Salome are other wicked women who used their bodies and beauty, and adornment to seduce men to get what they wanted.

In total contrast, the holy women of old in the Bible, such as Sarah, mentioned in 1 Peter 3:3-6, beautified themselves with the inner disposition of the heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight. We are to imitate these godly women and not the ungodly examples above.

Honoring God With Our Bodies Is the Heart of Modesty

God has made us perfect; He said that all He created was good (Genesis 1:31). We do not need to add on to what he has made and change it. I believe that is creating another image that hides and robs God of His glory.

It is not bad to dress well and look beautiful, but we must always stick to biblical standards of modesty. Modesty glorifies God because virtue is exalted. It also leads to fewer struggles with sin and flesh for both women and men. Immodest dressing breeds idolatry, greed, covetousness, waste, lust, and adultery, which are all works of the flesh and sin. This does not please God. Additionally, when women dress immodestly, men naturally stop honoring and respecting them and view them as sex objects.

“Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Being Our Brother’s Keeper

When we expose our bodies as women or dress seductively, we are not being our brothers’ keepers. Seductive and extravagant dressing leads others to lust after us and our bodies. When we ignite lust or jealousy in others, we become seductresses, stumbling blocks, and idolaters. The daughters of Jesus cannot be seducers. We are not to draw attention and glory to ourselves, our bodies, clothes, and beauty. Instead, as modest women, we draw attention to Jesus through our character and good works.

“But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble (fall into sin), it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world for the causes of sin. These stumbling blocks must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!” Matthew 18:6-7

“For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.” Galatians 5:13

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4

“We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please Himself.” Romans 15:1-3

Worldliness Is Contrary to Holiness

God demands holiness, for without holiness no man shall see God (Hebrews 12:14). Holiness within shines outwardly too through modesty. Modesty is a form of self-control and humility, which are fruits of the Spirit. The spirit of the world is one of passion and lust. But God calls his children to be separate from the spirit of this world and be holy.

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.” 1 John 2:15-17

God Sanctifies Our Spirit, Soul, and Body

The scriptures below speak about how we are to honor God with our bodies through holiness. Take time to meditate on them.

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23

“Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1

“Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Head Coverings for Christian Women

Closely related to the topic of modesty is the biblical practice of head covering in the Christian Church. This is a physical sign of submission to God and respect for gender roles and divine order as ordained by God.

In 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, the Bible says that women must cover their heads when praying or prophesying in the church. This was not Paul’s opinion but a command and tradition for all churches, rooted in creation order and spiritual authority.

“But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered…For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.” 1 Corinthians 11:3-6, 10

Paul’s appeal to the presence of angels, as well as to creation order, shows that this instruction transcends culture and was intended for all churches.

Practicing head covering has helped me learn submission more deeply and walk in obedience to God. It has also helped me embrace and appreciate my identity and place as a woman.

My Conviction About Jewelry

Old Testament on jewelry:

As I studied the Bible, I realized that the origins of jewelry in the Bible were with pagan nations such as Egypt, Babylon, and also the Ishmaelites (Exodus 3:22, Judges 8:24, Genesis 35:1-4, Exodus 32:2-4). The Israelites picked up these habits of wearing jewelry from pagan nations despite God’s warning to them not to copy what pagans did. When God asked the Israelites to take gold and silver from Egypt, it was not meant for adornment but for wealth. This wealth could be used for trade, and later it was also used to build aspects of God’s Ark of the Covenant, tabernacle, and temple.

God asked the Israelites to put away their ornaments before he could deal with them, as they were stiff-necked (Exodus 33:4-6). Jacob asked his family to put away their earrings and foreign gods before they went to worship God at Bethel (Genesis 35:1-4). We also see that the children of Israel asked Aaron to make them a golden calf, and he used their gold earrings (worn by both men and women) to make this idol (Exodus 32:1-4). Judges 8:24 says that “the enemies had gold earrings because they were Ishmaelites.” These were pagan practices, and God warned the Israelites not to copy pagan customs (Deuteronomy 12:4).

“And you, O devastated one, what will you do, though you dress yourself in scarlet, though you adorn yourself with gold jewelry, though you enlarge your eyes with paint? You adorn yourself in vain; your lovers despise you; they want to take your life.” Jeremiah 4:30

“Moreover, the Lord says, “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty and walk with outstretched necks and wanton (seductive) eyes, walking and mincing as they go, making a jingling with their feet, therefore the Lord will strike with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will uncover their secret parts. In that day the Lord will take away the finery: the jingling anklets, the scarves, and the crescents; the pendants, the bracelets, and the veils; the headdresses, the leg ornaments, and the headbands; the perfume boxes, the charms, and the rings; the nose jewels, the festal apparel, and the mantles; the outer garments, the purses, and the mirrors; the fine linen, the turbans, and the robes. And so it shall be: instead of a sweet smell, there will be a stench; instead of a sash, a rope; instead of well-set hair, baldness; instead of a rich robe, a girding of sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty. Your men shall fall by the sword, and your mighty in the war. Her gates shall lament and mourn, and she, being desolate, shall sit on the ground.” Isaiah 3:16-26

New Testament on jewelry:

Apostles Paul and Peter repeated this warning against jewelry in the New Testament (1 Peter 3:1-4, 1 Timothy 2:9-10). For me, these scriptures were enough to convince me to stop wearing jewelry, and I have not regretted it. The very fact that earrings and nose rings involve piercing the body speaks volumes. God warns us against destroying our bodies, for they are his temple. If God wanted holes in our bodies, he would have placed them there. Our bodies are not ours to do with as we please.

Scriptures to Meditate On

If you would like to learn more about what the word of God says about dressing, beauty, adornment, jewelry, head covering, and holiness, please prayerfully study the scriptures below. Click here to read all the scriptures in their long form. I collected and compiled a list of many scriptures in both the New and Old Testaments that touch on those topics and tried to compile them under various subheadings. It may surprise you what you discover as you humbly meditate on them. May the Holy Spirit give you understanding and illumination in all things.

1 Peter 3:1-4, 1 Timothy 2:9-10, Psalms 24:4, 1 Corinthians 6:19, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 2 Corinthians 7:1,1 Thessalonians 5:23, Exodus 21:5-6, Isaiah 3:16-26, Isaiah 4:1, Deuteronomy 22:5, 1 Corinthians 11:4-6, 1 Corinthians 11:13-16, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Genesis 35:1-5, 1 John 2:15-17, James 4:4-6, Romans 12:1-2, Romans 1:25-26, Exodus 32:2-7, Exodus 33:5-6, Judges 8:24, 2 Samuel 1:24, Hosea 2:13, Proverbs 31:30, Jeremiah 4:30, Jeremiah 13:23, Isaiah 45:9-10, Hosea 2:13, Revelation 17:4, 2 Kings 9:30, Ezekiel 7:19-21, Ezekiel 23:39-40, Exodus 28:42, Ezekiel 44:18, Daniel 3:21, Leviticus 6:10, Leviticus 16:4, Leviticus 19:27-28, Jeremiah 1:5, Psalm 139:14, Revelation 22:15, Isaiah 45:9, Matthew 5:28, Luke 12:7, Matthew 5:36, Proverbs 16:31, ‭Proverbs 20:29, Proverbs 11:22, Isaiah 29:16, Isaiah 46:4, Genesis 3:7,21, Romans 13:8-10, Galatians 6:7, 1 Corinthians 10:23-24, Romans 14:13, Philippians 2:3-4, Romans 15:1-3, Luke 17:1-2, Galatians 5:13, Matthew 18:6-7, Leviticus 19:29, Exodus 28:4, Exodus 35:19, Leviticus 16:32, Exodus 40:13, Deuteronomy 7:25-26.

Final Reflections

God calls Christian women to dress modestly. We are not called to pick and choose which of God’s commands we will obey, but all of them. As Christian women, God has certain expectations of us, which serve to glorify him as we obey. These mainly touch on submission, gender roles, and modesty.

The rise of feminism has fueled rebellion against God’s instructions, even among Christian women. This should not be the case.

God’s word is never meant to oppress us but to protect us from the enemy. His aim is always to get us to sin and rebel against God, just as he did, and just as he convinced Adam and Eve to do as well.

God’s word establishes order, provides protective mechanisms, and glorifies God as each one does their part.

I humbly and sincerely pray that my testimony encourages you to reflect on the topic of modesty in your own life and to seek to please God above all. May the Holy Spirit guide you into all truth on this matter. Shalom.

Below are articles from other authors on this topic. ** Disclaimer: Sharing these links does not mean I am vouching for everything these authors write. Kindly test everything by the Word of God as a noble disciple.

1. Christian Women’s Proper Dressing and Adornment

On the Apparel of Women– Book by early church father Tertullian (155 AD – 220 AD)

Christian Grooming – According to the Church Fathers by Bibletopics.com

Views from church history on fashion, adornment, and jewelry Compiled by Finny Kuruvilla

Divine Revelation Of Worldly Appearance Of Women And Hell Punishment By Christopher Zormelo

The Danger Of Perverse Modern Church Doctrine On Women Trouser — Part 1 by Evang Paulinus Paul

Worldly Appearance Of Women And Her Punishment In Pit Of Hell by Evang Paulinus Paul

What the Early Christians Believed About Modest Dress & Cosmetics by David W. Bercot

The Beauty of Holiness by Dean Taylor

Church fathers’ opinion on earrings by bibleanalyses.com

Is wearing makeup a sin? How did the early Christians live? by bibleanalyses.com

Is wearing earrings a sin? by bibleanalyses.com

Wedding Rings/Jewelry by Pastor/Missionary, Dr. G. Reckart

2. Comments by Cyprian (3rd century) and Ambrose (4th century).

“Augustine’s “On Christian Doctrine” (IV.21). Both address the practice of “women who color, or rather discolor, their faces with paint.” Source

Cyprian:

“Suppose a painter should depict in colors that rival nature’s the features and form and complexion of some man, and that, when the portrait had been finished with consummate art, another painter should put his hand over it, as if to improve by his superior skill the painting already completed; surely the first artist would feed deeply insulted, and his indignation would be justly roused. Dost thou, then, think that thou wilt carry off with impunity so audacious an act of wickedness, such an insult to God the great artificer? For, granting that thou art not immodest in thy behaviour towards men, and that thou art not polluted in mind by these meretricious deceits, yet, in corrupting and violating what is God’s, thou provest thyself worse than an adulteress.  The fact that thou considerest thyself adorned and beautified by such arts is an impeachment of God’s handiwork, and a violation of truth.  Listen to the warning voice of the apostle: ‘Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened.  For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.’ [1 Cor 5.7-8]  Now can sincerity and truth continue to exist when what is sincere is polluted, and what is true is changed by meretricious coloring and the deceptions of quackery into a lie? The Lord says, ‘Thou canst not make one hair white or black’ [Matt 5.36]; and dost thou wish to have greater power so as to bring to nought the words of thy Lord? With rash and sacrilegious hand thou wouldst fain change the color of thy hair: I would that, with a prophetic look to the future, thou shouldst dye it the color of flame [!].”

Ambrose:

“Hence arise these incentives to vice, that women, in their fear that they may not prove attractive to men, paint their faces with carefully chosen colors, and then from stains on their features go on to stains on their chastity.  What folly it is to change the features of nature into those of a painting, and from fear of incurring their husband’s disapproval, to proclaim openly that they have incurred their own! For the woman who desires to alter her natural appearance pronounces condemnation on herself; and her eager endeavors to please another prove that she has first been displeasing to herself.  And what testimony to thine ugliness can we find, O woman, that is more unquestionable than thine own, when thou art afraid to show thyself?  If thou art comely why dost thou hide thy comeliness?  If thou art plain, why dost thou lyingly pretend to be beautiful, when thou canst not enjoy the pleasure of the lie either in thine own consciousness or in that of another? For he loves another woman, thou desirest to please another man; and thou art angry if he love another, though he is taught adultery in thee.  Thou art the evil promptress of thine own injury.”

3. Women’s Head Covering in Church

What the Early Christians Believed About The Head Covering– Transcript of cassette sermon by David W. Bercot, 1997

On Head Coverings by Classical Christianity

Head covering for Christian women– Wikipedia

Get my free book, From Vanity to Modesty: My Testimony and Biblical Lessons on Adornment and Holiness, for more teachings on this subject of modesty. Click on the book cover to learn more.

From Vanity to Modesty Testimony- God Made Me Beautiful

Other Testimonies:

Read my full testimony of salvation and deliverance
Read my Testimony of Confession, Repentance, and Restitution
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Other Women & Modesty Articles

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