Article-5 (Bro.K.M.Mathai, M.A,  Pastor & Teacher, Bhopal)

WOMEN  IN ORNAMENTS

INTRODUCTION

 

INTRODUCTION

Examine plants in the flowering time. They exhibit themselves. To whom? To the flies and beetles. Plants are attracting them to make pollination possible. It is a natural phenomenon. Human generation too has that tendency; but too much beyond the limit females  do exhibit it and beyond the limit of morality; it is much more  in western countries and now in north India after entering the teen age. It is so due to lack of moral INSTRUCTION. Christians have Bala sangh and teenage special scriptural, moral, spiritual classes to instruct them. They grow in strict spiritual atmosphere. Salvation, sin, judgment by Christ, reward in heaven are clearly taught. Today, in India, youngsters are attracted to western culture. People are after romantic stories.  They grow in a situation of immoral culture. The surroundings are vicious. The influence of the Biblical message of salvation and judgment is lesser here. Publications are maligned by ugly immoral photos provoking sex. Shame on them and on the Government who keep silence. Women organizations too are silent and are guilty. Result! I can’t but point out this shameful evil instill sexual awakening in the youngster

  •     Women generally have a tendency to make their bodies attractive by wearing gold ornaments. Their aspiration is young men may have an eye on them. N. India is now largely maligned by the evil of raping even infant girls and leaving them killed. I think it has become beyond control among non- Christians. The Nathari like immoral killings are a shame on the Govt. and the nation. It is also to be pointed out: Parents are not caring to get their sons and daughters married in time.

  •      The dowry devil is haunting them. Govt. rules on it is so far prove unsatisfactory.

  •      Another evil is ornament- wearing. Robbers break houses of rich, gold bearing people, kill them and robe their houses.  Women’s malas (ornaments) on their neck are caught hold of  by  robbers on the road. These incidents are frequent. Why should ladies invite robbers! Recently a retired officer in Bhopal and her wife were hit on their head and killed him in the night and robbed everything in the house. We are to learn lessons from these.

  Let us see God’s guidance on the subject.

Guided by the Spirit of God, Peter an apostle, a 1st century ecclesiastical highest guide on the earth advised the wives of different churches as follows: 

i)  “Ye wives, if any obey not the word of God , they also may without the word be won by the humble behavior of  the (godly) wives: LET IT NOT BE OUTWARD ADORNING OF GOLD”. Can we change above statement as “Let it be outward adorning of gold?”  Never.  1 Pet. 3:2.,3: ie godly simple life in obedience to the scriptures is with  power of God  to turn the other on-good looking women too. This is the exhortation here. Note the power of a simple godly life exercising in the on-looking women! The humble believer women can influence other women in front, to lead others to lead a godly life. It speaks a lot. Let our women be soul and reward winning evangelists. A godly simple life, even without words will work to bring conversion or change of heart! Good, is it not? A simple, humble Christian life preaches godliness too. Here the scripture suggests non-wearing of gold ornaments exercises a force in other women too for the Lord. They will hesitate and distance from mingling and sitting with rich ladies of pride, wearing gold and gaudy (rich fashionable) dress. Many may close the door to salvation against proud gold wearing women. Such women are a hindrance to the influence of the gospel. IT IS BETTER TO BE NEAT AND SIMPLE FOR A LADY TO LOVE  AND APROACH other women and exchange  message of godliness and  mingle with. other women. They need the gospel more. “Gospel” is a short form of “good spell”. In Hindi we say “Suvarta”. Oh gaudy women, not godly woman, you are a hindrance to the work of God’s good spell. At once give off your gold if you wear to the church to be sold for the extension of the kingdom of God, or to win souls; and thus win rewards of crowns.

  •      “Let it not be outward adorning of gold.” is the command. Then can we change it and command “LET THE ADORNING OF GOLD BE THERE ON YOUR EARS, NOSE AND ANKLES AND NECK.” to prompt others to be on the knees in prayer for others! Meditate on the Creator, the owner of the world, who  emptied Himself to be born in a Pasau sala!

“ Pasu sale jeerne vastr pahin pada deh dhari Easwar

Sisu masiha karte he naman… Tava  p---ade ‘‘  etc

  •     What a low birth, the Creator, Jesus took! To make us humble in His service.   {I have  composed 15 songs in Hindi for our HINDI GATHERINGS  in the BEST  malayalam tunes  “ The above two lines may be sung  in the tune of “Thiru charana seva cheyyum nararil ati premam arna ,,,,,,” The above two  lines are of a sample song I composed. Cassette or disk with 15 songs I composed is available for sale. Good songs for use in Sunday gatherings).                                                                                                                          

  •     Look at a hen and a cock! Hen has a pious look, while cock looks elegant. (I don’t mean men should copy the cock and wear gold ornaments instead.) Among the animals and birds too males are more decorated while the females look simple and humble in appearance! Compare a bull with a cow! If  the Creator has planned so, why should our believing woman break the creator’s law!

 

ii)  Timothy Overseer instructed.( in the New Testament time there were appointed overseers to guide ,unlike the present simple Brethren, They were obeyed too.)  “WOMAN ADORN THEMSELVES IN MODEST APPAREL NOT WITH BRAIDED HAIR, GOLD OR PEARLS”  Shall we oppose and correct the overseer appointed by Christ? God forbid it! But obey instead. Simple and neat is God’s criteria.

iii) There was a very similar problem in Israel’s history in the wilderness. They had collected a good quantity of gold from the Egyptians on the eve of their setting out of Egypt. In their wilderness journey they thought of making a gold calf misusing that gold and began to worship it! (Israel had seen the Egyptians worshipping calf and fish gods in Egypt, for they were depending much on them for their livelihood on the Nile River green valley. Israel were tempted to copy it. Aaron just demanded only once to collect gold from the people to make a gold calf. JUST one DEMAND! Plenty of Gold Israel offered for carving a calf-god to be adored!

iv) Aaron had to tell a lie to justify him ; verse Dt. 32:24: “I cast the gold into the fire; and there came out this calf.” (In the case of every false gods there will be some false stories!). Israel started worshipping it. Gold was misused! Gold was misused for a wrong thing! They became fools to worship the golden calf. Moses ordered  and killed 3000 guilty persons. God’s wrath was kindled. He almost got ready to annihilate the entire Israel nation, counting at least 6 lakhs and odd on the very spot. But for the fall of Moses at God’s feet pleading for the people, not a single person of the millions would have remained on the face of the earth. Moses fell down and pleaded for them. God was calmed at last; but He determined NOT TO dwell IN THE midst of the stiff necked  people. God decided  too NOT  TO TAKE ANY of the lakhs  except two to the promised land. THAT “STIFF NECKED PEOPLE” were about to be CONSUMED  in the wilderness at the very spot and God was to generate another nation from Moses. Read  ch. 32 & 33 of Exodus. Gold calf is the issue! Gold ornament is the problem today! Disturbing the peaceful gatherings! Fellow brethren stop, act to stop God’s anger!  The incidents broke the heart of Moses and wanted to die! God hardened his heart. The most heroic leader in the world did not want to live any more. God in His wrath asked Moses to move aside and to let Him annihilate the nation then and there. See the result of fowl play with gold!. Sisters, fear and obey God; do know His will and obey. Are our women walking against the will of God!

Moses fell down at God’s feet and cried and pleaded Him not to destroy the millions in the desert saying the gentiles will ridicule them saying: they brought the nation from Egypt and destroyed them in the wilderness etc. Today too there is the need of praying mediators for our co-believers, both women and men. See also the defect of NOT having appointed, thereby recognized  and obeyed Overseers in the present day Churches!

  •      God changed His mind a little by Moses’ mediation. Shall we too mediate for the gold-necked and gold-eared worshippers today! God yielded a little, but determined NOT TO LIVE IN THE MIDST OF THE disobedient  people’s CAMP  meant to defend them against enemies, but TO REMOVE HIS DWELLING  to OUTSIDE  the  peoples’ camp. See how serious became the matter. Do my readers want God to live away from their midst, from their churches even! Is gold dearer to you sister than the church and fellowship with  Christ in the midst? Readers (husbands),  do you purchase gold ornaments for your wives? God’s presence in  your midst will be shifted outside the church and house!. Are you supporting your wife miss-using gold ? Then God may go out! There is the need of a loud call: “who is on the scriptures side now?”

  •      God was very strict in His handling the problem. He asked them to remove ornaments from them so that He may choose the way to deal with them.Ex. 33:5. It is the preliminary step to godliness and blessings. Sisters, Use the money not for gold but for your family members’ needs and soul winning activities.

 Be simple and draw people to the  Saviour’s feet  by your godly behaviour.That will fetch your golden crown from the Master.

(I as a pastor too am facing and had faced such situations in the assembly; but amicably resolved convincing sisters according to Gods word.)

 

Bro.K.M.Mathai,  M.A,B-230, Minal Residency, J.K.Road  Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh INDIA