I’m confused: why do Adventists wear jewelry and have tattoos?
16 September 2024 |
For many years I have often been taught by our church pastors that we should not wear any jewelry, as it is sinful. Today Adventists not only wear jewelry, but have tattoos on their hands and bodies. I am totally confused.
Confused Adventist
Dear Confused:
We Adventists base our anti-jewelry stance on 1 Peter 3:3-4:
“Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.”
Adventists have emphasized the first part of that text, because it presents such a temptingly simple solution: how beguiling to suppose that something as easy as taking off your jewelry can make you righteous!
The focus, it seems to Aunty, was always meant to be on the second part: cultivating godly character. Aunty doesn’t know precisely what situation was being addressed here, but it seems likely someone in the church Peter is writing to had gone overboard with looking good, but wasn’t being good—and Peter wanted to make a distinction.
Yes, the intent is to have a godly Christian character, but that doesn’t rule out looking good, too! There is nothing inherently immodest about jewelry. Sure, some people might go beyond what Aunty would wear herself, but that’s not for any of us to judge—and that instruction was given by Jesus, who takes precedence over Peter!
Aunty thinks this teaching has been so enduring because it is directed at women. There is a long history in Christianity of trying to control and suppress women. Yet many people in Bible stories did wear jewelry. In some Bible stories jewelry is spoke of positively (Genesis 24:53; Proverbs 25:12; Isaiah 61:10; Luke 15:22; Revelation 21:2). In heaven we will wear jeweled crowns.
As for tattoos, Aunty doesn’t understand their appeal—but she refuses to believe that God is so petty as to keep out of heaven godly people who have them.
Common sense, Adventists? Grace and mercy and tolerance of differences? Please?
Aunt Sevvy
Aunt Sevvy has collected her answers into a book! You can get it from Amazon by clicking here.
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