Does Your Appearance Please God?
Once again, as explained in my first post, being holy means set apart and dedicated in service to a holy God. A holy life revolves around pleasing the one to whom we are dedicated. We can’t please our holy God while also seeking to be like the increasingly sinful world. Our separation from the world not only manifests itself in our actions and speech as I have explained in previous posts, it also shows up in our appearance.
The advertising and peer pressure around us inevitably influences how we dress in any given circumstance. However, God’s desires, especially as described in his Word, must outweigh any other influence when it comes to how we present ourselves to the world. We cannot place even our own preferences above the commandments and desires of Jesus.
We must pray, fast, and read the Bible, seeking God until our desires line up with his for every detail of our lives. Galatians 1:10 asks, “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” Romans 12:2 states, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Throughout this post I will endeavor to present to you scriptures and definitions with very little interpretation mixed in. I hope that you will pray and ask the Lord to help you interpret and apply them to your own life. After all, you must please Him, not me. Now let’s look at the scriptures related to God’s desires for our appearance which sometimes seem to be in direct conflict with our modern societal norms.
Old Testament Coverings Required
The Garden: Where Appearance Began to Matter
The first reference to clothing in the Bible is in Genesis 3:7. “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.” Once Adam and Eve sinned and their innocence was lost, their conscience told them that their nakedness was shameful. God soon reinforced that.
Later in the chapter we read that God was not satisfied with how they covered themselves. So in verse 21 it is recorded that, “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” Interestingly, man’s fix to his sudden need for a covering still did not meet up to God’s requirements.
They made coverings of fig leaves. Some versions specify covering of the waist area with an apron or loin cloth. Other versions don’t specify the part of body covered. In any case, leaves sewn together could not fully cover the body like the animal skin coats God provided. We might also take note that God shed blood for their covering, setting the precedent that only with the shedding of blood can there be remission of sin as Hebrews 9:22 states.
Many places in the Bible refer to the uncovering of nakedness as shameful and usually connected to fornication. Without the innocence of the garden, it leads to a corrupted mind and depraved actions.
So, from this Genesis account in the Bible, we see that a flimsy covering of leaves doesn’t satisfy God’s requirements for covering our bodies. We might then ask how much covering God’s coats made of skins provided, or how much we need to cover to satisfy Him. Since these questions aren’t answered in specific detail, we must understand Biblical principles to guide our appearance and personally seek God for our answers.
Garments of a Royal Priesthood
God ordered Israelite priests to wear very specific, beautiful, and holy garments when ministering in the temple. He cared about how they looked. Exodus 28:2 begins his design description, “And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.” Verse 42 also mentions, “And thou shalt make them linen breeches [undergarments] to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach:”
Today we do not have the same detailed and elaborate clothing requirements for worship. However, 1 Peter 2:9 declares, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” God still cares about our appearance because we represent Him. We still need to dress in a manner that brings him glory and does not promote temptation and ungodly thoughts in those who see us.
The Biblical Principle of Modesty
What is Modesty?
In the New Testament God provides guidance on how his people should dress, especially women. Perhaps the specific guidance found is directed toward women because men are the more visual sex, more easily tempted by ungodly thoughts based on what they see. No matter the reason, the overall theme of the instruction advocates modesty.
As a result, we must truly understand what modesty means. The Google AI Overview says, “Behavior, dress, or attitude that is moderate, unassuming, and avoids drawing undue attention. … Modest refers to dressing or behaving in a way that is considered proper and not indecent, especially to avoid attracting sexual attention. Modest clothing is not revealing and does not emphasize the figure.” The Oxford Learners Dictionary defines modest in terms of dress as, “(Of people, especially women, or their clothes) shy about showing much of the body; not intended to attract attention, especially in a sexual way.”
New Testament Modesty
Keeping in mind these definitions, let’s read 1 Timothy 2:9 in three different versions.
King James Version 1 Timothy 2:9 “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.”
New International Version 1 Timothy 2:9 “I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,”
New Living Translation 1 Timothy 2:9 “And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes.”
When I read these scripture translations, I understand that I should dress in a modest way, not sensual or “sexy.” My appearance should also not be lavish, looking extra expensive, or decked out with jewelry. The next scripture reemphasizes this and gives further instruction on what others should see when they see us.
The Beautiful Spirit Seen Through Modesty
In the King James Version 1 Peter 3:3-4 says of godly women, “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”
The New International Version translates 1 Peter 3:3-4 as, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”
Through these scriptures God clearly indicates that he wants nothing in our appearance that will tempt others or even distract them from his Holy Spirit shining through us. If someone is drawn to an elaborate, expensive, or sexy appearance, then they won’t notice the meek and quiet spirit that should emanate from us. Jesus values that spirit and lets us know that it is what’s lasting. I want to be valuable to him, regardless of man’s opinions.
Makeup and Jewelry
Applying the fact that Jesus wants others to see a gentle, quiet spirit, and even his Holy Spirit shining through us without distraction, may help you determine what he may feel about the wearing of makeup. Is it a mask that detracts from the purity of spirit? What is the motivation in applying it?
Though the scriptures do not give any specific command regarding makeup, a painted face (especially around the eyes,) and excessive jewelry has both historically and biblically been associated with the desire to seduce and prostitution. The following are just a couple of the many negative associations in the Bible between makeup with excessive jewelry and evil motivations.
Many have heard of Jezebel, the very evil queen. She is famous for having painted her face in 2 Kings 9:30 when Jehu came to avenge God by killing the house of Ahab and becoming king. “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.” She apparently was hoping to seduce and dissuade him, but it didn’t work.
Judah throughout the Old Testament period was known for turning away from God and to the idolatry and evil practices of the nations around them. The Bible often describes Judah or Israel as a woman (almost always with makeup and excessive ornamentation,) trying to make lovers of these nations. God would then pronounce judgement upon them.
One such reference is Jeremiah 4:30 in the Amplified Bible. “And you, O desolate one, what will you do? Though you clothe yourself in scarlet, Though you adorn yourself with ornaments of gold, Though you enlarge your eyes with paint, You make yourself beautiful in vain. Your lovers (allies) despise you; They seek your life.”
I would just caution each person to pray and ask God what he wants of you. Reflect on what your motivation is for wearing makeup. How much, if any, is okay?
Gender Distinction in Appearance
Gender Distinction Required in Dress
Beside modesty, another Biblical principle often stated is the differences God has established between male and female. Differences are evident in their biology and his Word instructs further distinction in their roles as well as their appearance. Deuteronomy 22:5 specifies this required contrast in appearance, “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.”
Even though this verse comes from the law in the Old Testament, it remains important to give it careful attention because God states that disobedience to this law is an abomination to the Lord. An abomination is “something regarded with disgust or hatred” according to Merriam Webster’s Dictionary. Other Bible versions use the word ‘detestable’.
In other words, this law wasn’t about providing a type or shadow of a New Testament promise. Neither was it just setting Israel apart from the nations around them. Laws given to the children of Israel for those purposes lost their authority once Christ came to fulfill the law and bring a new covenant. This law guiding how people should dress was about refraining from something that God found disgusting and hateful.
Throughout the Bible God clearly distinguishes between men and women. He gives them different roles to fulfill and makes clear they should dress differently. He loves both equally but wants no gender confusion. Men should not put on women’s clothes. In contrast, they should seek to be masculine in appearance. Likewise, women should not wear men’s clothes, rather they should seek to be feminine in appearance.
Gender Distinction Reflected in Our Hair
Another area of our appearance referred to in the Bible is our hair. Here again God has chosen to require a visual difference between the sexes that reflects a deeper truth. In 1 Corinthians chapter 11, from verses 3 through 15 Paul teaches on the distinction God places between men and women. First, in the NIV verse 3 he explains their position in the body of Christ. “But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.”
Then he explains how their hair should symbolize and reflect that position. Verse 4 continues, “Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head.” Verse 7 continues speaking to men, “A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. ”
Paul speaks to the women in verse 5 and 6, “5But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. 6For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.”
He sums it up in verses 14-15 with, “14Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering.”
I would summarize much of this passage this way. In prayer, a man should have no covering but Christ who is his head. As a result, his hair should remain short. The head of the woman is the man. She is his glory. In prayer, she must have a covering. Long hair has been given to her to be that covering. It is her glory. I encourage you to read the whole passage in several different versions if possible. Bible Hub is a good resource for that. Pray over it and let God speak to your heart.
God Does Care About Our Appearance
In general, God seems to be concerned with our appearance.
- That we are modest, not attracting attention to our flesh or pride, and not letting anything detract from his spirit shining through us.
- That there is a clear distinction between male and female.
In 1 Samuel 16:7 Samuel tells Jesse, David’s father, not to judge which of his sons God wishes to promote based on their appearance. Samuel says, “for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” God does see our heart. He knows our motivations for how we act and dress among other things, even when we don’t. That is why we must pray and ask him to give us a clean heart and an understanding of how to please Him and obey His Word.
The Lord also knows that other people notice and are affected by our appearance. That is why he gives us guidance regarding how we present ourselves visually to others. We are ambassadors of Christ as seen in 2 Corinthians 5:20 and his letters read by all men as described in 2 Corinthians 3:2-3. He wants others to see Christ in us.
My Convictions
As a Christian woman married to a godly man living in the United States, I dress to please God, my husband, and myself. I only feel comfortable when most of my skin is covered and loosely enough that the outline of my body is not seen. I don’t want the skirts, dresses, or tops I wear to be revealing no matter how or where I happen to sit or stand. I personally don’t wear jewelry or makeup and my hair is long and uncut. Though I want to look nice and appropriate for the occasion, my clothes must be feminine and not flashy.
Your Convictions
Those are my convictions. However, yours should be established in prayer between you and God. Beware of taking the attitude, “What can I get away with?” Instead, pray your way into the attitude, “What can I do to be most pleasing to my Savior?” Holiness starts in our hearts but manifests itself in our actions, speech, and appearance. This especially holds true as we continue to let Jesus polish us as his beautiful, holy vessels set apart to bring him glory for the world to see.
Leave a Reply