Beauty

 

In 1Peter 3:3-4 Peter tells the women in his letter their beauty should not come from jewelry or outer adornments. Rather, their beauty should be born out of their inner selves, their meek and quiet spirits.

Now I have known many ladies to interpret this verse in two different ways that are incorrect.

Firstly lets look at the verse “1 Peter 3:3-4 (KJV)

“Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
 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.”

Most women read 1Peter 3:3 and interpret it as saying it does not matter what we wear or how we wear our clothes because God loves what is inside of us. It is true that God loves what is inside every woman who has accepted Him as savior but we live in a sinful world and if a woman chooses to dress proactively she will seduce others around her with her body regardless if that was her intentions. 

God does not look at intentions He looks at the sin that was created and established. If a woman causes another person to sin because of what she choose to wear the blame is on the woman and the other person.  However if a woman chooses to dress in a way of a “meek and quiet spirit” and another person still looks on them with lust the blame is not on the woman because she was doing what God asked of her. 

God created us as women to be beautiful and precious. He wants us to protect our bodies. But this leads me into the next false interpretation. Some women take 1Peter 3:4 and interpret it in such a way that says they must never cause conflict of any kind and this includes sharing the gospel. Let me explain God wants women to use their mind and soul to reach others but we must remember he said a meek spirit not a weak spirit, we must be meek and graceful with our faith. He said a quiet spirit and not a silent one in regards to sharing the gospel.  

Judging

Christians are often accused of "judging" whenever they speak out against a sinful activity. However, that is not the meaning of the Scripture verses that state, "Do not judge." There is a righteous kind of judgment we are supposed to exercise—with careful discernment (John 7:24). When Jesus told us not to judge (Matthew 7:1-5), He was telling us not to judge hypocritically.

People think you are judging if you challenge people to stop sinning. “How dare you even think I am sinning!” However, encouraging a life of holiness is not judging. Speaking out against sin—in all its form—is not judging.

Jesus warns against judging someone else for his sin when you yourself are sinning even worse. That is the kind of judging Jesus commanded us not to do. If a believer sees another believer sinning, it is his Christian duty to lovingly and respectfully confront the person with his sin (Matthew 18:15-17).

This is not judging, but rather pointing out the truth in hope—and with the ultimate goal—of bringing repentance in the other person (James 5:20) and restoration to the fellowship. We are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). We are to proclaim what God's Word says about sin. We are to "judge" sin, but always with the goal of presenting the solution for sin and its consequences—the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6).