Are pants, earrings, makeup, or Reggaeton music bad?
Question:
Hi,
Is it a sin for women to wear pants outside of the church but skirts and dresses inside the church? Are earrings and using makeup a sin? Finally, is Christian Reggaeton bad? I know it's a lot of questions, but I was just wondering.
Thanks!
Answer:
In regards to wearing pants, a similar question was asked a while ago. See: Is it wrong for a Christian woman to wear pants?
In regards to wearing earrings and using makeup, both are mentioned as customs people did in the past. Though used for a wicked purpose (to make an idol), we do find mention that men and women wore earrings. "And Aaron said to them, "Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me."" (Exodus 32:2). Later we find the men and women donating some of their jewelry to God. "They came, both men and women, as many as had a willing heart, and brought earrings and nose rings, rings and necklaces, all jewelry of gold, that is, every man who made an offering of gold to the LORD" (Exodus 35:22). Other passages are Numbers 31:50; Judges 8:24-26; Proverbs 25:12; and Ezekiel 16:12). The New Testament states that a Christian is not to flaunt their wealth. "Let your beauty be not just the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on fine clothing; but in the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God very precious" (I Peter 3:3-4). In Greek, there is an idiom (a way of speaking) that consists of a "not" phrase followed by a "but" phrase. The intent is to say that the "not" phrase is not to be done exclusively or with the greatest emphasis; in fact, it was barely significant. The "but" phrase was the most important and should have a far greater emphasis. Thus, in I Peter 3:3-4, Peter is not saying that styling the hair, wearing jewelry or wearing clothing is wrong. He is saying that these things are unimportant and should not be emphasized by a Christian. Instead, Christians are to emphasize their character. In other words, a Christian should be noticed because of who they are and not because of what they are wearing.
In regards to cosmetics, we find the use of perfumes or colognes mentioned in Ruth 3:3; II Samuel 12:30; Matthew 26:6-13; and John 12:1-8. Eye-liner is mentioned in a negative sense in II Kings 9:30; Jeremiah 4:30; and Ezekiel 23:40 as a way women used to trap the sexual notice of men. Beauty treatments are mentioned in Esther 2:12. The lose of wealth is illustrated with, among other things, the loss of cosmetics in Isaiah 3:18-24. Basically we find that when used as part of clean living it is approved, but when used to flaunt wealth or to make a person look sexy it is condemned. But such makes sense since a child of God should not be showing a desire for worldly living.
Reggaeton is a Spanish style of rap music. As with any form of music, it is not the music itself, but the message it is giving that makes it right or wrong. Music that contains foul language or that promotes sinful living is wrong, regardless of the style in which it is presented. Music that promotes wholesome living is not wrong in and of itself.