Truth versus Tradition. Part: 1 “Ornaments”

I was born and brought up in a Christian family, and not just in any ordinary christian family, but a “pentacostal” christian family!
That name in itself says the story, doesn’t it?
I recently completed my bachelor’s programme in theological studies. Basically its the first three years of bible studies, which every student undergo regardless of their denominations, to become a priest!
I’ve been called by God to be a missionary, A Christian Sheepdog, to be precise, So I got 5 more years of studies remaining, until I’m titled and ordained as a missionary!
But being one among the pentacostal breed, and now sharing the same stage of that of the Teachers, Pastors, Bishops, Deacons, Evangelists, etc. I get asked a lot of questions and as I do not shape up or defend my caste, culture, or tradition but follow Christ just as the scripture says, I get asked even more questions, than usual, because now I’m on the hitlist of all “caste and tradition defenders” who count me as their enemy, for not just speaking the truth, but also showing the truth – destroying their make-belief traditions!

And one of such questions is –

Why do Pentacostals don’t wear ornaments?

So let’s answer this question, in truth, using the scriptures, shall we?

Well, Pentacostals don’t wear ornaments because, by doing so, they show seperation from other people.
A total submission to God, by living a simple simplistic lives.
Which actually is a very good thing!

And there could be no reason other than this, because it has no strong biblical grounds.
Bible neither supports or opposes jewellery or ornament wearing.
The only thing, it mentions is that “Do not be focused on decorating your body but your heart” – 1 Peter 3:3-4.

But it all turns out to be wrong, when you force it on someone!
It all turns out to be wrong, when you dont wear a jewellery but got even more expensive things all around you, decorating your status in the society, promoting your fame or name!
Then the meaning of seperation and simple simplistic lives gets dissolved and all that remains is a hypocritical belief!

But is the true motive behind this tradition being served today?

I must say it got lost somewhere in the initial stages of this 21st century.
Nowadays people are just following traditions and trying to enforce it on other, and by doing so they just equal themselves with the ancient days hypocritical pharisees.

If you wanna show seperation, and wanna live a simple simplistic life. Its a good thing indeed. God would love you even more, because you are living just for him in this well developed world.
Even Apostle Paul mentions in Romans,

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” – Romans 12:1-2

But if you are doing it just because you have tradition to do so, and have all kinda expensive sophisticated things in your life, in your heart, then my question to those pentacostals are –
Who are you tryna fool, men or God?

Stand for truth. Be bold in truth. I do not support tradition or man made beliefs. Bible should be the ground we build our lives on, and if so, we are to serve the motive that God will approve! If not, there is no meaning of being called or to call ourselves as CHRISTIANS.

Though there is no strong biblical grounds to put away ornaments, it is still debatable whether one should be following the tradition or the truth.

So, here’s my say on this fastest growing modern day issue in the Christian churches today –

1) Do not try to fool God.
If you are giving up these things for God and live a simple simplistic lives, make sure, you are doing it in all aspects of life. Regardless of how much fame or money you have, you have to give up all things for God and hold on to the motive behind the purpose, by separating yourself from worldly things and live a simple life with a complete dedication to God 24/7. Because It does not make sense, that you do give up on one thing, but are held accountable for million other things that are indeed forbidden on biblical grounds!

2) We are not slaves to men, but to God.
Do not force a set of rules on to people, who does not believe in it. Knowing the fact the it has no strong biblical suppport, it is indeed a wrongdoing to force it on someone who does not believe it. Even worse, when a person does it under pressure, but still has his heart and mind, all left behind.

The person who is doing it, must do it by himself.
It should come from within him. His heart and mind should be in harmony when he decides to follow it.
Though this tradition does not have strong biblical grounds, it will still remain strong, holy and acceptable in the eyes of God, because the motive is true and it is to serve God by showing a seperation from the world and living a simple life with humility – after accepting and receiving Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour – All Resembling a “New Life in Christ”.

Now the thing is,
Anyone following a tradition, under pressure, is not serving the motive behind the purpose.
And just think about it here for a second,
What kind of purpose is that person fulfilling, if he is not serving the motive?
[A motive – which is not a biblical command, but is being served only because its values are good and pleasant in the sight of the Lord]

The one and only thing behind this tradition, which makes it acceptable, is its motive

Giving up ornaments – A purpose, with a good motive, indeed!
But what remains of a purpose if there is no motive behind it? The purpose in itself gets nullified!
Now with zero motives, the followers of this tradition are nothing more than the ancient days hypocritical pharisees who follow a bunch of laws, not by heart, but just for the sake of it!

Let’s see what does the scripture has to say, regarding the things I mentioned above,
The Bible states –

“Let not yours be the [merely] external adorning with [elaborate] interweaving and knotting of the hair, the wearing of jewelry, or changes of clothes; But let it be the inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which [is not anxious or wrought up, but] is very precious in the sight of God.
” – 1 Peter 3:3‭-‬4

“All things are legitimate [permissible–and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life].” – 1 Corinthians 10:23

“So then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honor and glory of God.
” –
I Corinthians 10:31

“The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests the hearts.
” – Proverbs 17:3

“But the man who has doubts (misgivings, an uneasy conscience) about eating, and then eats [perhaps because of you], stands condemned [before God], because he is not true to his convictions and he does not act from faith. For whatever does not originate and proceed from faith is sin [whatever is done without a conviction of its approval by God is sinful].” – Romans 14:23

“To the pure [in heart and conscience] all things are pure, but to the defiled and corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure; their very minds and consciences are defiled and polluted. They profess to know God [to recognize, perceive, and be acquainted with Him], but deny and disown and renounce Him by what they do; they are detestable and loathsome, unbelieving and disobedient and disloyal and rebellious, and [they are] unfit and worthless for good work (deed or enterprise) of any kind.
” – Titus 1:15‭-‬16

So, here I conclude –

More than knowing your purpose, know the motive behind the purpose. Know the motives behind the things you do.
If you cannot fulfill the motive, do not jump in to serve the purpose.

Give no space to a pharisee spirit.

Follow traditions, but know the purpose, of whether it is serving God staying in accord with the scripture or just promoting a human constructed belief!

If you cannot stay in-line with the motive, You are just being a slave to a belief system.
And God, through Jesus Christ, did not call us to be slaves to laws of men, but to be free from all bondage!

It is not wrong to give up ornaments and surrender wholely to God,
But it does become wrong, when you are not surrendering as a “whole”.

It is right to follow things that pushes us closer to God and pulls us away from the world,
But it is not right to follow things with an absent heart.
Because where your treasure is, your heart will also be – Mattew 6:21, Luke 12:34
And it is understood that, where your heart is, You also will be!

Stop judging like a hypocrite Matthew 7:1, and start judging righteously John 7:24. (Now both things have been said by Jesus, just so you know that I am not cooking something new here)

Read the Bible, Know and Follow the truth and it will set you free!