Women, Strive for Holiness and Shun Worldliness

Richard Hollerman

As you know, we are living in a world where worldliness (and all of its expressions) is rampant. Especially this is true of women who seek to be holy in mind, heart, and body (cf. 1 Timothy 2:10). So much today militates against this perspective! Maybe you have seen this yourself as you have observed people in general.

Let’s just examine one area in which women need to be holy—even though we all know that there is much more that could be said. You might say that there are a hundred other factors that may be applied to this—and this is true. But this lone area has to do with the efforts of many (perhaps even a majority) of women to adorn their faces to reflect a worldly attitude. We refer to women who seek to alter and disfigure their faces in a worldly fashion. Again, although we could discuss many different aspects, we refer to nose rings, nose piercing, different nose alterations and the like.

Some men and women just won’t understand what we mean even after we give many illustrations. This practice has become so familiar in our everyday lives that people wouldn’t suspect that this aspect of their appearances is very worldly and evil. Wherever we look, we seem to see studs, rings, and other sorts of piercings, all with the nose involved. Of course, we also see these worldly practices involved in many different ways—noses, earrings, lips, ears, eye lids, cheeks, hair, etc. Of course, all of this is something that the child of God will avoid and even run from.

Is this something that pleases God? We know the answer. Is this something that glorifies God or brings God the praise that He should have? We know the answer. Is this something that elevates what God has created in human beings? Again, we know the answer.

Why do women (especially) do this? Perhaps they seem to want the attention that this brings to them. Or it may be the immodesty that this means. Or this practice may be stimulated by the desire to have something that another doesn’t have or, conversely, something that others do have. Whatever the reason, hopefully we all know that this is a very worldly attitude and practice—one that millions of women (and men) do and one that Satan laughs at!

When you begin to think of this, it becomes sad and clear. In a few years, all of these women who mistakenly think that this is a good practice will be dead. Their bodies will soon go back to the soil and rot in the ground! (I’m sorry for the graphic expression, but we know that this is the case.) And all that they did to “enhance” their faces will be in vain. They will be languishing in utter pain and anguish. Would it not be much wiser to turn to God now and find our refuge in Him?

Notice a few examples that we might notice. This is only a sampling and we also know that other photos would display the same thing, only in a more extreme form.

Why won’t women abandon this utterly worldly practice?

Here is another photo that highlights the extremes to which women will go.

We realize that most people (including women) know virtually nothing of God, and this must be why so many are willing to deface themselves. Surely men don’t like what women do. Surely they know that some women do not appreciate this practice. Then, we ask, why is it that thousands upon thousands of women deface themselves in this way?

We realize that perhaps this may be “overkill” and it should be obvious that women (and some men) are intent on doing something foolish like this. Then we might ask, why would they ever think of this practice? Personally, we don’t know. We do know that some people are so intent on sinning and doing wrong before God that no amount of reasoning will do. We also know that even if people were to see that this act is foolish, and they were to discard it, they would immediately go to another immodest act. Perhaps this is so.

As we examine these sorts of pictures, we might ask who (in their right mind) would ever want to do such a thing? Perhaps this is one of the mysteries associated with this bizarre practice. Regardless of how evil this is, it is being done and will probably continue to be done.

Some of these practices may easily be continued. One can cease to use this form of immodesty and there will be little or no permanent results. But when it comes to something like tattoos, it will take much money and time to remove the results of this sort of practice.

Although we may wonder about those who choose this form of immodesty and absolute foolishness, we ask ourselves about at least some who may find this to be “beauty” or desirable in some way. Notice a few more photos:

As we view these photos, we then wonder… How can anyone in her (or his) “right mind” choose this form of abuse? Our immediate answer is that only those who are mentally unbalanced (from their own choice) would so deface themselves!

Since we know of no people from the opposite sex who would find this attractive, we assume that some women pursue this bizarre practice not only for their own unfounded desires but what they think would be desirable to others of their own sex. While others, in their right mind, wouldn’t do such a thing, perhaps a few people want to do this because of their own perverted thinking. And a few men somehow think that this constitutes a “beauty” statement.

Let’s remember the various aspects of this practice. 1. Most of those of the opposite sex probably wouldn’t do this. 2. Probably many of their own sex wouldn’t do this. 3. Maybe some are highly suggestible and are persuaded by money-hungry practitioners. 4. Perhaps a few have done this and now feel “trapped” by it. 5. Some may be so steeped in this wickedness that they go on and on with this practice and don’t know how to renounce it. 6. Perhaps a few with deeply embedded evil spirits will do this to please these false spirits. 7. Some may watch and listen to positive reviews that choose to do and continue this piercing. 8. Let’s also remember that there has been such bizarre practices for thousands of years.

Because of this, we must say that this is not a new idea but one that is new to us but has been around for a long, long time. Further, we may find it somewhat new for our culture but there have been others in other cultures practicing such a thing. We refer to certain island cultures, certain places in Africa, certain “Indians,” certain people groups in India, and other places. In other words, although it may be something somewhat new to America, Europe, Russia, South America, and others, still it has been here before.

We have probably discussed this enough. We simply want to reach those of you who already are sanely doing right and those who are on the “fence” and wonder what to do. We want to remember too that even if this bizarre practice can be conquered, other ones can easily arise to take their place. There are thousands of other practices that worldly people practice—and may continue to practice.

We refer to such things as tattoos, various piercings, colorings, hair arrangements, short hair for women, long hair for men, eye changes, and many, many others. New things appear and the old becomes passé. (See Ecclesiastes 1). As long as there are worldly men and women on earth, the “world” will hold sway over them.

Thus, Paul warns, “Do not be conformed to this world” (Romans 12:2). We also read that we are to heed the command “to keep oneself unstained by the world” (James 1:27b). Are you stained by the world? Are you conformed to this evil and fallen world? Are you doing all you can to rid yourself of this contamination so that you might be pure in heart and see God (cf. Matthew 5:8)?

Do people see you and immediately know that you seek to be holy in body and spirit? Or are they questioning who you are and what you do? As followers of Christ, we need to so dress ourselves that people will automatically know that we profess godliness and seek to be modest in all ways!

Be alert to the changing fashions of the world around you. Don’t be influenced by them. Don’t allow them to squeeze you into the mold of the world but, rather, be “transformed” by the Lord. Dare to be different! Dare to follow the Lord Jesus in this world! Dare to be modest and pure in a world of evil!