Christian Adornment

by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels." (Isaiah 61:10)

This beautiful Old Testament verse speaks eloquently of the appropriate adornments and clothing of Christians. The worldly person may dress in costly garments and ornate jewelry, but these are no better than hastily sown fig-leaf aprons (Genesis 3:7) or filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), if they merely attempt to beautify an unregenerate life. Far better than even the elaborate ornaments and jewels at an oriental wedding are the garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness prepared by God Himself, even though outwardly they may appear as mere "coats of skins" (Genesis 3:21).

Note the admonition of Paul in the New Testament. "I will therefore . . . that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works" (1 Timothy 2:8-10). Similarly, to Christian wives Peter says: "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" (1 Peter 3:3-4).

A Christian should also be clothed in "the whole armour of God . . . loins girt with truth . . . the breastplate of righteousness; . . . feet shod with . . . the gospel of peace; . . . the shield of faith . . . the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:13-17). Both by modest clothing and by a Spirit-controlled life, we thus ought to "adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things" (Titus 2:10). HMM