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I know this might be a touchy subject but why is jewelry such a huge deal? I see no biblical basis for it and no other place in india follows it except for kerala. If you go to Tamil Nadu or really any other part of india, its not even a subject people think about, so why are we still holding on to it, especially in the US. Are you telling me that Billy Graham is not going to heaven b/c he wears a wedding ring, or Ravi Zacharius, or any of the other well respected preachers around the world? I think not. I think it is time in our communities to get rid of this very arcaich rule which has no basis in the bible. What do all of you think?

Also, if the argument for not wearing jewelry is modesty, what about the cars, houses and clothes we wear. Incase someone didn't know, a wedding ring or most jewelry costs below 500 dollars. Last time I checked a Lexus GS 500 was 45,000 minimum. What about that? Isn't that worse? Or uncles who bling bling with their Rolex watches? There's more diamonds in that than most engagement rings?

I think it a wrong teaching with no scriptural basis. It started with good intention but now it is only a tradition and I think we should give up this teaching. We are stopping a lot of people from coming to our churches. We will have to give answer for the souls we lost because of our strict tradition on this matter. As the brother said, we can have all other luxuries but not a ring or other jewelry? not that I want it but i think people who want to should not be stopped.

Jaison

Hello anonymous, there is lot of biblical basis for getting rid of Jewelry. When I say basis, it is not meant that not wearing Jewelry will take you to heaven. The only way to get to heaven is through the shed blood of my Saviour Jesus Christ. Nothing else really matters. I know lot of pentecostals will argue against that, but that is OK.

But in my opinion we should live a simple life so that we can use our resources to save and help other people. How can we amass wealth and other material things as there are millions of people perishing in this world. In the early churches, they not only god rid of their Jewelry, but also all their wealth and possessions, because they believed that there is nothing permanent in this world and for them going to heaven was everything. So they didnt care about anything else. We cannot abolish that teaching, but we dont need to preach it as a means to go to heaven or a sign of spirituality and holiness. We need to have the same attitude like the early christians.

what is the biblical basis? any scripture portion that says wearing swornam is forbidden or wrong?

Jaison

While I wouldn't encourage people to wear ornaments, I do not think our teaching on it is correct. I believe that the malayalee pentecostal churches have been a stumbling block for many to coming to the faith. We have caused much pain for individuals and in families. As long as we dont find anything wrong in big houses, cars, expensive clothes, the extravagence in our weddings and other functions, on what basis are we saying jewelry is wrong? Some are forced to take it off right before baptism and then allowed to wear it! It is the height of  hypocrisy. Like BobbyJ said, believers should live in modesty.

Teddies

I absolutely agree to it. It is really a hypocrisy. The only purpose it serves is to show the outside world that I am a `saint'. In that way it is just another mask that we wear in our community. Yes, there is biblical basis: Paul teaches us clear why we try to make and follow such `man made Christian rules' and deceive ourself as sacrificial godly man and women. By making and imposing such rules we are trying to become holier than God himself. On the contrary in the bible we can see that a wedding ring or band is given a lot of importance in terms of life long covenant.  Since my college days I wanted to have the best job, the best car I can afford and best clothes to impress on others and I worked hard for those; though none of these were more important than my basic values as my spirituality or family. Later I realized the folly of trying to make myself and he society believe that I am something sacrificial just because I am not wearing any gold!! It is time for us to realize that God is smarter than us; and he can see our heart and mind beyond our neck and fingers!! 

Hey guys can we discuss on what is true Christianity?

Sounds like some of you guys are trying to make a point jewelery is not a big deal. For that you are saying expensive clots, expencive cars etc. Whats th deal with that? Please talk on the subject on jewelery now. Okay. I'm not in favor nor against jewelery. I don't believe just because it wasn't written in the bible as " DO NOT WEAR JEWELRY" we can use it. Guys, certain things are not exactly like you want in the bible. That doesn't mean you can do anything you want that not exactly said in Bible. Think for a moment. Our forefathers paid a HUGE price to follow Jesus. They wanted a simple life so avoided Gold and silver. Living a simple life is SIN? Now some of us would like to go back to the old traditional living. Folks, if you think jewelry is not somthing hinder for you to serve the lord jut use it. But please don't try to inject that NEW GOSPEL to everyone.

George P

Dear George P, how come you dont have any problem when someone injected the `OLD GOSPEL' to everyone? That was forcing something that is not in the bible on the people. We should not be intolerent to someone else's view. I dont have any problem in wearing or not wearing jewelery. In fact I dont wear it. But I am afraid of imposing it in God's church  just because it is not in the bible.

Brother George,

What is the deal with expensive clothes/cars.?... You answered your own question - our forefathers paid a huge price to follow price and they wanted a simple life and avoided Gold and silver. They also avoided all signs of wealth like expensive clothes, cars etc. Simple life is not just giving up gold, but avoiding all forms of luxury. The point is that if expensive clothers, cars, houses etc are not a big deal, jewelry is not a big deal either. While I believe in a simple, comfortable life,  I have nothing against good cars or houses. If God has blessed anyone with money and if they can afford it, let them live according to your ability. It is a personal choice. But, not wearing jewerly is not a sign of some sacrifice or holiness. The issue is when people who show off their wealth through houses, clothers and cars judge a believer who has a ring on their finger or a chain on their neck. There is a feeling in our circles that is a sin. That is what is being questioned here. Not promoting a new Gospel here. The Gospel has always been salvation through Jesus Christ, but we tend to add one more criteria to salvation which is remove your jewelry too.

teddies.

Everyone who follows the Lord must realize that there are certain spiritual requirements in every spiritual matter. Some requirements come from the outward teaching of the Bible, and others come from the inward sense of life. This life is not our physical life. It is the spiritual life, the very life of our inner being, our human spirit which is the only faculty from where we can contact God Who Himself is Spirit. Its like our body can contact only our body, our psyche can contact only our psyche, and under the same priciple our spirit can contact only the spirit. Since God is Spirit and He is living in our spirit He can be contacted and touched whenever we turn to our spirit. This is the spirit of life. Therefore, we have a sense of life in our spirit just as we have the senses in our natural life. Whenever we turn to our spirit our spiritual requirements will be met there. This spirit of life will teach us all things if we are open to our spirit. It is not an outward teaching by words but an inward teaching by anointing , through our inner spiritual consciousness. "....the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone teach you; but as His anointing teaches you concerning all things ..." 1 John 2:27. I am not drifting away from the subject matter of the jewelry. This is not a matter for arguements. Nearly a similar problem like this was there in the church in Corinth, the practice of eating the food as an idol sacrifice. You may read 1 Cor. 8:7-13 and see how apostle Paul deals with the situation. This was indeed the inward teaching of the spirit. But our topic in question is not a problem connected with idol sacrifice as was in the church in Corinth which is abominable in the sight of God, whereas jewelry was something which our fore-fathers had sacrificed themselves for a good cause as an outward mark of their separation from the traditions they were in. But our fore-fathers made a great mistake later in imposing it in the churches as a doctrine by which it became a tradition again. What they did for a good cause became an issue for a bad cause. The tradition what they wanted to get rid of became another tradition again. If we impose "dos" and "don'ts" in the churches we are going back to the Law of Moses. If someone wants to wear jewelry let him wear and the one who does not want, let him not. Who are we to judge each other. Is it a spiritual requirement for us whether or not we wear jewelry? Here we need discernment instead of arguements. Discernment requires an inner feeling, the feeling of the spirit of life. Turn to your spirit where you will find the answer!!!...Thomas

Well written Mr. Thomas. You have a gift of writing. I agree with you on the matter of taking what our forefathers did as a good model, something that is ideal to be followed. Though I dont agree completely with your analogy between jewelery and eating the food as an idol sacrifice.

Brothers,

Don't think that I was against your views especially Thomas did a great job. Recently I heard a church did split because of jewelery. That is why I wrote about the "NEW GOSPEL". Now I go to a malyalee church with different typs of people mostly penetcostals, few marthomites, few jacobites, bretherns and so on.. Some people wear ornaments I don't have a problem with that. But I do have a problem when people bring this subject and crate a problem in the church. As of now I strongly believe there is no need for ornaments for me. I also believe that it is wrong to have any expensive item to show off others that I'm better than my brother. That si what my point. By the way I really appreciate your input in this subject.

George P

Dear brother Kochappi....I brought out the Corinthian incident of eating of the food as an idol sacrifice was just to project the matter as an inward teaching of the spirit and not to fully compare it with our subject matter. Please see the quote from my post: " Nearly a similar problem was there in the church in Corinth, the practice of eating the food as an idol sacrifice. This indeed was an inward teaching of the spirit. But our topic in question is not a problem connected with the idol sacrifice as was in the church in Corinth which is abominable in the sight of God, whereas jewelry was something which our fore-fathers had sacrificed themselves for a good cause as an outward mark for their separation from the tradition they were in." Please see that its only a partial comparison just as we compare a human heart with a pump by which the pump will not become the human heart!! Please make me understand why you disagree my analogy, because I too am open to corrections!!.....Thomas.

Paul when he talks about the food sacrificed to the idol, is addressing a problem in the church in Corinth where the exercise of their freedom was causing problems. Some of the believers did not feel it was wrong to eat meat sacrificed to idols but there were weaker brothers in the church who were being hurt/confused or stumbling due to these actions of the other believers. Paul's message to the Corinthians was that, eating the meat may not seem wrong to those believers and they indeed have the freedom to eat of it BUT always consider the weaker brother.Chapter 8 and the following chapters address how to exercise one's freedom even when the action is not wrong. Summary of those chapters is that it is not always a question of right or wrong, but our actions should 1) not cause the weaker brother to stumble 2) not hinder the gospel and 3) always be for the glory of God. In my understanding, that portion applies to the jewelry debate in the same context of how we exercise our freedom. It is not wrong but we have to be considerate in the exercise of the freedom.  Even though I do not oppose use of ornaments, to me any action on my part on that matter should pass the 3 above tests. I don't know if Brother Thomas was using the analogy in the same context. ( Weaker brother here is not the achayans in the church  because it will always be a problem for them, but they wont stumble, they just make others stumble)

Teddies.

Good... this is what Paul exactly intends. The way which apostle Paul dealt with the situation was really great. It was indeed the inward teaching of the spirit. Here the principle he used was important. The matter was very much related to the idols which in fact was a serious issue. But Paul says in verse 1 that " now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up." Here the word know is referring to our inward consciousness by which we receive the inward teaching of the spirit whereas the word knowledge refers to the outward knowledge which is common and general. In the 2nd verse Paul repeats that " if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he has not yet come to know anything as he ought to know". Here it refers to the outward knowledge. In the 3rd verse he again says " but if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him. Here the word known is evidently expressed for the inward knowledge. The outward knowledge puffs up whereas the inward knowledge relates to love. This is the principle that Paul established by dealing with this incident.When we come to the matter of jewelry we re not adopting the method but only the principle that Paul used. The principle is the inward teaching of the spirit. Therefore, those achayans who are puffed up may turn to their spirit and receive the inward teaching of the spirit that they may love their fellow beings who want to wear the ornaments.Because the outward knowledge puffs up whereas the inward knowledge produces love....This was the analogy that I intended......Thomas

...........Just listen to apostle Paul's slogan  "knowledge puffs up, but love builds up". The outward knowledge puffs up a person, but the inward knowledge builds up a person with love. The outward knowledge is for disputes, but the inward knowledge is for tranquility. Thats why initially Paul says: " we know that all have knowledge". In another sense it means that we have an inner knowledge to know that all the people have an outer knowledge. The inward knowledge will not cause anyone to stumble, but the outward knowledge will be a stumbling block to the weaker ones. Therefore, let us be the builders of the church instead of the stumbling blocks!!!!........Thomas.

George P, I agree this issue should not be reason for fights or splits in church. As of right now, look at the show of wealth in our church. imagine if jewellry is also allowed..will be out of control. even if it is not wrong, it is not better not to allow it or else it will be too much show of wealth in churches. Ippum thane sahikaan vaya.

Dear brother/sister.....You say its "better not to allow it in the churches". If you know the principle of the Law of the spirit of Life ( Rom. 8:2) you will not make that statement. Look at an apple tree, that tree has got a life in it. If you ask the tree not to produce apples this year and bear only mangoes, the law of the life of apple with in the tree will tell you " no, no the law of the life of apple tree within me will not allow to produce mangoes but only apples". This is the principle of the life. Every life has got a law in it. This law is working under a stable principle which you can see in the creation of God in the universe. Where there is a life there is a law that follows a stable principle. But food is an important factor in the matter of life. Life cannot exist without food. And also food cannot change the principle of the law of life. Food is a life supply. But in the matter of life man is a bit different from other lives. Man is a tripartite being as its mentioned in Heb.4:12 and 1 Thes. 5:23. Man has got a Body life, Soul life, and Sprit life. Body life is the physical life and for any of your physical problem you go to a physician. Soul life is your psychological life and for any such problems you go to a psychologist.And the Sprit life is the Eternal life the very life of God and for any such problems you need to go to God. Why then the Law of Moses did not work out with man?? The law was very good and it was spiritual as well but it didnot work out with man. Listen to apostle Paul " "For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am fleshy, sold under sin." Man made a mistake in the application of the law, he applied it to the wrong life, the Soul-life. The soul-life of man is a corrupted and fallen life. Its a life of sin and of death, its the life the flesh. But the law of the spirit of life freed us in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and of death. Now in Christ Jesus we are under the stable principle the law of the spirit of life. Now our only spiritual requirement is the food supply in order to keep the spirit of life active, living, and fruitful. When we eat an apple, the element of life in the apple is constituted into our life and become our life. In the like manner when we eat Christ Jesus, the life of Christ will be constituted into our being and that life will become our life. Finally, we will be in the very image and nature of the Tree of Life thats Christ Himself. Jesus said " so he who eats Me, he also shall live because of Me." Now I will come to your statement that " its better not to allow wearing ornaments in the churches". Is it a spiritual requirement whether or not we allow it in the churches?? By imposing dos and don'ts  in the churches we are unknowingly going back to the law of Moses which is suitable only for our Soul-life and not for our Spirit-life. The only possible way is now to eat from the Tree of Life and be constituted into the life of Christ. Dear brother/sister....eating christ is the way...... Hallelujah!! " .....the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone teach you; but His anointing teaches you concerning all things...." This is how the law of the spirit of life works in a spiritual man....leave the jewelry to your spirit and let the spirit teach you, because the spirit teaches concerning all things. Better not to use our Soul to judge anyone on this issue...Thomas.

But when we talk about promoting certain Christian principles it is important that we talk and teach people how to conduct themselves in their daily life. Because, even though the Bible is given to us and each individual has to only follow what is in the Bible, it is important that we exhort each other on what is the best way to live our lives as Christians, culturally as well. Remember, as I have said before none of these are a criteria for salvation. I think if you are saved by believing in Jesus Christ, you are expected to live your life in a certain way. At the same time living in a certain 'christian way' doesnt guarantee salvation either.

So it is in this context that I am saying that Christians are expected to live a simple and sacrificial life promoting love and charity. It is in this context that christians gave up all kinds of luxury so that they could show the love of God by sharing their wealth with the poor. There is also an instance in the Bible when Jesus asks the rich man to sell all his belongings and give it to the poor and then come and follow Him. That does not mean that every rich man has to sell everything to become a christian, but when a person becomes a true Christian, his focus is to be sacrifced for other believers, following the example of the greatest sacrifice shown by our Master and Saviour.

It doesnt mean that it is a rule that all christians have to follow, but it is a natural thing for true christians to lead a sacrificial life always being concerned about the well being of their fellow believers. That's why I think we should encourage people to give up living in luxury, but discourage churches and individuals that impose it as a sign of spirituality.

For me it is quite simple. Church is not mine. It is God’s bride. He instituted it. Who am I to impose in Christ’s church, allow or disallow anything according to my feeling or my ideas? Who am I to deny a man his right and God’s purpose to worship him; deny his entry to church because of my feeling or idea?

I think it will be the other extreme of what Martin Luther fought against. The church at that time taught “in order to come and pray and to have your sins forgiven you need to pay this money and buy the `papacheetu’. Hence those who cannot afford that money cannot come to God!!. Now we are putting some extra-biblical DO and DO NOTS and telling the people of God “ you cannot come in here unless you agree with me!! ... Kochappi NC

Thats what devil does with religions. When pentecostalism started, there was no rule regarding these things, but everyone followed the good leaders who sacrificed everything to bring others to christ and to promote equality in churches. But devil slowly brought wrong teachings and made people believe that the rituals are important. That is what has happened to the religions that started as christianity. It is time that there needs to be a separation of believers from Penetecostals just like protestants separated when there was no way to change the Catholic Churches. Otherwise lets stand against these wrong things and promote the biblical way of life.

Christianity is not a religion in order to promot any priciples in the churches so as to improve the character or the behavior of a person. If that was the case the law of Moses would have been sufficient, whereas the law could not serve that purpose. The problem was not with the law but with the man as I mentioned in my previous mail. On the one hand, the law of God outside man is a law in letters, is dead, and lacks the power of life to supply man to meet its demands.On the other hand, man's body has been corrupted by Satan to become the flesh of death, and as such is not capable of keeping the law. It is because of these two factors that there is " that which the law could not do" ; that is, the law is incapable of pleasing God through man's keeping of it. We are not the ministers of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Cor.3:6. Thus the last Adam became the life-giving Spirit. 1Cor.15:45. Christ the very life of God became the life-giving Spirit. This Spirit of life now dwells in our spirit and this life has got a law which is the law of the Spirit of life. ...Thomas

OK. It is difficult to completely agree with you on this matter. Christianity is not a religion, it is a way of life. This way of life is no guarantee for salvation or a means to please God, but a means to share the salvation to others that you have enjoyed by the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ.It is a way of life that enables us to become like our savior in that we sacrifice ourselves for the benefit and salvation of others.Even though we are not able to please God by our deeds, aren't we expected to live our earthly lives in a certain way. Yes, we are, as far as I have understood the teachings of the Bible. Let us see what Jesus has said about the conduct of christians.

"In the book of Matthew, Christ says that "all the law and the prophets" hang on these two commandments. In L