Looking great, and appearing gorgeous with a touch of makeup to spice up beauty is what the majority of women nowadays love to do. But, being a Pentecostal can be a major limiting factor for a number of women as they are bound by rules that guide their overall appearances such as dressing, hairstyle, and jewelry.
But “do Pentecostals wear makeup?” is a commonly asked question bred as a result of several controversies about modesty among women. This piece is set to provide adequate facts about makeup among Pentecostal women and other relevant points that you need to know.
Traditionally, no. Women are not allowed to wear makeup in Pentecostal churches but women are found wearing makeup in some Pentecostals in recent times and that has been attached to globalization. Before we delve into why makeup is not allowed in some churches, let’s look into the concept of Pentecostal church.
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About Pentecostals
Pentecostals are evangelical Christians who practice Pentecostalism, one of many Protestantism-related movements. At the close of the nineteenth century, Pentecostals began to emerge in the USA. Their major concepts were rooted in the revivalism intellectual and religious current that emerged in several Protestant shrines in the USA and England in the 18th century.
Pentecostals consider the indwelling of the Holy Spirit by a believer to be a unique event known as the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. According to their beliefs, the power attained as a result of the Holy Spirit’s baptism is externally reflected through the use of glossolalia, or talking in “other languages.”
One characteristic of followers of this religion is their use of “other tongues” in discourse. Pentecostals believe that glossolalia is nothing more than a particular speech that neither the hearer nor the speaker can understand.
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Reasons Pentecostals are not Allowed to Wear Makeup
There are several reasons why some Pentecostals see makeup as abomination but the major three are listed below:
1. They believe makeup is not scriptural
If you walked up to a typical Pentecostal and ask why makeup is banned the most likely response you will get it that “makeup is not scriptural” and this is usually backed with 1 Timothy 2:8-10
“Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. 9 I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.”
Pentecostals believe that makeup does not reflect Godliness that women ought to exhibit but this interpretation is not acceptable by all of them.
2. They consider Makeup has being worldly
Another reason why some Pentecostals don’t wear makeup is because they believe makeup is an attribute of worldliness and anyone who is of God, should not conform to it. 1 John 2:15-16
“Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.”
3. They believe Makeup is lustful
Women naturally are endowed and adding makeup will be too flamboyant which can eventually attract men to commit sexual immorality which is a sin to God. To avoid this, men Pentecostals believe makeup should be prohibited in their doctrine.
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Is It a Sin to Wear Makeup?
No, the act of applying cosmetics is not a sin neither it is wickedness as long as your goal is sinless. Women need to understand that the true test of a woman is her devotion to God. Esther anointed her body with oil following a bath in the book of Esther (Esther 2:9).
In the time of the Bible, Jewish women used face lubricant and makeup frequently. There are numerous examples of godly ladies who utilized cosmetics and fragrance. Proverbs 27:9, Song of Solomon 1:3, 3:6, 4:10, and Esther 2:12 all provide additional information on this. God never identifies makeup as a sin.
What Christianity promotes is modest, and if you can wear your makeup moderately and with the motive of bringing forth the beauty of God in your life why not? Put on your best red lipstick and look your best. But remember not to do it in a way that can lure anyone to commit sin.
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Why Makeup is Good for Christian Women?
If you want to consider wearing makeup, the following tips are few benefits you get when you wear makeup
1. Makeup helps to retain your youthful look
Makeup can help you look more youthful, just like when you wash your teeth, comb your hair, shave your legs, and pluck your eyebrows. There’s nothing “more holy” about showing off the bags under your eyes from a sleepless night.
2. Makeup helps amplify God’s beauty
We might be glad that God is the architect and maker of outward beauty. Numerous references to the lovers’ physical attributes can be found in Song of Songs. One of the main topics of the book is the celebration of physical beauty. In the appropriate setting, appreciating another person’s beauty is natural, good, and a part of God’s flawless design.
3. Makeup boosts your confidence
Another importance of makeup is that it boosts your confidence. A moderate and classic makeup enhances the inner beauty that brings forth your beauty and nothing can be compared to such boldness that self-confidence gives. If you are struggling with low self-esteem, I will encourage you to consider wearing makeup but do not abuse it.
Modest Makeup Ideas for Christian Women
As women who love to add a touch up of makeup in a modest manner and to avoid luring men to sin, the following will help you:
1. Keep it Natural
Some people believe that makeup is bad because it obscures our inherent, divinely-endowed beauty. Although the viewpoint is not totally wrong because many women actually abuse it. However, you can apply makeup while retaining the natural attribute God has given you. When applied properly, makeup can enhance rather than cover up our inherent.
To achieve natural makeup, go for colors that bring out your face’s natural color. E.g. you can use a dark brown (to soft black) mascara to make your light brown eyelashes stand out more.
2. Be Feminine
It is apparent that God created men and women differently. He purposefully made ladies appear lovely and feminine. When wearing cosmetics, aim to accentuate rather than diminish the femininity that God has given you.
In contemporary society, ladies frequently wear makeup to give them a sexy and sexualized appearance. You shouldn’t aim for this. Avoid such “looks” because the Bible has a lot to say about worldly women (Proverbs 7).
3. Be classic
Wearing too much eyeliner, lipstick, and eye shadow can occasionally make you appear downright tacky. While experimenting with new colors can be enjoyable, applying color tastefully and neatly requires some artistic ability. You should let your face mirror the order and organization of the God we serve.
Also, don’t let people be distracted by your makeup from getting to know the “true you.” Your eye shadow does not have to be so garish and vibrant that it overpowers the rest of the makeup. In order to spread the love of Christ to others, Christian ladies strive to have kind and approachable faces.
Conclusion
Typically, Pentecostals doctrine does not support makeup because they believe it stimulates several sins, some of which include, immodesty, sexual immorality, and also a worldly attribute which are not supported by the scriptures. However, not all Pentecostals prohibit makeup. Some argued that the bible is not against makeup so far there is a pure motive and it is applied in a modest manner.
