Imagine everything was black and white – talk about boredom and lifelessness. Colours add life to any and everything. God is a God of colours and more creative than you can imagine. We can tell this from nature, the rainbow-the sign of one of His promises, animals and even our faces.
I remember a sister narrating her experience to me. She was in a public vehicle with her mentor. Her mentor preached in the first vehicle they boarded. When they boarded a second vehicle, her mentor asked her to preach. She said she was unable to do it and when asked why, she said it was because of how she looked. She felt she looked too worldly.
Let’s ask ourselves these questions honestly: how many times have we been unable to do the work of the King because we look, talk, or behave like the world? How many times have we blurred the demarcating line between the unsaved and the saved with our choices? How many times have we made people question our stance?
Many times in assessing how we appear, especially in the aspect of dressing, we do not see our faults. We think we are just exercising some form of freedom and we say to our hearts “This does not affect my relationship with God”.
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Is it Your Body, Your Choice?
Yes, it may not affect your personal relationship with God, but have you considered the effect on someone else’s relationship with God? Does a struggling Christian or sinner see you and draw comfort to keep living in sin? Or do you feel ashamed to spread the word of God and bring light into the lives of God’s people?
Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. -1 Cor 8:9
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God. Do not become a stumbling block, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God- as I also try to please everyone in all I do. For I am not seeking my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved. -1 Cor 10:31-33
So, before you make that brightly coloured hair, wear that waist bead, do that extra piercing (in your nose, ears, navel, tongue, etc.), buy that gothic merchandise, sing that song, or make that joke, ask yourself: is this liable to make anyone stumble? Can I boldly represent God like this? Am I being an example of the believers?
Is there a commandment that directly forbids colored hair and piercings? Not exactly. But there are scriptures that command that there be a clear distinction between the people of the world and the people of God.
For it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” -1 Peter 1:16
Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. -2 Cor 6:17
Remember dear reader, if you are born again, you are a living stone that makes up part of the temple of God (1 Peter 2:5). God bought you from the world via the blood of His only begotten Son.
So think again, whose body is it?
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