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The truth hidden behind MAKEUP
What is the truth about makeup? Most women—even some little girls—wear it. Yet few know its history. Even fewer know what God’s Word says about it. Are cosmetics addressed in the Bible? Does it approve their use? Is makeup wrong—sin? What principles apply? Here are the answers!
The cosmetics industry makes billions of dollars annually. Fashion and Hollywood have set the standards for “beauty,” and most people agree with their taste. Women of all ages wear makeup! To most, it is important to be fashionable. But is this practice right—or wrong? Could it even be sin? Is painting your face “fashionable” to God?
Of course, some have no interest in what God says. The Bible has no meaning or value to them. They are not concerned with pleasing God. They are only interested in pleasing themselves or being accepted by people. Yet, others are concerned with what God says, but do not know His will.
The Bible is God’s Instruction Book to mankind. It reveals all the essential truths and principles necessary for salvation. However, most have rejected it as a Source of authority in their lives. They are content to believe traditions without actually taking the time to prove why they do what they do. Most are also content to coast through life believing and operating on assumptions. Others simply practice what they do because of habit—and old habits die hard.
Yet we must ask: Is the use of makeup something that only religious extremists worry about? Are “fanatics” the only ones who would consider such a question? Or is it something you should be concerned about?
You need to know what the Bible clearly states about this subject. If makeup is important to God, it has to be mentioned in His Word—both specifically and in principle.
Wearing makeup is a worldwide custom—yet it is one that has become socially acceptable more recently than you may think. Therefore, to even question the use of makeup may seem old-fashioned or out-dated to countless millions of women—and, of course, men—who have grown accustomed to and comfortable with its widespread use.
What is the truth about makeup? What are the facts? To see the big picture—with all the facts and the truth—you must read this entire booklet!
Recent History
Makeup is used everywhere. When was the last time you turned on the television, watched a movie or went to the supermarket and did not see women wearing cosmetics? Probably never. A generation ago, this was not the case.
Notice: “The last two decades have seen make-up progress from its early category of woman’s conceit to become an art and an integral part of feminine beauty and psychology. Chief credit for this about-face in the acceptance of widespread use of cosmetics should go to the motion picture industry, which set new standards of beauty and…brought new products and principles of application and use to the world’s women” (Encyclopedia Americana, Vol. 18, 1956 Edit., p. 157).
At the turn of the twentieth century, makeup was viewed as something only proud, even arrogant women wore. With the invention of movies and television, Hollywood injected into the limelight the image of a movie starlet’s face covered with cosmetics. Once this image was accepted by the masses, cosmetics became commonplace.
The movie industry has been most responsible for associating makeup with exquisite beauty, by presenting Hollywood actresses as sex goddesses. It became natural that young girls and women would wish to be as attractive and desirable as world-famous screen idols.
Hundreds of millions of adoring fans want to look like their favorite movie stars. Even little girls can become obsessed with being pretty, when they should be enjoying childhood and playing with dolls and toys. They can easily become slaves to fashion trends that are inseparable from using makeup.
But it was only after World War II that the cosmetics industry began promoting, through advertising, the concept of flawless beauty. Relatively quickly, this thinking took hold around the world, with women and girls becoming enamored with the idea that they could be more attractive.
Vanity—the desire to look more beautiful—is what causes women to paint their faces, and is perhaps the most powerful of human drives.
The Pull of Vanity
Psalm 39:5-6 states, “…verily [truly] every man at his best state is altogether vanity…Surely every man walks in a vain show [an image].” Vanity is a powerful force in all human beings, and it is far stronger than most understand. Each person must have a healthy respect for the pull of vanity at work within him. Be honest with yourself, and admit that this tendency is within you. We will examine it more closely later.
Pride and vanity are why the Encyclopedia Britannica defines “cosmetics” as “…products nobody needs—but wanting them is human nature. Today, the desire to look better, smell better, and thus feel better causes consumers worldwide—mostly women—to spend an estimated $65 billion annually on personal enhancement—cosmetics” (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2001). (Read our free booklet Did God Create HUMAN NATURE?)
...Everyone wants to look or be considered pretty—or even beautiful. The pull of vanity begins early in life. Modern society places enormous emphasis on beauty. As a result, recent studies demonstrate that even very little girls are unhappy with themselves to the point of depression, with many actually contemplating suicide as a result! They feel that they do not measure up to their peers or favorite movie stars. Today, the obsession with being beautiful has led nearly 10 million adolescent and teenage girls into eating disorders.
With the market already grossing 65 billion dollars a year and rising, a well-known chain store announced that it has “recently decided to expand its…line of low-priced cosmetics for teenagers and tweens—children in the 8- to 14-year old age group” (“Rouge to Riches,” by Catherine Valenti, abcnews.com, June 25, 2001).
The widely publicized death of a six-year-old “beauty queen” demonstrates there is a growing culture obsessed with beauty in very young girls.
...A 1999 Gallup poll revealed that 72% of people say that they are pleased with their appearance, yet the amount of cosmetics sold, as well as the growing numbers turning to cosmetic surgery in the United States, is skyrocketing. It is even reported that younger and younger girls who enter beauty contests are also having cosmetic surgery to attempt to win and to improve upon how God made them. Astounding!
The obsession with looking young, and turning back the clock, has now gone beyond outrageous. Consider this: 1.6 million women, even some men, are now injecting tiny amounts of a deadly poison, Botox (from botulism), under the skin of the face to remove wrinkles. Within four days, the toxin in the treatment literally paralyzes the facial muscles and temporarily smoothes the skin. (The treatments only last for 90 days.) The goal is to “look the best you can for as long as you can”—for $150 to $1000 per treatment!
However, so many actresses are now using it that movie directors are complaining that they can no longer produce normal facial expressions. While they may look younger, most also look frozen and artificial.
In describing this new trend, one beautician said, “It is as though we have given up on authenticity.” Another expert cut to the heart of why women wear makeup or want all their wrinkles removed: “The wisdom that a person’s character can be etched on his face, or [the] observation that at twenty you have the face nature gave you and at fifty you have the face you merit, may no longer apply.”
Botox is only the beginning of the threat from various harmful chemicals and toxins that are latent in cosmetics. This has long been understood!
Consider the meaning of the word mascara. If we just accept the word for what it is, then it becomes its own honest statement from the cosmetics industry. It comes from the word mask, and the word masquerade also derives from it. In essence, to wear mascara is to wear a mask—and to masquerade as something that one is not—for the purpose of vanity and perceived beauty.
Even the word cosmetics has a revealing origin. It comes from the Greek word kosmos, which means “of this world, worldly.” For women to be accepted by the world, they must literally masquerade.
Before continuing, other important questions must be raised. What is the history of makeup? Where and when did it originate? What purpose did it serve in ancient times? The answers to these questions will shock you!
Ancient Roots
When considering the origin of makeup, we must ask where it first came into use. The ancient roots of makeup offer the first great insight into why it is used today. The following quotes demonstrate its early use.
“The use of cosmetics is very ancient. Evidence of the use of eye makeup and aromatic ointments has been found in Egyptian tombs dating to 3500 bc …
“By the 1st century ad the Egyptian, Roman, Greek and Middle Eastern cultures had developed cosmetics such as powders to whiten the skin; kohl to darken the eyelids, eyelashes, and eyebrows; rouge for the cheeks…” (Encyclopedia Britannica, Vol. 5, p. 196).
Egyptian tombs represent the earliest recorded references to the use of makeup. But the Egyptians were by no means the only culture to use it. Many others followed suit. Here are some specifics:
“During the Predynastic period [ending in 3200 B.C.], men as well as women applied a line of green paint around the eyes…In dynastic times the colour of paint used was a dark gray. Red ochre seems to have been used to colour the cheeks and henna the palms, nails, and, in the late period at least, the hair.
“Assyrians resorted to black dye for eyebrows, hair, and beard, whereas the Persians used henna, which produced an orange-red colour, a style that existed from 1900 bc . Gold dust, gold thread, and scented yellow starch were sometimes used in the hair and beard for festive occasions…” (Encyclopedia Britannica, Vol. 5, 1979 Edit., pp. 1017-1018).
Plainly, the use of makeup started nationally in Egypt. The Bible uses Egypt as a type of the sins of this world, which Christians are commanded to come out of.
Even before its use in Egypt, the original painted harlot was Semiramis, the mother-wife of Nimrod, and the founder of the Babylonian Mystery Religion. (Read our free booklets The True Origin of CHRISTMAS and The True Origin of EASTER to learn more about Semiramis and Nimrod.)
Semiramis is known as the mother of all harlots. She used makeup, as well as suggestive whorish clothing, for various religious and sexual rituals. The following quote describes the kind of seductive, sensual clothing that she—and later the Egyptians—wore: “Modern knowledge of ancient Egyptian dress derives for the most part from ancient paintings and sculpture, since very few garments have been preserved…The earliest representations of women show them either nude or clad in tightly fitting white linen skirts down to the ankles” (Ibid., pp. 1016-1017).
Along with various statues, paintings and busts still in existence from ancient times, descriptions show how Egyptians used cosmetics and revealing clothing to appeal to their sensuality. They adopted this dress into their culture from Semiramis, in an attempt to appear more like the many gods and goddesses they worshipped.
Since the artwork described here also employed the use of makeup, it is no wonder that 100 years ago it was generally understood and said that “only bad women wear makeup.” It is the same attitude of alluring through suggestion and sensuality that links near nudity and use of makeup. Both demonstrate a departure from modesty and virtue.
We read that the use of cosmetics spread from culture to culture. The Columbia Encyclopedia adds more about how each civilization adopted its own methods of applying and producing cosmetics. The following shows how the Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian and Greek cultures all took their lead from Egypt. Notice: “preparations [were] externally applied to change or enhance the beauty of skin, hair, nails, lips, and eyes. The use of body paint for ornamental and religious purposes has been common…The Egyptians used kohl to darken their eyes; a crude paint was used on the face, and fingers were often dyed with henna…Beauty aides reached a peak in imperial Rome—especially chalk for the face and a rouge…” (Sixth Edit., 2001). The emphasis has always been on beauty—and desiring beauty has everything to do with pride and vanity.
Many women who used cosmetics in these cultures also took their lead from Semiramis and adopted the use of cosmetics for the purpose of harlotry. History shows how women applied makeup to change their appearance and seduce men. Harlots and “matrons” (the female leaders of prostitution rings) were specifically recognized by their silk, jewels and cosmetics.
Here is an example of how women who used cosmetics in ancient Sparta were specifically known for being prostitutes: “Women wore brightly colored dresses…They used a lot of cosmetics…which…a woman could do only if she earned her living through prostitution.” (Magna Grecia—An Overview, Prof. Gino Gullace).
The first women to wear makeup were prostitutes! Changing one’s appearance by facial paint is a custom ancient prostitutes have dictated to the modern age. Cosmetics were nothing more than a device used by harlots to, in effect, teach men to break the Seventh Commandment. This is the message of history—yet the whole world lies in ignorance of these facts!
More recently, makeup first became common in the red-light districts of New York, Amsterdam, Paris and other large cities. Today it is found in nearly every supermarket and corner drugstore.
Jeremiah 4:30
Now that the history of cosmetics has been established, let’s look deeper into the subject. What does the Bible say about it? How does God feel about the use of makeup? Is facial paint mentioned in God’s Word?
Some people reason, “But I’ve never seen a reference to makeup in the Bible!” Understand that the actual words makeup, cosmetics, lipstick, mascara, etc., are not found in the Bible, but direct references to makeup and eye paint are found in three places, possibly four. After reviewing them, you will not doubt what is directly revealed from Scripture.
But let’s not play games with, or try to reason around, what God DOES say. The apostle Paul wrote, “ Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (I Thes. 5:21). Let’s prove what God says and be honest with what we learn. We will first examine four Old Testament scriptures. They establish the basic framework for understanding God’s view of facial cosmetics.
The book of Jeremiah depicts conditions at the end of the age among the nations that are God’s people, ancient Israel (the primarily English-speaking, democratic peoples of the West). We begin in chapter 4 and lead up to verse 30.
...God’s indictment reaches a climax in Jeremiah’s vision. The modern nations of Israel (not Judah, which is just one nation) have, like a harlot, sought “lovers” (political allies) who turn on her: “And when you are spoiled, what will you do? Though you clothed yourself with crimson…” Most other translations translate the word “crimson” as scarlet.
This is important to understand. It is the “great whore,” called “ Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth ” and described in Revelation 17:5, who dresses in “purple and scarlet” (vs. 4) and rides a “scarlet-colored beast” (vs. 3). This “woman” is a picture of the large false, counterfeit religious system now masquerading as Christianity. She is a great church with many daughter churches that came out of her in protest. Recall the ancient Semiramis, who started the Babylonian Mystery Religion. She was the first harlot, and a type of the religion she founded—which has survived her for thousands of years.
Jeremiah describes how modern Israel has fallen into the conduct of a whore among the nations. Now read verse 30: “…though you deck yourself with ornaments of gold, though you rented your face with painting, in vain shall you make yourself fair [beautiful]; your lovers will despise you, they will seek your life.”
The peoples of the United States, Britain and her former Commonwealth countries have rebelled against God. As God reduces them in power and prestige, they have found themselves increasingly seeking “lovers” from among the nations on earth. Yet they have never been more hated. All such “lovers” are prophesied to eventually turn on their courters. Israel has trusted in her outward appearance instead of God—and modern women unwittingly do the same.
Ancient Israel always sought to be like the nations around her. Instead of being an example to them, Israel wanted acceptance from them! Women today are no different. Not wearing makeup would make them stand out—and people want to fit in and be accepted. Please examine yourself and recognize this natural desire at work in your mind!
Take verse 30 for exactly what it means. Do not add to or subtract from it. It is plain! The context is God condemning His people for abominations within their national conduct—their national behavior. One of the abominations that God hates is painting the face—thereby taking on the nature of a prostitute. I have seen some try to use this verse to justify wearing makeup as long as one is not a prostitute.
The whole point in verse 30 is that painting the eyes is a common method of a prostitute—and any honest person, one truly seeking to please God and find His will, would admit as much!
Like any prostitute, often still dressed in red, and certainly operating in a “red light district,” modern Israel has painted her face with makeup. National captivity and a terrible time of punishment will be God’s remedy for His people and all who follow these practices—for those who will not wash and clean up their faces!
Women of today may think they just want to “look nice” to the world, when they really look like prostitutes to God.
Ezekiel 23:40
The second scripture to be examined comes from Ezekiel. This book is almost entirely comprised of one great prophecy, also culminating in the second captivity of the modern-day descendants of Israel. Much of Ezekiel parallels Jeremiah. God reinforces what He said there.
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“‘Since you forgot Me and flung Me aside, then suffer for your sensual harlot ways!’ ‘Son of man,’ said the Eternal, ‘arraign Oholah and Oholibah, and show them their detestable impieties…They did this to Me also; they polluted My sanctuary and desecrated My sabbath [ Modern Israel has trampled all over the true Sabbath of the Bible]…And this is how they behaved within My temple; they actually sent for men who came from abroad, sent messengers to them! And for them you bathed yourself, you painted your eyes , you put on your ornaments [vs. 40], you sat on a handsome diwan [couch], with a table spread in front of it…and sounds of revelry arose!’”
This is an incredible series of verses. God directly likens Israel and Judah (seeking allies among the nations) to harlots who have sent for men after painting their faces—exactly like whores awaiting their next customers. This is a clear, unmistakable condemnation of the use of eye makeup. God next issues a sentence, just like a modern court, to all who have committed spiritual crimes (sins) in His sight.
“‘This therefore is the Lord the eternal’s sentence : Bring a host of folk against them, and hand them over to be maltreated and robbed! Let them be stoned and put to the sword…that all women may take warning and avoid your sensual ways…and so learn that I am the Lord the eternal !’”
Women of the modern world—take warning! Be careful that you do not conclude that you are an exception to the punishment foretold in this prophecy. God connects eye paint directly to seduction for harlotrous purposes. Are you prepared to stand before Him and explain why this did not mean you? Be careful that you do not fatally miscalculate, with your eternal life at stake!
We will see that it was Satan the devil who deceived Eve on this very point of beauty and vanity. Will you follow Eve and allow yourself to be deceived by human reasoning contrary to God’s plain Word?
Isaiah 3:16
The third scripture comes from Isaiah, the longest book of the prophets. Once again, as in Jeremiah and Ezekiel, the theme of this prophecy is the conditions, attitudes and national sins in modern Israel.
...The next scripture specifically addresses the attitudes of women and the punishment in store for them. Notice: “Moreover the Lord says, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes…Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will discover their secret parts” (vs. 16-17).
Verse 16 is blunt. It requires little explanation. But what does the phrase “wanton eyes” mean? The Hebrew word carries a very different meaning than the English translation. Further study uncovers its true, fuller meaning.
Strong’s Concordance defines “wanton eyes” as “…to blink coquettishly [flirtatious].” This obviously means using the eyes for seductive purposes.
The American Heritage Dictionary amplifies the meaning of “wanton”: “Immoral or unchaste; lewd.” But what makes the eyes “immoral or lewd”?
...The Jamison, Fausset, Brown Commentary adds an additional, critical element to the phrase “wanton eyes” that is of central importance to what is being described: “16…and wanton eyes—Hebrew (mesha-ququeroth, from shaquar, to deceive), ‘deceiving with their eyes.’…Lowth, after the Chaldaic, ‘falsely setting off the eyes with paint.’ Women’s eyelids in the East are often colored with stibium, or powder of lead.”
Not every scholar agrees with this source, and other authors not included here. But the main thrust of both Jeremiah 4:30 and Ezekiel 23:40 strongly indicate the correctness of this commentary in its reference to eye paint.
The Clarke’s Commentary adds fascinating insight into the phrase “replenished from the east.” It is a reference to the Orient, where many cosmetics were produced and sold in ancient times. Notice his reference to Jeremiah and Ezekiel. It is understood that not everything Clarke says about Isaiah 3:16 is accurate, but he adds important information about this phrase.
“Her eyelashes, which are long, and, according to the custom of the East, dressed with stibium, (as we often read in the Holy Scriptures of the Hebrew women of old, Jer. 4:30; Ezek. 23:40)…‘But none of those ladies,’ says Dr. Shaw, Travels, p. 294, ‘take themselves to be completely dressed, till they have tinged the hair and edges of their eyelids with alkahol, the powder of lead ore…’ Ezekiel 23:40, uses the same word in the form of a verb, cachalt eynayik, ‘thou didst dress thine eyes with alkahol;’ which the Septuagint render ‘thou didst dress thine eyes with stibium’…compare II Kings 9:30; Jer. 4:30.”
Clarke identifies one of the earliest known sources of makeup, which was Israel’s source for these products.
Now ask: Why would God include this phrase—“replenished from the east”—in Isaiah 2:6 if “wanton eyes” (just one chapter later) did not have something to do with the kinds of makeup that were obtained from the Orient? There is not enough space to reference the many other available historical facts. But allow the Bible to interpret itself!
Once the verses in Isaiah are examined and properly understood, it is clear why God is “provoked” to anger. Cosmetics are being applied to mislead and deceive.
A 1770 Pennsylvania law once stated that a man could annul his marriage if he learned that his wife had worn makeup during their courtship, thereby misleading him about her appearance.
The first people in America to use facial paint were Indians wearing “war paint.” They did this to deceive their enemies by making themselves appear more fierce than they were.
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II Kings 9:30 and Jezebel
The study of makeup would be incomplete without examining one of the most evil women in the Old Testament—Jezebel—and her use of cosmetics. This infamous woman was both a queen and a prophetess who practiced witchcraft.
...She also sought to have one of God’s greatest servants, Elijah, put to death. These are but a few examples of her evil.
Eventually, God decided to wipe out Ahab and his entire house. His son Joram ruled in his place. A young prophet explained that Jezebel would die a horrible death, eaten by dogs. God declared, “the dogs shall eat Jezebel…and there shall be none to bury her” (II Kgs. 9:10) and decided to replace Joram with a faithful servant named Jehu. This struck fear in Jezebel (Joram’s mother) and she took action to save herself.
Notice what she did: “And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and she looked out at a window” (II Kgs. 9:30). Jezebel put on makeup to try to seduce Jehu and escape impending death.
The Hebrew word used here for painted comes from a now unused root meaning “to paint; dye (specifically, stibium for the eyes).”
...Jehu then immediately went to Jezreel to execute Jezebel. Her makeup failed to seduce him and her abominations came to an end when Jehu had her thrown from a window. The dogs did, in fact, eat her flesh as God had declared!
A Warning to God’s Church
Jezebel is also mentioned in the New Testament as part of a specific warning to God’s Church: “Notwithstanding I have a few things against you, because you suffer that woman Jezebel , which calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce My servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols” (Rev. 2:20).
Jesus Christ promised to build His Church (Matt. 16:18). He also promised that it would never be destroyed, though it has suffered terrible persecution from both within and without. Revelation 2 and 3 are a 2,000-year summary of the seven eras of Christ’s Church. We are currently in the last, or Laodicean, era.
The great false church of this world (recall the Great Whore of Revelation 17:5, with her harlot daughters) has continually sought to get into God’s Church, depicted in Revelation 12 as a very different woman, wearing a “crown of twelve stars.”
Jezebel’s whoredoms were so wicked that she is used by God as a type of this great universal church. Just as Jezebel tried to seduce Jehu in Old Testament Israel through the use of facial paint, the Great Whore has continually sought to deceive the world and even seduce many of God’s New Testament servants by changing her appearance, cloaking her doctrines with “paint” and masquerading as God’s Church. History shows that she has been able to successfully repeat her whoredoms upon so many of those of God’s Church. Her powers of seduction have not diminished over time! She and her false doctrines, beginning with women using makeup, successfully crept into the true Church of God at the end of the age. (This story is told in careful detail in other of our literature.)
Through the seductive use of makeup, the Great Whore (Rev. 17:1) and Jezebel (II Kgs. 9:22, 30) both masquerade for the purpose of fornication. But there is an additional horrifying parallel of what happens to this Woman (and all those who follow her doctrines) and what happened to Jezebel. Both come to the same end, dying in the same terrible way. Revelation 17:16 states that the beast, which the Whore rides, will eventually turn and “eat” her, just as the dogs ate Jezebel.
Connecting Two Vital Scriptures
No other direct reference to makeup is found in the Bible. Yet Christ states, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). So we must accept all of the additional principles found in God’s Word.
It is clear that some things are wrong—are sin—without being able to refer to a single verse that specifically addresses the subject. Smoking and drug abuse are examples. We have seen that makeup is directly referenced in the Bible. But there is no “Thus saith the Lord” on this subject in God’s Word. There are, however, important spiritual principles that must also be considered.
In addition, the Bible states that most Old Testament accounts were actually recorded for us today. Paul wrote, “Now these things [Old Testament accounts and events] were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted…Now all these happened unto them for examples [RSV says “as a warning”]: and they are written for our admonition [those of the modern age], upon whom the ends of the world [age] are come” (I Cor. 10:6, 11).
Do not overlook or minimize the great message in these verses. It is generally directed to Christians who live throughout the New Testament age, but most specifically to those who live at the end!
Paul explains that the Bible is filled with examples of how Christians should model their lives. Following and applying these two scriptures, in pursuit of Bible principles, reveals a clear picture of God’s view of makeup.
Think carefully. Consider those who wore makeup: the false prophetess Jezebel, two whoring sisters, Aholah and Aholibah, and the adulteress Judah are the only Bible examples of women (real or by analogy) who wore makeup!
Now think of the most well-known, righteous women of the Bible. Name a single one (Old or New Testament) who wore makeup. There is no mention of Sarah, Rebecca, Ruth, Naomi, Mary (Christ’s mother), Deborah, Abigail, Esther or any other virtuous woman ever applying or wearing makeup. The fact that the only examples of those who wore makeup are adulteresses, harlots and false prophetesses serves as a great warning to anyone who cares about the Word of God and wishes to follow the Bible’s righteous examples instead of the wicked.
Let’s now consider other important principles.
Imperfect or Incomplete Creation?
Ad agencies are paid based on their ability to sell products. Their goal is to get you, the consumer, to buy whatever it is they are being paid to promote. The most successful agencies find and repeat a slogan over and over. Of course, the best slogans can greatly increase sales!
The most creative that I have heard is one that honestly represents cosmetics for exactly what they are. It originated from a cosmetics manufacturer: “We’re selling hope in a jar, dreams in a bottle.”
Another slogan for a widely used cosmetics company tells women that its products will help “you look like you, only better.” Can one look like herself, only not like herself? Another states that you can be “at your most beautiful” if you use their products.
These are all effective marketing ploys, because each appeals to the exact same drive within all human beings—the desire to be and feel pretty, attractive, beautiful— vanity .
But, does God want you to “look more beautiful” than you are? Is this the way He thinks? Did the One who made you neglect to add just the right amount of makeup, so that you can be “at your most beautiful”? Does He want you to attempt to improve on what He made?
Let’s read what God says!
God created our original parents, Adam and Eve, in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 1:27 states, “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He…male and female.” God made human beings to look like Himself, to be in His image. And there is certainly no biblical record of God or Christ ever wearing cosmetics.
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A few have suggested that lipstick is referenced in the Song of Solomon where it states, “Behold, you are fair, my love…your lips are like a thread of scarlet, and your speech is comely.” This is merely a reference to the natural color of a healthy woman’s lips. So many women of today are so pasty and chalky in the natural hue and color of their skin that some conclude this verse can only be a reference to lipstick.
Since nothing God makes is physically imperfect or incomplete, this includes you women.
Trying to improve your face through facial paint is telling God, “I am not happy with the way you made me,” or, after applying makeup, asking Him, “Why didn’t you make me like this?” The clichés, “Let’s fix our faces” and “Wait until I put on my face, and I’ll be right there,” have been common expressions for two generations. Your face does not need to be “fixed” and being a “put on” is phony unless it is fulfilling the kind of instructions found in Colossians 3:12.
Paul had to address this thinking in another context: “Who are you that replies against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why have you made me thus?” (Rom. 9:20). Is this something you want to ask God—either by word or action? Be careful that you are not guilty of questioning God’s judgment in creating you exactly as He did.
Paul asks, “What? know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?” (I Cor. 6:19). Women, who knows better how to create the temple in which God resides—you or Him? The Old Testament temple was probably the most beautiful building ever made. This is because God’s Spirit resided there. Today He lives within His people—His Church—His New Testament temple! He knows better what His temple should look like than you or I do!
Consider carefully what you do with God’s temple, because “…you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (vs. 20). Recognize this. God owns you. He has not authorized you to erect a scaffold and paint His building any color other than the one He has chosen!
People may think that women are incomplete and need help to perfect their faces. But ask yourself: “What is important to me? The opinions of people—or the declaration of God?” God declares that all people were created very good, complete, finished—His future temples!
If God had meant for women to appear as they do after painting their faces, He would have designed their faces this way from creation—and THEN said, “It is very good.”
How Satan Seduced Eve
...The apostle John, in the New Testament, spoke of the same three “selling points,” from the world’s physical attractions, at work on Christians. These same points attract women today—exactly as the wrong tree attracted Eve.
Notice: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love 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 pride of life , is not of the Father, but is of the world” (I John 2:15-16).
...Just as Adam followed Eve, who had followed Satan into a life based on deception and the importance of physical beauty, so the entire world has followed their mistake, and been deceived by Satan. Notice: “…the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world…” (Rev. 12:9).
The book of Ezekiel describes Satan’s origin. He was once the archangel Lucifer. At his creation, he was perfect. Chapter 28 records, “You were perfect in your ways from the day that you were created, till iniquity was found in you” (vs. 15).
Something happened. Lucifer changed. Notice: “Your heart was lifted up [pride, vanity entered] because of your beauty, you have corrupted your wisdom by reason of your brightness” (vs. 17). Lucifer’s heart (mind) was “lifted up” because of his beauty, and he became filled with vanity. Corrupted by these attitudes, he became the devil.
...Just as many are deceived on the seeming unimportance of makeup, so was Eve deceived into believing that eating of the tree was not an important issue—that it was “a light thing” (I Kgs. 16:31). But it is not a light thing to God! It brought her under the death penalty!
The Proverbs twice state, “There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death ” (14:12; 16:25). Some things may feel or “seem” good, yet they lead to death. So many think that what they do is “not that bad” or that it will not lead to death—but they are wrong!
Makeup appeals to both the sense of sight and vanity. Women wear cosmetics because they feel this makes them look more attractive. By this feeling of increased beauty, their vanity swells. This is exactly what happened to Satan!
I have known many who sought to get around God’s will. Like Satan, they rebel. This booklet will not—cannot—help them. Some are determined to “lean…unto their own understanding” (Prov. 3:5). They fulfill the Proverbs that “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes” (21:2) and “All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes” (16:2). They cannot be told to do anything, and this booklet will have no positive effect on their thinking. They have no interest in what God thinks.
...An angry man once told me, “But I like my wife wearing makeup.” His wife was in her 60s and desperately trying not to look her age. He agreed with her, telling her what she wanted to hear, rather than what she needed to hear—which could be likened to “be willing to grow old gracefully, and naturally.”
Do you husbands think about whether God likes makeup, or do you only think about whether your wife does—or whether you do?
II Corinthians 11:3 states that Satan “beguiled” Eve. Will you women of today also be “beguiled” into believing Satan’s lie? Will you follow Mother Eve’s example and choose what is appealing and pleasant to your eyes?
What is Sin?
Many are confused on whether using makeup is a sin. Although every Bible example refers to women who used it as prostitutes, many still seek proof whether makeup is sinful. What is sin? And who decides what is sin?
God answers: “Whosoever commits sin transgresses [breaks] also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law ” (I John 3:4). This is the true definition of sin. Do not concern yourself with what men say, but rather with what the Bible says. God’s Word reveals the truth (John 17:17).
...Sin is anything that goes against God’s Word. Eve sinned because she disobeyed God’s instruction. She took to herself the right to decide right and wrong. Many today do the same with God’s teachings. They pick and choose which they will obey and which they will ignore. They allow their human nature to dictate what they do, basing decisions on what “feels” or “seems” right.
Understand something about your human nature. It will not be pleasant to hear. Paul states, “Because the carnal [natural] mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Rom. 8:7). Now read Jeremiah: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (17:9). This is a graphic description of the natural tendency of human nature—the carnal mind—at work within you. It wants to defy God’s instruction and then deceive itself into believing it did not.
Recall the Encyclopedia Britannica, which described makeup as “…products nobody needs—but wanting them is human nature.” Human nature or, as Paul stated, “the law of sin which is in my members,” is the driving force behind the billion-dollar cosmetics industry. It is that simple!
The Spirit of the Law
...Love is the fulfilling of God’s eternal, spiritual Law (Rom. 13:10; I John 5:3). Christ taught that we must practice the spirit of this law. God says that this law gives life. This is better than obeying God in just the physical letter of His commandments: “Who also has made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter kills, but the spirit gives life” (II Cor. 3:6).
God’s way is also summarized by practicing the nine fruits of the Spirit. They are found in Galatians 5: “ love , joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness [or humility, the opposite of vanity and pride], temperance” (vs. 22-23).
If God’s spiritual law reflects love for God and man, then the opposite is self-love—focusing on the things of self and getting for self. Sin is the opposite of love. This includes vanity.
Competition, strife, greed, envy, jealousy, hatred and lust all flow from vanity—and they are all the opposite of love. Recall the many scriptures describing the outcome of vain and proud people (Jer. 51:18; Ezek. 13:8; Isa. 40:17, 44:9; Ecc. 2:21; Psa. 144:4). These verses are a sobering warning to all!
...David offers fascinating insight about the connection between God’s Law and vanity. He made a clear distinction between them, recording, “I hate vain thoughts: but Your law do I love” (Psa. 119:113). Do you hate the thoughts of vanity? Try to do this as you put on makeup.
Finally, David said, “Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity ” (119:37), and “Remove far from me vanity and lies ” (Prov. 30:8). Wearing makeup is a form of deceit—and all deceit, in one way or another, is a lie.
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Beauty is Within
Here is God’s instruction to every woman. The next verses show that God is interested in a woman’s conduct —her character. Grasp what the inspired apostle Peter records: “Likewise, you wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any [husbands] obey not the word, they also may without the word [without having to quote the Bible] be won by the conversation [conduct] of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation [conduct]…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 [your inner person] of the heart [mind], in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit [attributes of godly character], which is in the sight of God of great price” (I Pet. 3:1-4). Meekness is the opposite of pride and vanity, which oppose the character God wants you to build. God prizes humility!
God is concerned with character—spiritual adornment! He is not interested in physical gold or jewels. God is interested in your inner person. He is far more interested in the beauty of your heart than your clothes. If your character is pure and attractive, then you are properly attired in God’s sight!
...However, it is not wrong to wear jewelry. Some assume that these verses imply this, when they do not. Some have asked why God, in Ezekiel 16, attired ancient Israel in beautiful clothes and jewels.
First, recognize that jewelry, of and by itself, is not sin. As with alcohol, cards, dancing and other activities, it is not the thing or activity that is wrong, but rather the wrong USE of the thing or activity.
What about Ezekiel 16? The context is God chose ancient Israel to be His bride. The Old Covenant is actually a marriage agreement between God, as King, and the wife He chose to be His Queen.
Notice: “I clothed you also with broidered work, and shod you with badgers’ skin, and I girded you about with fine linen, and I covered you with silk. I decked you also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon your hands, and a chain on your neck. And I put a jewel on your forehead, and earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown upon your head. Thus were you decked with gold and silver; and your raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; you did eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and you were exceeding beautiful , and you did prosper into a kingdom. And your renown went forth among the heathen for your beauty: for it was perfect through My comeliness, which I had put upon you, says the Lord God ” (vs. 10-14).
This symbolizes how God adorned His young wife in preparation for a royal marriage ceremony. This description is not literal, but figurative. Since God instructs women to have a “meek and quiet spirit,” this is not His authorization of the opposite.
...These verses do show that jewelry, worn in moderation, is not displeasing to God. Here is the point. The use of quality dress and jewelry enhanced Israel’s natural beauty—it in no way altered her natural features.
The problem that God highlighted through Peter was the gaudy and ostentatious overuse of gold threads interwoven (plaited) into women’s hair. Certain brethren at that time, in an extravagant display, were wearing extremely expensive clothes and other gold and jewels. Of course, we are all familiar with women in today’s world who seek to be “one woman fashion parades,” dressing purely for the purpose of getting attention for self. Many strive to be “dressed to kill.” Once again, when it comes to vanity, there is nothing new under the sun.
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Can Makeup be Worn in Moderation?
Many women see nothing wrong with just a little makeup. Let’s ask then: Is it alright to wear just a tiny—“moderate”—bit of makeup?
Wearing makeup is an addiction. Billions of dollars are spent because the world is addicted to vanity. A small amount of drugs will not help an addict recover from his addiction.
Likewise, wearing makeup in moderation is to say that one can sin in moderation. This is the same as saying that one can be pregnant in moderation or dead in moderation. Impossible!
A little blush or mascara is still sin! There is absolutely nowhere in the Bible where God allows for even a little bit of sin. And sin always spreads and grows worse: “A little leaven leavens the whole lump” (Gal. 5:9).
... Paul writes, “And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Rom. 12:2).
This booklet has sought to teach you God’s will on the subject of makeup. All who seek God’s will must never be concerned with the world’s standards. We must be concerned with God’s standards—His will.
You cannot be worried, or even concerned, about what others might think of you. God’s Word explains, “For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that you run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you” (I Pet. 4:3-4).
Everyone wants to fit in, be liked and accepted by the majority. No one naturally wants to stick out, unless it is also designed to get attention—however perverse. You should expect others to think you are strange, extreme, and radical. They will tell you that you are being unbalanced. But they speak from the viewpoint of people, not God.
Upon first removing your makeup, you will even look strange to yourself, but this feeling will quickly disappear. It will be replaced by a sense of relief, because of all the time and money you will save.
Ephesians 2:3 states, “Among whom also we all had our conversation [conduct] in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”
We have all sinned. While the Ephesians had once practiced the sinful lusts of the flesh, they were subject to God’s wrath. They repented and Christ’s blood covered their guilty past.
...James 1:22-24 states, “But be you doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholds himself, and goes his way, and straightway forgets what manner of man he was.”
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Israel Not to Copy Heathen
Numerous times, God instructed and warned ancient Israel not to copy the customs, traditions, abominations and pagan ways of the nations around them. The Old Testament stories about Israel are almost entirely about their repeated, blatant disregard for God’s plain—impossible to misunderstand—instruction. Invariably, Israel slipped into imitating her neighbors, rather than setting an example for them (Deut. 4:6-8).
...Beware that you do not unwittingly make the same mistake that nearly all professing Christians make—and that ancient Israel made. I speak of those who say, “I wear makeup, but I don’t do it to copy or use the methods of a prostitute.”
This parallels popular thinking regarding the celebration of Christmas and Easter. Christmas comes from the Roman Saturnalia and from customs centered on Baal worship. It has nothing to do with Christ. Yet, so many say, “Well, I don’t keep Christmas for those reasons. I keep it Christ-centered.” Easter and all of its customs are utterly pagan and celebrate the Egyptian, Babylonian, Mesopotamian goddess, Ishtar. While it also has nothing to do with Christ, many assert, “Well, I don’t keep Easter with those customs in mind, I do it focusing on Christ.” (Once again, our free booklet The True Origin of EASTER shows how serious this is to God.)
Each time God delivered ancient Israel from captivity, she had learned nothing and eventually repeated the same mistakes. This always led her right back into slavery and servitude to her enemies. She never learned the lesson of avoiding compromise—even a little bit—with God’s plain, blunt instructions. Will you compromise with the plain Word of God?
...If you obey God and follow His truth without compromise, you have an incredible future. You can look forward to rulership in God’s government. You will not need makeup as a member of the ruling Family of God, because your face will shine like the sun! (Read our free booklet How Religion Deceives You About YOUR INCREDIBLE FUTURE.)
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Your Decision
“There is so much more that could be said on this subject that I could go on and on and fill 100 pages! But I think this is enough! Every woman who wants that deceitfulness and wickedness removed from her heart is going to remove that physical colored dirt from her face, once and for all!
“Those yielded to the C hrist who paid such a price for this very cleansing will need no more. Those not so yielded would not repent and let the precious blood of Christ cleanse them, and their faces, though I write ten thousand pages! God lays down the L aw . God tells us what is sin, and He tells us that this vain use of facial make-up is sin !
“But God leaves it to you to decide whether to sin! And never forget the penalty for this sin is death for eternity in a Lake of fire ! It is truly, an awful —a frightful fate. You are warned ! You are a free moral agent. That decision is now your responsibility ! What are you going to do with it?”
