So I come from a pentecostal family, not sure if many familiar with this term, and I hail from Kerala in India, where pentecostals are, lets say, more conservative.
The beliefs/traditions of my church involves a list of don’ts with regard to how a person looks and lives in the world, the major ones listed below-
1. Do not wear ornaments
2. Do not wear makeup
3. Do not see movies
4. Do not listen to secular music
5. Do not drink alcohol, smoke, and all such habits – stay away from it.
6. Do not date, no boyfriend/girlfriend etc., no such relations before marriage.
Now, these are the lessons that I have been taught from my childhood. Sermons in church, the words people say, I grew up thinking it was just wrong, no idea why, but it was a sin. Needless to say, I grew up blindly following this but not really understanding.
I’ve learnt over the years that some of these were traditions and ways brought about by my forefathers, who at that time, left their worldly possessions, wealth and everything, and stepped out to serve God. At that time, ornaments (mainly gold) was a distinguishing factor for the rich from poor. And they wanted to give it all up to live for God, to be testimony to their faith – which I feel is perfectly justified.
However, I feel the face of pentecostalism has changed, it has become and made all these points, standards of being religious, not spiritual.
Our folks judge people based on these external facts mainly points 1 to 4, they tend to feel that those who stick to all these rules are the good ones, everyone else are not good enough. Preachers preach about all this, about how it is sinful and worldly, however I have rarely heard one tell the fact that it is a step to be taken by us, when we decide we want to be different from the world. Thing is, being different, in today’s world, is no longer just about these, it goes beyond. It should come from within, when we are holy within.
I am a born and brought up pentecostal and I agree that all these points, decisions by our forefathers, were right, it is best to be separated from the world, but we need to start our walk of faith, we need to right ourselves from the inside out.
If we follow all these rules, or as I have seen it sometimes from myself too, hide it from other believers and do it in secret, and then do other stuff like – cheating people, having a potty-mouth when angry, verbally abusing people, taking bribes, being unwelcome to someone different, gossiping about people, being downright mean, lying to people, spreading scandalous stories about your own family (true or not), flashing your money and so on, how can I truly call myself a child of God?
I have learnt in my faith walk, that I need to be holy inside and out, but most importantly that I know what I am the best, I can with my appearance try to look the role but unless it is from my heart, it is of no point. And in today’s world, none of this stuff matters or values when you are close to God.
Because I have met believers, who don’t fit the bill in terms of jewelry and makeup, but are so strong for the Lord, it inspires me. And I have seen the reverse too, which has led me to follow what God teaches me.
Which is why, I would like to be a Christian in my thoughts and my behavior as well, not just fit the bill of a pentecostal.
So this is my view, my own personal, what I have understood from my talks with God-
1. Do not wear ornaments – For this, I feel it depends on the culture, on the people. In a place like India where jewelry is like worshipped, and a status or fashion symbol, it would be a noticeable thing that you dont wear ornaments, it could be a conversation starter to talk about my faith. But in a place like US/UK, where people don’t really hold much thought to it, it wouldn’t matter because if it’s not a big thing, why would anyone notice. In my stint in US, not one non-Indian person asked me why I dont wear ornaments. Nobody cares over there. Back here, people do ask.
2. Do not wear makeup / different hairstyles (some extremes, no short hair) / no personal grooming – Now this is probably the most mis-conceived one. And this I know, was not from my forefathers because at that time, none of that was even there :). This I believe was added on to the list since it separates. I personally feel, if a woman (this rule generally for women :)) is modest and not dressed or made up to look provocative, that it is fine. Because, let’s face it, women are always prone to insecurities, and I feel if putting on some face to make us feel better and more confident, doesn’t hurt if I doing it for the right reason. So this would be a person-to-person one. If it’s a person who obsesses about their looks, perhaps, it’s better to stay away, to avoid vanity. But if its just to avoid going ‘Ugh’ when you see your reflection (which is my reason), I say ‘Go for it’! You know best why you do it, so follow your conscience.
As far as appearance goes, I see aging believer, dying their hair. Wonder how different this from makeup? Or about men having mustache or beard? Should we really put so much thought into this stuff, I mean, it’s hard enough with the struggles it takes to right myself on the inside. Should I really spend all my energy into looking like what everyone thinks is a picture of holiness or should I spend that effort into first cleaning myself on the inside so that it would flow to the outside? I feel I need to work on my inner person, else it is all just a mockery of my faith.
3. Do not see movies/tv – Now this is something people tend to bend the rules, many watch it at home, just don’t go to theaters I truly don’t understand how that works. I mean, if you don’t watch it at theaters, how can you watch it at home? I feel, again, as children of God we need to watch, as in, literally watch what we watch. I use IMDB.com to review movies, so that I can know what sort of a movie it is. And if it about anything I feel would affect me in a bad way, I prefer not to watch. I prefer lighthearted, comedies or feel good movies or thrillers, anything that just keeps my brain ticking and my heart warm :). There is a lot of bad stuff i movies, so we really do need to keep ourselves insulated from unwanted elements, since it could affect the way we think. And if you have a relationship with God, you will know, I often hear the whisper in my heart, when I see some movie song, a voice saying ‘This is not for you, change it’. So I believe, if we listen to that God voice, we will not go wrong.
4. Do not listen to secular music – This again similar to movies, it could affect the way you think. And music is Satan’s expertise, after all, Lucifer was heaven’s music leader, before his fall. So I have learnt, it’s best to avoid, especially if like me, you tend to listen to the songs and feel it emotionally. Because I used to follow those songs a lot, so I know it’s my vice. For me, gospel music is my therapy, I don’t feel I should listen to secular to keep my thoughts right, that’s me.
5. Do not drink alcohol, smoke, drugs and all such habits – stay away from it. No arguments, this affects your thoughts entirely, no other way about it. So I feel it is right.
6. Do not date, no boyfriend/girlfriend etc., no such relations before marriage. For this I feel it is again best, since we are human, it is so easy to make a mistake and lose yourself to this world. So I feel we should follow this, especially no physical contact because it affects everyone more than they know.
Basically, in today’s world, you can’t live an insulated life, many times if you do, Satan wages wars against you and you could fall. But if you know the reasons why you shouldn’t and you know, how much more joy and happiness God can give you, none of these stuff matters. It’s not that any of this makes you more worthy, it just makes you less unworthy :). Because at the end of it all, we are not worthy, it’s the price that Jesus paid on the cross that would get us to heaven.
Lord, make me holy, inside and out. Help me keep myself true and pure – even though the world around me is corrupt, in sin, in lust, in pride and everything else – let me stay faithful, help me win the eternal crown, let me finish the race. Edify me each day, edify my thoughts, my walk, my life. In the words of a song I love “Let my life song sing to You”
Amen, be blessed.
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