Cosmetics and the Bible
 

Recently, I was privileged to hear Reverend David Bernard preach to a large group of ministers. Although his sermon was very good, he temporarily drifted into issues of Apostolic Identity. For the most part, he spoke in vague and general terms. At one point, however, he specifically mentioned that make-up was anathema to Apostolic Identity.

Reverend Bernard's words inspired me to revisit the issue, so I decided I would find Biblical examples of revered women who would not be qualified to model Apostolic Identity.


Our first contestant is Sister Esther.

Esther 2

8 When the king’s order and edict had been proclaimed, many young women were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king’s palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem. 9 She pleased him and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven female attendants selected from the king’s palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem.

10 Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so. 11 Every day he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her.

12 Before a young woman’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. 13 And this is how she would go to the king: Anything she wanted was given her to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace. 14 In the evening she would go there and in the morning return to another part of the harem to the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he was pleased with her and summoned her by name.

15 When the turn came for Esther (the young woman Mordecai had adopted, the daughter of his uncle Abihail) to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her. 16 She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal residence in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

Did you catch that?

Dear Sister Esther is unqualified to model Apostolic Identity because she wore cosmetics.

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

Yes those were beauty treatments of the day, not necessarily apostolic identity unified ones at that! Interesting..

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

"She had to compromise in order to meet the king, under normal circumstances, she wouldn't have worn face-paint. Children of God have no need for makeup, this was the only way to get this WORLDLY heathen kings attention."

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

And of course Jesus Himself would not be excepted because of His facial hair, not to mention he MADE WINE and socialized with sinners. I am pretty sure His hair was too long for someone like RR. I'm also sure that it was not long and flowing like depicted in so many pictures but was probably a tiny bit below the ears. :)

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

Not sure that would be a good example to support makeup.

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

Your right but neither Jezebel putting on makeup and looking out a window condemns it either. In both instances it is just told matter-of-fact.

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

Because ... ?????

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

I notice these version don't use word cosmetics.

Est 2:12

12 Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)
KJV

Est 2:12

12 Now when the turn of each maiden came to go in to King Ahasuerus, after the regulations for the women had been carried out for twelve months — since this was the regular period for their beauty treatments, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with sweet spices and perfumes and the things for the purifying of the women —
AMP



Est 2:12

12 Now when the turn of every maiden was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that it had been done to her according to the law for the women twelve months (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, (to wit), six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors and with the things for the purifying of the women),
ASV



Not sure how NIV got cosmetics or if being used in sense of makeup.

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

it may not be. The word cosmetics there is not meant to mean makeup; The Hebrew word refers to cleansing

tamrûq A masculine noun meaning scraping, rubbing, purifying. This Hebrew word carries the connotation of scraping away that which is impure or harmful.

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

Exactly, adding cosmetic to the it disleads intent of text.