Certain parts of the Bible cause more stir in our culture than others. Two weeks ago I preached the passage in 1 Timothy 2 that, among other things, gives instruction to women in the church. I was surprised to receive feedback about one particular point more than any of the others. After thinking about it, I wanted to clarify something I said because I feel I left the application too vague. To those whom I confused, I apologize. To those whom the Lord convicted, I say that I am convicted as well by this passage.
In 1 Timothy 2:9-10, Paul instructs Timothy about what women should wear: respectable apparel, modesty, and self-control. He says that good works are the most appropriate apparel for women to wear in the church. When Paul disparagingly mentions “braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire” he is pointing out something hard but necessary. In that culture, ornate hair bedecked with costly material sent certain signals. Women in the church at Ephesus were using the way they dressed to purposely send sexual signals or to send power signals. They were dressing “loudly” to call attention to themselves because their heart’s security lay in being desirable or being rich. But in God’s church, we find our ultimate identity as children of God in Christ. We do not find our identity in our attractiveness. We do not find our identity in displaying our wealth. We do not find our identity in our power or social clout. So when Paul shines a light on such a specific instance as braided hair in the Ephesian church, he is really shining a light into the heart asking, “Where do you find your true identity?”
Paul is consistent with his Master, Jesus. In Matthew 6:19-23, Jesus shines the same light into the heart asking about our relationship to our wealth and our sexual conduct. In v. 19 He says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth where moth and rust destroy, but store up for yourselves treasure in heaven.” He is clear that wealth on earth is not our identity. In the vv. 22-23 he intimates something about our sexual conduct. “The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is healthy your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” To be sure, men and women struggle with our eyes in different ways. We struggle with wealth in different ways. But this much is sure, we all struggle with finding our true identity in Christ.
Paul is not sexist - and I hope you think that I am not either - but he does not shrink back from shining this light specifically on the behavior of women in the Ephesian church. Both women and men can and must apply this passage to their lives. Today, how is the Holy Spirit using this passage to shine a light into your own heart and to ask, “Where is your treasure? Where is your identity?” I pray that each day as you dress yourself and look in the mirror, you find it in Christ.
In Him,
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