Glenn's Space

Wearing earrings is just one minute part of a long list of items that shock parents and church leaders to death whenever their youngsters get one, or maybe worse, a new one.

It has long been a part of human history, with varying purposes at different epochs. It has been a symbol of physical strength for primal hunting societies. Later on, precious stones and metals were used as earrings in order to display elite status in society. However, questions have been raised as to its appropriateness on men.

Deuteronomy 22:5 says, “The woman shall not wear that which pertains unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord your God.” The same word translated “abomination” here is the same word used in in Lev. 18:22 and 20:13 to illustrate God’s view and feelings toward homosexuality.

The Bible warns about cross-dressing because God is not a God of confusion who would want culture and society to have blurred norms of masculinity and femininity. Ambiguity between the two genders he created is not in keeping with his original plan promulgated in Ge. 1:27.

This begs the question then: Does wearing earrings for males blur the line between God-designed femininity and masculinity? In order to answer this question, we have to determine whether or not wearing earrings is an exclusively feminine practice. Biblical history does not comment on this. Our contemporary times meanwhile show that the perception on wearing earrings depend on which nation-culture you’re looking at.

In the Philippines, guys who wear earrings are not necessarily perceived as homosexuals. However, many Christians, especially those who belong to adult or older generations find the practice repulsive or at least inappropriate. When asked, they would not necessarily connect it with immorality; they just find it an eyesore at the very least.

Romans 14 comes into the picture here. Paul warns us that if something we do causes some fellow believers to feel bad about church or stumble in some way, we should stop doing it. Thus, if there are people in your church who frown upon guys who wear earrings, then ban the practice! There’s no reason to argue in favor of a dispensable practice that might just adversely affect the church.

First Cor. 10:23 also says, “‘Everything is permissible’—but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible’—but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.”

If wearing earrings for guys is not constructive and causes strife between older and younger members of your church, the practical and biblical recourse is to discourage the practice!

The motive for wearing earrings also comes into question here. Fashion has a way of feeding vanity or giving a false sense of significance or confidence. If a person wears earrings only to look “astig” or just because he thinks he’ll be more attractive to society, that person must be compassionately educated on God’s divine plan for his life purpose.

Our original source of significance is God. His glory is our goal. Not our own satisfaction that may be fed through fashion statements that are not necessarily constructive to church life and unity.