GOD A JEWELLER Introduction The purpose of this discourse is to reflect on Gods attitude in regard to jewellery.

The discourse will provoke and challenge a whole lot of views in regard to jewellery as it prevails in the Christendom lifestyles and teachings. It is very important to emphasise that the discourse about jewellery is an engagement of a matter, which deals with standards of people. It is important to emphasise at this stage that standards can be reasonable and they can also be unreasonable. This discourse will attempt for the first time to examine jewellery as viewed by God in the Bible. This discourse will also demonstrate that God is a jeweller. Examination will also be done on the verses, which have been utilised from a long time in promote and support of abstinence from jewellery. Based on the biblical approach we will then reflect on what our attitude should be about jewellery. 1. Symbols and visions regarding Jewellery in the Bible

The Bible symbolises the women as people or church or apostate church. In the Bible these symbols apply in terms of the two books, Ezekiel and Revelation. The woman Gods people or Jerusalem or His Church

The Book of Ezekiel 16: 1 59 express about Jerusalem being symbolised as a woman. If one looks at verses 1 14, God cleanses Jerusalem or His people and adorn Jerusalem with (verse 10 13) expensive clothes, expensive food, adorn Jerusalem with ornaments, bracelets, necklace around the neck, ring in the nose, earrings in the ears, and a beautiful crown. Revelation 12: 1 brings forward a woman who represents Gods people. She was adorned with a crown of twelve stars. A crown is a jewellers ornament. The crown had stars instead of gemstones. This is an outstanding crown indeed. In the following books written by Paul, Peter, James and John emphasise the prize that will be received by all who persevere until the end. The promise is a crown of life. The crowns promised are the jewels from Gods own hand. (Philippians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 2: 19; 2 Timothy 4: 8; James 1: 12; 1 Peter 5: 4; Revelation 2: 10; 3:11; 6: 2; 14: 14) In Ezekiel 16 and Isaiah 61 God identifies himself with Jerusalem and makes Jerusalem pretty or beautiful bride. God is depicted decking the bride with jewels Isaiah 61: 10 Let me rejoice in the Lord with all my heart, let me exult in my God; for he has robed me in salvation as a garment and clothed me in integrity as a

cloak, like a bridegroom with his priestly garland, or a bride decked with jewels. Malachi 3:17 God regards His people as His jewels. This means God regards people as precious. The Apostate Church or institution

The book of Revelation 17:1 18, presents a vision of a mother of harlots. Whatever is depicted here is figurative and the emphasis again is on what the women represents. The woman also was dressed beautifully as in the book of Ezekiel 16. Similarities and differences between the two women The similarity between the two women is that they both adorned with jewellery. Both women are very beautiful. But they represent two different institutions. It will by a far shot to try and equate jewellery with being against God. In this both instances jewellery demonstrate the beauty and purity. The woman of Revelation 17 wore jewellery and all the most beautiful clothes, which give a sense of purity and beauty, whereas she is the opposite of the symbols that she wears. It is easy to interpret everything in regard to the woman in Revelation 17 if one is a moralist to be evil. It is easy to even try to relate jewellery to be evil and before coming to such conclusions it is important to understand what the Bible has to say about jewellery. At this point we cannot draw any conclusive response as to whether jewellery is evil or not based on the book of Revelation since it will be difficult to explain why God used jewellery in the Book of Ezekiel 16.

How the Patriarchs and other Bible characters used gold, silver and jewellery in the Old Testament
The craft of jewellery making probably developed at a very early period (Numbers 312:50; Hosea 2:13). Jewish men had a fondness for improving their personal appearance, and they often used jewellery to do this. Jewish men wore bracelets, rings, chains, and necklaces of various kinds. In the Near East, both sexes wore chains of gold for ornament and dignity. (Illustrated Manners and Customs of the Bible J.I. Packer, M.C. Tenney (editors), Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, 1980, p.481). Hebrew women wore bracelets, necklaces, earrings, nose rings, and gold chains. The Bible first mentions womens jewellery when Abrahams servant presented earrings and bracelets to Rebekah (genesis 24: 22). Jeremiah well described the Jewish womens attraction to jewellery when he said, Can a maid forget her ornaments? (J.I. Packer, M.C. Tenney, p. 483).

The kind of jewellery, which the patriarchs wore. Men wore the following kind of jewellery: Bracelets, Rings, Necklaces of various kinds The kind of jewellery which women wore was the following: Bracelets, necklaces, earrings, nose rings, and gold chains 1. Bracelets Both Hebrew women and men wore bracelets (Gen. 24:30). Today, Near Eastern people consider a womens bracelet to be a badge of high status or royalty, as it probably was in Davids time (2 Samuel 1:10). The royal bracelet was probably made of precious material, such as gold, and was worn at the wrist, as it is today (Ezekiel. 16:11). Most womens bracelets were made in full circle to slip over the hand. Some bracelets were made in two pieces that opened on a hinge and closed from several centimetres wide to slender bands (J. I. Packer, M.C. Tenney, pp.483, 484). 2. Chains In the Near East, both sexes wore chains of gold for ornament and dignity. Government officials placed such chains on Joseph and Daniel as symbols of sovereignty (Genesis 41:42; Daniel 5:29) (J.I. Packer, M.C. Tenney, p.481). 3. Rings The Jews wore a cord around the neck or on the finger. Men also wore rings or bands on the upper arms (2Samuel 1:10). The Jew used a ring as a seal and a token of his authority (Genesis 41:42; Daniel 6: 17). With his signet ring he would stamp his personal seal on official documents. It could be worn on a cord around the neck or on the finger. Men also wore rings or bands on the upper arms (2Samuel 1:10). (J.I. Packer, M.C. Tenney, p.481). 4. Anklets Women wore anklets as commonly as bracelets, and these were made of much the same material (Isaiah 3:16, 18,20). Some anklets made a tinkling musical sound as the woman walked. Women of high rank wore hollow anklets filled with pebbles, so that the rattling sound could be heard when they walked. (J.I. Packer, M.C. Tenney, p.484).

5. Earrings Among the Hebrews and the Egyptians, only the women wore earrings (Judges 8:24). There is no certainty about the form of Hebrew earrings, but Scripture passages suggest that they were round (Genesis 24: 22). (J.I. Packer, M.C. Tenney, p.484). 6. Nose Jewels The womens nose ring or nose jewel was one of the most ancient ornaments of the East. The ring was made of ivory or precious metals, often with jewels in them. At times, these nose jewels were more than 6 cm in diameter and hung down over the womens lips (Ezekiel 16: 12). The custom of wearing nose rings still exists in some parts of the Near East, mainly among dancing girls and the lower class of people. (J.I. Packer, M.C. Tenney, p.484).

3. Uses of Jewellery
The patriarchs and characters used jewellery for the following: Wealth possession Dowry Adornment of the bride for wedding Idol worship Dedication to the Lord Beauty Investiture 1. Jewellery was made out of precious metals silver and gold included. The status of wealth was measured by the possessions including gold and silver. (Gen. 13:2; Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver and gold. 1Kings 10: 14 29 Outlines the wealth of Solomon of things made out of gold, silver, and including gold and silver. 2 Chronicles 32: 27) Hezekiah was a king of great wealth including jewellery. Verse 29 says, God had indeed given him vast riches. Esther 1: 6, 7 King Ahasuerus (XerxesI) showed off his wealth. The lives of Kings were surrounded by the wealth of gold and silver in the books of 1 Kings and 2Kings and also 1 Chronicles and 2Chronicles.

2 Samuel 1: 10; 12: 30; 14: 25; 2 Kings 11: 12; 1 Chronicles 20: 2; 2 Chronicles 23: 11; Esther 1: 11; 2: 17; 6: 8; 8:15. The kings and queens put also on golden crowns. 2. Jewellery was used for the purpose of dowry exchange. Genesis 24: 53 (And the servant brought out articles of silver and articles of gold, garments, gave them to Rebekah; he also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother. Articles, ornaments that is jewellery.)

2. Jewellery was used for the adornment of the bride or the wedding Celebration Esther 2; Songs of Solomon 1: 11 We will make you braided plaits of gold set with beads of silver. Brides applied cosmetics and very expensive perfumes and beautiful clothes.

4. The Jews used jewellery for the purpose of idolatry and pride Jewellery was used for idol worship. Genesis 35:1 4 (God said to Jacob, Go up to Bethel and settle; build an altar there to the God who appeared to you were running away from your brother Esau. So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, Rid yourself of the foreign gods which you have among you, purify yourselves, and see your clothes are mended. We are going to Bethel, so that I can set up an altar there to the God who answered me in the day of my distress, and who has been with me all the way that I have come. So they handed over to Jacob all the foreign gods in their possession and the rings from their ears, and he buried them under the terebinth tree near Shechem. The amulets were referred to as earrings or pendants suspended from chains around the necks of men, were also used as charms for their own protection against spirits. The amulet had sacred words or the figure of a god engraved on it (J.I. Packer, M.C. Tenney, p.481, 484).

5. What God hates is when people worship idols (fornication). One reason why God removed Israelites from Egypt was because of idol worship. Whenever one nation subjugates another, the last front of humiliation is worship. Idol worship and the culture of the ruling nation were used to control those who were conquered. As long as one was under another nation, one would not be in a position to be free from its influences. Even after liberation from being dominated by another nation, the learned habits from the former rulers are hard to break away from. In a situation affecting the Israelites, using jewellery to make idols and worship was a common practice. God also instructed the Israelites before they left Egypt that they should annihilate all the nations in Palestine due to the practise by those nations to worship

idols. Jewellery due to its beauty was used for the purpose of making idols. Ezekiel 16: 15 19; 23: 26; Exodus 32: 1-34; Hosea 2:13 But you trusted to your beauty and prostituted your fame; you committed fornication, offering yourself freely to any passer-by for your beauty to become his. You took some of your clothes and decked a platform for yourself in gay colours and there you committed fornication; you had intercourse with him for your beauty to become his. You took the splendid ornaments of gold and silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself male images with which you committed fornication. There are many other verses in the books of the Bible that we have left out where God condemns the usage of gold, silver and jewels for the purpose of making idols. Exodus 33: 3 6 (Israelites stripped off their jewellery and mourn when God told them that He will not go up in their midst, because they were an obstinate people, lest He destroy them. God was angry because of idol worship (golden calf made of jewellery) by Israelites.) Jewellery represented beauty and happiness. Whenever, people mourned, they removed their jewellery as a sign of their sorrow. Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, because you are an obstinate people, lest I destroy you on the way. When the people heard this sad word they went into mourning, and none of them put on his ornaments. For the Lord had said to Moses, Say to the sons of Israel, You are an obstinate people; should I go up in your midst for one moment, I would destroy you. Now therefore, put off your ornaments from you, that I may know what I will do with you. So the sons of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments from Mount Horeb onward. 6. God hated disobedience from His children and amongst things that God put forward as a punishment to the Jews was that all jewellery would be stripped from their women. Isaiah 3: 18 24 The book of Isaiah chapter 3:1 26 expresses what God will do to the Jews because of their disobedience. God was going to put the Jews to shame and disgrace by taking away the great wealth that He has given them. (Isaiah 3: 18 24 outlines in detail what God is going to take away. Isaiah also gives a graphic picture of the fashionably ornamented woman of Old Testament times (J.I. Packer, M. C. Tenney, p.483)

7. Jewellery was used as a transfer of power upon successful Investiture of a grand vizier

Genesis 41:42 Pharaoh said to Joseph, I hereby give you authority over the whole land of Egypt. He took off his signet-ring and put it on Josephs finger, he had him dressed in fine linen, and hung a gold chain round his neck. The first act of investiture was the presentation of a signet ring, which was a scarab set with swivel on a band of gold. A scarab is a stone or pottery imitation of the black beetle (scarabaeus sacer) very common in Egypt. By a curious symbolism this beetle became the emblem of the sun god in his function of creator and preserver; and by magic the sun god was compelled to preserve whatever was inscribed on the base of the scarab. Names or other personal symbols were the most usual inscriptions, and thus the scarab could be used as a seal for stamping ones name on documents or other possessions. King gave validity to laws by using such a scarab seal, or conveyed authority to officials by giving them a ring on which royal insignia were engraved. A king had to have as many scarabs as he had responsible officials. In king Tutankhamens tomb over 2000 rings were discovered. When therefore the Pharoah gave a ring to Joseph, he was not presenting him with a gewgaw to please his vanity, but was empowering him to do business in the kings name; it was giving him complete royal authority. Decorations with gold chains or gold collars was the usual way of rewarding officers who pleased the king The cloth was plain white but necessary colour was added by embroidered fittings, by elaborate collars of semi-precious stones and by an abundance of jewellery of which the gold chain placed about Josephs neck was an example. (Daily Life in Bible Times, By A.E. Bailey Charles Scribners sons, New York, pp. 67, 68, 1943) 8. When nations were defeated one of the major loots or booty was silver, gold and jewellery. These will also be dedicated to the Lord. Joshua 6:19 24 But all the silver and gold and articles of bronze and iron are holy to the Lord; they shall go into the treasury of the Lord. And they burned the city with fire, and all that was in it. Only the silver and gold and articles of bronze and iron, the put into the treasury of the house of the Lord. Joshua 22: 8 and said to them, Return to your tents with great and with very much livestock, with silver, gold, bronze, iron, and with many clothes; divide the spoil of your enemies with your brothers.

2 Samuel 8: 10, 11 Toi sent Joram his son to King David to greet him and bless him because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him; for Hadadezer had been at war with Toi. And Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold and of bronze. King David also dedicated these to the Lord, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he had subdued. 2 Chronicles 20: 25 Jehoshaphat and his men collected the booty containing amongst all other things jewellery as spoils from the war.

9. Jewellery, gold, and silver were used for ransom Numbers 31:50 Offering to the Lord for ransom. So we have brought the gold ornaments, the armlets, bracelets, finger-rings, earrings, and pendants that each man has found, to offer them before the Lord as a ransom for our lives. This is clear that jewellery was used by the Israelites for adornment, however jewellery was also used as offerings of ransom to the Lord after collecting the boot from the war. 1Samuel 6: 8, 15 The Philistines also offered jewellery as a ransom.

4. God instructs on the usage of gold, silver and jewellery

1. When the Israelites left Egypt, God told them to ask for jewellery from their masters, and Egyptian neighbours Exodus 3: 21, 22 Further I will bring this people into such favour with the Egyptians that, when you go, you will not go empty-handed. Every woman shall ask her neighbour or any woman who lives in her house for jewellery of silver and gold and for clothing. Load your sons and daughters with them, and plunder Egypt. In this verse parents are advised by God to adorn their sons and daughters with jewellery. Exodus 11:2 Let the people be told that men and women alike should ask their neighbours of silver and gold. Exodus 12:35

Meanwhile the Israelites had done as Moses had told them, asking the Egyptians for jewellery of silver and gold and for clothing.

Exodus 35:22 Men and women alike came and freely brought clasps, earrings, finger-rings, and pendants, gold ornaments of every kind, every one of them presenting a special gift of gold to the Lord (to build the tabernacle) 2 God instructed the usage of gold, silver and jewellery for the building of the tabernacle and the equipment. Exodus 25: 1 27: 21; 31; 35: 10 35; 37 38; Lev. 5; Lev. 27; Num. 7; 10: 2; 24: 13; 31: 22; Deut. 7: 25; Ezra 1; 2: 69; 5: 14; 6: 5; Ezra 7 & 8. The tabernacle was decked with jewels; the ark, the altar, the lamp stands were made and decked with pure gold. All other ornaments of the tabernacle were also made of gold, silver and other precious gems. The Tabernacle was very beautiful and royal in appearance. 3 God instructed the kind of jewellery the priest and high priests were supposed to put on Exodus 28: 1 43; 39: 1 43; Leviticus 8:9 The Priests were dressed and adorned with very expensive jewellery. The High Priests was highly decorated with jewellery. Exodus 29:6; Exodus 39:30 - The golden crown jewel for the High Priests. Below is the detail outline of the jewellery, gold and other precious stones as stated in the verses already stated above: 1. Material of cloth was of gold, purple, blue and scarlet and also fine linen to make ephod of gold, blue, purple and scarlet and fine twisted line. 2. Two onyx stones, with six names of the sons of Israel on each according to their birth engraved and set in filigree settings of gold and placed on the shoulders of the ephod. 3. Two chains of pure gold, twisted cordage work put on the filigree settings of gold 4. Breastplate made of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet material and fine twisted line, with four fours of gemstones mounted on it. The first row consists of ruby, topaz and emerald. The second row consists of turquoise, sapphire and diamond. The third row consists of jacinth, agate and amethyst. The fourth row consists of beryl, onyx and jasper. All the stones set in gold filigree 5. Two rings of gold at the ends of the breast plate, two rings of gold on the edge of the breastplate towards the inner side of the ephod, two rings of gold on the bottom of the shoulder pieces of

the ephod on the front of it and two cords of gold on the two rings, by which to bind the breast plate by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a blue cord to ensure that the breastplate does not become loose from the ephod 6. Golden bells and pomegranate golden bells all around the hem of the robe to ensure that they ring to detect the movement of the high priest in the most holy place. 7. Pure gold plate with engravings on it of a seal Holy to the Lord fasten on the turban 8. Golden crown to be put on the turban on the head of the high Priest Can you imagine about how Christ the high Priest of an excellent ministry, who sits by the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens how he is dressed up? (Hebrews 8:1 6.) Check the book of Revelation 19: 12 many diadems (crowns depicting a conqueror) instead of a crown of thorns. 4. The New Testament verses that are related to Jewellery 1Peter 3:1-7 Practical Advice to married women. The writer of the book of 1 Peter 3: 1 - 7 insists that Christian women should be more concerned about the beauty of their characters than their outward appearances: Your adornment should not be the external sort braiding of the hair, wearing of gold trinkets, putting on of gowns. Moralists in almost every age have inveighed against the preoccupation of superficial women with dress, coiffure, jewellery, etc. Check also (Isaiah 3: 18 24 (a usual preferred reference with a scathing and minutely detailed indictment applied out of context) The elaboration in hairstyles, make up, dress and personal jewellery in the 1st and 2nd centuries, is eloquently attested by the literature and art of the period. The closely similar admonition in 1 timothy 2: 9, 10 suggests that both passages draw on stock catechetical material, and also that the congregations addressed included a number of well-off women. Some of the later writers such as Clement Alex, Tertullian and Cyprian took these texts literally as a wholesale ban on feminine finery, but the real object of the apostolic authors was a constructive one, to inculcate a proper sense of values. There are hints in the gospels (Mk 14: 1 - 11; Lk. 15:33) that our Lords attitude on such matters was neither rigorist nor negative. 1 Peter 3: 4 argues that the adornment appropriate for Christian wives is the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle, tranquil spirit. It is obvious that the Bible does not suggest that Christian women should be naked as it does not outline what the real clothes fit for Christian women are. It simply switches on to focus

on spiritual clothes, instead of physical clothes or adornment. By that it does not suggest that Christian women should not be adorned, but emphasises that their hearts should be right, because what matters is not the outside but the inside, the heart. (Blacks New Testament Commentaries (The Epistles of Peter and of Jude by H.N. D. Kelly p.129, A & C Black (Publishers) Limited, 1990, London) James 2: 2 5 The problem of people is that they respect people because of their outward appearance, wealth. This is what James is criticising such behaviour of selective respect but not jewellery and being dressed well.

5. God is a Jeweller
It is interesting to note that God created gemstones and precious stones, which are used for jewellery, in the beginning. One of the rivers Pishon flowed around the whole land of Havillah, where there is gold. The kinds of gold found were, bdellium and the onyx (Genesis 2: 11, 12). Exodus 28 has already been outlined. The focus now will be on the books of Ezekiel and Revelation. Ezekiel 28: 12, 13 Note the detail description of the jewels, which Lucifer used to be adorned with in Eden. You had the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: The ruby, the topaz and the diamond; the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper; the lapis lazuli, the turquoise, and the emerald; And the workmanship of your settings and sockets, was you. On the day that you were created they were prepared. Note the similarity of the precious stones or jewels, which were found on the breastplate of the high priest in the book of Exodus 28. This is jewellery of the highest quality. Revelation 21: 10 27 This book provides a description of the New Jerusalem as seen in the vision by John. Note the jewels as outlined in verses 18 21. And the material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper; the second sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelve, amethyst.

And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

The books that have just been referred to portray God as a Master Crafter of Jewels and with a high quality taste of the most beautiful jewels. Since God is a jeweller and the discourse has quoted extensively and in detail from the Bible. Gods sense of beauty has not escaped human imagination and till today, the gemstones and precious stones are appreciated at varying levels from simple material appreciation to complex idol worship. However whatever the attitude of humankind is about jewellery, does not make what God made to be sinful, but what is sinful is the predisposition of human kind towards jewellery. A knife in the hands of children of God is a blessing, because it will be used for constructive purposes to empower and perpetuate life. However, the same knife in the hands of the evildoers becomes a dangerous tool of destruction. The question is can you blame the knife? The same argument holds for jewellery. What is more interesting is that God is the creator and the source of jewels in creation and has promoted the holy use of jewellery over the centuries, even Jesus Christ did not have a problem referring to the use of ring (jewellery) as a symbol of love to his son in Lk. 15: 22. Lucifer was also adorned with Jewels from the day he was created, before sin entered the earth, and the New Jerusalem will be of city decked with Jewels. Whatever is consecrated and chosen for the Lord or expression of our feelings to what God has done or given to us, can never be idolatry. Idolatry is replacing our allegiance to God by things created by God or made by man. Jewels are like a knife and depends on the hands that holds them. What is found in the Bible being condemned by God significantly is the usage of jewellery for idolatry purpose. There are many verses and passages to that effect. However, moralists rush for such verses to use them as the means to the end, that is to say since some people have the same tendencies to use jewellery for idolatry purpose, therefore Christians should not put on jewellery, since they should be unique and should not be confused with the idolaters. Some reasons to an extent of equating jewellery to sin, and this are farfetched and irrelevant; there is no justification to such wild ejaculations, since there is no scriptural support to such claims.

There is no passage or verse anywhere in the Holy Scriptures where God has a problem with people wearing jewellery. Since from the Bible we cannot find the answer of jewellery being wrong and should not be used by Christians, where is this claim imported?

6. Socio cultural and political domination versus the pursuit of Truth

This section will provide one of the reasons why some of the Christians go such extend of trying to Christianise and demonise things such as jewellery, attire, make up, etc. It is very much interesting to note the trends of these thoughts, which to a certain extend owe their existence to the history of the missionaries from Europe and America, who brought with them their Euro American influences , tendencies, and values from their cultural backgrounds. The missionaries failed to bring the Word of the Lord without the contamination of their cultural background. The western approach to life and even the Word of God is systematic and abstract, while the African approach to life is holistic and experiential. Western thought relate to God in an abstract way, while Africans approach God in an experiential way. The whole lifestyle of Africans is surrounded by Spiritual flavour, while to the Western person, this approach is limited to space and time. Another influence from the Western culture is to categorise material things of beauty and label them in such a bad way as to discourage Africans not to have association with them. African attire has been condemned and replaced by western attire, which to this date many Christians still think that to wear a jacket or western suit and a tie is holier than wearing a kaftan or African dresses and suits. In fact if we were to go to the scriptures African attire such as kaftans are closer to the days of Christ. Consider also of Minceka ( robes of variety of material and styles found throughout Africa worn by both men and women) and xibhelani (Tsonga speaking people of Lipompo Province, South Africa, traditional skirt) are they not more decent tan the contemporary dresses of Western creation, which are regarded as a celebration of femininity and beauty. The same approach of demonising everything that Africans used and possessed, apply to precious stones and gemstones and jewellery. When the Europeans came to Africa, with their American counterparts, they realised the wealth, which Africans possessed and were filled with greed to this date. They could not appreciate the fact that Africans were wealthy, and they also did not like the fact that Africans had jewellery of the highest quality and this why they colonised Africa. Part and parcel of colonisation was the corruption of religion and branding everything evil. For instance they would interpret verses in the Bible such as store your treasure in heaven where rust and thieves would not corrupt or break and steal; or that it is not going to be easier for the rich man to enter

heaven than it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle (Matthew 19:24).

Thus, Africans gave away their wealth and jewellery and their lands because they wanted to go to heaven. Those Africans who refused and resisted the colonisers were crushed by the might of the European military machine to dispossess them of everything that they ever owned. The missionaries have continued to promote their agenda of robbing Caesar what belongs to Caesar, through offerings and tithes, which Africa to the head offices of Europe and America, under the guise that it belongs to God - which means that those Europeans and Americans are the God of Africans (Read more about continuing colonisation in disguise from missionary colonisers, by the same author in the book Back to Zion). It is therefore sin for an African to own a little piece of jewellery. The modern and contemporary systems currently in place have sophisticated the acquisitions of the precious stones by Europeans and Americans to ensure that Africans do not have economic viability. Thus, the little jewellery in the hands of Africans cannot be compared to what is in the hands of Europe and Americans including African Antiques and relics, which have been stolen from Africans. Thus, the subject matter of jewellery as twisted by some Christians has nothing to deal with Gods problem about jewellery, but have everything to deal with economy. This subject matter has also everything to deal with cultural domination. The wealth of every culture is also measured by its art and craft (this includes jewellery). Cultural domination is one of the reasons that has to do with reason why some Christians (though even Africans, black like me, still claim that jewellery is sin, due to being misled by the missionaries who own a lot of jewellery, without revealing). Cultural domination has included among doctrines standards for Christian behaviour. Amongst the standards that have been included for Christian behaviour is not wearing jewellery. Standards will always exist as long as people exist. Standards are introduced for the purpose of achieving certain acceptable practice and behaviour. Standards involve feelings, emotions, attitudes, views, approaches, and reasons of what is acceptable practice or behaviour, which do not even constitute or contribute anything to salvation. Standards are overstretched to such an extent that they end up constituting and being conceived as the criteria of determining who is a Christian and not and who shall be saved or not if we are not careful. It should also be pointed out some people have come to regard standard as the Gospel.

To stretch standards to have a part in salvation is an exaggeration. However most of the times pulpits are being used as the avenues to proclaim the standards instead of the Gospel

Standards are derived from various sources such as the society; culture; subcultures, and beliefs. The problem with the standards is that they are not universally true, but becomes true to those who want to believe them to be such. Standards are usually introduced to preserve some sense of uniqueness, order, discipline, perception, tradition, culture, rituals, and beliefs. Standards are usually imposed to the unsuspecting individuals who have been introduced to believe that whatsoever their mentors, coaches and leaders tell them is the sole truth. Standards are also appreciated by admirers or fans, who will hero-worship an individual who is an achiever or have great influence or knowledgeable. Whenever a person believes in another unquestionably, that person is in the danger of losing his or her identity by using that person as a role model. Students will always emulate their teachers, just as protges will emulate their mentors. I know of a certain teacher at a Christian school in Eastern Cape Province, Transkei, Butterworth, in a church institution once called Bethel College who was and is still influential and philosophical in his approach to life and his application and teachings to students and church members at large. The way this man was so influential he won himself many admirers amongst the male students. Students will emulate him the way he speaks, reason, teach, open the Bible, and also his handwriting. Whenever an individual believes in another person and put his or her trust upon that individual, him or her will tend to think within the narrow confines of that person and cannot think outside the box and be critical. Whoever challenges the standards and norms set by the individuals role model, one is regarded as an infidel. Many of the standards set by religious institutions have developed to constitute a cult. Hence, there is no church that can successfully absolve itself from not being a cult. Whenever a church stops pioneering and critically pursuing the path of searching for the truth, such a church or religious institution becomes a cult. Why, because it has come to regard its history, and its past as the ideal heritage to be upheld for all the future generations. It is common knowledge that every history and past is contaminated with errors. Cults are so vigilant to try and defend even their pioneers even when their pioneers were wrong in their teachings. It is acceptable and it is appropriate to admit that there is nothing that comes from any human being that is error free. There is always

an element of truth mixed with error, speculation with the reality, fiction and facts.

What standards do not encourage is the spirit of earnest seeker, but they promote blind followers. Standards are introduced to maintain some control and limit people to be free from serving their Lord. All church members will acknowledge that any church member who wants to serve the Lord wholeheartedly is always limited by the constitutions or church manuals, or any other rules and regulations, which require the individuals to first ask for permission from the elders to go and preach the gospel. While the authority to go and preach the Gospel to the entire world has been has issued by Jesus Christ. This discourse in many ways than one is an evaluation of standards in general and jewellery specifically. This discourse should be able to challenge earnest seekers of the truth to rise from their slumber and expose the truth while being exposed to the truth. The true and honest seeker always learn and critically evaluate all the truths that are presented to him or her without being paranoid by heroism. A true and honest seeker will always challenge a status qou, and not absorb everything like a sponge or repeat everything like a parrot. A true and honest seeker is vigilant to focus on the majors and not on the minors, in the Gospel and not in the standards. A true and honest seeker does not follow the majority but pursue knowledge and is not a respecter of persons. An earnest seeker has a spirit of revolution and a vigilant approach to the truth and cannot be contained or easily challenged. An earnest seeker cannot be bought or sold out of the enquiry of the truth, but will remain steadfast to the pursuit of truth as the nail to the wood, though the heavens fall.

7. Conclusion
If this discourse leaves you with a lot of questions to the author feel free to engage the author as this will sharpen our thinking and enrich our Christian experience. The author has embarked on liberating Christians from the chains

of cultural domination that makes them irrelevant and of no earthly use. What should make a Christian unique is not appearance, but it is Jesus Christ. There is nothing one can do to be regarded as unique, but what Jesus Christ has said that - By these all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13: 35).

Jesus does not say people will know that we are His disciples by our attire, by our food, by our singing, by our preaching, by our doctrine, by our denomination or church. The only thing that makes a Christian unique is one, which many Christians fail dismally in doing to love one another. Judgment that will determine the destination of every human being is based on the acts of love, and not appearance, attire, church, food, denomination, doctrines, singing, and preaching (Matthew 25: 31 46). Note what Jesus answer to the question of the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:18, 19). The response is about love for the neighbour as one love oneself as a condition to obtain eternal life. The Gospel is about John 3:16, Gods love for the world. Those who live the gospel will love God and fellow man (Matthew 22:37 39). The challenge is for Christians to grow up and stop majoring in minors and major in majors. The major is the gospel. The Gospel is complete and cannot be aided or supplemented by standards, which have a lot to do with culture than God. For further questions or comments you are welcomed to contact me at this Email mkasiw@ananzi.co.za; mkasiw@webmail.co.za or 082 639 5722