Why shouldn’t a Christian male wear earrings?
Earrings serve a single primary purpose: artwork for the body.
But in that primary purpose, they often, but not always, serve a secondary purpose, to either:
- portray a feminine appearance, ou
- for men, to indicate to the public homosexual tendency or interest.
In the latter case, the scenarios are rather iffy and vague; some say a ring on the right ear is a blatant suggestion of homosexuality, others say either ear, while others say neither, or both. So take it as you will, it might mean something about that or it might not.
Both of these motivations are in contradiction to Biblical teaching. Men are to dress as men, and women like women, as Deuteronomy 22:5 says, “A woman must not put on men’s clothing, and a man must not wear women’s clothing. Anyone who does this is detestable in the sight of ‘I Am’, your God.” This is Old Testament text; Christians do not live by Old Testament law, however the principles of human behavior laws explained in the Old Testament serve as guidance for a believer because such behavior-related laws are inspired by the guidance of the same Spirit who fills the heart and mind of a New Testament born-again believer.
Similarly, communicating to the public a homosexual lifestyle or interest is in contradiction to Biblical teaching because willingly practicing homosexual behavior is in contradiction to the Bible, in numerous scriptures, both Old and New Testaments.
No entanto, I have known a number of male Christian people who neither intended to portray a feminine appearance nor intended to indicate to the public homosexual tendency or interest. They were probably naive.
If a Christian is not naive, but is aware, yet has no intentions to do such portrayal yet proceeds to wear earrings anyway, some might say that doing so is a blatant disregard for other believers and a tarnish of one’s witness. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 says, “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” 1 Corinthians 8, using an unrelated example but to apply a related principle, talks about how even though we are justified by grace, we can offend brethren who do not share our open-mindedness; “Be careful, no entanto, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.” One child sees an otherwise respected man wearing earrings, as a young Christian he might go home and start wearing lipstick, or reconsider his own act of repentance from sexual sin before a holy God. It doesn’t matter what the intentions of the man were; it can confuse a weak Christian and bring him into a mental or spiritual place of conflict.