Note: All Scripture quotations found in this article are from the text of the Authorized King James Version of the Bible.
The Bible teaches that we should not dress like the opposite sex. Men are not to have long hair, nor dress like women. Women are not to have short hair, nor dress like men. Of course, God would not be angry at a woman that has short hair because of an illness like cancer, but other than that the Bible is clear on the subject. If you go against God's word, you are being rebellious towards God.
1 Corinthians 11:14 "Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering."
Note: Gentiles are commanded by God not to have long hair, but that is not the case with Jewish men under the Law. Jesus Christ had long hair because the Jews let their hair grow long to show that they were a peculiar people (Lev. 19:27). The Jew had long hair and was circumcised, both of these are contrary to nature (Rom. 11:24, 1 Cor. 11:14).
Deuteronomy 22:5 "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God."
That being said, the principal applies to earrings also. Historically, earrings have always been a woman's apparel. Real men should not wear women apparel because it is unmanly and effeminate. Most of the men that wear earrings today are homosexuals, rockers, rappers, gang members and other evil influences. As Christian men, we should not look or act like the world.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 "Abstain from all appearance of evil."
1 John 2:15 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."
When the Bible mentions men wearing earrings, the context is mostly God's servants telling people to remove them (Judges 8:24-26).
Genesis 35:4 "And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem."
Exodus 35:22 "And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the LORD."
Numbers 31:50 "We have therefore brought an oblation for the LORD, what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, chains, and bracelets, rings, earrings, and tablets, to make an atonement for our souls before the LORD."
The story of the Golden Calf in Exodus 32 tells us that the calf used for idolatry was fashioned out of earrings. Earrings are connected to ungodliness and idolatry.
Other times when men are wearing earrings in the Bible, the context is slavery. It has never been desirable for men to wear earrings. If you are a man, unless you are someone's slave, you should not be wearing earrings.
Deuteronomy 15:16 "And it shall be, if he say unto thee, I will not go away from thee; because he loveth thee and thine house, because he is well with thee; 17 Then thou shalt take an aul, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever. And also unto thy maidservant thou shalt do likewise."
Exodus 21:5 "And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: 6 Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever."
In conclusion, men should not wear earrings because they are connected to rebellion, ungodliness, vanity, worldliness, slavery, idolatry and unmanliness. It is common sense for men to dress like men and women to dress like women. The only reason men are wearing earrings today is because of the world telling them it is alright to do so. One will have to make a choice to either serve God or the world. Sadly, most choose the world.
Matthew 6:24 "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
