Is it permissible for Christians to wear wedding rings?

Would it surprise you to know that 150 years ago, most Protestants Christians did not wear any jewelry at all, including wedding rings? This symbol reportedly goes back to ancient Babylon, and perhaps even before this time, when a woman was bought as a slave. If she wasn’t a virgin, they would put a ring on her finger. Eventually, this practice made its way into Pagan Rome.

Obviously, multitudes of sincere Christians who wore wedding bands will be in heaven, but there is nothing in the Bible that supports the idea of wearing the symbol as a marker of marriage. You might hear all sorts of euphoric sermons on how it represents the “eternal circle of love,” but it’s all concocted by men.

Once Christians compromise with human traditions and make concessions to wear jewelry, there is no real end to it. What I have found as a pastor is that once a little hole in the dam appears, the dam will eventually break. Today, professed Christians are piercing and hanging multiple minerals all over their bodies. I don’t believe God wants us to do that; it’s just another custom to get you to buy stuff you don’t really need.

Because we wrestle with sin and temptation, now is not the time to glorify our exteriors. The supreme goal of the Christian is to attract attention to Christ, not to self. Decorating our mortal bodies with glittering gems usually springs from pride, which is diametrically opposed to the spirit and principles of Jesus. “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12).

The wearing of the wedding ring has become a widely accepted tradition. But if sincere seekers of God study this topic and are convicted to remove all jewelry from their body temples, God will give them the grace to follow Him above man’s popular tradition. “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition” (Mark 7:9).

Key Bible Texts

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; (1 Timothy 2:9 KJV)