Between a Father and HIS daughter

Why I Use “AVON” No More

This morning, as I sat pondering over 1 Corinthians 13:6 regarding love…

“Love does not rejoice in iniquity.”

…I decided to look up the definition of iniquity, and in doing so, I was reminded of something that I once shared  several years ago, when I was on Facebook. It was a real shocker to me then, and it is still a shocker now.

I knew that, for all of my Christian friends, I need to share this here.

But I also feel that this is something that those who have connected to me, due to my content, even though they might not be Christian, can benefit from knowing too.

Why?

Because I studied marketing and, for me, what frustrates me about what I’m about to share is the thought of “the intent” of the company in choosing the name they chose to brand.

Did they think we were stupid?

Were they purposely trying to cause us to curse ourselves, like what Balak through Balaam’s counsel did to the Israelites?

It’s a matter that I believe we can all appreciate because the question that we all would have would then be …

Why?

Here is what I discovered that alarmed me then, and now

Understanding the definition of Iniquity, what I didn’t expect was the word for iniquity that I would find in a different language.

Imagine how shocked I was to discover that the Hebrew word for iniquity is Avon.

This was for real my response, lol

Why would it matter to me?


Avon used to be my favorite makeup company brand. I had everything: lipsticks,  eye shadows and pencils, fingernail polish, perfumes, and more.

When I learned what AVON meant in Hebrew, it frustrated me because I felt like I had been smearing myself with iniquity, putting it all over my face and scenting my skin with it unknowingly. 

I like makeup and perfume.

You should have seen me combing through my house looking for all the “Avon” products that I had – from makeup to lotions, even to my favorite perfumes. It all had to go.

When I was on social media (Facebook to be exact), after learning this, I definitely shared it. 

Why?

Accountability – a 20-year lesson that I learned the importance of.

I am accountable before the Lord King Jesus Christ to warn.

Of course, the majority did not understand the seriousness of what I was exposing. Most people would think,  and say, that it’s just makeup, or lotion, or perfume.

But is that really the case?

We are destroyed by a lack of knowledge and, in many cases, a lack of wisdom in how to apply the knowledge.

[Lately, I’ve been paying attention to learn to read, write, and speak the language Hebrew  (which is the original language of man before the language was split up) using an app called Duolingo.  You can learn any language using the app, and it’s fun.]

At the time that I learned what I did about the word AVON, I was not learning to speak the language of Hebrew, nor was it a desire of my heart. That benefit was to come later in my life. 

So, why was this such an issue of importance for me?

Because it was a deceptive practice in which we who used the product was deceived into applying a word curse over ourselves unknowingly.

What I am about to say next is not a judgment. The purpose is simply to give a visual that will help with understanding why this matter IS one of serious concerns.

Have you ever seen a person who loves tattoos so much that they tattooed their face?

(Initially, I was going to share some pictures  of ones who tattooed their face, but I didn’t want it to be misunderstood why I shared such a picture.)

Now, imagine that this is what we are doing, in the spirit,  as we apply INIQUITY (I meant AVON) on our faces and skin.

We need to guard our gates: ear gates, eye gates, mouth gates, nose gates, for they are passage ways to the chambers of our mind and our heart.

In the natural, we simply think we are enhancing our beauty. But is that the case?

We are told to walk in the spirit and not in the flesh. Doing so is for our protection and it reveals much.

 

For instance, for those of us who desire to be in a good relationship with God; for those of us who want to offer to God an offering that is a “sweet aroma,” it should matter to us how we present ourselves.

We are to present our bodies as living sacrifices, Holy and acceptable to God.  Can I really do that when I’m smearing iniquity on my face?

I am one who formally lived for Avon. It was my makeup brand of choice. I spent hundreds of dollars in buying products from this company. Their Haiku fragrances were one of my favorites, and I owned both the green and the blue fragrances from that line.

I never sold AVON, though I remember wanting to. I am so thankful that I was kept from that accountability.

Today, I have repented, and I denounced all of the years I bought and wore it. I threw away all of what I found that I had, and to this day I always check to make sure that I do not receive any Avon products when I am gifted smell goods or beauty products from those who are not aware of the underlying meaning of the word AVON.

(I think I got everything out of my house. If I did not, Lord Jesus Christ,  please open my eyes to find any products that have been hidden to me previously.)

Let me make this clear: There is absolutely nothing wrong with wearing makeup. I do wear it from time to time.

I put some eye makeup on this weekend but ended up washing the majority of it off before leaving out. I’ve gotten used to, and like, how I look without makeup. You can still see a little white liner under my brows. The rest is just the lighting on my skin after I wiped the eyeshadow off of my eyes.

Now let me emphasize once again that in this post, I am not talking against wearing of makeup in general. I am addressing the brand AVON and the fact that in Hebrew, the word AVON means INIQUITY.

Yes, this is a big deal because a lot of thought goes into choosing names for products.

I studied this in school as a part of my Master’s degree in marketing and advertising.

Listen, makeup is a big industry, and it is worn in other countries. The wearing of makeup has been around long before the company Avon came into existence.

Now consider this: when some businesses like restaurant chains, such as McDonald’s, go into business in other countries, they take into consideration what meaning the various product names would convey in the other countries because they wouldn’t want to offend.

So know that at no time would AVON be an acceptable brand in Israel, Iraq, or any of the neighboring countries that speak Hebrew or Arabic because who would purposely put iniquity on their faces or rub it into their skin.

Now, I focused on Hebrew and Aramaic speaking countries. But, look at what I just found in relation to what the word AVON would convey in other foreign countries…

This is how it is portrayed in the United Kingdom.
This not only shows us what people think about it in Scotland, but it also lets us know that Avon is a GLOBAL  brand.
And now for the Greek speaking individuals, Avon represents perversion.

So, you mean to tell me that this company just randomly chose the name AVON for their brand name without knowing what it meant in other languages???

Miss me with that foolishness.

You mean to tell me that they didn’t do the research on the name; that they did not look up the name to see what it meant?

For real, you want me to believe that?

Yet, amongst the transvestites  in the United Kingdom, apparently it’s a big deal to the point we are told that many of them sell the product because of what it means

I had to share this again because I can see AVON trying to excuse themselves as if they did not know, and I’m ready to call them on it – even if I have to stand alone in doing so. This company is treacherous because they did know what they were doing.

Many years ago, the reason I chose the brand, AVON, was because it was cheap.  AVON was a brand that I could afford on my budget, in comparison to the Mary Kay brand, which was a little more expensive back in the day, but was a better brand for the darker complexions.

Now, if I want to wear makeup, I find it best to just go to the store and buy what I want – which is what I now do. (I now have to find a fragrance that I like.)

What annoys me the most about this scenario and similar ones like it is that people take advantage of our ignorance.

Big business has played on our not knowing. They have done things in the name of making money with no concern to the consumer.

So much is continually being exposed about Big Business and how it has had no concern for us.

Regarding Avon…

I am reminded of the story of the Moabite King Balak summoning Balaam to curse the people of God because he was afraid of them. (Found in the book of Numbers chapters 22-24)

Balaam couldn’t curse the people of God, so he informs King Balak of how to get the people to curse themselves, and the women are sent in to seduce the men and get them to worship false gods.

Similarly, today, in our not knowing the significance of the name Avon, we have rubbed it all over our faces and bodies, and in the spirit, what have we been saying to God unknowingly.

Yes, this is very offensive to me.

And yes, I have separated myself from this company.

But though I am away from it, is that enough.

Remember I started off by saying that I was soaking in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 regarding what the Bible says about Love

Do you see where it says, “It does not seek its own?”

This means that if I love you, then I am going to warn you of  what I find that is harmful to your well-being.

Now, let’s get this clear:

My loving you enough to warn you does not take away from your free will to not listen to the warning.

I love you.

But it’s up to you to decide for yourself on this

ABASilence Ministries

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6 responses to “Why I Use “AVON” No More”

    • Wow!. Thank you for sharing. Its so easy to feel as if we are alone, or being extra. But to find that this is confirmation for others, like yourself, makes me thank our Heavenly Father Yahweh, through King Jesus Christ (Yeshua) for waking me up to see these things and then for giving me the courage and ability (grace) to speak it in a way that others can understand too.

      Through your comment I have been encouraged to continue to be obedient to speak as the Lord directs. So I want to thank you. 🌻

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  2. Jodi, my name is Alice.
    I am happy that I have discovered your blog.
    All glory to God, Jesus Christ, our King and Messiah for the work that He’s doing in your life, mine and His Church!
    I too found out last year (I think) that AVON is like you said up here. Someone from the church, a lady, who teaches us what she receives from the Holy Spirit told us the meaning of this word and I have searched (like the Bereans :)) on Google. True!
    And, wow!
    Today I read that what God gave you -Theartisanspen – come from Exodus…almost crying…
    Recently, I guess this year, I was in such a good way impressed by Oholiab and Bezalel that I said to myself, if I’m gonna mary someday (with the man of God, chosen by Him for me) and have a boy – he will be called one of these names (except the Lord tells me another :)). But, if not, it won’t be a problem, just like Apostle Paul said.
    Such an encouraging words you put here! Hallelujah!
    It is so wonderful and boosting our faith when we see revelations that others received from God and we have them too (or viceversa)!
    I also prayed that I want to be a pencil in God’s hand!
    Blessings, sister in Christ!

    Amen!

    Alice – from Romania
    (alisuk_777@yahoo.com)

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    • Thank you so much for sharing. It was really encouraging to hear your thoughts. It’s been a while since I’ve shared here. I’ve been so busy uploading videos from my studies to my YouTube (@TheArtisansPen). Your comment was the reminder that I needed to resume sharing here also so that i can continue encouraging and being encouraged.

      Isn’t it something about the Avon. I threw all of mine in the garbage after finding out.

      When you spoke of being a pencil in God’s hand I smiled and remembered what I said back in 2004 before I even embarked on the journey of writing.

      So there is a ink pen company called BiC when I saw it I said that company belongs to the me. Back then I identified myself as a baby in Christ. And I said that BiC means Babies in Christ. Lol it was the beginning of my writing journey. Lol

      Also. When you look up the logo for that company, notice the the i in BiC is a little man. Lol. I run through a lot of pens lol. I believe you do too lol.

      Then, I came across Ezekiel chapter 9 and identified with the man covered in linen with an ink horn at his side.

      Did you know that paper was initially made from linen?

      It’s amazing to find ourselves in God’s Word such as when He says that HE trains our hands for warfare and reminds us that our sword is the Word of God.

      Yes ma’am. God calls us and trains us.

      And I’m blessed to meet another one of my sisters in Christ who is also enlisted in the army of the Lord – a fellow writer.

      Thank you for your blessings.
      You be blessed and encouraged also.

      Until we speak again 👋

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      • If the company had been named after the Hebrew word avon, I’d agree…but it wasn’t. The company was named after Shakespeare’s birth town of Stratford-Upon-Avon where Avon is the Celtic word for river. It’s sickening to see Christians so quick to judge with the scales of ignorance so firmly covering their eyes.

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      • Hi. Thank you for your comment.

        The issue is not a religious issue. It’s nice to know where they chose their name from, that you shared. The issue is marketing and advertising issue, as I mentioned in the article written.

        You see, a company that markets a brand globally concerns themselves with the names they choose for their brand and their products. I even shared an example, citing that of big chain restaurants, such as McDonald’s, which sell globally. Their menu name and/or products change when it comes to the countries they sell in so as to not offend the locals. So what I was looking at and for, after finding out the meaning of the name, is whether this company would have known. Was it a global company because Americans would not have necessarily known, nor needed to know, what a name meant in another language? But when you move from being an American company to a global company, those are things you now take note of because it impacts business.

        In my search, I found that they were an international company which brings them under the laws of international trade, and impacts branding and product names also.

        This issue is not a “Christian” one or a “religious” one. If only it could be that simple. This is a marketing/advertising issue, and it is an issue where we are being made to speak word curses over ourselves without knowing it.

        This company was aware because those are the things the marketing/advertising team of the company would look into “before” taking their company and brand into “any” other country internationally.

        So, for me to find an article written about their sales in a foreign country, and how the residents knew the meaning of the name and embraced it, using it as a part of their sales technique, was the proof that told me that the company knew. Regardless of how they initially chose their name for America, when this company decided to go global they figured it out and they knew.

        There are companies who, when learning of these language issues with their products or brand, will consider a name or product change “for that particular country” that they are looking to enter into. It doesn’t hurt their sales. Many company giants do this which is how their grew so big. This consideration even goes as far as branding when companies choose their brands and logos.

        The reason it stood out to me, how i was able to catch something i would have otherwise overlooked, is because I majored in marketing and advertising. So, I looked for the accountability of this company. Did they know? If they didnt, that would have changed the tone of what I wrote. But when I found that they did know, that is what annoyed me as a consumer. There are laws of accountability that goes along with international marketing. The average person wont know this and dont need to. We simply trust that a company marketing to us cares about us and what they give us. Trust is what builds a brand.

        Now, we live in a time where people like to make things about religion, but religion was and is not my issue with this brand.

        Wearing makeup is not a crime, but what we speak over ourselves does matter across nationalities, faiths, and beliefs. Studies (scientific, not religious) have been done showing the impact that our words have on ourselves and on others. The power of life and death being in the tongue became a scientific study in which it was found that we could take plants or animals (in a controlled environment) and speak life or death over them and they would respond accordingly. The thing spoken to would either live and prosper, or shrivel and die. And that is my issue when it comes to the moment this company discovered that the word “avon” itself (not a city somewhere) means Iniquity.

        For the city that bears that name, in the country it is in, for whatever the language is in that country, the word might not have that meaning and as a result will not impact anyone there at all. I dont know where that city is, so I can’t speak on that. In English, the word means river and in Spanish it has no meaning its just a word. So here in America, where the two basic languages is English and Spanish, Avon as a brand is no big deal. But when you move to take your brand globally, as a company you are now considering other languages of the countries you are trying to reach because you want to gain the trust and the people as a consumer of your product.

        Now, because you responded to make this a religious thing by addressing my faith, here is the beauty in the matter:

        There is this little thing called “free will” where a person can choose for themselves, and that is the choice that God gives to all humanity. HE says choose life or death. (Deuteronomy 30:19; Ezekiel 18:32) HE also makes it clear what the outcome is of each choice so that we can make an informed decision. Then, HE allows all humanity to choose. It’s that simple.

        Therefore, by the standards of God, if a person wants to “KNOWINGLY” rub Iniquity all over themselves, they literally can because that is the choice that God gives to everyone when He tells us to choose for ourselves.

        But we live in a world where we are given blurred lines and various shades of Grey, a world where our right to make an “informed” choice is taken from us. In other words, KNOWING that the word Avon means Iniquity (regardless of how it was chosen), if a person still wants to use it, that is their freedom of choice, and has no impact on religion.

        In another example, there is a company called IL MAKIAGE. The name means “Not (IL) Makeup (Makiage)”, but who would know that unless it’s a person who studies languages? How about this… Recently, I’ve been seeing a lot of ads for one of the products of this brand, and they are “now” playing off of the meaning of their name in their marketing and advertising by literally saying “it is not makeup”.

        This marketing and advertising thing that companies do is really huge, and it impacts every single purchase we make of every single product we buy. It influences us. This is wht there are actual laws in place to govern how one markets and advertises.

        Pay Attention the next time you go into a store to make any purchase of any prepackaged items. There are lawsuits right now against companies because of this. There are recalls of many products and foods because of labeling issues. The food is fine but because of the labeling or the branding of the product whistles are blown.

        (Besides the price, what draws you to make your purchases – packaging, colors, names etc. )

        So no ma’am (or no sir), this is not a religious issue. This is a Marketing/Advertising issue that has been exposed.

        Although Avon’s Hiaku brand colognes were my favorite, and im now stuck without a cologne because I haven’t found one to replace it; and though their lotions were known to be good insect repellants, I have chosen to not use the product anymore and to not speak Iniquity over myself, nor smear it on myself because my trust in the company has been lost due to finding that the company was aware of the meaning of their name upon their taking their brand globally.

        Knowing the meaning of the word avon (or any other word) does not take the freedom of choice from anyone as to whether they will use a product. But to hide (or try to hide) the meaning of the word does rob a person of their freedom to choose. Therefore, to reveal the meaning of a name does not hinder anyone, instead it empowers a person to choose for themselves.

        This information comes out during a time when Avon would not be impacted by the revelation because there are so many makeup companies in existence already. Brands of makeup are a dime a dozen.

        So that brings me to the next marketing/advertising point:

        Sometimes people rely on negative feedback just to get people talking again and to become relevant again. This makes me now question, what caused me to find that information that I didn’t wake up looking for? Hmm…

        Im not drawn to go and look at it again. My job was done which was to bring awareness to (shed light on) what the word means, and I did that. (Ezekiel 3:16-21)

        The freewill of the reader remains intact.

        Now, i’m going to share something that will make this “sound” religious, simply because its a scripture and many think scripture means religion.
        This truth is what King Jesus said about how we choose…

        John 3:17-21
        New King James Version

        17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

        18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

        19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

        20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

        21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

        So, in other words, it’s just as what God spoke to Ezekiel in chapters 2 and 3. Ezekiel had to warn, but that didnt mean people would listen. But, regardless of whether a person listened or not, the warning still had to be spoken. (Ezekiel 2:5)

        Why?
        So that a person could make a choice.

        With that being said, thank you for taking the time to read my post, and for the time you took to comment. I really do appreciate it. 💯

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