RE: Should Men Have Long Hair?

RE: Should Men Have Long Hair? (Full Version)

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[Poll]

Should Men Have Long Hair?

Yes it is wrong.

8% (6)

No it is not wrong.

31% (23)

It doesn't make a difference.

59% (43)

Total Votes : 72

(last vote on : 11/5/2008 6:42:21 PM)
(Poll will run till: -- )

Message

DaveW -> RE: Should Men Have Long Hair? (2/29/2008 7:08:38 AM)
The Greeks and the Roman soldiers had short hair but that does not mean the Jews had hair that short. In a scholarly article about the Shroud of Turin, G.R. Jeffrey writes: A scientific analysis reveals a naked, well-formed, muscular adult male in his thirties. He has a mustache, full beard, and shoulder-length long hair that appears to be tied back behind the head. Such a hair style and length are consistent with what we know of Jewish customs of the Second Temple period. (emphasis mine) http://www.grantjeffrey.com/article/shroud.htm

armydude -> RE: Should Men Have Long Hair? (2/29/2008 7:41:39 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: ae10u No biblical principle is a burden. The truth sets us free. I am not saying your husband is not free - but he is no more free than the rest of us. In my judgment he is slightly less free. Who shall lay a charge against God's elect? It is God that justifies.

Artsie -> RE: Should Men Have Long Hair? (2/29/2008 7:50:05 AM)
Thank you. Well said.

draexo -> RE: Should Men Have Long Hair? (2/29/2008 8:24:17 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: krazyxsinner Our son had to cut his long hair today to comply with a legalistic national youth group program on Saturday. His hair could not touch hios ears or the collar of his shirt. Sheesh. So... why not tell the legalistic national youth group program to stop being so legalistic and that you would not cut your son's hair?

WhiteRoseBlessings -> RE: Should Men Have Long Hair? (2/29/2008 8:24:54 AM)
I'm just now getting caught up in here . . . quote: ORIGINAL: ae10u I am not saying your husband is not free - but he is no more free than the rest of us. In my judgment he is slightly less free. Wow. So you make a definite point of saying that her husband is not any more free than you . . . and then you turn around and say, in your judgment, that he is actually less free than you???!!! That statement is another one of those that are either so scary it's funny, or so funny it's scary. And I'm not kidding neither.

armydude -> RE: Should Men Have Long Hair? (2/29/2008 8:28:08 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: WhiteRoseBlessings I'm just now getting caught up in here . . . quote: ORIGINAL: ae10u I am not saying your husband is not free - but he is no more free than the rest of us. In my judgment he is slightly less free. Wow. So you make a definite point of saying that her husband is not any more free than you . . . and then you turn around and say, in your judgment, that he is actually less free than you???!!! That statement is another one of those that are either so scary it's funny, or so funny it's scary. And I'm not kidding neither. And after reading that, you might just understand where I'm coming from on my response. I agree with you. It's not funny though.

SonInMe1 -> RE: Should Men Have Long Hair? (2/29/2008 8:59:02 AM)
This is just a pride issue. Short hair can be a source of pride as well as long hair. Maybe men tended to be more prideful about long hair. I've seen some pretty far out haircuts coming to south Florida and not all of them were long. Look at Dennis Rodman...all of his variously colored hair "schemes" were short...and all exhibited pride...or something. Its not about the outside. Its about the inside.

ae10u -> RE: Should Men Have Long Hair? (2/29/2008 9:07:40 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: armydude quote: ORIGINAL: WhiteRoseBlessings I'm just now getting caught up in here . . . quote: ORIGINAL: ae10u I am not saying your husband is not free - but he is no more free than the rest of us. In my judgment he is slightly less free. Wow. So you make a definite point of saying that her husband is not any more free than you . . . and then you turn around and say, in your judgment, that he is actually less free than you???!!! That statement is another one of those that are either so scary it's funny, or so funny it's scary. And I'm not kidding neither. And after reading that, you might just understand where I'm coming from on my response. I agree with you. It's not funny though. Apart from the freedom of hastle-free hair - let me point out another freedom. If god says to do something - I do it - in faith - and don't even have to get my underwear in a knot. That is the freedom of knowing that God knows best. That is a freedom that makes you free indeed. And if God says that men should not have long hair - it is a shame to them, I do it, and it does not hurt me - it benefits me. Ladies try it some time. If hubby says do something - just do it, in faith, nothing doubting - and see - it will all work out well in the end. Us men, we are like the centurion - men under authority. If the boss says do something, we do it - even at times when we would like to do it another way - and it generally works out well. How much more so when your Christian husband tells you to do something. He is not asking you to do what he is not himself doing. And teach your children to do the same.

armydude -> RE: Should Men Have Long Hair? (2/29/2008 9:13:08 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: ae10u Ladies try it some time. If hubby says do something - just do it, in faith, nothing doubting - and see - it will all work out well in the end. Speaking as a Christian man, I can say this. WHAT!? Did I wander into another thread? What does this have to do with length of hair on a guy? ETA: You said if God says not to have long hair you do it. But how do you follow a rule with no clear guidelines on whether or not you're breaking it? I still see no length given in scripture for how long is too long and nobody has been able to provide one, so how do you follow that?

WhiteRoseBlessings -> RE: Should Men Have Long Hair? (2/29/2008 9:16:26 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: SonInMe1 This is just a pride issue. Short hair can be a source of pride as well as long hair. Maybe men tended to be more prideful about long hair. I've seen some pretty far out haircuts coming to south Florida and not all of them were long. Look at Dennis Rodman...all of his variously colored hair "schemes" were short...and all exhibited pride...or something. Its not about the outside. Its about the inside. That's a very good point. I've been thinking throughout this thread about how looks can be deceiving. There are a lot of hate groups in which all their members are either bald or sporting short hair cuts; just as there are similar groups whose members have long hair. To proclaim one's righteousness and to imply another's unrighteousness based on hair length is, aside from being foolish, quite ineffective as a model of WHO Our Lord and Savior is. In other words, it is nowhere near being a good Christian witness to go around being so self-righteous. And actually, to proclaim one's righteousness and to imply another's unrighteousness IN ANY SITUATION is not what we, as Christians, are supposed to be doing. We're supposed to be glorifying Christ; not ourselves.

armydude -> RE: Should Men Have Long Hair? (2/29/2008 9:17:12 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: SonInMe1 Its not about the outside. Its about the inside. Well said and it deserves to be repeated. Also the fact remains that only God can see the heart.

ae10u -> RE: Should Men Have Long Hair? (2/29/2008 9:50:03 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: armydude ETA: You said if God says not to have long hair you do it. But how do you follow a rule with no clear guidelines on whether or not you're breaking it? I still see no length given in scripture for how long is too long and nobody has been able to provide one, so how do you follow that? Armydude You are kidding. If you are not sure what short is, and if that is the only thing standing between you and obeying God, then err on the short side. And if nature itself does not teach you that one or two inches, three at most is short - then guys, just go to your hairdresser and say, "I don't want it long, I want it short" and let them cut it. Everyone knows what short is unless they are being deliberately ignorant.

ae10u -> RE: Should Men Have Long Hair? (2/29/2008 9:59:04 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: WhiteRoseBlessings And actually, to proclaim one's righteousness and to imply another's unrighteousness IN ANY SITUATION is not what we, as Christians, are supposed to be doing. We're supposed to be glorifying Christ; not ourselves. 1 Corinthians 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? Read it again - and judge yourself against the words. Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. You can be sure that one of the books opened is the Bible - and it against this standard that we will be judged.

WhiteRoseBlessings -> RE: Should Men Have Long Hair? (2/29/2008 10:12:02 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: ae10u quote: ORIGINAL: WhiteRoseBlessings And actually, to proclaim one's righteousness and to imply another's unrighteousness IN ANY SITUATION is not what we, as Christians, are supposed to be doing. We're supposed to be glorifying Christ; not ourselves. 1 Corinthians 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? Read it again - and judge yourself against the words. Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. You can be sure that one of the books opened is the Bible - and it against this standard that we will be judged. I disagree with the stance of hair being a factor as to whether one is being a good Christian. ae10u, in the future, please do not instruct me on what to read and what not to read. If you want to quote Scripture verses in your post, do so until your heart's content. But please do not personally tell me to "read something again." I am not asking for your counsel, nor do I need it or want it.

Kath -> RE: Should Men Have Long Hair? (2/29/2008 10:16:43 AM)
quote: Ladies try it some time. If hubby says do something - just do it, in faith, nothing doubting - and see - it will all work out well in the end. Us men, we are like the centurion - men under authority. If the boss says do something, we do it - even at times when we would like to do it another way - and it generally works out well. How much more so when your Christian husband tells you to do something. He is not asking you to do what he is not himself doing. And teach your children to do the same. Where in the world did this come from? It isn't even close to topic. We have a One Stop thread you might be interested in Men/Women roles in the home: Click Here

Hayseed -> RE: Should Men Have Long Hair? (2/29/2008 11:05:12 AM)
So, if God opens the Bible on that day I'm expecting that we will be held accountable for our reading and understanding of the WHOLE thing not just a verse here and there that we decide to run our lives and judge others by. Again, the WHOLE Bible is provided to us in and for context. Try reading that resource I linked to. It's a Bible with the chapter and verse numbers removed and literary styles (as best as our language allows to the original) back in. Context, context, context. Understand what and who Paul is talking to at any given point.

hawkfan428 -> RE: Should Men Have Long Hair? (2/29/2008 11:10:43 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Hayseed So, if God opens the Bible on that day I'm expecting that we will be held accountable for our reading and understanding of the WHOLE thing not just a verse here and there that we decide to run our lives and judge others by. Again, the WHOLE Bible is provided to us in and for context. Try reading that resource I linked to. It's a Bible with the chapter and verse numbers removed and literary styles (as best as our language allows to the original) back in. Context, context, context. Understand what and who Paul is talking to at any given point. Amen to that!!

bluestone -> RE: Should Men Have Long Hair? (2/29/2008 11:15:23 AM)
We don't always know what is long hair, or short hair. We are using 21st century minds to try to interpret something written at least a couple of thousand years ago. Use the historical method, and you will see scripture in a more accurate light. edited to correct spelling error

JimboFletch -> RE: Should Men Have Long Hair? (2/29/2008 11:18:31 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: ae10u ...And if nature itself does not teach you... You mean like the Lion's mane? Or the horses mane? Cool, I still have several more inches to play with before becoming useless for the kingdom. [:D]

GroupW -> RE: Should Men Have Long Hair? (2/29/2008 11:20:38 AM)
Hayseed, Blue and Hawk are right. The more legalistically inclined folk tend to find a verse like here in Corinthians and put a laser focus on it. I believe a more productive method is to look at the passage in question and try to understand the issue Paul (or whomever) was dealing with from a historical point of view first. Then try and figure out what that means for us today. Look for confirmation of your interpretation in other passages, if possible non-Pauline passages. Look at the passage in light of other passages that might offer a different take. It's good to take a laser focus on a verse, but always, always step back and look at it again from 50 thousand feet and see if it still makes sense in the context of everything else. An interpretation can take a mighty big change of direction when understood in its historical context. Methinks this be one.

hawkfan428 -> RE: Should Men Have Long Hair? (2/29/2008 11:23:46 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: bterpstra Hayseed, Blue and Hawk are right. The more legalistically inclined folk tend to find a verse like here in Corinthians and put a laser focus on it. I believe a more productive method is to look at the passage in question and try to understand the issue Paul (or whomever) was dealing with from a historical point of view first. Then try and figure out what that means for us today. Look for confirmation of your interpretation in other passages, if possible non-Pauline passages. Look at the passage in light of other passages that might offer a different take. It's good to take a laser focus on a verse, but always, always step back and look at it again from 50 thousand feet and see if it still makes sense in the context of everything else. An interpretation can take a mighty big change of direction when understood in its historical context. Methinks this be one. Definitely applies to most of the Bible

ae10u -> RE: Should Men Have Long Hair? (2/29/2008 11:32:37 AM)
There is nothing more central to Christianity than "Thy will be done". The two greatest commands are love God and love neighbour. Then there are lesser commands, like hair and dress codes. Nevertheless "Thy will be done". It is the challenge which faces all, from a new baby to adults. It was the challenge which even Jesus had to face. It is not a small thing. Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

GroupW -> RE: Should Men Have Long Hair? (2/29/2008 11:38:59 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: ae10uYou are kidding. If you are not sure what short is, and if that is the only thing standing between you and obeying God, then err on the short side. And if nature itself does not teach you that one or two inches, three at most is short - then guys, just go to your hairdresser and say, "I don't want it long, I want it short" and let them cut it. Everyone knows what short is unless they are being deliberately ignorant. I'm old enough to have gone through several generations where "everyone knows what short (was)". Funny thing is it's been different in every generation. 35 years ago, I had "short hair" that today would be considered "long-ish". Today, I have average length hair that in the 70's would have been considered practically a crew cut. We typically think of "short" and "long" as measures that are relative to an average or median. When the average changes, so does the measure of "short" or "long". I don't think it's dishonest or deliberatly ignorant to question that. Indeed, it's a pretty fair question.

ae10u -> RE: Should Men Have Long Hair? (2/29/2008 11:59:48 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: bterpstra I'm old enough to have gone through several generations where "everyone knows what short (was)". Funny thing is it's been different in every generation. 35 years ago, I had "short hair" that today would be considered "long-ish". Today, I have average length hair that in the 70's would have been considered practically a crew cut. We typically think of "short" and "long" as measures that are relative to an average or median. When the average changes, so does the measure of "short" or "long". I don't think it's dishonest or deliberatly ignorant to question that. Indeed, it's a pretty fair question. Perform this experiment. Turn on the TV. Flick from channel to channel and look at men's hair lengths. Almost without exception men in the world wear their hair "short". And they do that without any command from the Bible. Thus nature teaches them how to wear their hair. Yet, on this forum, its a big question. Its milk folks. Do the experiment. Be honest (you do take that one literally don't you?). Tell us what you find. Men do wear their hair 1-2 inches long, in general. There, that was not so hard. You can know.

GroupW -> RE: Should Men Have Long Hair? (2/29/2008 12:06:22 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: ae10u quote: ORIGINAL: bterpstra I'm old enough to have gone through several generations where "everyone knows what short (was)". Funny thing is it's been different in every generation. 35 years ago, I had "short hair" that today would be considered "long-ish". Today, I have average length hair that in the 70's would have been considered practically a crew cut. We typically think of "short" and "long" as measures that are relative to an average or median. When the average changes, so does the measure of "short" or "long". I don't think it's dishonest or deliberatly ignorant to question that. Indeed, it's a pretty fair question. Perform this experiment. Turn on the TV. Flick from channel to channel and look at men's hair lengths. Almost without exception men in the world wear their hair "short". And they do that without any command from the Bible. Thus nature teaches them how to wear their hair. Yet, on this forum, its a big question. Its milk folks. Do the experiment. Be honest (you do take that one literally don't you?). Tell us what you find. Men do wear their hair 1-2 inches long, in general. There, that was not so hard. You can know. Now go back and find some videos from the 1970's and do the same thing. That's not so hard either. Don't you see any differences? Go back further and find images from the 1700's. 1800's. 1900's. Is there no discernible variability?

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