Apr. 25, 2006 - Avoiding Left Handed Cleaning
Now that my right hand is feeling somewhat more normal, just confined, the L-H blogging seems more tedious. But less so than left handed cleaning. So here we go! Random thoughts on haircuts:
My good friend Betsy said in the comments below that it does not dishonor God for us to want to look attractive. And of course, she's right. But ... I've been thinking about that (that's me, always thinking) and I think my tendency is to rely too much on what I want ... or, more accurately, using the wrong standards. Who defines "attractive"? It's easy for me to look to the world. What the world says about hair is easy to see. But doesn't the Bible also have something to say about hair? How do we choose our standards? (I want to add that this is not a critique of Betsy's comments, just that she got me thinking!! I love and respect her very much, and am thankful for the thoughts and opinions she gives me! My life is much richer for her friendship!!!)
I'm not saying it's wrong to want to look attractive. But I can not choose worldly style over Biblical guidelines. For example, the world might think sporting an exposed midriff is attractive, and if my eyes are on the world, I might want to dress that way, as well. But I believe the Bible teaches us to dress modestly, and would not feel modest and covered ...
So, back to hair. Yes, we have freedom in Christ, but in general I think our freedoms are really for the benefit of others, rather than to exercise our own wishes and likes or lean the world's way. As far as my unscholarly attempts to see what the Bible (which I choose to use as my authority, instead of the world, as much as I'm able) says about hair ... trying to sift out the point from the passages, it seems to me we women are to have modest hairdo's that don't show off elaborate "ooh, look at me" styles ... and that we're supposed to have hair "as a covering" showing our submission to headship ... If I understand it correctly, which I might not, we're not to be trying to take the roles of men in church/worship, and how we look is a part of that ... long hair is a feminine thing showing we're different in position from our uncovered-headed male counterparts?
1 Corinthians 11:14-15 "Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering."
I'll admit, this muddles me, not so much because of what the Bible says but because of how it's mostly dismissed by modern Christians, this whole hair/covering/authority thing. I read an interesting article once about how that would've been understood in the early church ... but I only have one hand and am just rambling
I'm left feeling that longer hair is in keeping with God's views on femininininity ... but also that my husband thinks a cut would be nice, and knowing that my split ends and tangles aren't really all that nice looking right now. Is it God's problem if I try to grow my hair long to honor him and it looks bad? LOL!
For now ... I am going to ... get ... a cut or trim ... on Thursday. !!!! I don't know how much I'll have cut. I really need more than 6" off to catch most of the unevenness and splits, seriously. I am thinking maybe I will cut-with-the-goal of growing out longer, healthier hair ... small regular trims and a longer goal in mind? I don't know.
I admit, knowing that I'm going to do something, a big part of me wants to choose "cute" even if that's short. But I'm not sure I'm standing on any Biblical ground in that. If the Bible does have things to say about hair, why would they not apply today? And I'm sidestepping the whole issue of covering, I realize ... in part because my husband once told me not to research it ...
So ... I think I'll just trail off ...
Comments
Apr. 25, 2006 - Dear Kim
Posted by Robin
You could have been expressing my thoughts over the past few years exactly. I have been puzzled as to why it is thought that the Bible, in a few areas, does not apply for today. "Well, why not?", I have to ask. I get very confused when people tell me that issues of hair and women pastors, etc. were only for "back then". I am confused because I don't see a place in the Bible where it says "Do this thing until such and such year and then stop it all together.". I just don't see that anywhere and therefore can't justify not doing what it says now.
You have beautiful hair, btw! Love it. :)
Have a wonderful Tuesday. Love, Robin
Apr. 25, 2006 - Freedom in Christ!
Posted by Anonymous
We are free in Christ! He doesn't want ladiesto run around looking or acting like a man, but if you aren't being asked if you are male or female, then you aren't trying to have a man's haircut, even if you have short hair!!!
Paul's letter was written to a culture where their idolatrous neighbors were worshiping in temples to false gods, and the "worship" was commiting immoral acts with shaven-headed temple prostitutes. Paul was pointing out the proper male, female, submissive Christian relationships they were to strive for, and for the women not to shave their heads and be mistaken for a temple prostitute.
I happen to have fairly long hair, but out of preference, not legalism.
Blessings in Christ!!
Momma
Apr. 25, 2006 - Momma ~
Posted by MuckFootMom
We may have different ideas of legalism -- for me that would mean being bound to the law in order to gain God's favor. I am, instead, thinking along the lines of pleasing Him and honoring His created order, it seems clear from the Bible that it is "the very nature of things" that women would have long hair ... and while I don't see any temple prostitutes around here, I do see very short hair on women being associated, often, with other lifestyles that don't please God, and would just as soon also not be associated with them. Not to say God doesn't offer grace, and freedom, but I am just not sure my purpose in Christ is to wear my hair any way *I* want ... but that I should come to it first asking, "What pleases Him?" -- Similar to pleasing my husband, who would love me in any hair but still has suggested a preference in this case. Certainly it is not "legalistic" to follow my husband's wishes out of love and respect for him!
I realize that outward appearance divorced from heart issues is meaningless, I am not suggesting there is a "please God code" -- and yet, if He states the nature of His creation, I want to respect that.
I apologize if I offended you, I did not mean to. Perhaps I was too vague in my wording, I don't mean to have all the answers for everyone, only thinking through what God has laid on MY heart, to try to honor Him.
I will say I think the "measuring stick" of people asking your gender is perhaps a poor measure -- have you ever seen someone you needed to look twice at - or perhaps never really were sure of their gender? Did you go ask them? ROFL, I certainly never would!! I'm fairly outspoken, but couldn't ask gender with tact. LOL!
Apr. 26, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by RoseyGrape
I'll be watching for the "after" pics. :-)
Apr. 26, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
Kim...as always, I admire your analysis of this issue. You really think things through and don't just accept the easy answers, nor those that appear popular or obvious. This is a sign of wisdom and discernment, which comes from the Lord. I also applaud your diplomatic response to Momma's comments--you showed the gentle, quiet spirit that godly women ought to have.
Regarding the hair, and more broadly, the freedom in Christ issue, I believe the most important deciding factor is our motives. All idolatry begins in the heart, and it is here that the Lord looks first, to see WHAT are our motives and WHO are we trying to please.
In my own life, I faced this choice on the issue of gluttony. I knew that the Bible reveals gluttony as sinful and not to be desired, in both OT and NT. I also knew that it was a huge struggle for me personally, and always will be, since I ADORE food, especially the things that are not healthy for me. But above my desire for yet more chocolate, I truly desired to obey God's Word, AND be healthier, AND feel better AND look more attractive AND fit into my clothes. My husband fully supported my weight-loss and exercise efforts, and he is ecstatically complimentary about my new appearance, 31 lost pounds later. Did he love me before? Absolutely--he has always thought I looked beautiful. Is he happy I've lost weight? Absolutely--and he's very proud of me.
When God looks into my heart on this issue, I hope he sees my desire to look and feel by best for the "right" reasons...because my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and any temple the Lord ever dwelled in or will dwell in was known for its extraordinary beauty...because He created me and I want to honor Him by taking care of myself...because I want to be in the best health possible to be able to care for our family and set a good example for them...because I want my husband to look at me and find me visually pleasing to him.
Had I desired to lose weight and avoid gluttony for the "wrong" reasons, then God would not have found my external obedience pleasing. If my purpose for looking attractive is to gain the attention of other men, for example, this then becomes sin for me. It dishonors God, because my motives are wrong.
I agree that Biblical standards should take precedence over worldly styles or personal preferences. I also know that what I see on the surface will not always reveal what's going on in the heart. Only God can know who reigns there.
