Quote:
Originally Posted by Coonskinner
Sister,
In the 60's, beards became a symbol of a counter-culture that was wicked, and not something the church needed to be identified with. So men began to teach that it was better to be clean shaven.
While that has changed somewhat, there is still a little bit of that identity lingering. I have been to seminars in the past where secular people recommended that you be clean shaven when applying for jobs, because it presented a more wholesome image.
In the minds of many people in the church, beards are associated with elements that we don't consider wholesome.
Since that is the case, why should I allow my liberty to be a stumblingblock to those people?
No one is offended by my being clean shaven; some might be if I were to wear a beard.
Since I must be a good steward of the ministry God has called me to, and since my opportunities to minister would be much inhibited by my insistence on taking that liberty, I choose to forego it.
Not because it would be a sin, and not because I think it is a requirement for salvation. Obviously it is not.
But because it is lawful but not expedient.
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Thanks. I agree with you and believe that you have the right to choose as well. However, the things you propose for yourself above can't be spread across the board as we have culture to also consider. I know you are aware that in some countries, a man without a beard is considered to be somewhat inferior or shamed.
You are white and speak as such. Nothing wrong with that. I never met a hippie who was anything but white. That leads me to believe the precendent for no beards was set up by white men.
In this country, we have so many races and cultures that I'm sure there isn't a soul alive that can keep up with the constant changes. I guess my point is, in the past anyway, white men have tried to maintain that standard from the 60's and apply it to all men everywhere. Therefore, I don't understand the statement that any man having a beard is somehow hiding himself.
In the minds of many people in the church, I have to wonder what percentage are white who believe that beards are associated with elements that aren't wholesome. Do you see what I mean?
Another element is that the female hippies had long hair, yet we didn't start preaching to our women that we shouldn't wear ours as they did because of the influence of their culture.
One would have to be about 60 yrs old to remember the hippie days and what it represented. There aren't that many people in the church who are that age and above, so the teachings about those days are quite confusing to the younger generation. And I read where you said that you don't teach such, but many still do.
I hope I've been clear in my ideas and thoughts here. It's still early and I haven't had coffee yet.
