Today is the first day I've seen this. I used to be a staunch supporter of "standards." I would quarrel, fuss, fight, dis-fellowship, anything it took for the "standards." But, God brought me down, and for 3 months I was bed-fast. During this time of grievous affliction God spoke to me and told me that I was "too strict." I was mystified. How could anyone ever be TOO strict? As I lie there on my bed of affliction I could see women going up into Heaven in the clouds carrying musical instruments with them, and they were women who cut their hair! I spent 4 years in Hell. After I was raised up and working again and feeling allright, I just happened to find myself studying on hair. I was drawn to the meaning of the word, "shorn," in
1 Cor. 11:6. I would never have known I was taught wrong on the word definitions of the key terms in this particular passage without help. I really thank God for the article I found online. The more I studied the more interesting it was. The Lord had given me a tract and book writing ministry long ago, and my study and research led to my writing a booklet on the passage of
1 Cor. 11:2-16. For the FIRST time in my life I understood the passsage!
I would occasionally for years be drawn to read the passage, and I would struggle to make sense of it substituting the "covering" for "long hair" and "uncovered" for "cut" hair and "cut--any length" for "shorn." I was so frustrated with v6. "
For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered." It would be saying:
"For if the woman [has cut her hair] let her also [cut her hair.]" Then I would try to substitute "trim" for "shorn," and that didn't work, either. But, I still held to the belief that it was a "sin" for me to cut my hair, but I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND the passage!
I came out of the "standards" gradually. It came with understanding the Scripture passages. But, I don't think I would ever have found the way myself, not without the Internet.
I thank God so much! I wouldn't trade my new understanding for anything. My new knowledge was a gift the Lord gave me in reward for all my suffering. He gave me NEW holiness! It's inside me now, in my heart, and not a kooky, old-fashioned, CULT look. I now know what SELF rightousness is. I actually had SELF-MADE righteousness I put upon myself that God did not acknowledge as "holiness" in His sight. Growing hair doesn't put a woman closer to God at all. I used to think the longer and thicker a woman's hair was the more spiritual she was. I was definately carried away with equating long hair with being "holy." Coming out of "standards" was a spiritual transformation that came with understanding the relevant Scripture passages.
Yes, I suffer persecution, but I did when I stood firm for the "standards". I've always been fought, anyway. I don't have all the personal freedom I need to cut my hair etc. the way I want to. I live with an old-fashioned momma -- she looks like an old-time Pilgrim Holiness woman, and she's a typical Oneness Pentecostal fighter. [I notice and know from my own personal experience how the Apostolics can have such a
BAD spirit over the "standards."] Notice how that "strict" spirit makes them mean? It did me. I started coming out by wearing pajamas. I got by in her house with those OK. Then I began wearing pants with my scrub suits. I gradually worked my way into jeans. I get by in her house wearing pants, but sometimes I get the cold shoulder. I had my stringy ends trimmed, but I want a layer cut, when I get free.
I want to help women find their freedom -- get set free from the bondage of false doctrines on hair and clothes. The Lord gave me a website. If I could help just ONE woman, it would be worth all the suffering I went through.
It appears to me that once people learn they were taught wrong on "standards" they think everything else they were taught was wrong.
Acts 2:38 is the door -- the "keys to the Kingdom of Heaven" -- given to Peter. It is the Gospel as revealed to the Apostles. But, I found out everything else I was taught was wrong except
Acts 2:38, salvation.
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