To Beard or Not to Beard, That is The Question

[TK Burk]

Originally Posted by n david

Scenario:
A born again, baptized in Jesus Name and filled with the HG, bearded man desires to be used in church ministry. He has no personal conviction against facial hair and sees nothing in scripture which prohibit such. In fact, a review of Pentecostal history favors facial hair. So he goes to the Pastor with his desire to be used. The Pastor tells him he would love to let him minister on the platform, with just one condition: the man needs to shave his beard.

The man asks the Pastor for scripture and explanation and the Pastor says, I don't have Bible for it, it's just my preference. The man leaves the meeting discouraged and disappointed, but continues to attend church. The Pastor meets again with the man and asks why the man hasn't shaved. The man explains that since there is no scripture against facial hair and the man has no conviction against it, he will keep it. The Pastor then tells the man he is in rebellion. The man leaves even more discourage and even upset over being accused of rebellion.

After the meetings, the Pastor preached a message on standards and strongly pointed out that those who don't follow the standards set by the church are in rebellion against God.

The man is crushed and leaves that church.

Yes, that Pastor will give account before God.

Ministers love to point to Hebrews 13 and say, "you must obey the man of God!" But they forget they not only give account of those who have rejected Christ, but also will give account of any offense against a brother which has caused him to fall.

I agree...

This type of issue is why I included this in my study:

Any standard preached should help remedy a problem a local church body is facing, which ultimately means that its purpose is for those saints’ spiritual wellbeing. Thus, no leader standing in a pulpit has the license to impose a standard that is based on his own rules or on his own preferences. Let me be clear here—there are no Bible verses against a man wearing facial hair—none. So, if a church leader is going to set a standard against men wearing facial hair, he needs a valid reason for doing so. Without such a reason, that standard is the will of man, not the will of God.