Read Segraves on "letting down hair"

[Elizabeth]

I just had a relative write their own HMH article that was distributed through out the family. One of the papers made it's way into our hands. 5 pages of how a woman's uncut hair is spiritual weapon- I couldn't believe how vast an how far this thing has gotten. It made me sad that people really believe this stuff.

[BobDylan]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

LOL! Of course, "figuratively" choke someone would be correct. Although, I have an excellent visual for those that will NOT listen. LOL!

Randy,
This teaching is just very subtle. I wish I could express it the way it is coming across. When I made the remark that our "power" was in Jesus Christ and not our hair, the person almost rolled their eyes. Her thinking is this: First, she was thinking I was not raised in the UPC, so I cannot quite possibly understand. Second, because of her obedience, her long, uncut hair gives her power with God.

Our obedience to love, modesty, submitting ourselves one to another, time in prayer, reading His Word etc., etc., brings the same results. The end result is that we must have the fruit of the spirit manifested in our lives or nothing else is going to make a hill of beans.

The problem is that they are using the word for "power - dunamis, miraculous power" from the Book of Acts and they don't realize they are doing this.

DKB simply and correctly defines that as "authority". The things we know about angels:

1. They are reapers at the end of the world - Matt 13:39

2. They are ministering spirits sent by God. Matt 8:10; Hebrews 1:14

I look at Matt 8:10 which says that children have angels. It says that the angels behold the face of God every day. That means, to me, that even if a child has an angel watching over them, they can do nothing without God's direction.

3. We understand that angels were cast out of heaven because of their rebellion. Jude 1:6; II Peter 2:4

4. That they desire to look into our salvation. I Peter 1:12

That means that, IMO, the only significance of angels in I Cor 11 is that they are looking into our salvation and seeing that we are instructed to keep divine order.

The significance of the long hair is simply gender distinction which is important to God. He makes that plain in many areas of the Bible.

Many women that I am acquainted with feel that trimming their ends is in keeping with the long hair. You don't have to do that very often and your hair looks long and very neat. It makes no sense to look like a hag in order to have long hair. But, I digress...... lol

One thing you overlook about angels, is that they inhabit the same "realm" that demonic spirits inhabit. It can be suggested that Paul is referencing that realm in 1 Cor 11:10. LS rightly uses exousia, and defines it "freedom, liberty, authority". The word translated "because [of the angels]" is also translated "through, by, or with" in other NT passages (I used Englishman's concordance to find this, as well as fundamental Strong's definition).

LS interpretation of 1 Cor 11:10 is succinct: A woman ought to have [freedom, liberty, authority] on her head [through, by or with] the [spirit realm]...

I am not certain that his interpretation is wholly inaccurate, as I have stated before. There are a threefold objection that I have observed to LS's teaching here.

1.) Consider a woman who is "under authority" through obedience and submission... she then HAS authority in the spirit realm. And the same is true for men who are "obedient and submissive". The detractors of this position are LS statements that women have authority "because of their uncut hair". I tend to think LS is equating, from the context of 1 Cor 11, uncut hair with submission and obedience. Another objection arises when LS implies women have access to "wisdom and authority" that men cannot access. My response to this is that women inhabit a position in the kingdom of God that men cannot inhabit, and vice versa. Men are instructed in positions at the helm of leadership in the church in roles women are not commissioned to fill. However, women are commissioned specifically in other areas. Women are to be in "subjection", not "teach or usurp authority over men", "keep silence in the churches", be "chaste, keepers at home", "teach the younger ladies", etc. etc. etc. So to say that a woman has a unique position before God because of the nature of her gender is not a stretch, as do men. LS could clarify here, and it would help his case.

2.) Anectodes LS appeals to, of occult references and stories of women laying out their hair can be clearly objectionable. Primarily the first issue more than the latter. LS's reference to occult resources is unnecessary and unfortunate. However, the only time I have heard this is in the Memphis sermon from two years ago. He did not make this reference when I heard him a little over two weeks ago. The anecdotes of women laying out hair and having prayers answered, I know from one instance I am acquinted with specifically, a young man was miraculously healed. I am not totally against unprecedented acts that demonstrate or focus faith. IMO, this is akin to laying in Peter's shadows, or taking aprons or garments from Paul to people for healing. No apostle or passage in scripture instructs people to do this, they took it upon themselves. And in doing this, faith was focused and miracles ensued.

3.) The phenomenon of women laying hair out all accross the country that is spreading "virully", and the attribution of special powers directly to the fact of having uncut hair, is an effusive spread of "folk theology" that may find it's source, unintentionally, in some of LS's statements. Clarification and more thorough theological development of LS positions during his sermons would go a long way to remedying this. Also, more thorough local teaching and individual study would aid in correcting inaccuracies in individual misunderstanding....

[BobDylan]

Originally Posted by Elizabeth

I just had a relative write their own HMH article that was distributed through out the family. One of the papers made it's way into our hands. 5 pages of how a woman's uncut hair is spiritual weapon- I couldn't believe how vast an how far this thing has gotten. It made me sad that people really believe this stuff.

A woman's obedience and submission to God's word is indeed a spiritual weapon. The uncut hair itself is not a weapon (unless she uses it as a whip), but it is emblematic of obedience and submission, where her real authority in the spirit realm lies.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by *AQuietPlace*

So the other women there, they didn't 'amen' loudly? They didn't seem to agree with her?

Well, being that my ears were ringing because of my blood pressure...... LOL!

What I felt, at the time, was that some clapped because of HOW she said what she said, but over all it felt like a big question mark floating through the air.

In other words, it was not a resounding clapping of hands and agreement on her statement. The altar call was awesome. People were touched and healed. It's just that faith does that and overrides the error someone is propagating. God is looking at the needs of the individual and not doing that for any other reason. He doesn't heal because He is putting His stamp of approval on a message. Some people probably thought these things happened because of their uncut hair. That isn't true.

I think many have been healed under Benny Hinn only because they had faith. It was not a stamp of approval on his freak show. He does a lot to bring up this stupid "magic" mentality himself. All of it is very disturbing.

[rgcraig]

I remember listening to a friend that I attended bible college with give her testimony at GC probably five years ago.

She explained that she had a spiritual battle with Satan one night and that she had a large saber up to her hair and was going to cut it off, but angels stepped in and knocked the saber out of her hand.

She now believes her hair can heal people.

It sadden me to hear her.

[*AQuietPlace*]

Originally Posted by Elizabeth

I just had a relative write their own HMH article that was distributed through out the family. One of the papers made it's way into our hands. 5 pages of how a woman's uncut hair is spiritual weapon- I couldn't believe how vast an how far this thing has gotten. It made me sad that people really believe this stuff.

Ugh.

If this keeps up, I won't have any magic hair left, because I'm going to have pulled it all out.

[*AQuietPlace*]

Originally Posted by BobDylan

3.) The phenomenon of women laying hair out all accross the country that is spreading "virully", and the attribution of special powers directly to the fact of having uncut hair, is an effusive spread of "folk theology" that may find it's source, unintentionally, in some of LS's statements.

I would like to see some evidence that LS objects to the way these women are applying his teachings. From hearing him speak, I personally don't think he would object at all. If he does, he needs to say so, very clearly.

[*AQuietPlace*]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

The altar call was awesome. People were touched and healed. It's just that faith does that and overrides the error someone is propagating. God is looking at the needs of the individual and not doing that for any other reason. He doesn't heal because He is putting His stamp of approval on a message.

I completely agree. God responds to people's faith. He frequently works in spite of error. Too often people think that we must be right just because God touched us, or responded to us. Nope.

[BobDylan]

Originally Posted by *AQuietPlace*

I would like to see some evidence that LS objects to the way these women are applying his teachings. From hearing him speak, I personally don't think he would object at all. If he does, he needs to say so, very clearly.

I would say he probably wouldn't object to women laying their hair out or letting their hair down as an act intended to direct and focus faith, any more than Peter objected to people laying in his shadows, or Paul objecting to people taking his apron and handkerchiefs to their sick. However, I would say that he probably WOULD object to statements made suggesting that "they thank God for the Holy Ghost power they have through the angels", as in the EA page DAII cited.

[*AQuietPlace*]

My husband just bought my son a half-pipe to skateboard/roller-blade/bike on. I told my husband that I was going to go out and lay my magic hair on it, to ensure no one got injured on it. He said I'd best not, I'd probably just get my head run over.