More On Beards

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Aquila

One of Sr. Pastor Huss Shearer's favorite statements was "...you'll bust Hell wide open." He applied this to women wearing pants, cutting the hair, men in shorts, makeup, jewelry (he didn't even permit wedding bands), men wearing beards ("It's a spirit of rebellion!" was often said with this one), owning a television and early on he said it about the internet, but backed off of it as it became more and more widely used as a part of people's work. He'd pound that altar and weep over how people would go to Hell over these things.

Now, he was my first pastor. Believe it or not, though he was hard, he was also so very tender and kind to me. I loved him dearly. He was patient and made living by those standards inspiring.



But the pastors I have had after his passing were cold, commanding, demanding adherence, instant compliance, with an iron fist. There is one exception. A pastor in Beavercreek teaches these standards not as "holiness standards" but as "Christian disciplines". He has a platform policy, but application of the standards is largely left upon the individual. So, you might see a rather conservative looking individual worshipping right next to someone who has a beard and his wife cut hair. He asks that women wear dresses and skirts to church, even if they occasionally wear them while at home or at work. His principles are very balanced, loving, and spiritual. If I returned to the UPCI, and occasionally I do think about it, his church would be the one I'd choose to go to.

Could you clarify something?

The guy asks women to wear dresses to church?

That would be the place you would attend if you returned to the UPC?