Are Beards The Mark Of The Beast?

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Amen. I will go as far as to say I believe there WOULD BE A REVIVAL if Apostolics repented of the doctrines of men in the area of dress code.

My personal take on the dress code issue is that dress can be a sensitive matter. Because we are admonished to modesty. Therefore, some degree of decorum should be taught and expected. I think the "extreme" manner in which we approach modesty in dress is spiritually immature. We argue that pants (on women), shorts (on men), short sleeves (in some churches), etc. will "send one to Hell".

Really? Since when did "Hell" become the default reason to do everything we do??? Rather spiritually immature when one thinks about it.

The Scriptures teach modesty. And so, we should strive for modesty. Modesty is often something that one must grow into as they mature spiritually. This takes patience, encouragement for saints to search their souls, and sound teaching. It's easier for the lazy and spiritually dull to just threaten Hell and terrorize the body into compliance.

Like teaching women are in sin by wearing their hair long...but not necessarily uncut.

Men with beards are rebellious, perhaps gay or drug users, and if not still not worthy to stand on the sacred platform.

Well, you know, according to many... American Christian Pentecostals who don't speak a lick of Greek are more fluent in the meaning of the Greek words than most Greek speaking people. lol And, they even have a few paid apologists to parrot their ideas who are educated enough in the Greek to make it sound good. But in nearly 2,000 years, not a single Christian or Greek speaker has concluded that a woman will go to Hell over cut hair... until the 20th Century Pentecostal movement.

Yes, women should have long hair. Men should have short hair. Paul speaks of men with long flowing feminine locks as being a "shame". It's not found in the Law of Moses, the shame was clearly cultural.

If one would say revival is getting more people in Church just these two things IMO would bring tens of thousands of hungry believers in.

True. I've watched people's eyes in church as they begin to hear some standards. It's obvious that they came for Jesus, genuinely experienced Him... and then we force the cookie cutter mold on them and tell them if they really love Jesus, they'll dress like they just stepped out of a 1950's clothing catalogue. People aren't stupid. Most know their Bible enough to know that it doesn't command such. Is it any wonder that we loose so many new converts? We had an Evangelistic revival once years ago. Nearly 30 people were baptized and filled with the Spirit. I'll allow you to image how many were still attending in 6 months.

It's pathetic.