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Originally Posted by Apostolic1ness
Wow such an awesome question.
Lets take facial hair for an example.
It is true that facial hair is not found in scripture as being negative or positive. There is actually affirmation for both in the scripture. We know that Aron had a beard on the other hand we know that Joseph was clean shaven when taken out of Jail.
Also we may need to take into account our culture and what facial hair identifies with.
In recent years a beard has become more of a sculpted piece of art and may look rather nice. But in years gone by (lets say the 60s and 70s) the long hair and long beard identified someone with a rebellious sect called hippies.
So when the hippies were converted the first thing they did was to reject everything that identified them as a hippie, they cut their hair and shaved their faces in many cased without having to be told to do so.
Many of these ex-hippies are in the church today as saints and Pastors and still identify facial hair with rebellion so instead of bringing confusion to the church that is full of old hippies and new saints they feel it is safer for the church to maintain the standard of no facial hair.
So that is one example of "tradition" that is not in the bible but may be better to keep in place for the sake of the church.
I know this does not answer the question you asked but its a piece of the puzzle of pastoring
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The 60s and 70s are LONG past. Facial hair is NOT synonymous with hippies and rebellion anymore. It's ridiculous that people still try to use that as a reason to ban facial hair on white men.
If you want to talk "culture" and give exceptions due to "culture," which is what the UPC has done with its dress code -- then understand that the "culture" today has removed the old stigma of the beard. Executives, Politicians and Ministers now grow facial hair. It is current "culture" for men of all colors and nationalities to grow facial hair.
Actually, this "culture" stuff has no basis in scripture. Paul wrote that we're not Jew or Greek, bond or free, but one body. Just as with the Godhead and New Birth salvation, there should be no variance in the body when it comes to actual Bible holiness. The reason there is points how less it is about Biblical doctrine and more it is about personal preferences.
Also, you forgot to mention that Jesus had a beard.
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