Quote:
Originally Posted by Apostolic1ness
I think you missed the point. The point is there are still those in the Church who came out of a lifestyle of rebellion that was identified by their long hair and facial hair. When they were converted they tried to get as far away from that identity as possible so they cut their hair and shaved. It was about identity and representation.
IMAO any Pastor with any sense would rather keep some things in place than cause mass confusion and disunity in a local Church. To me its the safest thing to do.
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That makes some sense.
But that brings up something I've noticed.
In the world, a person can break from a lifestyle, change the way they dress, talk, socialize, etc.... and they do it because they are benefiting in some way from the change. For example, an overweight person might change their eating habits, manner of dress, places to eat at, and appearance to break away from that old self. Some under go a makeover of sorts for "New Year, new me", kinda thing. Human beings change for the benefit of social recognition, health, legal reasons, etc. Gang members with tattoos up their arms might have a close call, leave the gang, get cleaned up, etc. However, they seem to understand the what and why of what they're doing. And even though the previous gang member now wears nothing but long sleeves, he doesn't argue that his cousin from Tennessee is a gang thug because he wears a muscle shirt when out working on the truck.
But in Pentecost... these blood bought, Holy Spirit empowered, Bible loving, God fearing people... are as fragile as a snowflake. They leave a Hippie commune, cut their hair, shave their beards, and now suddenly... everyone has to do that or else they'll fall apart and back slide or something. Did they forget... "THEY" came from a commune, not the new guy who has a beard and works at the local factory? And why do these saints also crystalize the way they look at people to the point of every time they see a pic of Charles Spurgeon, they feel in their core that because he has a beard, he must have been a dope smoking Hippie like they were??? It's just a bit... immature to me. Kinda silly. Contrived, maybe for the sake of control and manipulation? I don't know. It's just... weird.
I've never encountered a more fragile people whose personal experiences bring personal convictions that must be enforced on everyone... or they give up on God.
I mean, if a pastor said, "Look folks, this beard standard isn't in the Bible, we're chucking it." If the people have a love of the Word... they would rejoice, even if they personally would remain clean shaven because of having come out of the Hippy movement. But we talk about it like if a pastor turned to the Word... half the church would spin out of control. That doesn't seem spiritually, emotionally, or mentally healthy to me. How can someone filled with the Almighty God be so fragile and not understand why they do something personally, and why another wouldn't???
I just don't get it.
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