Dave Bernard addresses beards

[Ferd]

Brother E, does the OT not say that the corners of the BEARD should not be rounded? in otherwords, dont trim your beard?

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by Ferd

Brother E, does the OT not say that the corners of the BEARD should not be rounded? in otherwords, dont trim your beard?

This is a good point IF a man had a beard it cannot be formed and trimmed but must grow like the Amish or Orthodox Jews. Most beard wearers don't want to follow this.

[Emma Bontrager]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

This is a good point IF a man had a beard it cannot be formed and trimmed but must grow like the Amish or Orthodox Jews. Most beard wearers don't want to follow this.

Amish men shave off the moustache.

It's not a matter of right and wrong, but how much stock you have in your status quo account. Of course, a little stock in Schick never hurt either...saving is expensive you know.

[HeavenlyOne]

I'd like to know what scripture Paul used when he gave instructions to the churches on his preferences.

[Sister Alvear]

No, elder you are a fine man. You have our uttermost respect. Even when we differ we respect your stand...Did you mean ladies wear their hair up?

[Felicity]

It's my position that the "leader" of a church has a huge responsibility to lead in the fear of God and according to the dictates and within the parameters of what the Word of God sets forth as the standard of leadership.

The "leader" ... the man who has been called of God to oversee an assembly of believers .... has an onus placed on him to not put yokes too heavy to bear on the people he shepherds and leads.

He is a "watchman on the wall" who has a burden and a directive to care for and oversee the flock of God in any given church.

He's also been given the responsibility to dictate and put into place the guidelines as he sees fit (as the under shepherd responsible to the Great Shepherd) .... and the parameters that he feels comfortable with .... as to how he will carry out his responsibilities. Then it is up to the people whether they will follow or not.

I was told by a very wise man many years ago that if a pastor provides a proper ... balanced diet then for the most part people will be content and won't stray too far away. If they are being loved and cared for, their spiritual needs being ministered to and they're receiving a healthy and nourishing diet re the Word of God as it's fed to them then they will put up with a lot of restriction.

Along with that we can't forget that people's consciences and convictions are formed and built around the teaching they receive. What may seem extreme to someone whose conscience and conviction has been established by lesser restriction ... seems normal to those raised with a tighter rein.

What is a "leader" after all if he doesn't do just that? Lead!

How one man leads may not be my cup of tea totally, but genuine love and care from a man of God for my soul would mean an AWFUL lot and whether or not I could wear a beard (if I were a man of course ) would pale in comparison and be a pretty moot consideration in whether or not I would want to stay where I was being cared for by an anointed man of God with a burden for souls - including my own!

So there you have it. There's more than one way to look at everything!

By the way ......... God bless you Bro. Epley!

[HeavenlyOne]

Originally Posted by Felicity

It's my position that the "leader" of a church has a huge responsibility to lead in the fear of God and according to the dictates and within the parameters of what the Word of God sets forth as the standard of leadership.

The "leader" ... the man who has been called of God to oversee an assembly of believers .... has an onus placed on him to not put yokes too heavy to bear on the people he shepherds and leads.

He is a "watchman on the wall" who has a burden and a directive to care for and oversee the flock of God in any given church.

He's also been given the responsibility to dictate and put into place the guidelines as he sees fit (as the under shepherd responsible to the Great Shepherd) .... and the parameters that he feels comfortable with .... as to how he will carry out his responsibilities. Then it is up to the people whether they will follow or not.

I was told by a very wise man many years ago that if a pastor provides a proper ... balanced diet then for the most part people will be content and won't stray too far away. If they are being loved and cared for, their spiritual needs being ministered to and they're receiving a healthy and nourishing diet re the Word of God as it's fed to them then they will put up with a lot of restriction.

Along with that we can't forget that people's consciences and convictions are formed and built around the teaching they receive. What may seem extreme to someone whose conscience and conviction has been established by lesser restriction ... seems normal to those raised with a tighter rein.

What is a "leader" after all if he doesn't do just that? Lead!

How one man leads may not be my cup of tea totally, but genuine love and care from a man of God for my soul would mean an AWFUL lot and whether or not I could wear a beard (if I were a man of course ) would pale in comparison and be a pretty moot consideration in whether or not I would want to stay where I was being cared for by an anointed man of God with a burden for souls - including my own!

So there you have it. There's more than one way to look at everything!

By the way ......... God bless you Bro. Epley!

Great post. Thanks.

[ThePastorsCoach]

Elder Epley - As you know - I have a goatee, wear gold and shorts sometimes, my wife has her hair trimmed at times and wears pants at times, she wears make up and jewelry.
I have sense enough to know - I am not going to come to your church and be accepted as a member. Most likely if I ever even visited - I would not wear a ring and would shave before I got there.

You have EVERY RIGHT as a Pastor and Shepard of that flock to watch over them and if you feel something to be a hindrance in their lives - to deal with that and if they are in opposition to it - show them, love them and if they do not submit - to put them out of the church.

You are the Bishop of your house and if they don't want to abide by the house rules - then they need to go somewhere else.

We would be considered by most on this forum to be "Charismatic" or liberal. But I can promise you one thing - we have house rules at Church Alive - just like any house that people live in. I am the Bishop & Father of the house and I lay down the house rules. There are folks that come in that don't like it - they can leave the same way they came in - I am not gonna change for anybody else! I am there to Father and Shepard a congregation and to bring them into maturity. It may not be as up to speed as yours - but it is not YOUR house - its the House God gave me RULE over!

Elder - You do what you have to do and require what you have to require. I would not expect you to serve me communion and if you did - I would be disappointed in you! I do love you and admire you and love to laugh with you. We simply do not agree doctrinally - I love you anyway. I don't think your going to hell for your stand on somethings or your lack of stand on others - It is NOT a heaven or hell issue. A Pastor has every right to require standards and boundaries for his people.

[HeavenlyOne]

Originally Posted by AtlantaBishop

Elder Epley - As you know - I have a goatee, wear gold and shorts sometimes, my wife has her hair trimmed at times and wears pants at times, she wears make up and jewelry.
I have sense enough to know - I am not going to come to your church and be accepted as a member. Most likely if I ever even visited - I would not wear a ring and would shave before I got there.

You have EVERY RIGHT as a Pastor and Shepard of that flock to watch over them and if you feel something to be a hindrance in their lives - to deal with that and if they are in opposition to it - show them, love them and if they do not submit - to put them out of the church.

You are the Bishop of your house and if they don't want to abide by the house rules - then they need to go somewhere else.

We would be considered by most on this forum to be "Charismatic" or liberal. But I can promise you one thing - we have house rules at Church Alive - just like any house that people live in. I am the Bishop & Father of the house and I lay down the house rules. There are folks that come in that don't like it - they can leave the same way they came in - I am not gonna change for anybody else! I am there to Father and Shepard a congregation and to bring them into maturity. It may not be as up to speed as yours - but it is not YOUR house - its the House God gave me RULE over!

Elder - You do what you have to do and require what you have to require. I would not expect you to serve me communion and if you did - I would be disappointed in you! I do love you and admire you and love to laugh with you. We simply do not agree doctrinally - I love you anyway. I don't think your going to hell for your stand on somethings or your lack of stand on others - It is NOT a heaven or hell issue. A Pastor has every right to require standards and boundaries for his people.

And another great post from a Pentecostal dictator.......NOT!

Yes, it is a great post, but you aren't a dictator....to clarify....LOL!