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Long, male, Christian hair?

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JeffShott

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Until somewhat recently, I had some hair that was about shoulder-length :)
A lot of Christian people (especially adult males) were telling me that the Bible discouraged long hair, and that I should cut it...
So I did.

Then, like I should have done before, I did some research:
There is only one verse in the Bible that frowns upon (at first glance), a man having long hair.
Paul, in 1 Cor, says "Does not nature itself tell you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him?" (I wrote this from memory, but that's essentially what it says).

This confused me. For, in the Torah, God commands the Jews not to cut the "hair at the sides of their heads, or their beards" (again, from memory). And many honored people (Samson, Daniel, Prophets, Angels, John the Baptist, and more) are recorded to have had long (sometimes very long) hair. This hair was an honor to them and their peity.

So, why would Paul seem to not condone long hair?
He didn't.
Paul told the people of Corinth not to have long tresses, if you were to translate the Greek word Komaos more correctly. Due to common Pagan practices of growing a male's hair long and feminine, including oiling it to specifically look more feminine, Paul warns the men of Corinth not to do such a thing. The word usually used to mean hair was Thrix, which is used in every other circumstance in the Bible. Komaos is only used three times, and only in 1 Cor.

So, I think it's perfectly fine for a Christian man to have long hair.
What say you?

[I will cite anything that was said to be from memory, upon request] :biggrin
 
Well I have never really researched this issue myself, despite until a few weeks ago for the past 5 years having very long hair. I have glanced over a thread or two at my time here, but that's the only time I've ever heard about issues with males having long hair. So certainly it is not stressed at all in scripture either way. I don't really think it matters, and was more of a cultural thing in the Bible. But I prefer now to have shorter hair now, but just for personal, not biblical reasons.

I would be interested to research with you about this, it could get quite interesting, so please cite and I'll do some research and come back. :)
 
Short hair for men didn't come into style until the early 1900's I believe. Most men before then had long hair. And I've never seen a verse in the bible that is against long hair. Quite the opposite impression actually.

That being said, I still hate long hair on guys, but that is a personal preference. I don't think hair on a guy should be longer than my hair, and mine is shoulder length. :tongue
 
JeffShott said:
I don't know if this actually counts as research, lol. But, this webpage sure did help a lot:

http://www.hurtingchristian.org/Pastors ... nghair.htm
Hey, that's definately research! :lol

And that seems to agree with my [limited] understanding of what the Bible says on this.

I thought it would be good to post the conclusion of the linked article:

Jeff's article's conclusion said:
1 Corinthians 11:13 says, "Judge for yourselves...." and verse 16 seems to imply there was no custom concerning this in the churches. It seems the interpretation is up to each individual depending on the cultural standards of their day. I think the New Bible Commentary sums up best how we should look at this issue, "To dress with decorum is a Christian principle of permanent validity for the outward appearance reflects the inner attitude. How this principle finds expression in detail will vary from place to place and from age to age."

JeffShott said:
By the way, I love your new username, Nick xD
Haha, thanks. :biggrin Could you recognise me? :biglol

I like yours too. :). It is a bit more simple and 'flows' better, ya know? :)

ChattyMute said:
Short hair for men didn't come into style until the early 1900's I believe. Most men before then had long hair. And I've never seen a verse in the bible that is against long hair. Quite the opposite impression actually.
I agree, although I would have said it didn't come in till about 1850's, but you get the idea - relative to history, quite recently.

ChattyMute said:
That being said, I still hate long hair on guys, but that is a personal preference. I don't think hair on a guy should be longer than my hair, and mine is shoulder length. :tongue
I don't mind long hair on guys, but it just comes down personal preference and popular culture's opinion. We were getting into this today in English: the subjectivity of truth and popular culture's role in this.
 
It's hard for me to quote parts of you epic triple-post lol, Nick. So, I'll just address individual things :biggrin

Haha, thanks and ya, the main reason I changed my username and avatar was because of 'flow' and stuff.

Basically, what the article you cited is saying, is: long hair is not necessarily condemned, but, Christian folk shouldn't rebel against the social norm (or natural one) just because of self-righteous religious reasons?
 
Lol, yes the epic 'triple post'. :biggrin

JeffShott said:
Basically, what the article you cited is saying, is: long hair is not necessarily condemned, but, Christian folk shouldn't rebel against the social norm (or natural one) just because of self-righteous religious reasons?
Well definately not for self-righteous reasons, when that conflicts with God'ly reasons.
Social form.....hmm, well yes I think so. I think what the article is trying to get at here is that what Paul was saying to the Corinthians was more of a cultural thing, and that at that time in Corinth it was not very acceptable for men to have long hair, as this could be confused with women, because Paul's letter to the Corinthians (the first one at least) was dealing with roles (especially gender roles) in the church.
 
Nick said:
Lol, yes the epic 'triple post'. :biggrin

JeffShott said:
Basically, what the article you cited is saying, is: long hair is not necessarily condemned, but, Christian folk shouldn't rebel against the social norm (or natural one) just because of self-righteous religious reasons?
Well definately not for self-righteous reasons, when that conflicts with God'ly reasons.
Social form.....hmm, well yes I think so. I think what the article is trying to get at here is that what Paul was saying to the Corinthians was more of a cultural thing, and that at that time in Corinth it was not very acceptable for men to have long hair, as this could be confused with women, because Paul's letter to the Corinthians (the first one at least) was dealing with roles (especially gender roles) in the church.

Well, that's what puts us in a picke :/
For, the only reason that hair-length (I think) is even an issue now, is because it was an issue then. As Christian men, we don't have to worry about being confused with Pagans or worry about our hair (and that of our Christian women) being a problem within the Church.
 
JeffShott said:
Nick said:
Lol, yes the epic 'triple post'. :biggrin

JeffShott said:
Basically, what the article you cited is saying, is: long hair is not necessarily condemned, but, Christian folk shouldn't rebel against the social norm (or natural one) just because of self-righteous religious reasons?
Well definately not for self-righteous reasons, when that conflicts with God'ly reasons.
Social form.....hmm, well yes I think so. I think what the article is trying to get at here is that what Paul was saying to the Corinthians was more of a cultural thing, and that at that time in Corinth it was not very acceptable for men to have long hair, as this could be confused with women, because Paul's letter to the Corinthians (the first one at least) was dealing with roles (especially gender roles) in the church.

Well, that's what puts us in a picke :/
For, the only reason that hair-length (I think) is even an issue now, is because it was an issue then. As Christian men, we don't have to worry about being confused with Pagans or worry about our hair (and that of our Christian women) being a problem within the Church.
Uh-huh. :) :thumb
 
Where would Legolas be without his long hair?

Anyway, we're not supposed to judge others for their appearance, so why should it matter if they have long hair, no hair, or blue hair? To me, it's all the same.

My brother had long-ish hair, and my grandparents ragged on him to no end. He cut his hair, and when they saw him, my grandma exclaimed, "you look so handsom and grown up!"
 
nalini-dahlia said:
Where would Legolas be without his long hair?
RESPECT!
The most awesome character in LOTR!
:salute

malini-dahlia said:
Anyway, we're not supposed to judge others for their appearance, so why should it matter if they have long hair, no hair, or blue hair? To me, it's all the same.
That's the way I see it, and I think it's easy to get too caught up in on'es appearance and forget about more important things.

malini-dahlia said:
My brother had long-ish hair, and my grandparents ragged on him to no end. He cut his hair, and when they saw him, my grandma exclaimed, "you look so handsom and grown up!"
For about six years up until last year I was like your brother, and I think my family 'tolerated' it. When I cut it, they said how grown-up and smart-looking I was, and I have to agree. No matter if you like long or short hair, I think we can all agree that having it neat and short does look smarter and more grown-up.

As for facial hair, well that's a different story....:biggrin :lol
 
Nick said:
nalini-dahlia said:
Where would Legolas be without his long hair?
RESPECT!
The most awesome character in LOTR!
:salute

[quote="malini-dahlia":3vsi4vw2]Anyway, we're not supposed to judge others for their appearance, so why should it matter if they have long hair, no hair, or blue hair? To me, it's all the same.
That's the way I see it, and I think it's easy to get too caught up in on'es appearance and forget about more important things.

malini-dahlia said:
My brother had long-ish hair, and my grandparents ragged on him to no end. He cut his hair, and when they saw him, my grandma exclaimed, "you look so handsom and grown up!"
For about six years up until last year I was like your brother, and I think my family 'tolerated' it. When I cut it, they said how grown-up and smart-looking I was, and I have to agree. No matter if you like long or short hair, I think we can all agree that having it neat and short does look smarter and more grown-up.

As for facial hair, well that's a different story....:biggrin :lol[/quote:3vsi4vw2]

:lol
I even enjoy having short hair. Sadly, I haven't had short hair in many years because my mom doesn't want me to cut it :confused But, I have curly hair, and everyone likes it long. I'm so bored of it, though.
 
nalini-dahlia said:
Nick said:
[quote="nalini-dahlia":3mn3vlsc]Where would Legolas be without his long hair?
RESPECT!
The most awesome character in LOTR!
:salute

[quote="malini-dahlia":3mn3vlsc]Anyway, we're not supposed to judge others for their appearance, so why should it matter if they have long hair, no hair, or blue hair? To me, it's all the same.
That's the way I see it, and I think it's easy to get too caught up in on'es appearance and forget about more important things.

malini-dahlia said:
My brother had long-ish hair, and my grandparents ragged on him to no end. He cut his hair, and when they saw him, my grandma exclaimed, "you look so handsom and grown up!"
For about six years up until last year I was like your brother, and I think my family 'tolerated' it. When I cut it, they said how grown-up and smart-looking I was, and I have to agree. No matter if you like long or short hair, I think we can all agree that having it neat and short does look smarter and more grown-up.

As for facial hair, well that's a different story....:biggrin :lol[/quote:3mn3vlsc]

:lol
I even enjoy having short hair. Sadly, I haven't had short hair in many years because my mom doesn't want me to cut it :confused But, I have curly hair, and everyone likes it long. I'm so bored of it, though.[/quote:3mn3vlsc]
I''m guessing a girl's long hair is much more hard work than a guys! :tongue
If you have nice curls, don't waste them, although it's always nice to see a girl with short hair for a change. You've got many years to change your hair, as I'm sure you will. Girls never seem to stop! :lol

Sometimes I think being a guy is so much easier. For example, for our year 12 graduation formal, all the girls are going on about which $500 dress they're going to wear, but the guys are all just getting $120-$150 suits. Nice work, gentlemen. :)
 
Being a girl is hard in that area! Not only do girls want to impress guys with how they look, but girls actually tend to dress for girls more often. Isn't that strange? So they have the weight of trying to look attractive to guys on their shoulders and impressing the girls. :shame

Especially with how media is always trying to convince woman to be sexy and how to be attractive. It can be stressful.

Luckily, I'm mature enough to not worry about this. I used to be very self-concious, but now I know that in God's eyes, I'm awesome. I wish more girls could see this...

But, how did I get from talking about guys with long hair to this?
 
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