Hair

[TheOliveBranch]

Originally posted by Walls:
14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

Years ago some ladies of the church had brought up the topic on whether it was a Biblical teaching that women should be wearing a head covering or not. The subject was argued to some length because the church women wanted to do what pleased the Lord. It also became topic because one of the younger women had come back from college, in the South, and was now wearing a head covering.

The conclusion came down to these two verses. The men had no problem, but the women wondered if this was the answer, taking into consideration the whole portion of Scripture. Because that verse said that the woman's hair was her covering, the conclusion was "no head covering".

Since then I had gone back and forth over what was really correct here. I will not fall into the trap of "letting each person interpret the Scriptures", and accept that "whatever everyone else is doing in my church, I'll abide by that". I have found here on this board several ladies that do practice headcovering, and only blessings can be claimed. For this reason alone makes me want to practice this.

I find that this discussion should take place because there are women, namely myself, who are tetering between what the Lord requires of us, and what He looks upon, in whatever way we desire, as to what will bring more honor to Him.

Thank-you Margie for reminding us that another topic is just a click away, and this topic can be civilized, if done in the Spirit. Thank-you, Walls for bringing to mind something that I had promised God, but fell away from in my flesh.

 

[TheOliveBranch]

Originally posted by Helen:
Ah, I have male pattern baldness setting in. Am I losing my glory? My hair is thinning and there are even some bald spots well-covered by bangs now.

I have a REALLY hard time believing that somehow as the Lord is maturing me (Romans 8:28-30 and Phil 1:6) that the length or even condition of my hair is affecting my spiritual condition...

However, I do my best to stay clean, neat, and well-groomed. Does that count?

Maybe the Lord is trying to say "headcovering" in a slow-type of way

(My hear has also been thinning, Helen. My receding hair line comesfrom my dad

)

 

[Elnora]

TheOliveBranch,

If you believe the Lord is requiring that you wear a headcovering, who would I to be to say no, he is not. He has not given me that directive personally but if he did I would do it. Obedience is better than sacrifice.
In my experience when I tried to do as others told me as a young Christian without the leading or conviction of the Holy Spirit it was for nothing. I had to learn the difference between others convictions or was I putting that on myself because they may have made me feel less spiritual or lacking. A false sense of guilt. Something to pray about and search to see what are our motives. Although I have long hair I do not wear headcoverings and am nothing but blessed. So there must be a better reason than to seek blessings? Only an individual and God would know why he requires that of some and not others.

 

[Gina B]

Hair ye, hair ye, thus sayeth the word: it's not the outward appearance that counts.
By the way I'm going to make sure I'm right with God and wear a veil on half my head and have long hair on the other side.

Gina

 

[Johnv]

Originally posted by Helen:
Ah, I have male pattern baldness setting in. Am I losing my glory?

No, you're not losing your glory. God does not put marble tops on cheap furniture.

 

[Thankful]

Thank-you Margie for reminding us that another topic is just a click away, and this topic can be civilized, if done in the Spirit.

I too thank you Margie. While I don't believe it is necessary or important to wear long hair or head coverings, there are many women who do and I think they have the right to calmly discuss it.

If someone thinks it is trivial and other subjects are more important, then she should start a thread to discuss matters that are important to her.

I for one am very interested in other's beliefs.

We know that the most important one is our belief in our Lord Jesus, but let us learn from each other how to walk as closely with our Lord as we can.

 

[russell55]

Since then I had gone back and forth over what was really correct here.

I think this is an important statement. The fact that you teter back and forth over exactly what that scripture says means to me that the scripture itself is just not that clear here. Its a hard passage to interpret, even when you come to it without bias. So whatever I think it means, I ought to hold my opinion lightly, and accept that others in good conscience might interpret it differently than I.

I know that Paul knew exactly what he meant by what he said, and I also accept that those he wrote to, who knew exactly what circumstances prompted the passage, and who also were steeped in that culture, probably understood exactly what Paul meant.

But I will admit that I don't know exactly what Paul was getting at. Every interpretation that I have heard seems to have some problems. There is, for every interpretation, something in the passage that at least appears to not quite fit.

Here are my personal conclusions about the passage:

If it meant that women ought to have their head covered, I think it would be hard to make the case from this passage that this is required outside of occasions of public praying and prophesying.

If a woman's hair is her glory, then we ought to keep our hair as nice as possible. And we shouldn't have it shaved.

I keep mine shoulder length. Suits me, suits my hair. I probably would never do mine really short, because of the "long hair" thing (and also because my hair doesn't do short very well). But I also recognize that there is room for other interpretations of this passage, so I don't expect others to do the same as I do.

 

[Elnora]

Well as my dad used to say,

I don't know whether to laugh or get mad.

 

[LadyEagle]

So glad God looks at my heart and not my hair. Never have been convicted that my short hair was a sin I needed to confess. Other things, yes, but not my hair. I remember my friend who went thru chemo and covered her head with a scarf because she lost all her hair in chunks in the shower. I think she had a tad bit more on her mind than losing her hair though.

 

[Wisdom Seeker]

Out of the 99 times that hair is referred to in the Bible, only 5 times was it referring to women particularly. Twice, it was the story of Mary wiping Jesus' feet with her hair. Twice did it refer to broiding or adorning of womens hair. And only once does it mention the length of a woman's hair.

1Cor.11:14-15 "Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering."


For those people who are tired of the topic of hair length for a woman: (personally I haven't seen anyone bring it up in months. (not that I've been looking for it mind you)) You could always start a topic on any one of the other 93 non gender specific hair references in the Bible.

 

[Wisdom Seeker]

Originally posted by Johnv:
God does not put marble tops on cheap furniture.

Besides the funny picture that this puts in my head...I have to ask you. Did you just call someone cheap furniture?

 

[Headcoveredlady]

Originally posted by Walls:
14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

Dear Sister Walls,
The Lord has led me read here the past days, now I know why. Verse 14 shows us that naturally (usually) women's hair is more glorious than men.

Her hair is given as *a* covering. But, not *the* covering. If it were *the* covering than verse six would make absolutely no sense.

If it meant that hair was *the* covering than it would read like this: "For if the woman had short hair or shaved hair let her also have short hair, but if it be a shame for a woman to have short hair or be shaven let her have short hair."

Also verse 4 would make no sense, "Every man praying or prophesying having long hair dishonoureth his head."

As well as verse 5, "But, every woman that prayeth or prophesyeth with short hair, dishonoureth her head."

These would have to mean that we women could actually remove our hair when praying and prophesying.

Russell brought out a very important part of this Holy Scripture. She said that it involves praying and prophesying. That too shows that when praying or prophesying something changes. It can't be the hair, unless the lady was to get a haircut each time she prayed.

I recognize that my view is not mainstream, but I truly do want to see women blessed in *this* area. The area of wearing the headship veiling.

 

[I Am Blessed 24]

Originally posted by Johnv:
God does not put marble tops on cheap furniture.

Hubby roared when he read this John!

He doesn't have to worry about his hair length, he can't even get it to grow to his collar anymore.

Hello Headcoveredlady . I haven't seen you post since July. Welcome back!

§ue

 

[Dina]

I normally wear a Chin Line Bob. When I feel really daring, I'll do an Ear Line Bob. What those terms mean is that the longest part of my hair is at that "line". I have had longer hair, and shorter hair. This style is the easiest to deal with. I am, what I refer to anyway, a "mouse and go" type person. There are days that I do more, but normally tend to like the ease of towel drying, mouse it up, brush it and go.

Now, I personally could care less about the length of hair on man or woman. I have seen on many occasions a man with collar length hair be immersed in sin, while a man with hair down his back have a true heart for God. And, the same goes for women. I do not feel that the length of our hair is what is important. It is our hearts, and no matter what the length of hair God knows our hearts.

 

[Taufgesinnter]

Originally posted by Helen:
Ah, I have male pattern baldness setting in. Am I losing my glory? My hair is thinning and there are even some bald spots well-covered by bangs now.

I have a REALLY hard time believing that somehow as the Lord is maturing me (Romans 8:28-30 and Phil 1:6) that the length or even condition of my hair is affecting my spiritual condition...

However, I do my best to stay clean, neat, and well-groomed. Does that count?

Just FYI, minoxidil works for women. And if--and absolutely only if--you are 100% guaranteed unable to have any (more) children, you might be able to take a daily dutasteride tablet. Dutasteride will halt MPB in its tracks and reverse some of it or even all of it if you start early enough. (But women who may become pregnant aren't allowed to take it, because it will turn boy fetuses into girl babies.)

For lurkers: male pattern baldness is rare in women, whereas more than a third will eventually develop female pattern baldness.

 

[Thankful]

Hi, HeadCovered Lady. We have missed you.

We have a non judgemental thread called Life's Choices. We are just giving experiences...Maybe you would like to post there.

Some of the new people may not have heard your testimony.

 

[Headcoveredlady]

Originally posted by Thankful:
Hi, HeadCovered Lady. We have missed you.

We have a non judgemental thread called Life's Choices. We are just giving experiences...Maybe you would like to post there.

Some of the new people may not have heard your testimony.

Thank you thankful, is this thread here in the woman's section? I will check it out later, now I am off to work, (homeschool).

 

[Walls]

Interesting how this thread has gone and with out my imput.

Some raise the issue of why bringing something up that has already been discussed. Well I ask you, do you read your Bible once and then never read it again?

I for one like Bible studies and I gain insight from my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Maybe just maybe when people start a thread they are looking for answers and how we respond can help them or hinder them.

There are always new people that come to this board that may be struggling in this area and the Lord leads them here.

Margie, I appreciate what you said. Everyone has the choice to pass over a topic. Thankful, your attitude has been very considerate. Thank you!

 

[Thankful]

Thank you thankful, is this thread here in the woman's section? I will check it out later, now I am off to work, (homeschool).

Yes, it is. Have fun with the children!

Walls, thank you. Even though I don't agree with the importance of long hair and headcoverings, I think one has the right to discuss it and have long hair and headcoverings if God so leads.

This is a way that some women show their devotion to our Lord and Savior.

The important thing to me is to live Christlike and our actions and words will tell the world that we are Christians.

I'm glad that we can have this discussion with a non judgmental attitude.

 

[I Am Blessed 24]

Actully, moderators do NOT have the choice to 'pass over' topics in their forums. We are here for a reason.

I did not say anything about closing this thread. If that were my intention, it would have already been done. My exact quote follows:

So far, it has not gotten personal or ugly. If it should do so, I will close the thread.

This remains my position...

Tauf: You said:

(But women who may become pregnant aren't allowed to take it, because it will turn boy fetuses into girl babies.)

I have never heard that the sex of a baby could be changed once God decided what it was to be. Do you have a link for this statement?