Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!apple!sun-barr!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: jwindley@matt.ksu.ksu.edu (Jay Windley) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Thoughts on guys with long hair? Message-ID: Date: 29 Nov 90 05:11:27 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Kansas State University Lines: 46 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu lshaw@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (logan shaw) writes: >Well, being a guy with long hair, and having more curiousity than I perhaps >should, I thought I would pose this question for everybody: > - Is there (in your opinion) anything at all wrong with guys having long > hair? No. I am Christian and I used to have long hair, but it became so much of a bother to fend off Corinthians-quoters that I cut it. > - If yes, explain how the _Bible_ supports your view. >[The relevant passage is I Cor 11:14: "Does not nature itself teach >you that for a man to wear long hair is degrading to him?" Like most >of Paul's specific instructions, some Christians consider this binding >for all time and others consider it to be application only in its >original social context -- a debate we're not likely to settle. >--clh] I firmly subscribe to the notion that Paul here was speaking to the Corinthians, and only to the Corinthians. The rest of the verse "...but we have no such custom, neither the people of God (paraphrased)" indicates to me that men's hair is purely a social issue. Given that Christ Himself is nearly always pictured in shoulder-length hair, and that among the Jews themselves certain sects (e.g., Nazarites) required men to wear long hair, I would question any authoritative pronunciation regarding men's hair length. To address the passage noted by our moderator, I have formed the impression while studying Paul's writings that he frequently commented on issues not directly related to Christianity, and probably without divine authority. I don't blame this on Paul, because it is evident that his statements come in response to questions put to him by the various congregations. One can easily imagine disputes arising in these infant churches (especially given the intricacies of pharasaical Judaism) on peripheral subjects, with an appeal to Paul being the only apparent solution. Rather than let the churches continue in their contention, Paul offered his own opinion. I think one must prayerfully ask God to help decide when Paul is speaking as himself, or as the Lord's Apostle. -- Jay Windley - CIS Dept. - Kansas State University NET: jwindley@matt.ksu.ksu.edu VOICE: (913) 532-5968 FAX: (913) 532-6722 USnail: 323 Seaton Hall, Kansas State Univ., Manhattan, KS 66506 Obligatory quote: "" -- /dev/null