A question about women and their hair length

[Shulamite]

Okay, I'm asking this in a sincere way, not to provoke "legalism" debates. Recently, I got my hair cut. I like the cut because it's easier for me to take care of and I like the style. Well, I've always worn my hair long and curly (*It's naturally VERY curly and thick, so cutting it has given me a break! LOL) But.... after I got it cut, I felt from the Lord to read Paul's writings on the length of hair for men and women.

The Spirit was speaking through Paul about women's and men's hair lengths, not because of the "law" or being "legalistic" but due to the fact that men and women and how they wear their hair has a direct correlation to the submission we have under God.

1 Corinthians 11 says what it says and I cannot get around it. I have had people tell me that Paul was only speaking to them out of the "tradition of the day" but then again I can argue that I don't want to submit to my husband either because that was just written "out of the tradition of the day"!

I submit to my husband (I ask the Lord to help me to!) because I want to honor the Lord, knowing that the woman represents the Bride of Christ, while the man represents the Lord. So, back to hair length.... I felt like I should let my hair grow back again in honor of the Lord due to this scripture. I have to admit that all of my life I never gave this verse from Paul much thought until I got my hair cut! LOL So, after praying about it, I know the Lord loves me just as much now as He did before I got my hair cut, but I feel I cannot ignore this scripture and want to honor Him. So, I will let it grow back out.

What do you all think about this verse and how does the Lord lead you on it?
http://www.gotquestions.org/head-coverings.html (I thought this link/website was good reading on this topic)

Thanks!

 

[makingchristiandisciples]

I think God is concerned about the condition of your heart, not your hair. Paul, I think, was addressing a specific issue going on in that church. I don't think he was saying that women need long hair in order to be submissive. I'm sure others will disagree. But the Bible says that if you know something to be sinful and don't do it in faith, then it is sin for you. So if you can't leave your hair short in faith, then for you it is sin. Whatever is not from faith is sin. But I don't think God is unhappy with you. "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8.1). Enjoy your freedom in Christ

 

[ElizabethGould]

Yes, I was taught that this was likely addressed to a certain church for a certain reason.

Don't forget, part of Jesus' coming was to free people from legalism and from worship of God purely on terms of what rules you abided by.

 

[SwordoftheLord]

I think Paul was referring to a women not to be looking like a man, which in his time, Hair length would have played a big role in identification, since men and women clothing was close to the same...

 

[Freedom&Light]

I feel this is an issue that is similar to the situation in Romans 14. Read, pray, seek counsel, then make a decision and stick to it. It is not a salvation issue, but one of obedience. I let my hair grow out and wear a headband as a headcovering out of a desire to obey my Lord. But I do not judge my sisters who show obedience in other ways.

 

[Hog Red]

as long as your name isn't Samson, your fine. let it grow out again and donate it to locks of love and maybe God will spare your soul. Seriously, I wouldn't spend more than a milisecond worrying about it.

 

[Shulamite]

as long as your name isn't Samson, your fine. let it grow out again and donate it to locks of love and maybe God will spare your soul. Seriously, I wouldn't spend more than a milisecond worrying about it.

LOL, actuallly, when I got my hair cut, I did donate my hair to locks of love!

In all seriousness, I appreciate your candor, brother, but this issue is just something I am "searching" out for myself. Paul said, "Let every man be convinced in his/her own mind". This convincing unto faith has to be authored by the Lord.
One brother eats meat and another does not, one man's faith allows him to eat only vegetables and another man's faith allows him to eat all things. Paul said that each of us needs to be convinced by faith, by the Lord Himself. So, I am seeking this matter out.

Food for thought: If I say that I don't want to submit to my husband because it's NOT a salvation issue (which it is not), then I am in disobedience. My soul is not lost because I rebel and refuse to submit to my "earthly head", but I dishonor Jesus who says a woman's submission to her husband is a picture of the church's submission to Christ. Is it not also fitting that I pay attention to the "proper/fitting" way a woman should wear her hair or clothing? Paul would not put this in the scriptures if it was to be overlooked as a "cultural" issue.

Then I may as well refuse to submit to my earthly husband because it was just for women "back then and is a cultural issue".

I say this with respect. Blessings.
Shulamite

 

[UniqueUsername]

Actually, if God is that legalistic... was He talking about the Jewish Standard or the Roman Standard.

Seriously. Studying history one realizes that the short above the ear, and the collor hairstyle originated with the Romans. What Americans call short is the Roman Standard. That is where our custom came from. A student of the medieval era, could tell you that.

So do we want to be like the more "Holy" people, the Romans? Or do we want to be like the lowly Jews?

Also, long and short are comparative terms. Which of these is big: A rabbit or a mouse? The rabbit. Which of these is big: A rabbit or a horse?

See my point?

 

[Freedom&Light]

I believe the Lord knows my heart and knows I don't cut my hair as a desire to obey the ideas of 1 Cor 11. My hair doesn't grow fast or thick, and barely reaches my shoulder-blades even though I have not had more than a trim in over a year. Which is that? The Roman or the Jew? Neither. I am not doing it to fulfill a worldly standard.

What Shulamite is describing is not legalism. It is an act of obedience.

UU, welcome to CF!

 

[Shulamite]

I believe the Lord knows my heart and knows I don't cut my hair as a desire to obey the ideas of 1 Cor 11. My hair doesn't grow fast or thick, and barely reaches my shoulder-blades even though I have not had more than a trim in over a year. Which is that? The Roman or the Jew? Neither. I am not doing it to fulfill a worldly standard.

What Shulamite is describing is not legalism. It is an act of obedience.

UU, welcome to CF!

Exactly!! How refreshing that you understand where I am coming from. I KNOW we are not saved by the Law, the Law does not justify anyone or the cross of Yeshua is useless. Nor is lagalism important, but obedience.

"He who loves Me has my commands."
I feel that the Lord has nudged my heart to OBEY this verse from scripture from Paul, not because I HAVE to otherwise I would lose my salvation in Him, but rather because it's FITTING in Him. I do understand and appreciate ALL the responses I have had from others on this thread and thank you very much.

 

[stelow]

Paul is addressing the Corinth's, in how they should honor Christ, even in their outer appearance.

 

[Migdala]

If having long hair was such a big deal to God, wouldn't He have given it as a commandment to women specifically? But He didn't, and Paul only mentioned it briefly, in that one chapter. The main thing God seems to be concerned about as far as sin, is sexual sins.
I think the whole thing with the hair length issue is that we shouldn't cut our hair in a way that would make us look like a man. Like others have said-God is a lot more concerned about the state of our hearts than about our hair length.

 

[bbbbbbb]

As a man I could easily let my hair grow out and wear a baseball cap to church. However, I have examined the passage in I Corinthians 11 and have concluded that my obedience to God extends to the length of my hair (short) and the absence of any covering on it in church.

I fail to understand why it is such a problem for women to not cut their hair and to cover it in church. However, I also see that it does become legalism when it is enforced on others who fail to see it in scripture.

 

[Memukan]

Exactly!! How refreshing that you understand where I am coming from. I KNOW we are not saved by the Law, the Law does not justify anyone or the cross of Yeshua is useless. Nor is lagalism important, but obedience.

"He who loves Me has my commands."
I feel that the Lord has nudged my heart to OBEY this verse from scripture from Paul, not because I HAVE to otherwise I would lose my salvation in Him, but rather because it's FITTING in Him. I do understand and appreciate ALL the responses I have had from others on this thread and thank you very much.

AMEN Shulamite, people read legalism and did not hear your heart. YAHS blessings.

Memukan

 

[Bella Vita]

The things Christians are worried about drives me crazy!!!!!!!!!!!

No your hair does not matter are you an Apostolic? If not then move on those are old testament regulations that no longer matter now that Jesus has died on the cross for us. God cares about your relationship with him and things you do for his church and his people here on Earth. He doesn't care about your clothes or your hair or if you eat carrots for dinner. You are focusing on the wrong things and need to have prayer that God will get you moving in the right direction and will get your heart on fire for moving the kingdom and saving lives from hell.

 

[Freedom&Light]

As I said, I believe this is an issue that is covered under Romans 14. My decision to not cut my hair and to cover came from study, prayers, and listening to the Spirit. I do it because I honestly feel I was led to. While I understand the concern, please be assured my heart and soul rest firmly with my Lord.

 

[stelow]

The things Christians are worried about drives me crazy!!!!!!!!!!!

No your hair does not matter are you an Apostolic? If not then move on those are old testament regulations that no longer matter now that Jesus has died on the cross for us. God cares about your relationship with him and things you do for his church and his people here on Earth. He doesn't care about your clothes or your hair or if you eat carrots for dinner. You are focusing on the wrong things and need to have prayer that God will get you moving in the right direction and will get your heart on fire for moving the kingdom and saving lives from hell.

Paul is addressing the Corinth's after the New Covenant had already began. Honoring God with your appearance, in not that hard of a concept to understand.

 

[JRSut1000]

Shulamite, I greatly respect and admire your post! You are wanting to do your best to honor God both in your heart and also by your actions/appearance as well.

For the one who says only the heart matters, obedience is not just in the heart but it's by how we live and what we do too.

Part of me would LOVE to get my hair cut and I've already cut it shorter than it's ever been, but even then it almost reached my shoulders and I find I'm growing it out again.

I'm never of the mind that we should ask: "Is it a salvation issue?" but rather "What best in my life pleases the Lord in every aspect of life?" This can include our attitudes, our words, and yes even our appearance and what we choose to do that day.

 

[Migdala]

The things Christians are worried about drives me crazy!!!!!!!!!!!

No your hair does not matter are you an Apostolic? If not then move on those are old testament regulations that no longer matter now that Jesus has died on the cross for us. God cares about your relationship with him and things you do for his church and his people here on Earth. He doesn't care about your clothes or your hair or if you eat carrots for dinner. You are focusing on the wrong things and need to have prayer that God will get you moving in the right direction and will get your heart on fire for moving the kingdom and saving lives from hell.

AMEN, Sister!!!

 

[Shulamite]

Shulamite, I greatly respect and admire your post! You are wanting to do your best to honor God both in your heart and also by your actions/appearance as well.

For the one who says only the heart matters, obedience is not just in the heart but it's by how we live and what we do too.

Part of me would LOVE to get my hair cut and I've already cut it shorter than it's ever been, but even then it almost reached my shoulders and I find I'm growing it out again.

I'm never of the mind that we should ask: "Is it a salvation issue?" but rather "What best in my life pleases the Lord in every aspect of life?" This can include our attitudes, our words, and yes even our appearance and what we choose to do that day.

Yes, thank you. Lengths of hair, eating certain foods, observing certain days, etc, are not what is important, nor are any of these things a "salvaton issue" because Yeshua alone is my Salvation, but it DOES matter to Him how we obey in the sense that our outward appearance matters to the Lord and obviously sets an example to the angels.. (Paul mentions this too). Through the church, the Lord is showing His manifold wisdom and order of creation, even to the angels and principalities and apparently this was important by the Holy Spirit to prompt Paul to speak about men's and women's appearances honoring the Lord. Is it a salvation issue??, Nope! Never thought it was! But, as Paul said, "One brother's faith allows him to eat only vegetables while another brother's faith allows him to eat all things, one brother looks down on another because he honors one day of the week as special, while another brother considers each day special to the Lord."
In other words, each one of us must be led by the Lord and privately do unto the Lord what we feel He is leading us to, not comparing ourselves with one another.
Perhaps I should not have started this thread. I didn't want it to turn into a contention here between women, especially... I was just sharing my heart and wanting to know answers from other Christian women who were praying/seeking about this scripture as well.

Outward appearance, I agree, has NOTHING, ZERO, NADA to do with salvation for women or men, BUT..... there are those things that are FITTING in the Lord. Submission to a husband or a man submitting to an authority over himself is not a salvation issue, but it is FITTING in the Lord. My point being that though certain issues are not salvation issues, they are fitting inthe Lord.