HOME | BOOKS | SITE MAP | EMAIL

[CONTENTS] || [NEXT]

Long Hair And Hats

Another cause for concern is the tendency for some brethren, especially the young, to conform to the world's fashion in wearing their hair shoulder length. Some might regard it as a trivial matter, but it is the subject of specific comment by the apostle Paul. He points out that as it is dishonouring for a woman to have her hair shorn, even so it is degrading for a man to have his hair long. The long hair of a sister, which is her glory, should be covered during worship. This is a symbol of subjection to her husband, who is the head of his wife even as Christ is head of the ecclesia. These principles, upheld by Paul, are destroyed by brethren who wear their hair as long as women.

"Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? . . . But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom ("we recognise no other practice" R.S.V.) neither the ecclesias of God" (1 Cor. 11: 14, 16).

In the same epistle Paul warned that the "effeminate" would not inherit the kingdom of God (I Cor. 6:9).

How much better is it to see brethren standing aside from such worldly trends. Brethren who wear their hair long draw unseemly attention to themselves. By their example they give licence to others to go a step further and conform to even worse aberrations of the wholesome conduct of Christ. Rather, heed the following:

"Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Rom. 12:2).

"Set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity" (I Tim. 4:12 R.S.V.).

(For further comments, refer to the Booklet "The Hair Length of Christadelphian Brethren" by Brother Ron Abel).

Mention has already been made of the need for sisters to have their heads covered during periods of worship as a sign of their subjection, being "the glory of the man". The following words of the inspired apostle to the Gentiles, however unpalatable to the generation among whom we live, we will be observed carefully by every true sister of Christ:

"But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered" (1 Cor. 11: 5, 6).

MARRIAGE

TOP | HOME | BOOKS | SITE MAP| EMAIL