S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

A passage that mentions hair length in the New Testament is 1 Corinthians 11:3-15. The Corinthian church was in the middle of a controversy about the roles of men and women and the proper order of ...

Login or Sign Up to view the rest of this answer.

July 01 2013 • 7 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Vin Smith Supporter Concert Pianist. Piano Tuner. Talk Show Host. Novelist.

...It is so easy to get bogged down in artificially cobbled together precepts that amount to doctrinal bloviation. 

I decided to wear a goatee back in the late '70's. So one fine morning, I walked to the church from the parking lot, and a wonderful little old lady walked up to me and said... "I know you are a fine man... But you should not be wearing that facial hair! It flies in the face of your Christian witness!"

I smiled, and said, "...Sister... I am so happy you have informed me of that. I know that Wilkinson Sword Blades, centuries old, were available back in the Bible days, and of course, all God-fearing men were clean shaven. I shall be so next week!"

"Thank you Vin! I knew you would understand!" 

Nowadays--2015 and quite a few years before--it has been common practice for men to sport facial hair. However, back in the day--the seventies--many prejudices existed (some still do), about many things. Such thinking is not conducive to a healthful Christian body politic. I think I might well have been a bit off base even in the gentle bit of indirect satire; though it did sail right over the fine sister's head...

The point is, as Christians let us stop emphasizing niggling points of personal prejudice. Let us begin to totally proclaim the love of Jesus 
Christ, and his sacrifice to propitiate sin. In so doing, we can avoid the petty misunderstandings that help to sometimes paint a negative picture of Christianity...

February 11 2015 • 6 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Todd Rushing Supporter

The question references Paul's admonition of rhe church at Corinth because the members were intentionally blurring the lines between masculine and feminine roles by some not adhering to cultural norms. Proverbs also defines what is feminine. 

Paul was attempting to present that men should appear masculine, and women should appear feminine. In today's society, we are again struggling with those who are blurring those lines. Paul said it was unnatural for a man to have long hair and women to have her head uncovered. What he was referring is that a man should never be confused with a woman by his appearance and vice versa. 

Christ was a Nazarene by birth, and they traditionally had longer hair. But at no point were Nazarene men confused with women because the "whole package" (clothing, hair, and mannerisms) was definitely masculine. Samson was given his strength through his hair and was commanded to never let a blade touch his hair. But looking to Samson, even if his hair was quite long, there would be no confusion that he was a man.

I, myself, had gone through a brief period where my hair was longer (shoulder length), but it was not in an attempt to appear feminine, but rather a rebellion against society telling me that all men should have close-cropped and coifed hair. I soon realized that hair length does not make the man; the man should be guided by biblical principles and be an example to other men. Since then, I have maintained reasonably shorter hair length and behaved in a manner that could be an example to other men. Likewise, women with short hair designed to confuse gender (again, the whole package) is what Paul was referencing. Paul wanted the church at Corinth to present itself in a way that didn't lead non-churchgoers to be confused or think that it was acceptable to violate cultural norms. 

Today, it is a personal decision as to what hair length and style each person should have. But that decision should show the world that they are wholly man or wholly woman. Certain hairstyles (such as ponytails and buns) have been traditionally female, but are seen on men today. But even with the hairstyle, it is often easy to discern from the general appearance whether the person is male or female. Don't get too far out into the weeds looking for something to distract from God, but stay on the paths of righteousness.

4 days ago • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report