Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam
The standards vary from church to church.
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This is from pages 20 and 21 of the March 1973 issue of The Pentecostal Herald
A STATEMENT OF STANDARDS
After long and prayerful discussion, the General Board, in
its mid-winter meeting at the World Evangelism Center, felt
led of God to publish the following statement concerning
Standards, the Hair Question, and other Present -day Issues:
Concerning the spiritually related matters of standards,
and the appearance of both men's and women's hair, the
General Board of the United Pentecostal Church wishes to
go on record, as a vested body of leadership, in taking a vital
stand against present fashions. We note the suggestion Paul
makes in
1 Corinthians 11:2: "Now I praise you, brethren,
that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances,
as I delivered them to you." It is imperative, since the
question of hair lengths and Communion are referred to as
ordinances, that we recognize the importance of the matters
of appearance, as pertains to hair.
I. In connection with the Scriptural injunction found in
Titus 2:12, "Teaching us that, denying ungodliness
and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously,
and godly, in this present world," we feel it is of
utmost importance that our people follow a very
definite line of temperance and modest approach to
-the trend of fashions in our times. We strongly oppose
the trend of long hair on men and boys, because the
Scripture teaches, "Doth not even nature itself teach
you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto
him?" (
1 Corinthians 11:14).
A. As it is popularly portrayed that the Lord had
long hair, we wish to disagree on a Scriptural
basis. Jesus filled the calling of a Priest. Hebrews
9:11 states, "But Christ being come an- high priest
of good things to come, by a greater and more
perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to
say, not of this building;" The priests were
instructed not to have long hair as they fulfilled
their priestly duty.
Ezekiel 44:20 states, "Neither
shall they shave their heads, nor suffer their locks
to grow long; they shall only poll their heads."
B. Jesus was not a Nazarite.
Matthew 26:29 states,
"But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of
this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink
it new with you in my Father's kingdom."
Matthew 11:19 states, "The Son of man came
eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man
gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of
publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of
her children." A Nazarite could not drink of the
fruit of the vine as stated in
Numbers 6:l-6, "And
the Lord spake unto Moses saying, Speak unto the
children of Israel and say unto them, When either
man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a
vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the
Lord: He shall separate himself from wine and
strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine,
or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink
any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or
dried. All the days of his separation shall he eat
nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the
kernels even to the husk. All the days of the vow
of his separation there shall no razor come upon
his head, until the days be fulfilled, in the which
he separateth himself unto the Lord, he shall be
holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head
grow. All the days that he separateth himself unto
the Lord he shall come at no dead body."
Jesus did these things. Thus he did not follow
the tradition of the Nazarites in the wearing of the
long locks. Sometimes confusion is developed
over the name of His home town. He was from
Nazareth. Thus, they call him a Nazarene. A
Nazarene is from Nazareth. A Nazarite is
identified in the fulfilling of a vow. There is a vast
difference.
C. Paul makes a positive statement in 1 Corinthians
11:16, "But if any man seem to be contentious, we
have no such custom, neither the churches of
God." There is definitely no custom of long hair as
pertaining to man, signifying the danger of
following a style or custom.
11. We strongly advocate the position of long hair for
women, since
1 Corinthians 11:15 states, "But if a
woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair
is given her for a covering," and explains the relative
spiritual meaning of the glory that is involved.
A. The uncut or long hair of a woman, according to 1
Corinthians 11, is an honor to her head. 1
Corinthians 11:3 says, ". . .the head of the woman
is the man. . . ." She thus shows her disrespect
and dishonor to her husband by cutting her hair.
B. By the same token, a man dishonors his head,
which is the Lord Jesus Christ as stated in 1
Corinthians 11:4, "Every man praying or
prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoreth
his head," by having long hair.
C. These attitudes are definite expressions of
rebellion against spiritual authority, and
contribute to the rampant spirit of the age, a
rebellion against constituted authority.
D. The statement, "For this cause ought the woman
to have power (authority) on her head because of
the angels," is considered. The statement,
"because of the angels," is a reference to the
rebellion that took place in heaven when one third
of the angels were cast out of heaven over their
insurrection against God. This rebellion must not
be our attitude.
111. The trend toward exposing the human body with the
intemperate and severely gaudy fashions of our day is
not a wholesome appearance for those who call
themselves disciples and Christians, whether men or
women. We sincerely and emphatically urge the good
Christian people and the lovers of the Lord in the
United Pentecostal Church fellowship to help us follow
the great standards of the New Testament.
IV. In the matter of women's appearance, we call your
attention to 1 Peter ;3::3-5, "Whose adorning let it not
be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of
wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; Rut let it
be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not
corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet
spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For
after this manner in the old time the holy women also,
who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in
subjection to their own husbands:"
V. The General Board strongly appeals to all our
ministers and their wives to be examples of
moderation in dress and hair styling.
Philippians 4:5,
states, "Let your moderation be known unto all men.
The Lord is at hand."
Psalm 119:104, 128 states that
the Lord hates every false way. To those who minister
the Word of God in any area of the ministry, we insist
that a beautiful pattern and example be the portion of
the ministry as they stand before the people,
ministering the Word of Life. In the discussion of the
General Board, it was a strong feeling that this area of
leadership and example should particularly be aware
of the impact and impression that is made upon saints
of God and the public. We also believe that every Godfearing
child of God should make every earnest
attempt to maintain a standard of godliness which
will enhance a spiritual and wholesome attitude in the
church and before the world.
VI. It is so easy for us to talk about these things and to
"theologize" on matters of Scripture, but it is so
important that we make this a standard of truth, so
that when we render a Christian testimony, we not
only preach and speak things of wholesome content,
but we live and act the things that fulfill a spiritual
calling as children of God. We, therefore, ask, in the
name of the Lord Jesus, that those who read this
statement will follow the godly exhortation that was
written in the long ago by John in his great Epistle,
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the
world, If any man love the world, the love of the
Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the
lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride
of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the
world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that
doeth the will of God abideth for ever" (
1 John 2:15-
17).
May God help us all to be saints of God and
examples of wholesome righteousness as we set our
sight on the eternal city and live in this present
generation.
AN ADDED NOTE
The Sunday School Division and the Word Aflame
staff are sincerely endeavoring to prepare and publish
literature that is sound in doctrine, and which projects
the Scriptural truth. It is our desire that this be
accomplished through the written word and our
teaching visuals.
In order to have the material ready for a particular
quarter's study, preparations must be made far in
advance of the date the material is actually taught.
This means that any change cannot immediately be
reflected in the current studies.
"Teaching pictures," which form a part of our Visual
Packets for the younger levels, are secured from
another publisher. In some cases these are already in
our stock.
We shall endeavor to project the proper message
through visuals in relation to the matter of the "hair
question." We are making, and will make, necessary
adjustments.
We are sincerely thankful and deeply appreciative of
the cooperation and interest of our pastors, teachers
and churches. Be assured, we are vitally concerned
with your needs and desires.
J. 0. Wallace
General Sunday School Director
Calvin L. Rigdon, Editor
Word Aflame Publications
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