To Beard or Not to Beard, That is The Question

[loran adkins]

Originally Posted by JamesGlen

I follow your point, EB, so what exactly are u proposing, that overseers should be able to preach their personal convictions?

Talk about blurred lines and all that. I contend that even most of what has been called bible standards are nothing but personal convictions. But preachers have been able to blur, scriptures so it sounds like they are preaching bible. Much like the facial hair question. I have actually heard a preacher preach using 1 Corinthians 11 to preach against facial hair. And to some that see it his way, they would believe it is bible.

You can argue and debate it all you want, but to someone that sees things a certain way they are more likely to keep that way of thinking unless something happens in their life that alters there way of thinking.

Even Jesus did not deal with specifics as much as with the spirit behind the way of thinking.

[n david]

Glad I'm not a Pastor.

God bless'em all.

[Antipas]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

I have never ever heard anyone say it was a sin to have a beard.

I used to hear it. Today most pastors don't care about beards. They might have a platform standard. I might be wrong, but often a platform standard is more political in nature or more of a pastoral conviction than it is an organization wide doctrine.

But what about painted finger nails on men?

Or guys wearing mascara and lipstick?

Abominations.

[Antipas]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Down here in Broward County Florida guys with black or yellow painted fingernails are not uncommon. Also Emo, Goth wear black fingernails, and there are Emo, and Goth Christian groups. Mascara, lipstick, fingernail paint. So, cool? Not cool? Let'em up on your church platform? Let them preach a sweet love message to your youth group?

Not cool. Platform? Sounds like they are doing just fine right where ever they are. Let them stay there. I don't see how any truly born again individual could continue on in those subcultures. There's more to Goth and Emo than just style of attire and outward appearance. Those subcultures have some very vile undertones. At least, that's what I feel spiritually when I contemplate it. And I believe there's enough Word to preach against it. But... those are my convictions.

[Antipas]

Originally Posted by n david

Glad I'm not a Pastor.

God bless'em all.

Amen.

[Esaias]

On the subject of beards there is a useable amount of Biblical data to work with. There are commands and examples that directly address the subject. With fingernail polish or mascara on guys there is not that much direct Biblical data.

But:

Identifying with a social movement that is devoted to nihilism, closely linked to the sodomite movement, born out of the Washington DC punk scene having been invented by people with direct connections to the Pentagon and military intelligence, adopting a macabre variation of women's attire for men and just generally being a part of ClownWorld™ ought to fall under general principles of nonconformity to the secular system. It is also wise not to practice what your enemies want you to practice.

Eldership and ministry are, Biblically, regulated to a great degree by existing eldership. A person refused a deacon office because of a beard has Scriptural grounds on which to make his case. A person refused because they look like a queer fetish-night contest winner has what to stand on? Nothing, to my knowledge.

Black nail polish in and of itself is probably nothing. Weird, maybe, but all alone? I suspect though there are other issues, of which black nail polish is but a symptom. And upon investigation and questioning those other issues are likely to come out.

As for Christian goths, many of them are trying to do good (reach a community or social group not likely to be reached by others) but I have seen first hand how that doesnt actually work. David Wilkerson helped a lot of gangbangers, but had no need to become a gangbanger to do it. Sinners dont need to be coddled or conformed to, they need and will actually respect discovering that church is it's own culture, neither mainstream nor some commercialised venture sold as "alternative".

[Michael The Disciple]

I attended the UPC Camp for the Kentucky District in Somerset last night. The book section set up there STILL has Chancy Gores book on "Facial Hair". A book that associates beards with the mark of the beast, sodomites, drug users and most of all rebels.

There is nothing in the book positive about beards. Point being though we keep hearing how no one teaches these things this book is sold through the UPC (PPH) organization to this day.

You might think if indeed they are starting to wake up out of the years of darkness they would at least stop sanctioning this type of literature among their group.

[hometown guy]

Originally Posted by Antipas

Not cool. Platform? Sounds like they are doing just fine right where ever they are. Let them stay there. I don't see how any truly born again individual could continue on in those subcultures. There's more to Goth and Emo than just style of attire and outward appearance. Those subcultures have some very vile undertones. At least, that's what I feel spiritually when I contemplate it. And I believe there's enough Word to preach against it. But... those are my convictions.

Please share the Bible that is against this. I think it’s just your opinion and personal conviction.

[hometown guy]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

I attended the UPC Camp for the Kentucky District in Somerset last night. The book section set up there STILL has Chancy Gores book on "Facial Hair". A book that associates beards with the mark of the beast, sodomites, drug users and most of all rebels.

There is nothing in the book positive about beards. Point being though we keep hearing how no one teaches these things this book is sold through the UPC (PPH) organization to this day.

You might think if indeed they are starting to wake up out of the years of darkness they would at least stop sanctioning this type of literature among their group.

Please provide the author of whoever it is that links beards with the mark of the beast. Your memory of last year at a book store at a conference seems pretty sharp so I know you will have the authors name.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

I attended the UPC Camp for the Kentucky District in Somerset last night. The book section set up there STILL has Chancy Gores book on "Facial Hair". A book that associates beards with the mark of the beast, sodomites, drug users and most of all rebels.

There is nothing in the book positive about beards. Point being though we keep hearing how no one teaches these things this book is sold through the UPC (PPH) organization to this day.

You might think if indeed they are starting to wake up out of the years of darkness they would at least stop sanctioning this type of literature among their group.

Some people aren't really concerned with what PPH sells or what the UPC does or thinks. Try it, you might find it liberating.