1 Corinth 11:1-16 Long or Short Hair?

1 Corinithians 11:1-16 NIV
Here is a very confusing reading. It has been and continues to be debated as to what it actually means. Should men wear short hair and women long? St. Paul asks: "Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has a long hair, it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given as her covering."

First off, I'm thinking that most men in Jesus' day wore their hair a bit longer than many today. so what does Paul mean? Is there a length that he considers too long? Is there a length for women's hair that is too short? It is also difficult for me to grasp whether this is from God or Paul for the sake of respect toward local customs. After all, there is the Nazirite vow to consider. Those who made this vow were/are not allowed to cut their hair, as in the case of Samson. Numbers 6:5 says: “During the entire period of their Nazirite vow, no razor may be used on their head. They must be holy until the period of their dedication to the Lord is over; they must let their hair grow long." In Leviticus (19:26-27) we read:  “Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard."

I think that it is important to note that this Paul's discourse on the hair comes immediately following Paul's exhortation to be all things to all people and not to do things that might cause weaker consciences to stumble and fall. It comes in the midst of Paul's exhortations to not do anything that would bring division. Were the Corinthians resorting to arguing about the length of hair others should have rather than sharing the gospel? Is Paul attempting to stop divisions that are brought about by personal customs on length of hair so that they would focus on the more important things; you know, like the gospel? If so, he appears to have possibly made the length of hair even more divisive, as we sometimes still waste time debating it today.

As for me and my weaker conscience, I wear long hair. I don't have much time in my life for that type of vanity. I don't have and am unwilling to give up precious time to groom my hair so that it conforms to the way people around me might think the hair of a woman of my advancing age be. I am not going to a beauty parlor every couple of weeks for a trim or dye. Gray is good. Usually, when people suggest I should cut it my response is something like "Actually I was thinking about natural dreadlocks. It would only take a few days for this mess." After comments like that my family usually says nothing more about my hair for awhile. I think they may fear that I would do it.

Whether we wear our hair long or short makes little difference to our salvation. We are saved by faith alone. As for women wearing a head covering, I confess, I take comfort in Paul's words: "...if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God." (vs 15, 16)

Have a blessed day...

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 19:1-10 Come Down From Your Tree

Luke 19:1-10 NIV
"Zacchaeus was a wee little man." I have no clue how many children I have taught the words of this song to; too many to count. Personally, I prefer the words from the KJV over the NIV, "And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature." (vs 3)

Zacchaeus was of little stature not only in physical height; but, in social stature as well. He was a tax collector and had made himself wealthy by cheating his own people. Therefore, he was not a popular fellow. No one in the crowd that day was going to move out of his way so that he could see Jesus so he climbed a tree to get a look from a distance. Jesus knew of his desire to see him and so he arranged to make it up front and personal. He told Zacchaeus: "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." Today, (and every day) Jesus wants to be welcomed into your home. If you want to see Jesus, just climb down from whatever tree that you've chosen to watch Jesus from and welcome Him into your life.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 15 - "Every head is shaved and every beard cut off."

"Every head is shaved and every beard cut off." (Isa 15:2b NIV)

Today's reading comes at a very fortuitous time. Today, my godson, who will graduate from High School next week, will cut his hair for the first time. His habit has been to wear it in a braid down the middle of his back. I like that braid. But, it is his hair and he can do with it what he chooses.

I, myself have worn my hair long most of my life, except for that pixie cut my mother gave me when I was a teen and that brief period in the early 80's when I got tired of my husband complaining about me not wearing my hair like other women my age - short. He wanted me to look my age! LOL! I had it cut to the length of less than an inch. He hasn't requested I cut my hair since then. The last time I actually had my hair cut was when Maurice, a teen at a correctional facility, was being trained as a barber. I was his first client. That was in the spring of 1998. He cut off about 6 inches. There had been rumors among the boys at the facility that I was a Nazarite because of my long hair and the fact that I do not drink - plus I have a few food issues with things like pork. It makes me ill... so they never saw me eat it. The hair cut was a way to show Maurice that I trusted him enough to give him that much power over me. He was, after all, a young felon, standing behind me with scissors, in a facility where he was not allowed to handle even sharp steak knives. I have trimmed a few split ends since that day. But, nothing more.

Long hair has, in many cultures, been a sign of power and strength. Some cultures cut off the hair of conquered enemies to show their control over them - to shame them even further. It was a sign of great loss - a sign of someone without power. The shaving of the hair or the beard was also used as a sign of the grief experienced from losses incurred during war or even natural death.

In today's reading they are mourning the losses incurred by Moab and so every head is shaved and every beard cut off.

I guess, in a sense, it is fitting that my godson is cutting his hair today. He is making a great transition, from High School into the work force (hopefully) and college which he will enter this fall. He will be taking on even greater responsibilities and he will, as all of the young people graduating, lose contact with many friends. Many things change with graduation. Everyone celebrates! But, even as we celebrate, it is also fitting that we grieve the loss of a childhood as they step out into the world as young men and women with all the responsibilities of an adult.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 146 - Purpose of Life

I woke up this morning wondering, again, what the purpose of life really is. We are born. We live. We die. Life, here on earth, is so short! And... there is so much pain and suffering here in this world. The truth is the pain and suffering is mostly brought on by our own desires to be more than we are. It is brought on by our desire to be our own god. We think we can do this or that. The reality is, without God, there is nothing. Our plans will come to nothing. But, God has a plan...  He has a plan because He loves you. We can't always know what that plan is. But, we can trust that He has one.

Those who trust in His plan and not our own, praise the LORD all the days of their lives and they will find peace in the midst of the most confounded times. Praise the LORD! That is enough purpose for any of us. Praise the LORD; sing His praises as long as you shall live!

Thanks be to God. "The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord." Psalm 146:10 NIV

Pr. J

Cross references:

1. Psalm 146:1 : Ps 103:1; 104:1
2. Psalm 146:2 : Ps 104:33
3. Psalm 146:2 : S Ps 105:2
4. Psalm 146:2 : S Ps 63:4
5. Psalm 146:3 : Ps 118:9
6. Psalm 146:3 : Ps 60:11; S 108:12; Isa 2:22
7. Psalm 146:4 : S Ge 3:19; S Job 7:21; Ps 103:14; Ecc 12:7
8. Psalm 146:4 : Ps 33:10; 1Co 2:6
9. Psalm 146:5 : Ps 33:18; 37:9; 119:43; 144:15; Jer 17:7
10. Psalm 146:5 : Ps 70:5; 71:5; 121:2
11. Psalm 146:6 : S 2Ch 2:12; Ps 115:15; Ac 14:15; S Rev 10:6
12. Psalm 146:6 : S Dt 7:9; S Ps 18:25; 108:4; 117:2
13. Psalm 146:7 : S Ps 37:17
14. Psalm 146:7 : Ps 103:6
15. Psalm 146:7 : Ps 107:9; 145:15
16. Psalm 146:7 : S Ps 66:11; S 68:6
17. Psalm 146:8 : Pr 20:12; Isa 29:18; 32:3; 35:5; 42:7, 18-19; 43:8; Mt 11:5
18. Psalm 146:8 : S Ex 4:11
19. Psalm 146:8 : S Ps 38:6
20. Psalm 146:8 : S Dt 7:13; S Job 23:10
21. Psalm 146:9 : S Lev 19:34
22. Psalm 146:9 : S Ps 10:18
23. Psalm 146:9 : S Ex 22:22; Jas 1:27
24. Psalm 146:10 : S Ge 21:33; S 1Ch 16:31; Ps 93:1; 99:1; Rev 11:15

Psalm 39 - Death is Inevitable

 “Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is." (vs 4 NIV)

I don't know about you, but I never have to ask the LORD to remind me how fleeting life is.  I am reminded every day. From the moment I get up every morning when I wonder why and thank God that He has given me another day to my evening prayers when I once again thank Him for getting me through another day.

Reminders of the inevitability of death are all around.  They are in the people we talk to.  Those whom we minister to.  I am a co-owner of an adult foster care.  Just being with the people in our care is also can be a reminder of how fleeting and fragile life is.  Watching the children around me grow up so very quickly, reminds me how short the time from beginning to end is.  From baptism to marriage takes no time at all!  Life is very short.  I don't need God to tell me that.  I can see with my eyes how very quickly time passes. 

We can either be sad about it and rush around trying to get all that there is stuffed into our very short time in this world. We can spend all of our days in vain rushing about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be. (vs 6)  Or... we can rejoice that God has given us this opportunity to get to know and love one another, using the gifts He has given us to proclaim the Good News of His Kingdom.  We could spend these years taking advantage of the opportunity and time that God has given us to grow together and to do that growing in Him.

Life in this world is short.  But, for those who believe, we are timeless.  We have inherited eternal life, not in this world, but in the Kingdom, the presence of God.  Our hope lies in Him. (vs 7)

God's Peace - Pr. J.