Lessons to be Learned From Controversy

Years ago, hair length got to be a really big issue in many churches. Some even specified a maximun length that a Christian man could wear, and a minimum for a woman. It got to be quite a controversy in many churches as a result. Studying what the Bible says about the subject can be very rewarding, not just about hair length, but about how we are to deal with other things as well.

There are a few references in the Old testament. The Nazarites were instructed by God never to cut their hair during the course of their commitment as proof of their dedication to God. This did not apply to others. Leviticus 19:29 tells Israel "Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard." This sounds almost as if God were forbidding them to trim their hair or beard.

Some of those who set maximum and minimum lengths used Ezekiel 44:20 as their basis. Notice that the verse specifies "Neither shall they shave their heads, nor suffer their locks to grow long; they shall only poll their heads." This verse, and the one in Leviticus together forbid shaving the head, and deliberate attempts to modify ones appearance by how they cut their hair, but do not specify any length except that it is not to be long. Verse 15, however, specifies that this verse refers specifically to priests who are ministering in the temple.

The only passage in the New Testament is I Corinthians 11:3-19. "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 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.

For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.

Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you."

Paul, writing by the inspiration of God, states in verse 16, if there is contention over the matter, the Apostles did not set such a standard, nor did churches controlled by God. This standard is not from God, but of the flesh. That all the claims are true does not make it right for us to set the standard.

Paul rebukes the Corinthians for setting up such conflicts, and warns that the very conflict(herisy) identifies those who are not pleasing to God. Conflicts in the church are proof of an unspiritual church according to I Corinthians 3:3. "For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?" Romans 16:17 warns us to identify those who cause such division, and avoid them.