Beards: Why not?

[Jesse Meno]

So, growing up in my church, I was told that men are not to grow beards, but mustaches are perfectly fine. I never understood this. My pastor taught that we do not grow them, because it is a secular look. He asked rhetorically, "If I should not grow the hair on the top of my head to be long, then I should not grow my beard?" It did not make sense to me that he compared the two. He then went on to say that mustaches are allowed, because they are a cleaner look on a man. A beard can look just as clean as a beard in my opinion. The only reason I do not grow my beard is because they are not allowed for those who are in any ministry at out church. I try to stay obedient as possible, because I know that we will be judged also on our obedience.

Am I wrong for thinking this way? Am I being rebellious for not totally agreeing with my pastor? Am I just being selfish for wanting a beard?

I know the beard and mustache to be a manly/male trait. I have heard online teachings that men should be allowed to display this trait as we please since it is God-given. I have also heard teaching that are against beards. I just want to hear what others think about this "issue."

 

[John Hamill]

I guess your Pastor would turn John the Baptist away from his church....

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

.....excerpt:
"THE BEARD LAW"
"Why did the Creator God require the Israelites to practice many .... rituals and laws and what do these physical laws have to do with your salvation or the building of spiritual character? Moreover, what benefit do these laws bestow on those who practice them? These laws show the Sovereign Father's earthly children how be holy and practice holiness. These laws also define the holy attitudes, behaviors, and characteristics that holy people must have in order to live and maintain a holy lifestyle:
"And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them, You shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy" (Lev.19:1-2 KJV).
The Israelites were to be a holy people because God had separated them from among the peoples of earth in order for them to be his kingdom of priests and his holy nation which would represent him and his way of life to all other people on earth.
When the Creator God said to the Israelites, "You shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy", he did not expect them to become holy as he is holy in a spirit realm of existence (i.e., become a spirit-being and live on earth as a spirit-being). If the Israelites were to actually become as God, they would have to become totally spirit. There were no instructions given to the Israelites concerning how to enter into the spirit realm of existence during their lifetime; therefore, becoming holy for the Israelites had to do with their physical existence and the way they were to conduct their lives in the physical world as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. See Ex.19:5-6 and my study, The Holy Ones and God's Law.
The apostle Peter wrote the following to all who have been called to salvation and who desire to live a life in harmony with their heavenly Father and his son the Savior of mankind:

"Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the favor that is brought to you by the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, do not pattern yourselves after the ignorance of your former desires. But as he who has called you is holy, so you be holy in all manner of behavior; Because it is written, You be holy; because I am holy" (1.Pet.1:13-16 Para.).
This instruction is clear. Those who are members of the Father's family must be holy as he is holy."
http://www.bibleresearch.org/articles/alw5.htm

 

[Jesse Meno]

I guess your Pastor would turn John the Baptist away from his church....

it seems so..

 

[Jesse Meno]

.....excerpt:
"THE BEARD LAW"
"Why did the Creator God require the Israelites to practice many .... rituals and laws and what do these physical laws have to do with your salvation or the building of spiritual character? Moreover, what benefit do these laws bestow on those who practice them? These laws show the Sovereign Father's earthly children how be holy and practice holiness. These laws also define the holy attitudes, behaviors, and characteristics that holy people must have in order to live and maintain a holy lifestyle:
"And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them, You shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy" (Lev.19:1-2 KJV).
The Israelites were to be a holy people because God had separated them from among the peoples of earth in order for them to be his kingdom of priests and his holy nation which would represent him and his way of life to all other people on earth.
When the Creator God said to the Israelites, "You shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy", he did not expect them to become holy as he is holy in a spirit realm of existence (i.e., become a spirit-being and live on earth as a spirit-being). If the Israelites were to actually become as God, they would have to become totally spirit. There were no instructions given to the Israelites concerning how to enter into the spirit realm of existence during their lifetime; therefore, becoming holy for the Israelites had to do with their physical existence and the way they were to conduct their lives in the physical world as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. See Ex.19:5-6 and my study, The Holy Ones and God's Law.
The apostle Peter wrote the following to all who have been called to salvation and who desire to live a life in harmony with their heavenly Father and his son the Savior of mankind:

"Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the favor that is brought to you by the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, do not pattern yourselves after the ignorance of your former desires. But as he who has called you is holy, so you be holy in all manner of behavior; Because it is written, You be holy; because I am holy" (1.Pet.1:13-16 Para.).
This instruction is clear. Those who are members of the Father's family must be holy as he is holy."
http://www.bibleresearch.org/articles/alw5.htm

I will definitely give this a read! Skimmed through some of it, and I found it very interesting. Thank you

 

[Cappadocious]

Am I wrong for thinking this way? Am I being rebellious for not totally agreeing with my pastor? Am I just being selfish for wanting a beard?

Your pastor is nuts, beards are everywhere. Now, maybe you might say, having a fancy quaffed beard in particular is vain. But then again we're pretty vain about hair in general aren't we.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

. But then again we're pretty vain about hair in general aren't we.

No, at least not ekklesia (born again in Yeshua).

 

[Soyeong]

So, growing up in my church, I was told that men are not to grow beards, but mustaches are perfectly fine. I never understood this. My pastor taught that we do not grow them, because it is a secular look. He asked rhetorically, "If I should not grow the hair on the top of my head to be long, then I should not grow my beard?" It did not make sense to me that he compared the two. He then went on to say that mustaches are allowed, because they are a cleaner look on a man. A beard can look just as clean as a beard in my opinion. The only reason I do not grow my beard is because they are not allowed for those who are in any ministry at out church. I try to stay obedient as possible, because I know that we will be judged also on our obedience.

Am I wrong for thinking this way? Am I being rebellious for not totally agreeing with my pastor? Am I just being selfish for wanting a beard?

I know the beard and mustache to be a manly/male trait. I have heard online teachings that men should be allowed to display this trait as we please since it is God-given. I have also heard teaching that are against beards. I just want to hear what others think about this "issue."

Jesus had a beard, so I don't think a case can be made from the Bible against having a beard. In fact, some people interpret the Bible as saying that men should have beards, though I don't agree with that interpretation. However, there is a difference between saying that it is against the Bible to have a beard and saying that it is against your church's dress code to have a beard. If your interpretation of Leviticus 19:27 saying that you should not mar the corners of your beard is that you shouldn't shave or trim your beard, then you should obey God rather than man, but if your interpretation is that it refers only to a specific pagan practice, then you should honor your church's dress code. In Leviticus 19:27, "shachath" means to mar, corrupt, blemish, destroy, devastate, ruin, harm, ravage, or spoil, so it is more akin to starting with a nicely trimmed bush and hacking haphazardly away at it with a chainsaw than with starting with an overgrown bush and trimming it to look nice and presentable.

If two people agreed about everything, one of them would be useless. I do not see anything wrong with disagree with your pastor, and in fact I think we should not blindly accept everything that our leaders tell us, but rather we should be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11 where we test everything they say against Scripture to see if it is true. I certainly do not agree with everything that my rabbi has taught, but I have nevertheless gained a tremendous amount of knowledge and insight from him.

 

[Peter Johnson]

G'day Jesse,
Commanding men not to grow a beard is the mark of a cultish-minded leader. It is not his place to say what you are to do with your facial hair as you are answerable to God alone.
Are you being rebellious toward your pastor's will. Yes, you are! But I don't think you are wrong in feeling as you do. There is no wrong disobeying an unrighteous demand imposed on you by some man who thinks in ways not inspired by the Spirit.
Last suggestion is this, don't allow the dictates of such people ruin your life. Move on if you have to.
In interest of full disclosure, I am a fully-bearded 60 y.o. who grows my beard because God gave me one to grow. No man, nor my mother, will stop me doing so no matter what they think of me.

 

[Cappadocious]

No, at least not ekklesia (born again in Yeshua).

Ah yes, the church of the no true scotsman.

 

[seeking.IAM]

... I try to stay obedient as possible, because I know that we will be judged also on our obedience...

I believe we will be judged based upon our obedience to God, not men...pastors included.

You were created by God in a certain manner (i.e., to grow a beard). I do not understand how it is a problem to live as God created you. I think being bearded will not ruin your chance of salvation nor will shaving ensure it.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

The only reason I do not grow my beard is because they are not allowed for those who are in any ministry at out church. I try to stay obedient as possible, because I know that we will be judged also on our obedience.

As in the link provided earlier, remember Joseph in Egypt, most certainly clean shaven apart from and different from all his family, but obedient and necessary
where Yhwh used him to save Yhwh's people and the egyptians at the time (the seven year famine).
Also, if/when as such, not violating Yhwh's Torah, well there is a strong argument for men in ekklesia (Yhwh's assembly) to have beards,
but there are exceptions (and they are exceptions, not the rule).
A lot of clean shaven "believers" have devastated the faith and multitudes of families with their beliefs and practices and ceremonies,
but so have bearded ones, so that's not a sign all by itself.

One other thing to remain in prayer continually with all other things - and with all thankfulness for Yhwh's Greatness and for His Amazing Salvation -
you posted (quoted above)
that it is ('only'?) the men in ministry positions that must be clean shaven ?
Like Joseph, obey Yhwh, either way --- without a beard,
or with one, as Yhwh directs your steps.
You might be a good example for the other men
if you grow a beard, even if later they accost you , attack you, and pluck it out!(as they did to Jesus).....
The thoughts and motives of your own and other men's lives may be brought out to the light.
Only always depend on and rely on and trust Yhwh by faith in Jesus as He permits.

 

[Monk Brendan]

I know the beard and mustache to be a manly/male trait. I have heard online teachings that men should be allowed to display this trait as we please since it is God-given. I have also heard teaching that are against beards. I just want to hear what others think about this "issue."

First of all, God knows what a man's face should look like. Have you seen any pictures of Orthodox monks or priests? Quite a few of them are bearded. Most Jewish men wore beards in Jesus time including Jesus, but the Romans shaved their faces. The Romans were the pagans, and the Jews were the "faithful" at that time. Russian Old Believers consider the shaving of one's beard a severe sin: Christ had a beard and men are supposed to have the same appearance. They even refuse a man a Christian burial if he does not have a beard. Here is a link.

It sounds to me that the church you are going to needs a close look, as it might be that the preacher has built up a personality cult, and is trying to keep the flock in "OBEDIENCE" for his own sake, and not for the salvation of the people.

 

[Albion]

So, growing up in my church, I was told that men are not to grow beards, but mustaches are perfectly fine. I never understood this. My pastor taught that we do not grow them, because it is a secular look. He asked rhetorically, "If I should not grow the hair on the top of my head to be long, then I should not grow my beard?" It did not make sense to me that he compared the two. He then went on to say that mustaches are allowed, because they are a cleaner look on a man. A beard can look just as clean as a beard in my opinion. The only reason I do not grow my beard is because they are not allowed for those who are in any ministry at out church. I try to stay obedient as possible, because I know that we will be judged also on our obedience.

Am I wrong for thinking this way? Am I being rebellious for not totally agreeing with my pastor? Am I just being selfish for wanting a beard?

I know the beard and mustache to be a manly/male trait. I have heard online teachings that men should be allowed to display this trait as we please since it is God-given. I have also heard teaching that are against beards. I just want to hear what others think about this "issue."

For what it's worth, I know of no Christian denomination that teaches what this pastor did, so it's at best a very rare point of view.

 

[ArmenianJohn]

So, growing up in my church, I was told that men are not to grow beards, but mustaches are perfectly fine. I never understood this. My pastor taught that we do not grow them, because it is a secular look. He asked rhetorically, "If I should not grow the hair on the top of my head to be long, then I should not grow my beard?" It did not make sense to me that he compared the two. He then went on to say that mustaches are allowed, because they are a cleaner look on a man. A beard can look just as clean as a beard in my opinion. The only reason I do not grow my beard is because they are not allowed for those who are in any ministry at out church. I try to stay obedient as possible, because I know that we will be judged also on our obedience.

Am I wrong for thinking this way? Am I being rebellious for not totally agreeing with my pastor? Am I just being selfish for wanting a beard?

I know the beard and mustache to be a manly/male trait. I have heard online teachings that men should be allowed to display this trait as we please since it is God-given. I have also heard teaching that are against beards. I just want to hear what others think about this "issue."

I would leave such a church. I can prove it - I have left such a church (although it was not over beard prohibition but other "rules" they came up with and essentially enforced). Trying to control people's personal grooming styles is a very cult-like behavior. Such odd rules are used to control people, and it's men (NOT God) trying to control them this way. Look at the religions that have such rules: Mormons, Muslims, various cults, the New York Yankees... All demonic. OK a little joke there about the Yankees, but I am serious that this is cult behavior.

They are wasting the time God has given them to do His work if they are making and enforcing rules like that. It is foolishness and it is anti-Biblical. Christ and John the Baptist were Nazarenes and had beards as did most Jews of that day, including the Apostles.

Anyway, that behavior by your church is very disturbing to me and I could never have anything to do with such a group. No matter how much they may say the right things by God's Word if they are at the point of adding rules then they are going beyond doing God's work and they are doing their own work for themselves, for their own desires and glory.

I'd say that you can definitely find a much better Church.

And for the record, I hate beards... But as much as I hate them I don't think they are in any way sinful or "wrong" and to hear some supposedly "Christian" church saying such things is very disturbing.

 

[bbbbbbb]

For what it's worth, I know of no Christian denomination that teaches what this pastor did, so it's at best a very rare point of view.

This is quite true and I do not know of any Christian denomination that has not had, at one time or another, men regarded as great Christians and leaders who have had very full and sometimes long beards. The Old Believers in Russia suffered great persecution under Peter the Great because of the refusal of men to shave their beards, among other things.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

This is quite true and I do not know of any Christian denomination that has not had, at one time or another, men regarded as great Christians and leaders who have had very full and sometimes long beards. The Old Believers in Russia suffered great persecution under Peter the Great because of the refusal of men to shave their beards, among other things.

This is a good testimony.

Some assemblies are strict in their codes - but usually not nearly so strict, controlling, and demanding as notably un-CHRISTLIKE groups that society even in the USA applauds and rewards for abominable behavior.
When those assemblies are FAITHFUL to YHWH, seeking always HIS KINGDOM, they are suffering great persecution FROM OTHER CHURCHES(misguided ones) that don't seek YHWH'S KINGDOM, as well as from most worldly governments and other groups. This is seen everywhere , in every country, and all over the internet/ posts/ forums.

 

[crossnote]

Wait, wait.
The Waltons had two pastors in their episodes and the pastors didn't have beards, so it must be wrong

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Wait, wait.
The Waltons had two pastors in their episodes and the pastors didn't have beards, so it must be wrong

.....
... tv
.
ruined american lives, family life especially, considerably
.

 

[4x4toy]

So, growing up in my church, I was told that men are not to grow beards, but mustaches are perfectly fine. I never understood this. My pastor taught that we do not grow them, because it is a secular look. He asked rhetorically, "If I should not grow the hair on the top of my head to be long, then I should not grow my beard?" It did not make sense to me that he compared the two. He then went on to say that mustaches are allowed, because they are a cleaner look on a man. A beard can look just as clean as a beard in my opinion. The only reason I do not grow my beard is because they are not allowed for those who are in any ministry at out church. I try to stay obedient as possible, because I know that we will be judged also on our obedience.

Am I wrong for thinking this way? Am I being rebellious for not totally agreeing with my pastor? Am I just being selfish for wanting a beard?

I know the beard and mustache to be a manly/male trait. I have heard online teachings that men should be allowed to display this trait as we please since it is God-given. I have also heard teaching that are against beards. I just want to hear what others think about this "issue."

Kind-of a deal with the females .. You shave under your arms and your legs , maybe a little make up and we'll keep our face shaved or trimmed .. Round it off with a little smell'm and deodorant it's called good hygiene