Laws about keepig a beard.

[apocolypticremedy999]

"'Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard. -Leviticus 19:27

What do you think this means, does it mean that you could not shave your beard of completely or that you can't even trim your beard at all?

Also, do you think this law still applies today? Do you think men should keep a beard? And if so, should they at least be allowed to trim it?


Me personally, I keep a beard, but I always keep it short-trimmed. I tried having a long beard, and it didn't work with me at all. It looked awful. I won't grow a long beard again. It's either a short-trimmed beard or no beard at all.
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[Steeno7]

I think you need to consider the cross and the new covenant that Christ ushered in by it.

 

[amymine712]

I think you need to consider the cross and the new covenant that Christ ushered in by it.

Amen. You need to realize that Christ came and died for us not just to forgive sin but to fulfill the OT laws. We are under a new covenant now.

Matthew 5:17-20 New International Version (NIV)

The Fulfillment of the Law
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Read that last verse carefully. How did Christ feel about the Pharisees and teachers of the law?

Matthew 3:7New International Version (NIV)

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

It seems He did not hold them in high regard. So if these couldn't keep the letter of the law and be righteous, how can anyone? We are made righteous through God's grace and faith in Christ...not by the law.

 

[RDKirk]

For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Now, here is the thing often skipped or even taught incorrectly by Christians:

It was not impossible to keep the letter of the Mosaic Law. Even God Himself had said in the OT, "This stuff ain't too hard to do."

For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off.

It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?'

But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it. -- Deuteronomy 30

The Pharisees did keep the letter of the Mosaic Law perfectly. Everyone then knew they did, and Jesus did not dispute that. So this assertion by Jesus has that as an implied presumption, so His meaning is:

Even perfect obedience to the letter of the law does not confer sufficient righteousness to enter heaven.

 

[Sophrosyne]

The Law (of Moses, or Mosaic Law) was given to the children of Israel and ONLY to them. In order to properly partake of the Law one must become circumcised and accepted as a an Israeli and then one is obligated to keep ALL of the Law. Christians are not bound to the Law of Moses by edict of the Council of Jerusalem (in the book of Acts).
We are partakers of the New Covenant which replaces the Old Covenant and INCLUDES all who accept Jesus it is not limited to Israel. We are to be spiritual and not carnal (fleshly) Christians.
Paul said if we are in the spirit we are not under the Law. Basically if it is not found in the New Testament then it is not mandatory for Christians to consider as needing to do so. I'm not saying that some of the Law may be useful to keep for some people in some instances but to consider oneself as in sin by not keeping the Mosaic Law is incorrect and once one delves into the Mosaic Law as a definer of their sin then by the New Testament writers one MUST adhere to ALL of it, to break even one law is seen as breaking them all. (James talks about this).

 

[faroukfarouk]

The Law (of Moses, or Mosaic Law) was given to the children of Israel and ONLY to them. In order to properly partake of the Law one must become circumcised and accepted as a an Israeli and then one is obligated to keep ALL of the Law. Christians are not bound to the Law of Moses by edict of the Council of Jerusalem (in the book of Acts).
We are partakers of the New Covenant which replaces the Old Covenant and INCLUDES all who accept Jesus it is not limited to Israel. We are to be spiritual and not carnal (fleshly) Christians.
Paul said if we are in the spirit we are not under the Law. Basically if it is not found in the New Testament then it is not mandatory for Christians to consider as needing to do so. I'm not saying that some of the Law may be useful to keep for some people in some instances but to consider oneself as in sin by not keeping the Mosaic Law is incorrect and once one delves into the Mosaic Law as a definer of their sin then by the New Testament writers one MUST adhere to ALL of it, to break even one law is seen as breaking them all. (James talks about this).

Hebrews 7.12 says that the law was changed.

Hebrews 7.19 says we now have something better than the law.

 

[RDKirk]

Hebrews 7.12 says that the law was changed.

Hebrews 7.19 says we now have something better than the law.

And there is Hebrews 8 that makes it perfectly clear:

But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.

For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.
....
By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear. -- Hebrews 8

I can't see why there continues to be dispute among Christians on this point.

 

[Sophrosyne]

Hebrews 7.12 says that the law was changed.

Hebrews 7.19 says we now have something better than the law.

It says when there is a change in the priesthood there has to be a change in the law. One could surmise that the new priesthood was incompatible with the old law. The Mosaic Law has never changed, we have new laws in the new covenant which although some may seem identical it doesn't mean we are under Mosaic Law 2.0. We have grace which operates entirely different than the Law does.

 

[Knee V]

There are many benefits of a beard: increased strength, increased wisdom, increased survivability in the wilderness, increased bear wrestling skills, etc. But if someone chooses to look like a little girl instead, he should not be forced to do otherwise against his will.

 

[RDKirk]

There are many benefits of a beard: increased strength, increased wisdom, increased survivability in the wilderness, increased bear wrestling skills, etc. But if someone chooses to look like a little girl instead, he should not be forced to do otherwise against his will.

Artistic ability also increases.

 

[Knee V]

Artistic ability also increases.

Exactly! *You* know what I'm talkin' about!

 

[ViaCrucis]

I tend to grow my beard out until it starts to become unpleasant, then out of frustration remove the whole thing. Then I do the whole goatee thing for a while, and inevitably let it grow back into a full beard.

Rinse and repeat.

I love my beard, but I don't think God cares one way or the other.

-CryptoLutheran