Does God Care About My Hair?
Does God Care About My Hair?
Holiness & Separation
Prelude:
The Bible uses many earthly, tangible objects to represent Spiritual truth. For example, the bread and the fruit of the vine used in Communion, represent the body and the blood of the Lord (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). The manna eaten by the Israelites represented spiritual food, the water miraculously supplied represented spiritual drink, and the rock from which the water flowed was a type of Christ (1 Corinthians 10:3-4).
To a large degree, the system of laws given to Moses was a system of symbols. Many of the things about the Tabernacle prefigured spiritual realities which were to come in the future (Hebrews 9:6-9).
It must be remembered that the symbol is not the reality, but at the same time, the symbol must never be disregarded or treated lightly. By it’s association with that which is holy, the symbol itself takes on a great sacredness. For instance, the rock from which the Israelites drank was a literal rock. On two occasions, water flowed from it. The first time, Moses was commanded to strike it (Exodus 17:1-7) and he did. The second time, however, God told Moses to speak to it, but Moses instead struck it again. Even though water came forth to meet the need, God judged Moses saying, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” (Numbers 20:12 ESV).
Why was it so important that Moses treat the rock according to God’s instructions? Because the rock represented Christ! He was smitten ONCE and only once for our sins. Now that the veil has been removed, each and every believer can now speak to God through prayer for themselves. Moses broke typology and God judged him for it because God’s instructions are very important and MUST be obeyed.
For the past few months, I’ve given many examples of how holiness starts on the inside and then progresses outwardly. Tonight, our title is presented in a question – Does God Care About My Hair?
1) Does God care about my hair?
1 Corinthians 11:1-16 (King James Version)
1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. 3 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. 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 5 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. 6 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. 7 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. 8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. 9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. 12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. 13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? 14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. 16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
A) Authority-submission-relationship:
- 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 deals with spiritual reality that is represented by one’s hair. Sincere Christians cannot afford to discount or ignore the significance of the symbol of hair. To do that is to disregard that for which the symbol stands.
- What represents submission from a man to Christ is his hair/head. He must have it uncovered. This does not mean that a man must shave his head bald, but according to both verses 4 and 14 express plainly that a man needs to have short hair, keeping it cut and trim.
- The symbol is the hair/head, but the reality is the relationship between the man and God. “Christ is the head of the man,” therefore, Christ is to be exposed! He needs to be seen. Through the man keeping his hair cut, and living an obediently submitted life to God, Christ will be seen by all.
- What represents submission from a woman to her husband is to have long (uncut) hair. She is to have her head covered. The head of the woman is the man. God will not share His glory with anyone, therefore, a woman needs her head covered.
- The woman who obediently submits to her husband and God by maintaining uncut hair brings glory to God and has power with God and His angels.
- This is a reference to the Spirit world – consider for a moment pictures of witches and warlocks; they all have long hair. Why? Because even the devil thinks there’s something powerful in the hair. True Christian ladies realize it’s not some great power through her hair, but rather through her obedient submission that brings true authority!
- These facts emerge from the text:
- It is a shame for a man to pray or prophesy with his head covered and a shame for him to have long hair.
- It is a shame for a woman to cut (shorn, shaven, uncovered) her hair. Her long (uncut) hair is glory and is given as a covering.
B) Definition of long hair on a woman:
- The Greek word for “long hair” in the text is KOMAO and means, “to have long hair: not to cut one’s hair.” (from Greek-English Lexicon Based on Semantic Domain. Copyright © 1988 United Bible Societies, New York. Used by permission.) “to let the hair grow.” (from Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2000, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
- It is clear by these definitions that long hair is uncut. This is important, as some women do not have extremely long hair.
- Some ladies wonder if they should wear a veil, or if they could wear a veil, instead of having long hair, and/or even if they have uncut hair. Vine’s will help us understand the answer – “the context (of 1 Corinthians 11:1-16) shows that the “covering” provided in the long “hair” of the woman is as a veil, a sign of subjection to authority, as indicated in the headships spoken of.” (from Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
- Furthermore, in the context of 1 Corinthians 11:1-16, the KJV uses the word “shorn” which was translated from the Greek word KEIRO and means, “to have one’s hair cut off.” (from Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
- Also, the use of the word “shame” has been the source of debate. One comedian opined, “It says it’s shame not a sin!” But clearly this comedian didn’t have a full understanding of what the word shame means, and it’s connection to sin.
- The word shame is derived from the Greek word AISCHRON and means, “base; dishonorable.” (from Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2000, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Furthermore, a quick cross-reference in the Englishman’s Concordance brings up ten other times the word AISCHRON and the root word from which it is derived, is used. These include such English words as “dishonest, filthy, and filthiness” and clearly point out sinful behaviors from which true Christians refrain. Thus, with all due respect to the comedian, shame is sin and I’m glad my wife and son and daughter to not wish to bring shame to our home or to our God!
- All the evidence clearly points to the fact that “long hair” in Scripture refers to “uncut hair” – hair which is allowed to grow.
1 Corinthians 11:6 (New Century Version)
If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off. But since it is shameful for a woman to cut off her hair or to shave her head, she should cover her head.
- And verse 15 goes on to explain that a women’s covering is her long (uncut) hair!
- Man’s head uncovered displays Christ (his head).
- Woman’s head covered displays Christ too!
- Jesus said, “If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me!”
Hebrews 12:14 (ESV)
Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
C) What about hair for men?
- What about men’s hair? Scripture is equally as concerned with this subject as it is with women’s hair. Just as the Bible clearly defines long hair for a woman as being uncut, the same Greek words are used in verses related to men. Thus, men should keep their hair cut, “shorn, or shaven.”
- “Nature itself teaches…” this is most likely referring to the fact that many men lose their hair; i.e., receding hair lines, going bald, etc.
- What about facial hair on men?
- There is no Scripture calling for men to clean-shaven faces. Some have attempted to say that the “face” of a man is part of his “head” and thus needs to be kept short or shaven; however, that’s not contextually accurate.
- Pastor David Sutherland (SRWC) states that he felt impressed to shave his mustache and keep his face clean-shaven because, “If a woman must obey God to keep her hair uncut, the least I can do is keep mine, including my facial hair, cut as obedience unto the Lord.” I feel that this is perfect example of 21st Century commitment from men.
- I will never call upon a man to keep his face clean-shaven because I cannot prove or ask him to do so Biblically; however, I keep my own face clean shaven and do so as a commitment to being presentable in my community.
D) Hair throughout history:
- Has it ever occurred to you that era’s of time have been defined by hair? Consider the hippie movement of the 70’s, or the punk-rock hairdo’s of the 90’s, etc. To say that hair is irrelevant is to not understand it’s significance. If the world and the devil understand there is something about important about hair, you should too.
- God does care about your hair. I have not found a commentary of the Bible that will not agree with the Scriptural meaning of 1 Corinthians 11:1-16. It’s translated and interpreted the same way in every resource. The meaning of this crucial teaching is clear. The main theme is submission to authority, and submission is acted out through obedience and faith that is not coupled with obedience is not true faith.
- One does not need to have a “personal conviction” about absolutes in the Bible and since God does care about my hair, I just need to simply obey His Word!
- For additional information on the subject of hair, please request the following from 1st Lady, Shannon Powell or refer to our lending library at SRWC:
- “Because I am His” by Raymond Woodward
- “Power Before the Throne” by Ruth Harvey
- “A Call to Holiness” by Joy Haney
