Facial Hair

[wpe3bql]

OK, here's another BJU-type question:

Facial hair on men.

Back in the 1970's -1980's many IFB churches preached "hot and heavy" about how sinful it is for Christian adult males to have any kind of facial hair (beards, mustaches, & even "extended side burns"). Some probably went so far as to indicate that if a Christian adult male did display facial hair, "He'll have to 'answer for it' at the bema seat of Christ!!"

According to this viewpoint, Charles Haddon Spurgeon "lost rewards."

Although not all of our POTUS were "born-again, Bible-thumping, KJVO advocates," about 20 of them had "ungodly facial hair." And at least 4-5 of our first POTUS's may have had "long hair," but they hid it under their powdered whigs.

Moreover, Isaiah 50:6 says of the LORD GOD, "I gave ....my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair." That'd pretty hard to do if the LORD GOD were "clean-shaven," wouldn't it?

So, is it therefore a SIN for a Christian adult male to display any/all forms of facial hair?

Personally, I don't "display much facial hair," but that may be partly due to the fact that I spent about 34% of my life in the military.

What's your opinion/view on Christian adult males displaying "facial hair"?

All I want is your opinion(s), nothing more or less.

Oh yes, let's not split hairs over this! :laugh:

 

[Rippon]

I maintain a close shave most of the time. I let it lie(or is it "lay") fallow about one day per week.

I've experimented with beards in my 20s and it just doesn't suit me.

My remarks have nothing to do with religious convictions.

 

[preachinjesus]

So, is it therefore a SIN for a Christian adult male to display any/all forms of facial hair?

No.

Personally, I don't "display much facial hair," but that may be partly due to the fact that I spent about 34% of my life in the military.

What's your opinion/view on Christian adult males displaying "facial hair"?

 

[InTheLight]

What's your opinion/view on Christian adult males displaying "facial hair"?

All I want is your opinion(s), nothing more or less.

It's not a sin for a Christian man to have a beard. Sheesh. Typical BJU drivel.

 

[Rippon]

Our next subject for discussion :The propriety of bell bottom pants for men and women.

 

[InTheLight]

our next subject for discussion :the propriety of bell bottom pants for men and women.

No, we must discuss the sinfulness of open-toed shoes on women!

 

[Scarlett O.]

I realize that back in the day, the fundamentalist's objection to facial hair on men was because of what it represented to some. It represented to some the hippy-drug culture and was therefore a "sin".

I always thought that was silliness but then again, I was only a grade school student.

Unless Isaiah 50 is metaphorical and I don't believe it is, then Jesus had a beard.

You have to admit though, some men can pull off facial hair and some just look like a bushy bear. And some men look better with facial hair. They look more distinguis.....

....oh, what the hay, some men just look better with it.

Case in point - Tom Selleck and Sam Elliot. Without the mustaches - they don't even LOOK like themselves!! Have you SEEN Sam Elliot lately!?! He needs to grow the mustache back.

 

[Rippon]

You have to admit though, some men can pull off facial hair

If they "pulled it off" they wouldn't have it. ;-) Okay, okay.

and some just look like a bushy bear. And some men look better with facial hair. They look more distinguis.....

Around here a strand of 6 hairs is rather pathetic looking hanging off a chin.

A sparcely grown goatee is just not worth it.

Case in point - Tom Selleck and Sam Elliot. Without the mustaches - they don't even LOOK like themselves!! Have you SEEN Sam Elliot lately!?! He needs to grow the mustache back.

Former MMA star Don Frye would look weird without his famous stach.

 

[Deacon]

Back in the 1970's -1980's many IFB churches preached "hot and heavy" about how sinful it is for Christian adult males to have any kind of facial hair (beards, mustaches, & even "extended side burns"). Some probably went so far as to indicate that if a Christian adult male did display facial hair, "He'll have to 'answer for it' at the bema seat of Christ!!"

...

What's your opinion/view on Christian adult males displaying "facial hair"?

All I want is your opinion(s), nothing more or less.

Oh yes, let's not split hairs over this! :laugh:

Are these the same IFB churches that displayed photos of Jesus with clean robes, neatly combed hair and a beard?

Rob

 

[Rippon]

Are these the same IFB churches that displayed photos of Jesus with clean robes, neatly combed hair and a beard?

Neatly combed long hair.

 

[Scarlett O.]

If

A sparcely grown goatee is just not worth it.

Oh ....goatees! I don't like them unless they are neat and short and suit a man's face.

I have a cousin who has a scraggly and very long and thick goatee. Imagine Duck Dynasty men, but with goatees only. Ugh!

Every time I see him, I want to grab him by that awfulness on his chin that dangles down his chest and pull his face to mine and scream, "Shave this frazzlin' mess off your face!!"

But I don't. I smile and hug his neck. :laugh:

 

[Salty]

As with the OP, I also spent many years in the military. I still sport a GI haircut- and as Ripon said - not due to religious convictions.

If you do have longer hair (male or female) it needs to be proper maintained. And I think that was part of the equation - many did not.

I'm glad I got that brush cut in Basic - just one less thing to worry about - and one less thing to get gigged on.

Their hairstyle in '64 was very moderate compared to standards in the 70's and 80's.

One other comment - Catholic Priests do not marry because Jesus was not married. With that thinking - all priests should be growing a beard.

 

[Rippon]

There are these well-known paintings of Jesus --including the one where he's knocking on the door.

In South Korea a huge painting pictured him with very blond hair and light blue eyes. This was in a church. I said that Jesus was Jewish, not Scandinavian.

I'm against all forms of pictorial representations of God.

 

[OnlyaSinner]

It's not a sin for a Christian man to have a beard. Sheesh. Typical BJU drivel.

Not sure what their policy is for students/faculty, but my (limited) knowledge concerning returning graduates is that there is no issue. This was first noted in 2000 when my daughter got her bachelor's and our full-bearded pastor attended (was his 25th class reunion as well.) Dr. Bob III greeted him with something like, "Brother, you can't hide that smile behind a beard." (Our pastor was and is well noted for his broad and near-constant smile.) However, not everyone was so gracious. A friend who grew a beard while on missionary service in Newfoundland (where the climate makes dense facial hair a real advantage) lost financial support from a small Greenville area church, whose pastor he'd known for many years, when he visited while fully fledged. He was warmly welcomed when visiting the university.

Rippon: I agree, and our church has no such pictures hanging in the walls. When a picture I wish to show to my SS class (4th-6th gr.) includes a portrayal of Jesus, I always note that we don't know what He looked like, usually adding that photography was rather primitive back then. Scripture in no place (other than at the Transfiguration) implies that the incarnate Jesus' physical appearance was remarkably different from that of the general populace, which probably points to dark hair and an "Eastern Mediterranean" skin tone.

 

[InTheLight]

Not sure what their policy is for students/faculty, but my (limited) knowledge concerning returning graduates is that there is no issue. This was first noted in 2000 when my daughter got her bachelor's and our full-bearded pastor attended (was his 25th class reunion as well.) Dr. Bob III greeted him with something like, "Brother, you can't hide that smile behind a beard." (Our pastor was and is well noted for his broad and near-constant smile.) However, not everyone was so gracious. A friend who grew a beard while on missionary service in Newfoundland (where the climate makes dense facial hair a real advantage) lost financial support from a small Greenville area church, whose pastor he'd known for many years, when he visited while fully fledged. He was warmly welcomed when visiting the university.

I apologize for mis-reading the OP. The OP said, "here is another BJU type question" but never actually named BJU as the culprit from the 70's and 80's that said it was sinful for men to wear beards. I just assumed that was the entity in question.

 

[Sapper Woody]

I know of a few pastors (and becoming fewer as the years go by) that do not allow a man with facial hair to preach in their church. I go back and forth with my facial hair. For a few months after leaving the Army, I didn't shave at all. Then I went clean shaven. This week I decides to go back to my pre-military goatee. (Short and trimmed).



Yesterday, I almost wore my dress uniform to church, but couldn't bring myself to do so with facial hair.

 

[TadQueasy]

I know of a few pastors (and becoming fewer as the years go by) that do not allow a man with facial hair to preach in their church.

Thanks goodness they are becoming fewer. Completely ridiculous idea. Almost as dumb as the pastor that I know who was asked to preach at a church. He showed up in a shirt and tie, yet the shirt was not white. He was asked to change into a white shirt before preaching. And even crazier they had a selection of white shirts in a back room that he could select from. Sad.

 

[Gib]

If

Oh ....goatees! I don't like them unless they are neat and short and suit a man's face.

Mine is scruffy and suits my face as it covers the baby butt hanging from my chin.

The real question is, is it a sin for a Christian woman to have a beard?

 

[wpe3bql]

Thanks goodness they are becoming fewer. Completely ridiculous idea. Almost as dumb as the pastor that I know who was asked to preach at a church. He showed up in a shirt and tie, yet the shirt was not white. He was asked to change into a white shirt before preaching. And even crazier they had a selection of white shirts in a back room that he could select from. Sad.

Yeah, I remember hearing about the "White Shirt Controversy" too.

Never knew what it was all about till someone 'splained to me. He told me that once they came out with shirts of different colors [Maybe that's what Jacob's son Joseph in trouble with his brothers?? :smilewinkgrin:], if a male chose to wear one, that marked him as being "effeminate." Now, I Cor. 6:9 states that being "effeminate" makes you ineligible [If you are a man] to "inherit the kingdom of God," i.e., you are, without question, an unsaved dude. Never mind what I Cor. 6:11 says, y'all can't preach in our IBF KJVO church!! :BangHead:

 

[Salty]

I know of a few pastors (and becoming fewer as the years go by) that do not allow a man with facial hair to preach in their church. I go back and forth with my facial hair. For a few months after leaving the Army, I didn't shave at all. Then I went clean shaven. This week I decides to go back to my pre-military goatee. (Short and trimmed)..

Back in 1981, when I processed into A/8th S&T Bn in Bad K - I got talking to the company clerk. He told me he had been to Bible college to become a pastor. He was NOT ordained because of his beard. That is when he joined the Army. (wish I could remember his name)

Yesterday, I almost wore my dress uniform to church, but couldn't bring myself to do so with facial hair.

I would feel the same way