Modern Worship and the Goatee

I just wrote a very sarcastic post, and then decided against it.

Does a person grow a goatee to be fashionable? Maybe. Does that make him or her a bad person? Probably not.

Does the Bible clearly state or teach a principle against growing a goatee? Not that I know of.

Will I grow a goatee this week to be contrary? Maybe.

Goatees are fine. Sometimes we just need to step back and check whether our beliefs are Scriptural, cultural, local or even just in our local church.

May the goateed ones live long and prosper!

BTW, Ulsterman would grow a goatee himself, but, he can't... but he shouldn't feel bad about that... I think he just envy's my goatee growing ability...

MNW

 

When I was in Ireland, I forgot my electric shaver, so I decided to grow a beard. I grew one in 10 days. My wife loved it! However, I trimmed it down to the current goattee, and I like that better.

Here where I live, most people either have big bush beards or they are clean shaven, with no distinction between the saved and the unsaved, just a distinction between living conditions. (Not everyone has running water and electricity.)

However, we have a traditional worship service and the majority of us have beards, so based on the standards set forth here, I think we need to require beards for all men to set ourselves apart from the world.

Hmm... Most women here don't use makeup, have long hair,wear modest clothing, and don't shave at all. Perhaps we should emphasize the importance of makeup, short hair, immodest clothing, and shaving in order to set ourselves apart from the world.

 

Please, no one be offended, I know its a cultural thing... but, no shaving... sends shivers down my spine.

 

I see that in the 17 days or so I have not visited the BB (until last night), I missed some really deep discussions!

I know men in my church who like contemporary music who do not wear goatees and men who do not like contemporary music who wear goatees. So what should we conclude?

Wearing goatees is a style, maybe a trend right now. It means absolutely zilch about the wearer beyond the fact that he likes goatees (or maybe his wife does).

 

Sal,

There is NO doubt that your truly extreme views do far more to turn away people from Christ then facial hair does. This might be the most baseless argument I have ever seen and an obvious case of adding to scripture. I commend C4K and SBC for handling it in such a friendly manner.

 

So Salamander,

No judgment inferred here... or condemnation or anything of the like... just a question:

If those men in your church that listen to the FISH station were to shave their facial hair, would that change anything? No, it wouldn't. They would most likely have the same views, listen to the same music, and have the same issues with their children. Do you see the point trying to be made here from so many? The facial hair is not the determinate factor.

In His Grip,
joshua

 

I have yet to get my question answered:

I am part Asian. That leaves me in the position of not being able to grow a full beard, but being able to grow only a goatee. How on earth can my doing so be considered in any way unrighteous, unscriptural, or a bad witness?

 

Johnv -

Are you asking anyone, or someone in particular? I agree that your facial hair has NOTHING to do with being unrighteous, unscriptural, or a bad witness. It's a choice that you've made in your grooming. Nothing more.

In His Grip,
joshua

 

standing firm, that is hillarous, and makes the point in a very creative manner. I love it. Now, if you see a woman with a goatee, maybe you got problems.

 

I once knew a woman that had pretty thick facial hair... she also sang bass. She was a choir director in our state's district when I was in high school. At that time, she was more of a man than me!

 

Johnv, I would say grow your goatee and enjoy it. I really wish there were a smiley with a beard...

 

Here you go mnw... or maybe this one for more purists!

 

OK, I'll be manly enough to admit it ... I have a goatee because my wife says it's sexy on me! I personally hate it but if it makes her happy...

But I am very conservative in my worship preferences!

Oh, by the way, I also shave my head!

 

I rotate a goatee and a full beard and have since I was able to. (around 74). I would say there are more men with facial hair then without at my church and we have 250 +/- on Sundays. Some have fullies some goatees. Then there's the shiny faced men, some need a little powder. Trying to be a little funny on this most amuzing thread!

Gentleman, shave what you want to and grow what you can.

Time to go to Church.

 

I like it Joshua! Finally a smiley with character.

4Given, does that mean you were 74 when you were able to it was 1974?

 

LOL! Unfortunely I was 14. I thought about that after I posted about not saying 1974. I was one of those who didn't believe the myth/truth about shaving at 11-12. When I was in the Navy, if I had a late afternoon function I would have to shave again to keep from getting a hit upon inspection. Hey, there's another reason for facial hair, too much work!

 

Whod'a thought that a discussion about goatees and modern worship would make it to EIGHT pages... and have a POLL ta boot????

Isn't that kind of a sad commentary as to where our priorities as Christians are in this age of sin and darkness?

 

No argument here, Mexdeaf...

 

I apologize if this was covered already in this thread.....

But here's a bit of church history trivia....Do you know that the Eastern church (orthodox church) split from the western church (Rome) in the late 900's AD. They had been squabbling for a couple of centuries. One of the issues was whether a priest should have a beard or not. Eastern says yes, western no. To this day, Eastern Orthodox priests are not shaven, while Roman Catholics are (for the most part, anyway).

They also argued over whether to hang paintings (icons) in the church, and what day to celebrate Easter and Christmas. Do you know what the final issue was, where they finally said "that's it, we're splitting."?

They disagreed over whether to use leavened or unleavened bread in the communion.

For these issues, they anathematized (cursed) each other for about 980 years. They reconciled, to some degree, back in the 1960's.