DHK said:
Why are western Christians so opposed to obedience in this area of God's Word, when Christians in the East (Eastern nations) readily obey God in this area?
Because our preferences are readily honored, and some men choose to have long hair. It is not that unusual. Practical almost, due to the changing weather.
DHK said:
I can give you some fairly good arguments. I would rather give you the same challenge as Joe. Study the entire passage from verse one to sixteen. Find out why the Lord has comparisons between long hair on woman and short hair on men.
There are ways of finding out how short is short.
Ok, I took the challenge. Very interesting. Next I'll study the women's hair length.
I believe I understand the definition of short hair. Back then, the adulteress was to be stripped naked and her hair chopped off. Thus her hair being short making her appearance more manly. Imo, it’s got to be pretty short to be able to differentiate between the good and the bad girls. Not all women are able to grow long hair. So short hair is really short. About the length of my hair in my avatar.
This has nothing to do with culture. It is a Biblical mandate that is timeless, just as timeless as baptism and the Lord's Supper.
You offered a verse to support this. Yet their customs regarding their appearance symbolize respect, shame, sexual sin, humility etc…
in their time. It is not so any longer.
We do not shame adulteresses by cutting off their hair making them appear similar to a man and stripping them naked, as that would be sin according to the bible and our laws of the land. The bible tells us "men not to wear that which pertaineth to a woman" so we can tell the sexes apart. In that day, they obviously placed undue emphasis on vain appearance customs, thus sinning, something we are not to do now.
Many sins were committed under the guise of “ordinances” so we have to be careful here.
SFIC mentioned the nazarites had long hair as a sign of humiliation, I agree. Paul probably held the same view so this helps us to understand where he was coming from. Imo, Paul was also probably imagining a guy with long curled hair, or frizzy hair similar to a woman. Not just a haircut blowdryed with some gel or hairspray, but a style which is very feminine.
If we keep those ordinances, why not this one?
We don’t keep those ordinances. We don’t treat adulteresses this way, nor force men to humiliate themselves through appearance (long hair similar to a woman's) as we shouldn’t because it is willful sinning. Goes against other scripture verses.
You want the context?
1 Corinthians 11:2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
This is a command to the people
of that day, except the Lords Supper and Baptism since this is supported by other Scripture. With regards to hair length, it is not something we are to worry about.
My only thoughts are if a man by nature appears female, he ought to have shorter hair. He ought to wear masculine clothing. Because other verses indicate we are to tell the sexes apart. This is where the common sense and judge ye in yourself comes in.
Back then, the head covering was a submission thing. Women were to have a lot of hair covering their heads, yet allowances were made if they were not able to grow enough hair. They followed other customs to compromise for their lack of hair. Submission still applies today, yet not in the vain form of appearance except where Scripture supports that. Women are to look like women, men are to look like men. Unbelievable how vain these folks were baack then
Here is an easier translation cut and pasted of verse 1-16
Christian Order
1Co 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
1Co 11:2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
1Co 11:3 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.
1Co 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
1Co 11:5 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.
1Co 11:6 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.
1Co 11:7 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.
1Co 11:8 For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man.
1Co 11:9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
1Co 11:10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
1Co 11:11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
1Co 11:12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
1Co 11:13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
1Co 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
1Co 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
1Co 11:16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches [ congregations ] of God[/I]
Short hair is shorter than I understood. Though it is not practical due to the cold weather, I will get a haircut. My hair is thick, and grows very fast. Here in California, the summers are very hot, so short hair helps alot, less sweat down your back especially when bike riding. The winters are very cold so longer hair can keep your neck warm, especially when riding. Prevent you from getting your death of cold. This is another reason why it's hard to believe the Lord would place restrictions on hair length, it doesn't seem practical.
Still don't understand what nature means in "doth not even
nature itself teaches you" (highlighted in red)
Imo, there is no reason why a men can't have long hair unless his appearance thus becomes too similar to a woman's.