Shame is defined as “A painful sensation excited by a consciousness of guilt, or of having done something which injures reputation”. As we representatives of the Most High we should avoid shaming him and his name at any possible cost.

I like what this quote has to say about ‘possibilities’:

“What if, after careful consideration of a biblical mandate, we remain uncertain as to its character as principle or custom? If we must decide to treat it one way or the other but have no conclusive means to make the decision, what can we do? Here the biblical principle of humility can be helpful. The issue is simple. Would it be better to treat a possible custom as a principle and be guilty of being overscrupulous in our design to obey God? Or would it be better to treat a possible principle as a custom and be guilty of being unscrupulous in demoting a transcendent requirement of God to the level of a mere human convention? I hope the answer is obvious.”

As I commented below I was hoping to offer some direction and encouragement there. :)

Shalom Aleichem!

I follow you with the practice of women having long hair and men having short hair as customary practice for the people of God throughout history. In the context of this passage, though, I don’t see a command. Paul appeals to nature and hair length in his argument for the covering. And yes, it is shameful for a woman to have short hair. Not that it is necessarily a sin (as with a woman who literally cannot have long hair), but that most women naturally feel ashamed when their hair is chopped off. And that’s still true today.

My main thought is, if your hair is given to you for a kind of covering, and it is a glory to you, WHY NOT wear it long? :0)
.-= Lauren´s last blog ..Totally Dependent Emily =-.

http://www.inkdrips.wordpress.com
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I really do not like it that I feel I must add an “apology” on this, but I must it seems. I do apologize if anyone feels that I am judging or making rules. I assure you that is not my goal. Please receive this as you will, and know that I am only a fellow sinner, seeker, and believer trying to follow on the Righteous Path. “The way of the righteous is level; Righteous One, you smooth the path for the righteous. 8 Following the way of your judgments, we put our hope in you. The desire of all our soul is to remember you and your name. 9 My soul desires you at night, my spirit in me seeks you at dawn; for when your judgments are here on earth, the people in the world learn what righteousness is.” (Isaiah 26:7-9)

I guess I’m not like most people. I don’t automatically question things like this or wonder “will Yah be displeased with me” if I physically can’t do something so I don’t always think to put a warning on there for those with special situations. I just know that I can’t and Yahweh does too. Yahweh doesn’t expect our perfection, just our direction.

I don’t see that same worship of long-haired beauties you mentioned. I think the length of hair in hollywood is equally ‘distributed”, but I do see many with longer hair because it is beautiful and does an enhance, like Paul said, a woman’s appearance. From personal experienced it has never given me, or anyone I’ve known, any strength or a sense of confidence seeing or knowing other people/things, like disney characters, who I can “identify” with. That gives them a place of esteem in my eyes and I try to stay away from all worldly idols and influences.

Yahweh created you and your daughter the way it pleased him and what makes us pleasing to Yahweh is to obey him to the best of our ability. That is all he expects from us. Yes, I would agree with you “Perhaps the crowning glory in our family is the fabulous white-blonde color we have been blessed with”.
May Yahweh continue to bless you and grant you peace as you seek to follow him!

Men, and preists especially, kept their hair, except for by the temples, trimmed and cut short {Ezekiel 44}. Women, as we see in Mary, Solomon’s lover, and descriptions of women in the prophets, all had long hair. Having your hair cut short was a sign of disgrace for women, usually involving adultery, and shaving your head meant some kind of sadness or mourning. This passage here in 1 Corinthians does say “there is no difference between her {a woman who prophesies with her head unveiled} and a woman who has had her head shaved”, saying these are shameful, and he goes on to say about having your hair short is also the same.

I don’t think he appeals to the fact that the nature of it doesn’t command it. In verse 14-15 of 1 Corinthians it says “Doesn’t the nature of things itself teach you that a man who wears his hair long degrades himself? But a woman who wears her hair long enhances her appearance, because her hair has been given to her as a covering.” and then he follows that up with “However, if anyone wants to argue about it, the fact remains that we have no such custom, nor do the Messianic communities of God.” meaning there is no such customs that a man with long hair degrades himself or that the hair is the woman’s covering.

Haha, am I making any sense?? :)

I am the daughter and granddaughter of two thin and fine-haired ladies, as well as mother to a beautiful 5-year old who has almost NO hair! Is this disturbing to me? Absolutely, but after countless trips to different hair salons and multiple discussions with our pediatrician, I am resigned to the fact that some people are genetically predetermined to have fine, thin, SHORT hair. Maybe I can get Mary Catherine’s hair to a MEDIUM length, but it will never be truly “long”.

Is this displeasing to GOD? I do not believe so.

What I do think is displeasing to GOD is the “Hollywood” type worship that is given to long-haired beauties, especially as evidenced by weaves, wigs, extensions, etc. I WILL NOT put such things on my daughter’s head and would appreciate it if Disney would create just one “short-haired” princess so that my daughter might feel strong and confident in a world that worships “long hair.” And while we already curtail general television viewing, I have decided that I now need to extend that to Disney movies as my daughter is begging to have long hair.

What do I tell her?

Mary Catherine’s sweet and gentle spirit, love for the Lord, and kindness towards all living creatures is what makes her pleasing to GOD, not the length, or lack thereof, of her hair.

Perhaps the crowning glory in our family is the fabulous white-blonde color we have been blessed with as opposed to long, strong, brunette locks.

Blessings to you this New Year,
Valerie
.-= Valerie´s last blog ..Simplify =-.

HUGS!

Thanks for this thoughtful post! Some have stated that the Bible commands that we have long hair. Do you agree with that statement? I think it’s a bit of an overstatement. The 1 Cor 11 passage commands covering the head (which some take to mean long hair) but no where does it say women SHOULD have long hair. Paul assumes that women have long hair and want to keep their long hair–after all, it’s a glory to them. And he appeals to that fact of nature but doesn’t command it.
Does that all make sense?

That said, my husband and I think I shouldn’t wear my hair shorter than shoulder length.
Nice title, btw. I have an unpublished article on this topic with the same title. You beat me to it! :-)
.-= Lauren´s last blog ..New Year, New Things =-.

Interesting timing on your post as I just last week cut off my hair to donate it. lol. It’s at my shoulders now but was down to the bottom of my back.
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Now I never want to cut my hair again!

And by “tied up” – I didn’t mean to be confusing – that’s the way we Jersey people say it. =/

I would like to say to the woman with the medical condition – that I, too, will pray for your healing. The important thing is that your heart is right before the Lord. He knows and cares for you.

Jocelyn, thank you for thought provoking posts. Thank you, most of all for always quoting scripture and referring to our Lord. His word is what is true and reliable – for God is not a man that He should lie.

Many blessings for the New Year.

Mrs. Cucuta
.-= Far Above Rubies´s last blog ..Mom’s Olive Spread =-.

As for women seen unveiled = unclothed I have seen that too, in different cultures, groups, and stories. If you look on the Teach Me Some Greek link you can click to the entire article. On there it makes the point that if hair was such a sexy or attractive thing then it would have been inappropriate for Mary to washed Yahushua’s feet with her hair. Although I know in that culture now once a woman is married, to be modest, she covers her hair completely.

Have a wonderful day~~

Thank you for sharing this with me Miss Jocelyn.
.-= Stephanie Bateman´s last blog ..You’re Really Fine? =-.