SHOULD MEN WEAR LONG HAIR?
By Alan Yusko
>From time to time a see a 'professing' Christian male with long effeminate hair. A question comes to mind: Is this a Godly thing for a person who claims to be a Christian to do? Should a professing Christian wear long hair? I'm not writing this to be contentious. I really believe Christian men should project a Godly, Christ honoring image. This includes the way the look on the outside. In this tract we will look at what the Bible says about men wearing long hair.
Recently, I was watching some Gospel music and noticed one of the members in a fairly popular group (non-rock and roll) who had long hair. I have to say non-rock and roll because many of the religious rock and rollers sport the latest sodomite long haircuts and clothing styles. At any rate this singer had hair that went to the top-middle of his back. When I saw him singing I was wondering if he realized that he was in bad need of a haircut. His other group members have normal masculine cuts to their hair and the group produces good music overall as far as I can tell. Yet one of the members looks like a 'freak' with his long hair.
I've talked to men with long hair in days past and suggested they get haircuts. I usually get a similar reaction to my suggestion. They usually are offended that I would be so 'judgmental' to suggest such a thing. Next they say that God looks at the heart and the length of the hair really does not matter. I then show them a verse which they ignore or completely dismiss. Here is that verse:
1 Cor 11
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.
Just by looking at the above verse it is real easy to see that it is a shame for a man to have long hair. It is effeminate (non-masculine) and if it is a shame to the man, it is also a shame to the Lord Jesus. Remember a Christian with his looks and lifestyle is the only 'Bible' some lost people care to read or observe. When a man claims to follow the Lord Jesus yet he looks like a long haired freak, then he is projecting the wrong image to a lost world. A lost person could look at this freaky looking 'Christian' and say: 'Well following Jesus certainly didn't do much for you... You still look like a freak!'
At any rate verse 14 above is very clear. It is shameful for a man to grow long hair. I'm not talking about a little over the ears. I'm talking about a femine type of haircut which tends to be shoulder length or longer. So where can a person go to argue against verse 14 above? It clearly states that it is wrong for a man to grow long hair?
Next lets consider the common argument from the long haired men that God only looks to the heart. They say that hair length doesn't matter because God looks at the motivations and intents of the heart. Well, it is very true that God looks at the heart. However He clearly stated in verse 14 above that it is wrong to have long hair. Therefore to try to justify something that God has told people NOT to do, is nothing more than rebellion and disobedience. You see a person reflects on the outside the condition of his heart on the inside. So if a person shaves his head except for a patch of mohawk hair that he colors pink, that shows he is a very troubled person on the inside. He is troubled on the inside and it manifests in his outer appearance. That is also true for long hair on a man. On the inside the person has a rebellious and disobedient heart and that manifests itself by long hair. Of course there can be many manifestations of a rebellious heart but long hair certainly would be one of those manifestations.
Another thing about long hair in a man is that it gives a very feminine look to the person. The Bible makes a distinction between men and women in their appearance. See the following verse:
Deuteronomy 22
5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither
shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so [are]
abomination unto the LORD thy God.
Just as it is wrong for a man to walk around in a bra and a dress, it is wrong for a man to sport a female haircut. Long hair is a very feminine thing for a man to do. So what if the homosexual secular rock and rollers wear long hear and dress up in an effeminate style. Christians should not be imitating the world. Instead we are to come out from this evil world and identify ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. The above verse clearly states that a man should not put on a woman's garment. This means that women should look like women and men should dress and look like men. For a man to sport a female hairstyle (long hair) is just as wrong as if he were to wear a dress.
CONCLUSION
Christians are to be different from the world. We should not try to imitate the latest trend. Christians are to imitate the Lord Jesus Christ. We are ambassadors for Christ and carry a priceless message. The saving Gospel of the Lord Jesus is not a light subject. The messenger should appear in a Godly and respectable manner as he lives and witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ. To call oneself a Christian and then to wear feminine long hair is to create a contradiction to the message of the Gospel. So if you claim to be a Christian, then present yourself properly to a lost and dying world. Don't be ashamed to stand up for Jesus. Don't imitate the godless standards of the world. Rather, put aside the unclean things in your life and make a solid stand for the Lord Jesus.
2 Cor 6
14: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what
fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what
communion hath light with darkness?
15: And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he
that believeth with an infidel?
16: And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye
are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell
in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall
be my people.
17: Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith
the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
If obeying God means to go out and get a haircut so you look like
a man.... then do it! Don't be offended. Don't be rebellious and
disobedient. Simply obey God and wear your hair in such a way that you
look like an obedient servant of God.