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Question on modesty and hair style

May 19th, 2015

Laurel J. Davis

May 18, 2015

Thoughts? I answered a question earlier today about what the Bible says about modesty in hairstyling. I mentioned how I know a Christian woman who chose to basically go bald (mostly bald, not shiny bald), not due to chemo or illness, and not due to wanting undue attention. She said she just simply got tired of all the time and money she had to spend on hair care. Since I submitted my answer, I happened upon 1 Corinthians 11:6 which says it’s shameful for a woman to shave her head. The context is worship in church, and the shaving of a woman’s head is used as a parallel for why women should not worship God with our heads uncovered — that our hair serves as a covering. I’m honestly not sure if I was in error. Does this passage still apply to women in church today?

  • Seen by 38
  • Ed ChaitThe reason for that back then is that the temple prostitutes shaved their heads bald, so it was a cultural thing. But we are not supposed to draw undue attention to ourselves in any culture or time period, so for a woman to shave her head bald, or almost bald today might not be the right thing to do on that basis (1Peter 3:4) Granted, shaving your head is not “adornment”, but I think the principle applies. Then again, God looks at the heart, not the external. She will draw attention even if that is not her motivation for her low-maintenance hair style.
    21 hrs · Edited · Like · 3
  • Wendyl LeslieYou’re right, Ed. I recently answered a very similar question to Laurel’s and this was basically my response as well. During the time of the 1st century church, women always wore their heads covered either by long hair or a shawl/headscarf as a symbol of respect towards their husbands demonstrating their subservience to them.

    The prostitutes of that time promoted their services by wearing short hair or being unshavened as you’ve pointed out..

    So, Laurel, you’re not in the least bit in error and it certainly doesn’t apply to women of the 21st century.
    19 hrs · Like
  • Laurel J. Davis Thanks, guys. I use my friend as an example because her whole “look” — even with the almost bald head — is very polished and even sophisticated, coupled with her low-key personality. I wish I had a picture of her to show you. Anyway, in my answer, I definitely emphasized that our priority as Christian women is to enhance our inner beauty more than our outer beauty. It is definitely a matter of the heart.
    17 hrs · Like · 2
  • Steve Ray Webb A local church here has hired an associate pastor, a young guy, with long hair and a prominent ear ring. His appearance is out of tune with the majority of the people who attend. I think his appearance is wrong, if for no other reason, than he is drawing undue attention to himself.
    17 hrs · Like · 1
  • Laurel J. DavisIt’s a fine line, having to be careful not to let the personal preferences of the majority dictate whether or not someone is violating God’s Word. I’m not saying that’s what that local church is doing where you are, Steve. But if he were in L.A., for e…See More
    16 hrs · Like · 2
  • Ed ChaitWhat the majority looks like, unless the majority is violating God’s Word by what they look like, does drive and dictate the “norm” of external appearance in a society. Deviating from that significantly draws attention to ourselves and away from Christ. As I’m writing this, I’m thinking that it sounds legalistic, but that’s what I believe the Bible teaches. In a particular society, the men should dress like men and the women like women, unless again, the “norm” is immodest or vulgar.
    15 hrs · Like · 1
  • Ed ChaitI was in a men’s Bible study once where a heavily tattooed man said that having all his tattoos made it possible for him to be credible in his prison ministry. As I was driving home, I gave this more thought and had to disagree. I’m not even sure tha…See More
    14 hrs · Like · 1
  • Patrick Thompson the wearing of veils was a cultureal sign for that day. Although the cultural attire or covering has changed, the spiritual principle behind it of respect, dignity, and honor is valid for all time and all cultures. A Christian woman should dress in a modest, dignified and careful way that honors God, respects othes and does not draw unnecessary or improper attention to herself.
    14 hrs · Like · 2
  • Corpuz Valdemor Avellaneda Ramil a bald woman preaching in our country would likely be ridiculed and not listened to.
    12 hrs · Like · 1
  • Ed Chait I think God knows how difficult it is for us to get past external appearance.
    12 hrs · Like
  • Sarah Van BaaleWasn’t the church at Corinth plagued by numerous problems? Paul gave them a lot of advice in order to restore order because they were seriously out of line in many areas and immorality abounded. Order, authority, respect, and submission are all necessary for peace. If a woman, out of rebellion, desired to shave her head in order to display her defiance, that would be wrong. But I know many black ladies who have short nearly shaved hair who are absolutely beautiful and would only turn heads because of their beauty not because they had short hair. Caring for extremely curly coarse hair which is long is not an easy process. I’ve braided girls with this type of hair and cared for it. It is no small feat. Not that there are different rules based on ethnicity, but different types of hair require different types of care and we should absolutely take that into consideration. God made us differently and gave us different features. As long as we present a modest appearance which brings honor to God and our family, wear your hair how you like! (For the record, my husband watched the kids the other day while I was gone and I came back to one boy child with a mowhawk and the other with a high and tight.) Being overly concerned about how we look certainly borders on (or perhaps is straight up) legalism. Dealing with rebellion in the church and those who wish to flaunt sin is really at the heart of what Paul was addressing – not the length of a person’s hair.
    8 hrs · Edited · Like · 1
  • Laurel J. DavisTo be clear, my bald friend is not a preacher. And, to Sarah’s point, she is Black. Like I said, it’s a fine line. What does apply universally to Christian women is putting inner beauty above outer beauty, being modest and decent, displaying gentleness and quietness/calmness. Yes, we have to consider the comfort level of those around us, but not blindly. My bald friend looks and is very dignified; she dresses and behaves modestly. Her lack of hair in today’s Western society should not be the sole factor in determining where her heart is towards obedience to God.
    7 hrs · Like · 1
  • Ed ChaitI agree that this is something where we need to back off from looking strictly at the bigger picture Scripture presents and take into account the smaller picture things that Sarah and Laurel mention above. Personally, I would not give a second look to women with short hair, even really short hair. Shiny bald would most likely get a second look, but some people lose all their hair, so I wouldn’t be quick to make any judgments.

    I strive to look at things and stay in the bigger picture, so I appreciate your comments.
    7 hrs · Like · 1
  • Steve Ray WebbPart of the problem here is that the Bible warns us against blurring gender lines (Deut. 22:5 and elsewhere) and we are seeing the growing harmful affects of this in our culture with the gay, lesbian and transgender movement. Men are not to appear as women and vice-versa. I’m not saying slacks in church are wrong for a woman – not by a long shot – but I do think that a women can intentionally present herself as looking too manly And, when I see a man wearing an ear ring, for example, I cannot help but think of it as appearing feminine. We Christians need to avoid being on the forefront of style changes.
    6 hrs · Like
  • Sarah Van BaaleI don’t know if I completely agree with that. There are many women who are born and raised in Africa and wear their hair short all of their lives. I sponsor a few Compassion female children with really short hair. Just because someone lives in the USA and is not white doesn’t mean they are all of a sudden forbidden from having really short hair. No one is suggesting cross dressing as though to appear of the opposite gender – that would be evidence of rebellion. But you can most definitely appear feminine and have very very short hair.

    It is really important to look at the heart of the matter. What did Jesus say? He came to fulfill the Law. Humanity was/is so narrow minded that we focused on the small details instead of the big picture and the overlying principles. Jesus’ mission was not only to die on the cross and save us from our sins, but to teach us what the Law was really all about – about who God is. The Bible isn’t a series of regulations to be followed, but rather a compilation of stories/lessons/records which all point to Christ and who God is. The heart of the matter regarding hair length and head coverings is not at all about hair length or even fitting into society, but about order/peace/submission/reverence. We actually aren’t commanded to follow society, or even look like everyone around us. 1 Corinthians 11:6 is all about a rebellious heart. A heart that demands its own way and desires to be the center of attention instead of putting Christ at the center and submitting to authority.

    Standing before the judgement seat of Christ, our hearts/motives/actions will be judged. If our hair is representative of rebelliousness, than it is only an outward manifestation of an inward problem. This isn’t the military – where hair is regulated based upon its length and style. It is the body of Christ – where our outward appearance is to coincide with the Holy Spirit living inside of us. That is the only thing that matters.
    6 hrs · Like
  • Ed Chait Are pastors to be held to a different standard on this?
    6 hrs · Like
  • Sarah Van Baale Before we could address that question Ed, we’d have to have the debate about whether or not women are allowed to be pastors.
    6 hrs · Like · 1
  • Ed Chait I would hope that would not be a debate here smile emoticon
    6 hrs · Like
  • Ed Chait I was thinking of Steve’s example of the associate pastor with long hair and an earring.
    6 hrs · Like
  • Sarah Van Baale Yes, you and I are probably not in debate. It is just the short hair was specifically referencing women.
    5 hrs · Like
  • Sarah Van Baale OHHH…gotcha.
    5 hrs · Like · 1
  • Laurel J. DavisIn the case of pastors (assuming male), if the congregation — or even an individual member — were so distracted or impeded to learn or trust that young man with long hair and an earring, then I would think he should set the example by putting his hair in a pony tail (if not cut it off) and take the earring out. It’s not because he is sinning by virtue of the fact that he has long hair and an earring, but because he would not be pleasing to the Lord if he made his hair and jewelry — in other words, his personal liberty — a higher priority.
    4 hrs · Like · 2

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