The majority of this chapter is spent demonstrating that one
culture promoted shaving and another culture promoted facial hair. Gore points out the acceptance of facial hair
within certain cultures was based on class, political or religious variance. Within each of these
parameters there was a wide range of acceptance and rejection.
While that makes for interesting history it really is of no
consequence whatsoever to the issue that confronts the 21st
century church. How is it perceived now,
and can it be worn by Christians is such a way as to not hinder our
testimony? These are the questions that
we ought to be asking. Also, how far are
we willing to acquiesce to culture?
Should we be affecting culture or should we as Christians be held
hostage by culture?
It is amazing to me that this hyper sensitivity to culture
that is expressed on this issue is completely suppressed when it comes to certain
other issues. We pick and chose when
culture is relevant to an issue. It is
argued that facial hair hinders our testimony.
This is becoming increasing untrue; however, there are many other non-essential
things that hinder our acceptance in culture that we stubbornly refuse to
change. The cultural argument is always
one of personal convenience.
One of the most unusual aspects of this book is the use of
Catholic tradition by an Apostolic in a book title Facial Hair: A Christian Perspective. Since when does Catholic tradition have any
bearing on what shapes Christian perspective for an Apostolic preacher?
“The
Encyclopedia Britannica points out that “the clergy of the Roman obedience
shaved clean, as have done the pope for two centuries and more.”” Pg. 26
“A prominent bishop of the time had such feelings against facial hair
that he compared bearded men of the Norman-English court with “filthy goats and
bristley Saracens”” Pg. 26
“During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries bearded popes were the
subject of strange and bitter controversy.
Henry I, in an attempt to revive beards, was denounced by the bishop of
Sees so forcibly that the king and his courtiers consented to have their beards
removed in church by the bishops own shears.” Pg. 27
“The
Picture of a twelfth century prophet from a sculpture in a cathedral in
Bomberg, Germany portrays a clean-shaven fashion as was pronounced and enforced
by Pope Anacletus (1130-1138) upon “literal authority of scripture.”” Pg.
33
“Some
bishops preached the Gospel of the razor, proclaiming that the wearer of facial
hair took after goats “whose filthy lasciviousness is shamefully imitated by
fornicators and sodomites.”” Pg. 33
“The
council of Limoger that shaving provided the clergy with a necessary “distinction”
This Council ordered all clergymen within its jurisdiction to shave. The same year the Council of Bourges followed
its example” Pg. 33
“Pope
Gregory was a great enemy of facial hair. He maintained that any priest who
wore a beard was guilty of a serious crime. Reynolds notes that “in 1703 he
[Pope Gregory] called a council where a canon against priestly beards was among
the decisions made. In 1119, a council in Toulhouse went so far as to threaten
with excommunication clerics who let their hair and beards grow. Pope Alexander
III is quoted by the Catholic Encyclopedia (1907, Vol. II, p. 363) as saying “that
such priest were to be shorn forcibly, if necessary, by the archdeacon.” This was a ruling later incorporated into the
canon law along with other decrees of Pope Gregory IX.” Pg. 33-34
“In
1550 Robert Cenalis, who was the bishop of Auranches, ordained fines for
members of the chapter who failed to present themselves “freshly shaven” at a
council” Pg. 36
There are many things that could be pointed out from these
quotes, but suffice to say that Catholic councils, canons and traditions mean
nothing to true Apostolics. How often
would Gore, and many other Apostolic preachers, point to Catholic canon,
councils and/or tradition as proof that we should not do some things: Wedding
rings, baptismal formula ect... What is interesting to point out is the
similarity of the attitude of papal authority that exists between modern Apostolic
preachers and the Catholic bishops and popes of the past.
Summary
Gore goes on to list 10 items in summary:
1.
Facial
hair has at times been recognized as a sign of Manhood.
“This view has its basis in pride, to say
the least.” Pg. 38
Rarely will you find a more flawed
argument than, “it is prideful.” There
are many things that we do, both secular and religious, that always lead to
pride, yet we do not condemn. The pride
argument is a fluid and unreliable test of whether something is acceptable. In fact, it could very well be argued that an
insistence on shaving is rooted in pride.
I know people who argue that women
should not shave their legs because it is rooted in pride. Some have argued that we should not wear cologne
because it is rooted in pride. Some that
I have met have argued that preachers should not wear suit coats and neck ties
because they are rooted in pride. Do you
see how impractical and unreliable that such an argument can be?
“Are all men who do not or cannot grow a beard either because they are
light-haired, or because of their nationality (such as American Indians and
many African tribes), not true men? Will
they never reach true manhood unless they grow a beard or moustache? Of course,
our answer is a resounding no!” Pg. 38
Gore offers not proof of any Indians
who cannot grow facial hair. What he alludes
to is that American Indians many times do not grow thick, long, full beards;
however, they can hair on their face. As
far as the “light-haired” men, they too grow hair on their face, although it is
not as highly visible due to color.
Secondly, let’s assume for a moment
that there are some men who can grow no facial hair whatsoever. What would that prove? Nothing! What about women, who for whatever reason
cannot grow hair? Do we now say that the
women who can grow hair should not? We all see the
absurdity of that reasoning. Do we say
that the women who cannot grow hair are not under subjection to their head
(husbands) according to Paul’s teaching?
Of course, our answer is a resounding no!
2.
Facial
hair has often been associated with man’s strength.
“Again this view proves to be
faulty thinking. If such association had
merit, then all those participants in Greek and Roman Olympics, in order to be
noted as strong would have had a beard and mustache – but they shaved
smooth. Galatians 5:1 instructs the
believer to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.” Pg. 38
This may or may not be a valid argument for
facial hair, if this is a true representation of the actually argument that is
made. I think that it misses the point
slightly. The “manhood” argument is usually
framed in terms of “masculinity/sexual distinction” rather than “strength.” While strength varies from man to man,
masculinity and sexual distinction should not.
I will deal with this in more detail in response to, Common arguments for facial hair, 8. &
9. on page 62
Gore says that we are to be strong in the
Lord. Does this mean that we are to ONLY
be strong in the Lord? Certainly not! The scriptures praise the physical, and not
just spiritual, strength of men (Proverbs 20:29; 1 John 2:14).
3.
Facial hair has been worn because of vogue
or fashion.
“The Christian is not to follow
after the world, nor be “conformed to the world” (fit its mold or fashions)…”
See 5.
4.
Facial
hair is of no use except for self-ornamentation.
Another absurd, unsubstantiated claim made
by Gore.
·
Beards do keep you warmer in the winter.[1]
·
Beards serve as an external sign of masculine
sexual distinction. Beards, even more
than short hair which women can easily mimic, is the best external sign of a masculinity. It is the rare occasion that a woman
naturally grows a beard. This alone is a
significant practical reason to have a beard.
The beard reflects the masculine image of God in which man was created.
Secondly: Gore would have to prove
that ornamentation is wrong for this argument to have any validity.
5.
Popular
figures and leaders of society usually set the fashion in facial hair.
“Again,
God’s people are not to follow the world in all its fashions, whether set forth
by its leaders or their own acquaintances.” Pg. 39
Gore sets
himself up here for a major contradiction.
He is arguing that we should not follow society’s leaders in setting our
fashions, and then turns around in the next chapter (chapter 3) and uses the
leaders of society and popular figures as reasons we should not have facial hair.
“It might be helpful to look at facial hair in the secular business
world. In the fast-paced business society that we live in, image is a most
precious thing. Along with a good name
and reputation, an honest, profession and clean image is very important to the
businessman. Owners and managers often
feel that facial hair is unprofessional and lacks the clean image desired. Many large corporations will not even hire
people that have a moustache or beard.
The vast majority of the professional businessmen are clean-shaven. For example, take notice of CEO’s,
politicians, those on the Supreme Court, school teachers and principals, nice
fast food restaurants, grocery stores, amusement parks, the armed forces and
even the faces of various Presidents of the United States that are clean
shaven. Those in a position of
representation of someone or some business will usually be clean shaven. Those who work in sales are usually clean
shaven because they know it helps to produce the right image of cleanliness,
honesty, openness, and integrity. While all
clean shaven men are not paragons of righteousness, should not the Christian
man be just as concerned with cleanliness, looking honest, and presenting a positive
witness and image in the eyes of others.” Pg. 45-46
So, in one chapter he decries following
the fashions of the world’s leaders, and in the next chapter demands
that we assimilate and comply with their rules and trends in order that we can be
accepted and trusted by them. Curious indeed!
There are so many flawed principles
in the above quote that I don’t know where to start. Gore’s whole premise in the previous quote is
becoming increasingly untrue. Every time
you go to town you are going to see numerous men with some form of facial
hair. Many of them are neatly groomed
and in no way reflect a dishonest and unsavory individual. I will deal with this idea more at a later
point in the book.
I will deal with point 6-12 in blog A Response to Facial Hair: A Christian Perspective by Chancy Gore Part 4 (Chapter 2b)
I will deal with point 6-12 in blog A Response to Facial Hair: A Christian Perspective by Chancy Gore Part 4 (Chapter 2b)
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