My Reward For Long Hair
By: Carol James
The Amplified Bible states in Romans 6:22 ” Now since you … have been set free from sin and have become the slaves of God, you have your present reward in holiness and its end is eternal life.”
I have recently read several articles about First Corinthians and the Apostle Paul’s discourse on hair. Most of what I read is authored by men. Therefore as a woman, I would like to make some observations.A new convert made this statement when we discussed long hair, “Often when I became angry with my husband I would cut my hair, for I knew he liked me in long hair.” Now this woman’s husband was not familiar with the Apostle Paul’s teaching, nor was the woman. He just simply liked long hair on his wife, and the woman, when angry, would choose not to please him by not honoring his preference.
What would we call that action? It seems that the Apostle Paul’s teaching on this subject is fairly simple to understand. He is talking about authority, submission and honor. This is a concept that is not acceptable to some, but the scriptures are very clear. “Wives, Submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and He is the savior of the body” (Ephesians 5:22,23).
My uncut, long, hair is the visible sign of my submission to the authority in my life. For me that authority is my husband. For some women it may be their father. For all of us, our pastor also is an authority.
Do I always like my hair long? No. Do I understand why my hair is thesymbol of submission? No. The choice and preference of uncut orcut hair is mine to make. By my choice I honor or dishonor the authority in my life. This choice signifies either submission or rebellion rather than freedom versus bondage.
My uncut, long hair is part of my identification. It is a distinguishing mark when I walk in this world. It is the visible that speaks when I cannot.
A young married couple was experiencing problems and the wife said to her husband, “We’ve got to find a Church!” He was a young man who knew just a little about holiness, and somehow identified it with long hair on women. He started looking and noticed that one of the women employees in his office had long hair. He asked her, “Where do you go to church?’ Her response was immediate and accompanied with an invitation for his family to visit the church. In just a few weeks the young Couple had found the answers for their lives at a Pentecostal altar. What directed them? A Pentecostal woman’s long, uncut hair.
Every time I comb my hair I must remember that I have chosen to put
myself under the protection and authority of my husband. Therefore, I also place myself under the protection and authority of Jesus Christ. No matter were I am, others can also recognize this. I can lift my hands in worship without condemnation or feelings of rebellion towards the authorities in my life.
What about the woman whose husband, pastor or father does not agree with I Corinthians 11? Can she disregard what the Word says? No. The unbelief of her husband, pastor or father does not negate the instruction of God’s Word. Her choice to adhere to the teaching of the scripture still signifies her submission to the ultimate authority in her life – Jesus Christ and His Word. In doing this she honors her husband.
I want to recognize the protection of the authorities in my life as a present reward in holiness. My choice must not be considered as bondage. I am not forced to be holy, but rather I have been given the opportunity to identify myself with holiness! And the end reward of holiness is eternal life!
And dear Pentecostal ladies, let us always guard our spirits so they will be in agreement with that visible symbol of submission, our long, uncut hair. A submissive spirit is a gift of great value that you give to the authorities in your life.
The Above Material Was Published In The Wisconsin District News By Carol James. This Material Is Copyrighted And May Be Used For Study And Research Purposes Only.
