" A COMMON QUESTION TO PENTECOSTAL WOMEN"

Good Evening to All!

I have been asked several time by ladies of different faiths why we Pentecostal ladies don't believe in cutting our hair, or wearing pants or jewelry.  I am only going to go into detail today about the "hair".  

Please understand that this is NOT a post of Judgment.  Anytime I post things like this, it is meant as food for thought.  Something to get your mind going and interested in looking up scriptures. 

Many years ago, many people thought of the Pentecostal Faith as a "cult".  They thought of it this way because we are quite different than the "main stream" religion.  We are much more strict, taking God's Word for what it says and not leaving it up to "our interpretation, such as Jesus NEVER requests that we do anything.  He ALWAYS states it as a command.  You NEVER see, "will you please".... it is ALWAYS do this or that.  He comes right out and tells us "if you LOVE ME, you will KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS.   Anyway, the Bible tells us to "come out from among the world and be ye separate.  We do this by keeping His holiness standards in the way we act, what we wear, how we wear our hair, places we go and so forth.  If what we "want" to do does not line up with the Word of God, then we are not to do it.  OK, sorry.  I didn't mean to get on my soap box and start a "rabbit trail".  I just am so avid about wanting people to be more than "arm chair" or "pew sitting" Christians.  The time is drawing nigh for Jesus' return, and I am trying to do my part as a Christian to help others get a hunger for His Word and actually heed it.  Not just read or listen to it, but actually put it into practice.  

Well, this being said, I guess I had better get on with my original thought for this post.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed sharing it with you.  

I love reading the Bible, but I enjoy it even more if I have a specific subject in mind. 

I was given a tract a while back which explained why we as Pentecostal ladies do not believe in cutting our hair.   It is completely scriptural, and here is the explanation.   
 

For Ladies Only, (but Men may want to share it with their special ladies as well).

"But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her:  for her hair is given her for a covering"(1 Corinthians 11:15).  (Read the entire text of 
1 Corinthians 11:1-16.)

Pentecostal women and girls, mothers and daughters:  you have a unique opportunity to witness for Christ and Christianity in the world today. The wearing of long hair is of importance, not only to you, but to the Christian church as well, because of the attachment to order and subjection.  There is no substitute for obedience, now or ever.

Consider carefully:  A woman who has long hair has a "mark of distinction" that is GOD-GIVEN, and which the Bible says "is a glory (honor) to her."

There are three reasons why women should not cut their hair.  They should have long hair because it is commanded in...

THE BIBLE

1 Corinthians 11:15 declares  three facts that cannot be denied: 

(1)  Women have long hair.
(2)  Women are given long hair.
(3)  Women's long hair is for a purpose (a covering).

We are living in a day and age when people recon and reason without regard to God or His Word.  It is a time when reckless men, so-called realists, do not hesitate to express thoughts and opinions that are contrary to the Bible. But the mere bold expression of these ideas does not make them right.  Although times and customs of the world may change, God and His Word remain the same.  Christians of all ages must always respect and obey the Bible. 

It is therefore RIGHT that women should have long hair today, just as it has always been right in God's sight, for it signifies two things:

(1)  Long hair is a sign of subjection (1 Corinthians 11:3).

(2)  Long hair is a sign of femininity  (1 Corinthians 11:7)

This is true Scripturally in the church, and herein is a glorious way for Christian women to witness to all of the Bible order and subjection.  Indeed, because of the attention now focused on hair-styling, obedience to
God's Word affords this beautifully way for women believers to let their lights shine.  The Bible is clear on this subject;  women should have long hair. 

Then, too, women should have long hair because of...

THE ANGELS

Please consider the interesting statement made in 1 Corinthians 11:10, ". . . because of the angels."  The word "power" signifies that the woman is subject to the man, that is, she is to be obedient.  This is made known by the fact that her head is covered with long hair.  Paul says that we see it, and know it, but he affirms that we are not the  only ones who discern these things.

The connecting line of thought implies  that the angels also see and know these same things.  The following Scripture references are revealing and enlightening in regard to this truth:

"For we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men"  (1 Corinthians 4:9).  

"Suffer not thy mouth to cause they flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error"  Ecclesiastes 5:6).  ''angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them"  (Psalm 34:7). 

"I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels"  
(1 Timothy 5:21).
 
"Are they (angels) not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?"  (Hebrews 1:14). 

Therefore, consider this:  It is clear from the foregoing verses that angels are invisibly present about us always.
 
Paul's writing "because of the angels" (verse 10) proves without doubt, that the subjects of women, long hair, and angels are connected with the subjects of obedience, example, and testimony.  No Christian can lightly disregard his statement, " because of the angels."

There seems  to be only one cause  for angels to fall from their high estate, and that is by rebellion.  Thus angels, who are always present about us, would see the short hair of women as a sign of rebellion, rather than subject on their part.  In essence, because of regard and respect for the angels, women should have long hair. 

The fact that women should have long hair is also taught by...

NATURE

"Doth not even nature itself teach you?"  (verse 14).  Does not nature teach that it is a shame for a man to have long hair?  And for a woman to have short hair?  The answer to both questions is "YES" 

Women in the past have acknowledged their disobedience in cutting their hair, and, in repentance, and have told of their shame.  Even women of the world have been known to shed tears and acknowledge their shame after they had their hair cut.  Thus, nature itself shames this lack of modesty, and this disobedience.

The laws of nature are the laws of God, and should be obeyed.  One’s will ought to be in accord with nature.  Nature certainly teaches that it is proper for women to have long hair; it is certainly not so with men.  It is very feminine for a woman to have long hair; it is masculine for her to have short hair.

Nature and the Bible say the same things. Throughout the Bible it is stressed that men and women are different.  A man is not like a woman; a woman is not like a man.  It is a SIN for women to try to appear like a man; and likewise, it is a SIN for a man to appear like a woman.  God has made the man to have one place, and the woman to have a different place (1 Corinthians 11:8, 9).  It will serve us well to read again the command given in Deuteronomy 22:5, “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a women’s garment:  for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.”

All these things tell us that it is wrong for women to appear masculine, and that it is equally wrong for men to appear effeminate.  In the New Testament, the sin of being effeminate is named as one of the sins that will prevent men from inheriting the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9, 10).

The Bible, the Angels, and Nature itself agree that women should have long hair.

IN CONCLUSION

All true Christians love Christ for what He has done for them.  They will honor His name and His Word by the way they live daily.  Bible Christians not only say they are Christians; they live like they are Christians.  Let us all be careful that our loyalty is to Christ, and not to opinions, ideas, and customs established by worldly men.

Pentecostal women and girls:  remember that you have received a GOD-GIVEN mark of distinction.  Long hair is an honor b bestowed upon women,  and is to be appreciated by them.  Be true to this trust that enhances the beauty of womanhood.

God bless the women who respect and obey the Word of God concerning this and all matters pertaining to godliness.

TRACT NO. 107
PENTECOSTAL PUBLISHING HOUSE

I hope this has helped the question as to why we do not cut our hair.  My personal feeling is that if I cannot hold up to His commandments that are easy to abide by such as how to dress, or build my character, then how will I handle it when true adversity comes along such as the Antichrist or mark of the beast?  Will I be able to stand my ground and not give in to the temptation of accepting the mark of the beast to be able to buy and sell things, or will I hold my standards high and keep strong in my faith and know that I will enter the Kingdom of God ONLY if I stand AGAINST the temptations of Satan and the Antichrist.  These things today are simple compared to what they are going to be, so we might as well get accustomed to denying our fleshly desires so that we will be able to enjoy Eternity with God in the future.

Also, I would like to affirm that what I have spoke about in this post, while it is brought about through a Pentecostal tract, and "faith", it is really meant for ALL.  The Bible does not distinguish different beliefs for different faiths, and everything I have stated is backed up by scripture.  Therefore this is for All women in GENERAL.  The Bible does not state Pentecostal women wear long hair  and this type of dress, Baptist wear medium length hair and this other type of dress and so forth.  Everything in the Bible is meant for ALL who WANT to follow Christ and His Word.  

I hope you found this interesting, and will be interested enough to dig a little deeper into other aspects of God's Word and His commandments.  

I hope Everyone has a BLESSED DAY!