“Yes I did” I answered
“So what you think of that?” She
asked. I knew that she was probing me for a biblical answer to this problem. So I began, “If there is a problem with his
request than maybe they should leave the church. If they feel that his
requirement is greater than their love for God, then turn from God. There are a
number of things they can do, but though he may be dealing with some control
issues, but I don’t think he is out of line in setting a standard for the
congregation.” I base my answer on two points,
the first of which is my personal pet peeve
1.
We
are called to give God our very best
We live in a world
that has lost its Christian worldview, even many churches have lost the power that
come in celebration of works. Now I’m not talking about being saved by works, I
saying because I am saved I bring forth fruit that is worthy of that salvation.
Let me expand on this for a minute.
I remember a time
when everyone had three sets of clothes, play clothes, school clothes and
church clothes. And you better believe that best of them were your church
clothes. Today there are many churches that say it does not matter how you come
to church, just as long as you come to church. Now there is some merit in that
mindset, but there is just as much flaw in that mindset as well.
Every Sunday I see
congregations filled will people that wear blue jeans, t-shirts and flip-flops
to church yet these same people wear suits and ties to work. How is it that they
give their boss their very best, but their savior they give rags? I was brought up to always give God our very
best. In fact scripture requires us to
give our very best. Consider
these two passages together;
Romans 12:1 says, "I beseech you
therefore, brethern, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God which is your reasonable
service."
Now some biblical history.
Under the Old Testament some of the Jews were not offering their best to God and because of this the prophet said their actions was evil.
Under the Old Testament some of the Jews were not offering their best to God and because of this the prophet said their actions was evil.
Malachi 1:8, "And when you
offer the blind as a sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and
sick, is it not evil?"
Under the New Testament we do not offer animal sacrifices
as the Jews did under the Old Testament; but we give Him our lives in service
to Him as a living sacrifice. In doing this we must give Him our all. Anything
we do for God must be our very best. Jesus tells us in Matthew 22:37, "You shall love
the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your mind." All our heart,
soul, and mind, or in other words, our total being must be in our worship
not just to whoop and holler hallelujah on Sunday that’s worship. But our
worship is also how we carry ourselves before others. The Bible says so that they can see our light
and glorify God.
For so many of us we think that coming to God is something
we add to our lives, We think that if we
don’t party and cheat on our wives than we are saved.
But God did not call us to add the gospel to our lives, he
called us to give up our lives for the gospel. We are a peculiar people set
apart for His glory and God wants every part of us. Every one of us that call the name of Jesus
remains in His presence (Psalm 139:8) Therefore just
as we all get dressed in the
presence of God, we must get dressed for
the presence of God.
2.
The
Pastor is set as head of the local body, and God speaks to the head concerning
the good will of the body.
This one will cause some problems because it has been abused
so much in the past. However, if these members believe that God has called them
to the church, and that their pastor is truly a man of God, then they should
willing fall under subjection of the pastor concerning this issue? We don’t
know how this revelation of the Pastor may bless the church members either individually
or corporately. Now let’s address a
problem that Timothy had with his congregation and how the Apostle advised him
on meeting a solution.
In like manner also,
that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and
sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But
(which becometh women professing godliness) with good works 1 Timothy 2:9-10
At first it appears
that Paul is writing to Timothy concern what women should wear, their clothes,
that they should never teach or preach and that they should remain silent. Many
people say that Paul has written his own commandments concerning women. Some
say this is proof that the bible is sexes.
However, what Paul
was doing was giving advice to Timothy about how to stop a practice that was
causing confusion within the church.
a.
One there were women that were wearing elaborate
hair styles, excessive gold, and making the service nothing more than a fashion
competition.
b.
Because of this the church had become a place where
gossip was abounding even the (female) leaders of the church were partaking in
these practices.
In Roman living today which addresses the time when the Apostle Paul was writing to young
Timothy we have historic proof that this was taking place. The magazine writes of the first century
women;
Rome’s
wealthy women spent many hours having their hair dressed…Because the Romans
were superstitious they only washed their hair once a year on the Goddess Diana’s
birthday. Talk about high maintenance! Many of the women fashioned their hair
with curls arranged on crescent shaped wire frames then curled or braded them
in the back (follow lnk)
Now let’s not forget where we started, Pastor
Aamir has seen something happening in his congregation that bother him. Something
that he felt was hindering the congregation from reaching their full potential
in Christ. And it was this thing that caused him to require a higher standard (ban
on weaves) not for the congregation, but for the leaders of the church. Pastor Aamir even said he know that he cannot
require anyone to follow this requirement, but ask they do this in order to be
set free from the need to wear weaves.
His reasoning is that in a congregation that is struggling financially with
paying their bills it is both a foolish act, and poor stewardship of the
blessings of God to spend large sums of money on what you can just as perfectly
do for free.
My wife would never wear a weave she prepares her hair every night
before bed and her hair would put most of the weave I’ve seen to shame. Listen I
am not in agreement with this pastor nor condemnation because I don’t know the
specifics but.....
Let us that are not a part of that church assume we know anything about that church.
Your Brother in Christ
T.Charves FireSpeaks