Walk With Me
Christian discussion of biblical topics, and a dose of daily application. Yes the Bible is still relevant, and we find out more and more each day how relevant it has always been.
Walk With Me
Hair and Holiness: Truly a Hairy Subject
Hello everybody, welcome to today's episode of Walk With Me. I am your host, jj. It's so good to have each and every one of you who are still here, every one of you who are new here and every one of you who come back every single week for another episode. I really do love and appreciate you all. I thank you for your tenacity and faithfulness. I thank you for your tenacity, faithfulness. I thank you for listening to this podcast, because you could be listening to any other podcast, but you've chosen to listen to this one, and I'll tell you right now.
Speaker 1:If you've noticed that my voice has changed, it has. Basically, what's happening is right now we're doing a revival. I guess after preaching 30 or 40 minutes or something like that, your voice tends to get a little deeper, but that's okay. We're all here and I cannot allow one week to go without another episode, because God will just kind of look at me strange Like ain't you got something to do today? Yes, sir, yes, lord, I do. So. We are here and I'm here for you and I'm here for God, and I'm really thankful. Again, like I said, you guys can be listening to any other podcast. There are thousands upon thousands of podcasts out there. There are even podcasts with the same name as this, but I don't care, just the fact that you took a moment to listen to this one, I really really do appreciate it. Thank you all so much. Thank you for your sponsors, true Varsity Lyricists, and thank you all. And I hear he has a new beat production situation set up, so give him a look at it. If you are an aspiring artist, christian artist or any artist, give him a look, give him a shout, see what he can do for you.
Speaker 1:It's True Bars T-R-U-B-A-R-Z. True Bars, all one word. I think it's capital T and capital B. Make sure you get it right. Thank you so much for exquisite creations.
Speaker 1:Right now we are, we are in the creation of building, now of what's called iron gate ministries. God has been blessing us, blessing us, blessing us. And if you want to know the story about iron gate minist, you gotta read about when Peter went to prison in the book of Acts. And no, I have not gone to prison, I have not, but we are all. When we're in the world, we're all in some sort of prison, right, and it's Jesus that set us free. So that was the inspiration behind that. So I'm glad to have each and every one of you. Thank you all. Thank you all. Thank you Now.
Speaker 1:Here's a disclaimer. Now, anytime somebody starts getting a disclaimer, people's kind of antennas go up, and this is no exception. But this may be your last episode of listening to Walk With Me. I know I've kind of hinted at that before. But this may be your last episode of listening to Walker. I know I've kind of hinted at that before, but this may be your last episode not my last episode, not our last episode, but maybe yours.
Speaker 1:And the reason why is because we are going to talk about a very sensitive subject. Today. We're still talking about holiness and we are talking about holiness in a greater phrase, a greater picture of denominationalism, and we've somehow wandered over into holiness and what holiness standards are. And it generally tends to raise eyebrows when we talk about holiness standards and people tend to get argumentative about it. Well, my grandma didn't teach me that or my granddad didn't teach me that, but, um, it doesn't matter what your grandma or my grandma, your uncle and my uncle, you know. Like I said before, I've come from the long line of preachers and no one ever taught me this. But it is here in the Bible and we will talk about it today.
Speaker 1:And what we will talk about today is care. Yes, god cares about care. He does, why, listen? All I can say is, from a layman's point of view, that god cares about care because he created him. And I listen, I, when I, when we get to heaven, we can ask god why hair is so important, but so important was that he laid into paul and then Paul laid into the church of Corinth. So we're going to read about that today and we're going to look at some reasonings behind it that I can figure out and remember. Anything I give you guys is going to be just a small chasm of what God really intended, right? So let's look at 1 Corinthians 11. Let's get right into it, because we have a lot to cover today and very little time.
Speaker 1:Oh and, by the way, before we get started, happy New Year everybody. Happy New Year. We got through 2024, did we not? And God is still good and gracious to us, and 2025 is going to be one serious ride. I heard before we get into that, I heard someone saying about. I recently found out yesterday that there was like four different volcanic eruptions going on, and that's unusual. Like four different volcanic eruptions going on and that's unusual now. So, and that means that god's doing, getting ready to do something. I believe that, uh, bible talks about a time when every mountain and island will be moved out of place. I don't know if this is it. All I can do is keep living for god and keep showing the way I'm trying to get to heaven, and I hope you walk with me to get there.
Speaker 1:All right, so let's get to first corinthians 11. Now again, y'all know me and this new living translation thing. We got a thing. Now it's a thing. It's a thing I love. I love love the King James Version because it doesn't sugarcoat anything. But that's also the reason why I love New Living Translation it does not sugarcoat anything. Alright, so we're going to go to 1 Corinthians 11, verse 2 through 16.
Speaker 1:Now, if you have finished this podcast any length of time, there are rules here. There are rules First, the rule is if you have any questions, go ahead and email us at walkwithmebiblestudyatgmailcom, walkwithmebiblestudyatgmail. And the second rule is, if we go through a scripture give out a single scripture or a group of scriptures always read a verse up to above it versus to below it, but preferably the whole chapter because context is key. All right, so without no further ado, let's get into it. 1 Corinthians 11, 2-16. And it reads In the new living I am so glad that you always keep me in your thoughts, that you are following the teachings that I passed on to you. Which means Paul is saying here I didn't just create this out of thin air. I'm passing it on because that's what I was given.
Speaker 1:But there is one thing I want you to know the head of every man is Christ, the head of every woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. A man dishonors his head. He covers his head while praying or prophesying. But a woman dishonors her head if she prays or prophesies without a covering on it. Wait a minute. You're saying a woman can prophesy. Yes, a woman can prophesy. A woman can preach. It does not say here that a woman is a pastor.
Speaker 1:Now, let's move on, because I don't want to get off in the weeds on that. We will talk about that again, because I did get some more questions about that. But that prophesying is preaching or teaching. Okay, for this is the same as shaving her head. Yes, if she refused to wear a head covering, she should cut off all her hair. But since it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or her head shaved, she should wear a covering. Now, don't misconstrue that to mean covering like a habit or you know something, just like a piece of cloth on her head. We'll get back to that in a moment. Stay with me here. A man should not wear we're in verse 7 now a man should not wear anything on his head when worshiping, for a man is made in God's name and reflects God's glory, and a woman reflects man's glory.
Speaker 1:Now, I know that to some of the modern people this may sound misogynistic, but I need you to just be with it, because it will make itself a little plainer later. And this is why it's very important not to take things out of context. Verse 8, for man did not come from woman. The first man did not come from woman, but first woman came from man, which is correct. God made Adam, but then, to make Eve, he took Adam's rib. So that is correct, right, let's keep going. And man was not made for woman, but woman was made for man. This is also while today we'll call this misogynistic. This is also very true. This is also while today we'll call this misogynistic. This is also very true. God didn't make Eve until Adam said hey, how come I don't have a companion, like all the other animals have a companion. Right, let's continue.
Speaker 1:For this reason, and because the angels are watching, a woman should wear a covering on her head to show she is under authority. A covering on her head to show she is under authority. Now, that's where I just lost about 90% of our female leadership, our listenership here. A lot of women today do not want to be under authority of men, and I might have lost about 50% of male listeners too, because males nowadays we don't want to lead anymore, and we're going to talk about that because of this right here. Verse 11 but among the lord's people, women, among the lord's people, not the world's people. Among the lord's people, women are not independent of men and men are not independent of women. So that is to say, we men need women and women also need men. We need each other.
Speaker 1:There's this whole movement ongoing for the last four or five years now. It really started a long time ago, but it's really come to a head now, to where we've gotten, to the situation where we think men don't need women. I don't need you because you are not peaceful, you're destructive or whatever? Have you and women are going around saying we don't need men, you're destructive or whatever? Have you? And women are going around saying we don't need men because you're broke and you're abusive. So we've allowed our sin to destroy that bond that God had created and it's supposed to still be among our people. One of the things that really bothered me is how many people in church right now are living in some sort of domestic partnership or domestic relationship and they abuse each other. I know that's not the subject of today's podcast, but it bears saying. We are not to be doing that because we the Bible lays it out in several different places, and especially here Men listen, we need you, ladies, and you, ladies, you need us men. That is the only way. That is the only way it works.
Speaker 1:The most miserable people you will see in your life are the people who walk around saying they don't need you. Of course, they're on social media and they're saying oh, you know, look at my life. I don't have a man, I get up at 11 o'clock, I go to bed at 2.30. And these men out here talking about yeah, I don't have a man, I get up at 11 o'clock, I go to bed at 2.30. And these men out here talking about yeah, I don't have a woman. And guess what? I've got no argument. I've got to play on my game all day. The reason why they're telling you all that is because, inwardly, they are miserable.
Speaker 1:God made us to be dependent on each other. That's why God this is the biggest revelation. That's why God didn't make Eve out of the ground. If God had intended for male and female to be independent of each other, he would have made Eve out of the dust of the ground. It's like he made Adam, but he did not. He formed Eve out of the rib of Adam. That's not the subject today. We're going to keep going. Maybe we'll come back to that, verse 12. Although the first woman came from man and every other man was born of a woman and everything comes from god, judge for yourselves. Wait a minute. I thought we're not supposed to judge, okay, yeah, let's not revisit that horse. Judge for yourself.
Speaker 1:Is it right for a woman to pray to god in public without covering her head? Isn't it obvious that it's disgraceful for males to have long hair, for a male to have long hair? And isn't long hair a woman's pride and joy Because it has been given to her for her covering. Remember we talked about in verse 6 that it wasn't a veil or it wasn't a piece of cloth that was recovering his hair. This is why God made it so that men's hair typically does not grow as long as female hair, and I've always wondered that. And, to be honest, dear, if you are a male listening to this podcast, I'll, and I want you to be, I'll, and I want you to be honest here. I want you to be honest with yourself and if you're listening to yourself, you could actually say it out loud. Tell me, or be honest with me you are. If you had the choice between a woman with short hair and a woman with long hair, and everything else being equal, wouldn't you take the woman with long hair and the woman with long hair and everything else being equal, wouldn't you take the woman with long hair? I mean it doesn't.
Speaker 1:I'm not saying we're going to leave all of the stuff out. We're not talking about weed or anything. We're talking about long hair, right? Why? Because God wired us this way. That's the way he did it, and don't ask me why. That's the way he did it. And don't ask me why. That's something we have to ask God when we get up there. But this is why.
Speaker 1:And then here's the thing, verse 16. 16 is where, if I didn't lose anyone up to this point, I'm going to lose you here, verse 16. For if anyone wants to argue about this, I simply say we have no other custom than this, and neither do God's other churches. And now this is about the only time that the King James Version said it a little bit better. And basically, in King James Version it says but if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom. In other words, we don't have custom of cutting hair, we don't have custom of having men with long hair, neither do the churches of God. Now I just I think in verse 16, he was saying something about I don't. I don't understand, you know why people just don't accept the faith of God. And this was where we have to go back and summarize all of this stuff, just to kind of get the anger out of our flesh.
Speaker 1:So, 1 Corinthians 11, it teaches us a couple of things. First, it teaches us to be uniform, in other words, not saying that we're not unique, that you know. God made each and every one of us the way he wanted us to make it. But make us. But uniformity means a male is a male, a female is the female. This is, we have some basic definitions that we are to adhere to. We also have to worry about obedience to heaven's order. God is a God of order. God is not a God of chaos, which is why you will see that a lot of people are trying to stray from these teachings. And let's again. Let's sit down and be honest with ourselves. There's something chaotic about people who are not following. We got whole entire church buildings full of chaos because they're not following these teachings and, whether you like it or not, it's just, it's true.
Speaker 1:And also these verses talk about headship, order, submission, honor, unity with the observers of angel, and how disgraceful it is for a man to have long hair. Now, jj, I know what about having a long beard. Well, is a beard not hair? Now, listen, I'm telling you, I have a work ID from my current workplace right now, but I have this, this big, long beard. It literally counts like a third um butt of my shirt. Um, but I said long hair, and that kind of is a beard hair, but I had to cut it off and it's disgraceful for a woman to cut her hair.
Speaker 1:And if anybody really wants to argue about it, well, the only thing we can really say is this is what the word of God says. You can take it or leave it. And you know and I hate the sound this way because it sort of comes off rough when I say it Listen, you can take it or you can leave it. You could obey it or you could just ignore it, but we have to understand that Paul did not spend his time making these points, talking about the power of care and how to keep it and what the purpose of it was. If God didn't make it important to Paul If it wasn't important, paul wouldn't have had it written down. There are some things that we argue about Paul's teachings a lot. Now, there are some things that we argue about Paul's teachings a lot, but either God was talking to Paul or God wasn't. And if you say that God wasn't talking to Paul, then we are getting very close to what we call a class of heresy. And if you're serious about being right with God and trust me, I am, and the reason why we have this whole podcast is about being right with God, then we've got to be serious about the entire thing, even the parts that we don't necessarily like.
Speaker 1:You're literally listening to a guy who not only had that long beard I had my long hair was a pride, so I, I had I, my long hair was a pride of God. I literally had a braid, a big braid in the back of my head that came down to my shoulder. That was my thing. I loved my hair, but it's what God said. It was disgraceful, so I had to get rid of it. Of course, god took me through the military first and God had taken off that way.
Speaker 1:But this is the thing. This is right here in the Word of God, and I know some of you are looking at your brothers and your cousins. You know they've got locks, or you've got friends with long blonde hair or with a little string in the back. Listen, I get it. I get it, I understand. However, this is what the Bible says. I had locks too, at one point, even after the military, when I backstabbed, I threw locks. Now, that right there is to tell you something when I backstabbed, I threw locks. Now, does that mean that people who have locks are wrong here or are evil people? No, I'm not saying that at all. Maybe they just don't know about 1 Corinthians, chapter 11.
Speaker 1:A lot of people don't teach this. We want to skip over it. You know why? For the very same reason that I outlined when we opened this podcast. It turns people off, but at some point I have to. When I sat down to do this podcast, I said, well, what's more important? Turning people off or helping us get right, or putting us on the path? Turning people off or getting us on the path? Turning people off for getting us on the path for God. Now there are other teachings on holiness, and I'm just going to touch on one, because it's also something that's dear to me that I have to repent of Tattoos.
Speaker 1:There's's only one real scripture on tattoos it sort of alludes it to other places, but one real scripture on tattoos in Leviticus 19-28. And again, I'm going to stay in the New Living Translation Never cut your body through mourning for the dead or mark your skin with tattoos, for I am the Lord. Now I've had people argue with me that that doesn't mean what it just said. That doesn't mean you can't have tattoos. It only means you can't have tattoos for dead people. Well, what's the difference? And listen, and the reason why I said that this is dear to me. I have several. I have several. I started getting tattoos when I was in the military and then when I, when I backslid, I I, when I backlit, I really went full backslide and I got my full back up.
Speaker 1:But that's where the whole come as you are comes into play, because when you come to God or, in my case, come back to God, you come as you are. You're not condemned because you did this thing. You're condemned if you don't make it back to repentance, if you don't say hey, god, you know what. I went out, I did this thing, I did these things, I lived this life for a while. I heard you calling me, but I ignored you. But I'm back now and I realized that living in the world was not what it was all cracked up for.
Speaker 1:But I'm here now, god, and I'm sorry that you have to take this huge broken up piece of the whole husk of a person now and Jesus says that's okay, I died for you anyway. And he takes me back. He's saying you're on drugs right now. He died for you. You're living in situationships in the old times. He died for you. You're living in situationships creating soul times. You keep dying, you're emotionally abusive, you don't know why. That's why God died for us. That's why and it's hard, it's hard, it's hard, it's hard to battle that type of love and we don't have that type of love in each other.
Speaker 1:Right like we quick cut people off. Hey, man, don't uh, don't mess around with our team. They come in mess. Your friend messes with power tools, break them up, peel a couple of them, do dumb stuff with it, and then you come back and you say, hey, wait a minute. I know I'm sorry, I did these things to your power tools and we were ready to cut them off. We're ready to say, well, you ain't my friend, no more. You borrowed money from me and you don't want to pay it back. You ain't none of my friends, no more. It's just how wonderful, it's amazing. God really is right.
Speaker 1:Listen, I know we're probably a little bit over time, but I just wanted to get through that. We'll talk more about holiness if you come back next week. I hope you will, I hope God helps you back. But we have some other things that, if you made it through this episode, a couple more episodes. You may not make it through as far as listening, but listen, it doesn't matter that you do these things now. It matters that, once you've heard it, that you make a decision to keep walking with God, because this is what it's about. It's not about coming as you are. It's about staying as you are. About staying as you are, about coming as you are. I know that sounds contradictory, but I want you to think about that for a moment. God made this way for us to not be lost. That's what it's about not being lost, and sometimes we all come from different paths. We all come from different paths, but we have to be striving for one future, one goal. All right, that's what this is about. This ain't about JJ Lord or anything over you. I tell you all the time. I'm not your pastor. All I'm telling you is what the Bible said. I, my friends, did not write this, and some of it shapes me too. Again, we just talked about the tattoo. Some of it shapes me, but this is what it says me too. Again, we just talked about the tattoo. Some of it chases me, but this is what it says.
Speaker 1:Alright, I love each and every one of you. I love each and every one of you and I'm glad you're listening, I'm glad you shared it. I'm glad, with some of the conversations we've had in the hip hop, I might end up you guys creating a social media group, maybe a Facebook group or something, just so we could respond in real time. But I just don't want it to be vitriolic. This is about loving God and loving each other. Some of you have asked do you have a website? Just keep towards me, okay, I don't want you attacking anyone else in the group, but that's why I have kind of drug my feet on it. I love each and every one of you.
Speaker 1:I hope and pray that you guys have a very prosperous new year, that you reach new heights in your relationship with God. Pray that you guys have a very prosperous new year, that you reach new heights in your relationship with God. That God heals you, heals each and every one of you. We all have things that we need to be healed, whether it's mental or physical or financial. I'm praying for all of that with each and every one of you. Thank you all so much for listening and hope. Again, I see you guys next week. Love you, oh and, by the way, by the way. By the way, tell somebody else that God loves you too. Yeah, even though you might be upset about what you just heard, god still loves you. He's still the best way forward. Alright, love each and every one of you. Have a great new year.