Identity

There is nothing inherently wrong with long hair on men, tattoos, or piercings. That is quite an opening line, considering I don't necessarily care for any of them. I try not to look down on anyone that has them, but I wouldn't recommend any of them either. I have many friends that I love dearly, that have tattoos and piercings. I had my own ears pierced three times, many years ago. The long hair on men I mentioned because I used to have shoulder length hair, with a small ponytail, before I got saved. It seemed to bother a lot of people, older people anyway.

The reason I bring all this up, is because I was talking to a friend of mine today that has hair almost all the way down his back. Every time I see him, I kid him about getting it cut. The truth is, I don't care how long his hair is. I'm concerned about the fact that he CAN'T get it cut. It's become who he is. He's afraid he won't really be himself if he cuts his hair. To me, that's a little scary. I've talked to men who wouldn't shave their beards off if their life depended on it. It had become such a part of their identity that they couldn't even THINK of parting with it. It's this kind of thinking that might keep us from being able to give up things we don't need, so we can further the ministry God has given us.

I fell into that trap years ago. I said I would NEVER shave my beard. Then, I suddenly felt very vain. Since then, I grow it, shave it off, whatever feels right at the time. It's the same with the hair on my head. I am determined not to let ANY part of me become my only identity. It's the same with tattoos, piercings, whatever. I am more than one part of me. God created me to be an example of Himself. No one part of me, whether in my body, or my life, is more important than God. My identity is in Jesus Christ. Not in me.