As a Bible believing Christian can I fashion beard and my hair in modern fashion?

I have received following Whatsapp messages

and video (https://www.facebook.com/paradiseforyou2/videos/449083571917459/) where Biblical passages are used to encourage Christian believers not to indulge in fashioned hair or beard styles. Passages usually quoted are Lev 19:27, 28 & II Sam 10:4,5. I would like to give my response through exegesis of these passages. Let us Examine the verses one after another.

1) Lev 19:27, 28:

Chapter 19 of Leviticus is a chapter where different laws were given for the Israelites. It cuts across different areas and gives laws on various aspects.

It is in this context we come to Lev 19:27, 28 where we see these two verses.

²⁷ “‘Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.

²⁸ “‘Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.

(to read whole chapter follow the following link https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%2019)

When we read v 26 onward we should understand the writer is giving God’s law as against certain non-Jewish practices like not eating meat with it, practicing divination or seek omens,  cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard, cutting bodies for dead or put tattoos (here clipping edge of beard, cutting hair, body and tattoo are spoken in the context of dead), giving daughters as prostitutes (in temple?).

Now let us do some research to understand why did they  cut edge of beard, cutting hair. Let us listen to what different commentators of Lev 19 had to say on “cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard”

Commentators Jamieson-Fausset-Brown says, “It seems probable that this fashion had been learned by the Israelites in Egypt, for the ancient Egyptians had their dark locks cropped short or shaved with great nicety, so that what remained on the crown appeared in the form of a circle surrounding the head, while the beard was dressed into a square form. This kind of coiffure had a highly idolatrous meaning; and it was adopted, with some slight variations, by almost all idolaters in ancient times. ( Jeremiah 9:25 Jeremiah 9:26 , 25:23 , where “in the utmost corners” means having the corners of their hair cut.) Frequently a lock or tuft of hair was left on the hinder part of the head, the rest being cut round in the form of a ring, as the Turks, Chinese, and Hindus do at the present day. 

…  A strong presumption, therefore, arises that he had in mind by these regulations to combat some superstitious practices of the Egyptians”.

Matthew Henry says, “There was a superstition even in trimming themselves used by the heathen, which must not be imitated by the people of God: You shall not round the corners of your heads. Those that worshipped the hosts of heaven, in honour of them, cut their hair so as that their heads might resemble the celestial globe; but, as the custom was foolish itself, so, being done with respect to their false gods, it was idolatrous. 4. The rites and ceremonies by which they expressed their sorrow at their funerals must not be imitated”

Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible:

“Round the corners of your heads – This may allude to such a custom as that of the Arabs described by Herodotus. They used to show honor to their deity Orotal by cutting the hair away from the temples in a circular form. Compare the margin reference.

Mar the corners of thy beard – It has been conjectured that this also relates to a custom which existed among the Arabs, but we are not informed that it had any idolatrous or magical association. As the same, or very similar customs, are mentioned in Leviticus 21:5, and in Deuteronomy 14:1, as well as here, it would appear that they may have been signs of mourning”

Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament:

Ye shall not round the border of your head:” i.e., not cut the hair in a circle from one temple to the other, as some of the Arab tribes did, according to Herodotus (3, 8), in honour of their god Ὀροτάλ , whom he identifies with the Dionysos of the Greeks. In Jeremiah 9:25; Jeremiah 25:23; Jeremiah 49:32, the persons who did this are called פאה קצוּצי, round-cropped, from their peculiar tonsure.

“Neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard,” sc., by cutting it off (cf. Leviticus 21:5), which Pliny reports some of the Arabs to have done, barba abraditur, praeterquam in superiore labro, aliis et haec intonsa, whereas the modern Arabs either wear a short moustache, or shave off the beard altogether (Niebuhr, Arab. p. 68).

Having browsed through the above commentators we come to know that Lev 19:27 says talks about cutting hair and trimming beard as to do with the practices of some heathen nation which has its root and allegiance to honor their god. It does not refer to cutting beard as part of fashion but portrays it as a part of a religious ritual.

Let us examine the other verse:

2 Samuel 10:4-5

⁴ So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved off half the beard of each and cut off their garments in the middle, at their hips, and sent them away. ⁵ When it was told David, he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown and then return.”

Click the following link to read these verses in different versions to understand the verse better: https://www.biblestudytools.com/2-samuel/10-4-compare.html

            New American Standard Bible, Good news translation and other translations uses the phrase, “shaved off one side of their beards” which makes this verse very clear. This verse is quoted out of context. This verse does not talk about shaping the beard (like french cut, etc) but shaving half the beard which is mark of shame even today in many Indian cultures. So this verse does not talk about trim their beards.

There is also a verse in Leviticus 21:4-5 which also talks about shave the edge of the beard which is in the context of pagan mourning pattern which the Bible talks about. It is similar to Indian practice where cutting of hair is done when death of very close relatives happen.

So let us go back to Lev 19:27. What does this imply for today’s readers?

1) The point of cutting of beard and hair mentioned in this verse talks about is that of a religious practice which is very different from shaping the beard (like french cut, etc). Today French cut or any of the like or certain hair style is not associated with religious fashion. Very rarely they convey that meaning.

2) The principle to be learnt from this passage is that we should not allow ungodly pagan practices which are related to idolatry or the like has to shunned off.

3) What kind of beard to keep is one’s decision. If he wants’ to keep it simple let him keep it so. If someone likes a different one let him keep that. Let them follow overarching theme of modesty and decency. If someone elder wants to suggest a kind of beard or hair style to the youth let him suggest that but not quote verses like this out of context and mislead.

Thank you! Give your comments in the section below and subscribe to my blog. Bye till I meet you with some other issue!

 

Helpful resources I referred to:

https://www.biblestudytools.com/

http://biblehub.com/commentaries/leviticus/19-27.htm

https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/kdo/leviticus-19.html

https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/

Christ’s birth & Students’ ministry

Sri Yesu Jayanthi blessings to all dear partners in UESI ministry as you remember the birth of our Lord, God and Saviour Lord Jesus Christ. As you celebrate Sri Yesu Jayanthi I think it would be appropriate for us this time to reflect on the theme of incarnation.

Luke 2:7 says, “She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” Jesus’ birth was a very humble birth. A great God incarnating as human is the greatest extent of Lord Jesus’ humility.  In Phil 2:3 says “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” Then expounding on the theme Paul takes the reference of Christ’s incarnation in Phil 2:5-8 and encourages us to have the same attitude Jesus had (cf: Phil 2:5).

What implication does this incarnation have in UESI ministry? It calls for an incarnational ministry and a humble attitude we as staff, students and graduates should have to each other and specially students in particular. We graduates and staff humbling ourselves and stripping our position, pride, seniority and identifying with students is very crucial. Poor Students – graduates relation was seen as one of the hard facts during the survey on students- graduates transition.

May this Yesu jayanthi challenge us to have the attitude of Christ and approach students and each other with more humbleness.

Blessed Sri Yesu Jayanthi greetings once again.

Conversion and Ghar-vapsi: My Initial reflection

Conversion and Ghar-vapsi: My Initial reflection

We are hearing a lot of hue and cry about conversion, anti-conversion and re-conversion. The ongoing debate is that conversion should stop. If it does not stop rules will be framed or force will be used to stop conversion. Let us examine some basic truths that come out of this conversion debate.

Conversion is inevitable:

Change and conversion is inevitable. Worldundergoes change and get converted into new shape in every other second. The world we see is not the same that we saw few years back. Is it bad? Given an option, people opt for conversion. A person havinga bike converts his mode of transport to a car when he can afford for it and feels the need for a conversion. He can either hold on to a philosophy of contentment and retain biking or can have a more comfortable philosophy and can convert his mode of transport. When a person gets a responsible position in government or a political party, his whole life style gets converted. No party – even the ones against conversion are no exception. Even ordinary people who migrate from one part to another gets themselves converted to a new place’s life style. Sometimes this conversion is thrust upon, sometimes accepted willingly.

Why does one get converted:

When a person wishes to convert, he eitheris dissatisfied with the existing system or wants to adopt a new set of philosophies, life style and principles. Some may convert even for getting some benefit. But such opportunists who convert may not be very loyal to the principles, philosophizes and ideologies of the converted way of life. They may not even have problem in converting themselves again to some otherparty for some gains as and when the opportunity knocks. But willful conversion is different from forced conversion. Why do many give up their lives when they werethreatened? Why did not they compromise even when faced with severe persecution and threats?

Conversion by Hinduism:

Hindus show that Muslims and Christians are the ones who convert. When I go to some parts of tribal villages of Tamil Nadu,Andra, etc I find people worshiping gods other than Hinduism but calling them as Hindus. Their gods mostly are based on their village tradition. Mahabarata, Ramayana, Upanishads are alien stories to them. Then why do they call themselves Hindus? Did they too undergo some kind ofconversion somewhere in the history? Since we have history from the perspectiveof the influential can this conversion be ruler out?Who can claim to be original?Today we live in a globe with different religions. At one point of time in history there should have been one religion and even before that no religion. Religion as an ideology might have developed over the years. Can’t it be? Beginning of human existence should have been the origin of all. If any “ghar vapshi” should take place it should take place to respect human beings’worth and grand them their right. That is a real ghar vapsi. If we know history only from one perspective and only from a particular period of time, we should not give a call about “ghar vapsi”

More serious problems raised by conversion debate:

Willingnes to conversion also shows the need for a better alternative for the one who wishes to convert. When a conversion happens we should not ask the question “how to bring back the convert”, but introspect on a more serious question “why did they get converted?”. Instead of alleging false and superficial accusation, the losing party should think of restructuring so that it can retain. Deep questions should be asked from sociological, ideological and practical point of view.

A note on Christian conversion:

Before commenting on Christian conversion of non- Christian, let me make it very clear that a Christian can never give birth to a Christian. They give birth only to ordinary human beings. They will also have to undergo Conversion. They can either choose to be Christian or not. Every new generation born in Christian families have to under go conversion.

Christians are often told that they lure people by money. But Christians empty themselves and their pockets when they see a need. Because of the love shown to them by Jesus Christ by giving Himself completely and His teaching to love everyone, charity becomes a part of Christian living. So when they find a need for hospital they will not stop from emptying their pockets for a social cause. What do you expect from a Christian? Not to respond at the time of need? By the mean time when some of those benefited by this upliftment gets to hear about this new teaching, he may wish to accept this self giving ideology. What is wrong in him? Why did the existing community wait till a Christian community empty its pocket? Why did it not think of such activities? Christianity went through different phase of reformation. Why not other religions who cry about conversion go through reformation? Why use force? Why use influence? Why politicize it?If there is weakness in you why do you want to invent a problem to hide your weakness? Why don’t you dare to change yourself? Why threaten people ?Why fight against conversion? Conversion was a part of history and it will have to b

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Commemorating Diwali as an Indian Christian

Commemorating Diwali as an Indian Christian

“Commemorating Diwali as a Christan?”, sounds strange???

Well. As a Christian I am equally enthusiastic to commemorate the festival Diwali. I believe that every Indian Christian (or any Christian for that matter) can retrospect on these themes of the festival when their Indian Hindus friends celebrate Diwali.

I grew up in my village in Kanykumari along with my Hindu and Christian neighbours and relatives. Diwali for us was more of a social celebration than a religious one. I am privileged to live in India where I can learn and understand the perspectives of people following different religion. During every festival I try to study its background and try to relate it with Bible and grapple to find how it appeals to me as a Christian.

Today it is time for me to reflect on Diwali. There are lot of narratives revolving around Diwali. Commenting on different ways people celebrate diwali, reporter Ankit Mehara writes to international Business times,

“ Owing to India’s cultural diversity, the festival gets a distinct regional touch in different parts of the country. In north India, people celebrate Diwali to mark the victory of Lord Ram over demon King Ravana and his return to Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakhsman after 14 years of exile… In the south, the festival is called Deepavali and marks the defeat of demon Narakasura. During Diwali, Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi are worshipped. The festival also holds a special importance to farmers across the country. Diwali marks the end of the harvest season, which is why the farmers celebrate it”¹.

Swami Chidanand Saraswati ,who conceived the idea of and laying the foundation for the 11-volume Encyclopedia of Hinduism, talks about Diwali his blog²as:

“ The time of Diwali is one of the most festive and beautiful times of the year. Diwali literally means a “Row of Lights.” …It is the darkest night of the darkest period, yet it is a celebration of light! Diwali is heralded as the triumph of good over evil”.

He also mentions about some of the important themes of diwali like the celebration of light, the triumph of good over evil, of righteousness over treachery, of truth over falsehood, and of light over darkness, a fresh start and worship of Maha Lakshmi (prayer for prosperity). We can find parallel Christian theme for most of them in the Holy Bible as well.

Though I can elaborate on each theme, this year I would like to dwell on the theme of celebration of light from the Bible. I am excited to know how “celebration of light” can be very much Christian as well. The very first book of The Holy Bible has a mention about Light:

“And God said, Let there be light, and there was light.

And God saw that the light was good”. ³

Even the Bible ends with a beautiful declaration about the light. Talking about the new heaven and earth Bible says in the last chapter:

“ And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever”. ⁴

The declaration about light by Jesus is simply incredible for me. He claimed

“ Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life”⁵

“ I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. ”⁶

Having declared himself as the Light of the world, He gave a higher responsibility to His followers. He called them as Jagdeep (Light of the World)

“You are the light of the world.” ⁷

Christians are encouraged to walk in the light

“ for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light ”. ⁸

Yes. diwali is definitely important for me as a Christian. As my friends and neighbours light crackers, I have to introspect myself how am I reflecting Christ’s expectation of being the light of the world! Christian community should think of different ways of being light of the world in these days of darkness.

If the Christian community is the light of the world in Indian context, how is it reflecting it in politics, higher education, media, judiciary, social involvement, policy making, civil service and so on. We Christians were quite successful in being the “light of the world” in terms of proclaiming the good news of light and being light in the area of school education and providing medical facility. What about other areas??? Now its time for us to enlarge our diwali. What step we can take to be the Diwali in all spheres of life?

1http://www.ibtimes.co.in/diwali-2014-how-festival-lights-celebrated-india-612016

2 http://www.parmarth.com/updates/octnov05/diwali.html

3Genesis 1:4

4Revelation of John 22:5

5 John 8:12

6John 12:46

7Matthew 5:14

8Ephesians 5:8

 

Engaging the University as a student of English Literature

Engaging the University as a student of English Literature

‘Engaging the university’ is the term that is getting popular these days in IFES circle. As I turn back and look my college days I could see how God enabled me to engage in a limited level primarily during my post graduate student. I would like to share few of my experiences as to how God enabled me to do that.

During my under graduate days my involvement was limited to spiritual life and very less as a “Christian student”. I used to involve actively in debate club in college and write to college magazine but all these as a ‘student’ and not as a ‘Christian student’. Many times I was scared about the reaction of my mentors for writing about ‘feeling’ without any mention about ‘Christ’ in them. In my project in BA I chose a topic where I tried to analyze how the American author has used symbolism from Bible characters and themes in his novel “Moby Dick” along with few other faith student. I remember to have read Bible themes and explaining Bible characters to my class mates from other faith.

My PG education marked a great difference. From a small degree college to Asia’s biggest residential university; from a Christian institution to a Hindu institution; from a Christian dominated society to a Hindu dominated society; From a mother land to a foreign land where local language too is foreign.

I was triggered, by one of my professors, to engage when he explained ‘Christianity is the religion which is against gaining knowledge. That is why God forbid Adam and eve from eating from the tree of knowledge’. I was embarrassed to hear the argument. I did not have the courage to dialogue with my professor at that particular movement or in his chamber personally. I went back to my room, took my study Bible and searched the concordance for the verses that talk about knowledge. Then I went to my friends, showed the Bible and presented my case to them. That was the beginning of my dialogue with my friends of other faith. We used to discuss Osho, ultimate reality, casteism, creation, Vivekananda and so on.

I do not know how, but many teachers knew me as a Christian and used to give me an opportunity to put forward my opinion in any thing related to Christianity. Though in most of the classes I kept mum, I did dialogue with my professors from Biblical perspective in few classes. Now I realize that if the idea of ‘engaging the university’ emerged 6 years earlier I could have dialogued with my professors in a better manner. Many times Christianity was portrayed from a biased view in most of the classes, specially while teaching American literature, literary theory and Commonwealth literature.

I was in the campus when the Kandamal riots in Orissa took place where many Christians were persecuted by fanatics. Being the only Christian in the hostel, I was asked to speak from Christian perspective in a political debate that was primarily organized by a left wing student political movement. There were students from the Hindu political group, left wing group and other student groups too.

Now I blog at times of festivals or national holidays and relate their theme from Biblical perspective (https://benalin.wordpress.com/2013/09/06/teachers-as-nation-builders/, https://benalin.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/symbolism-in-literature/ , https://benalin.wordpress.com/2013/03/29/164/ ,https://benalin.wordpress.com/2012/10/25/dussehra-celebrations-in-varanasi/ , https://benalin.wordpress.com/2010/03/15/brave-chachi/ ). My class mates and lecturers in BHU read them and post their comments. I wrote a short story on child labour in and around BHU which eventually got published in Volcano, the magazine run by English Department, BHU. Looking forward to get more ideas to engage and train students to engage in the campus effectively.

Homosexuality

Recently we see alot of discussions on homosexuality. These are few of my views.

Fwd: Students migrate to reach students – IFES blog

Please find my article ” Students migrate to reach students” written for IFES blog.

Link follows:

http://ifesworld.org/blog/2013/08/students-migrate-to-reach-students

Missions vs Misunderstanding

On a fine saturday afternoon I went to a hollow brick manufacturer in Kanya Kumari district. And I noticed a group of people speaking in a language other than Tamil and Malayalam. As I closely observed their conversation I understood that they were speaking in Hindi and some in Assameese. And my quick inquiry with different people said that more than 50 % of labourers in Hollow Bricks in Kanyakumari district in Tamil nadu are from North Indian states. This kind of pattern came into existence not earlier than five to ten years.

Well. India and Indian Missions have passed through different stages. During British reign in India foreign missionaries tried to reach India with the gospel, At this period of time, there were some parts of the nation where the gospel was accepted in a big mass and areas which were not very much receptive to the gospel. Southern India was receptive to the gospel and a big revival could be seen in the twentieth century. In the latter part of twentieth century South Indian missions was boosted up by a wave of sending missionaries to needy places, especially to the northern Indian states. Northern India has seen open doors and rich harvest happened in the latter part of twentieth century. Many of missions present in Norther India owe much to Southern Indian missionaries.

As we closely observe there is a shift in the pattern of ministry among North Indian Missions. This is the time when God is raising up many North Indian missionaries to serve in Northern India. How good it is to note that a place once said to be closed is a home for producing missionaries! Sadly enough this growth in missions is also coupled with pseudo-missionaries (from both part of India) who ‘labour for their tummy and for their own gains’. And this is also the time when handing over of leadership need to take place. But North Indian missions either lack local leaders or see the old missionaries not willing to hand leadership . South Indian missions at time witness tension between the young and the old.

One of the key shifts that is taking place in India is mass migration. Many people from Northern Indian states are migrating to southern India to take up jobs. I sometimes hear less of Tamil and more of Hindi when I visit some parts of Tamil Nadu. South India is flooded with North Indian workers in different factories and are employed as masons. Is the Indian church seeing the need to meet these people? South Indian church prays that North Indians need to be saved. But what is the south Indian church doing for the people at their doorsteps? The treatment of worldly people towards those people are as ‘the other’. Is the church ready to look at these people with love?

Europe and America are continents which send missionaries to different parts of the world. But today they are in a situation to be ministered seriously by missionaries. Is this going to be the predicament of South Indian church? South Indian Church is eagerly supporting North Indian missions. In many places people feel that true mission is only going as missionaries to North India. But what about the pathetic situation in their own states?But how is it going to address the problems of nominal Christianity a growing attraction towards prosperity gospel?

Are we doing missions or in a big misunderstanding????