The Good King

The good king establishes rules for justice, peace and freedom in his kingdom.  From his throne he does not puppeteer the life of his people, or otherwise force the decisions they make either in accordance with or contrary to his hopes for the kingdom.  In order to ensure as just a life as possible for everyone he is, however, the one with the most sway to decide the fate of the one who acts in opposition to his desire for the people's good.

Resolved, 2013:

More dancing!

How are pistachios so good?

A Word on Beards from a Jesus-Loving Lady

 

In considering this recent beard-splosion and the energies some dear brothers seem to have personally invested in it, a little adaptation of 1 Peter 3:3-4 has been the driving inspiration for writing this post.  It goes a little something like,

          "Your manliness should not come from external guise, such as elaborate mustaches or   
            displays of hulky-strength or flawlessly memorized and well-timed delivery of the right
            guy's quotations.  Rather, it should be that of your inner virility, the unstoppable force of
           God's strength in you, which is AWESOME because it comes from God, bro!!"
                                                               ____     ____     ____


"Jesus had a beard."
Fact.  I'm no religious historian, but some measure of delving could better illustrate Jewish law and its prescription that men leave their beards be.  Plenty of the old greats have given good case for the beard; Epictetus recognized beardedness as living in accordance with nature, C.H. Spurgeon adds that it is "scriptural, manly and beneficial," and St. Clement of Alexandria goes so far as to designate hairiness a symbol of manhood.

Perhaps you've taken note of inspiring longhairs, captivated in manly pinterest board fashion by recurring mental images, leaving you drooling into your no-shave stubbly stumble toward proper outward manliness.  Maybe you keep a running list in your flannel-shirted pocket, next to your heart, of the tips you've acquired from prolific beard-growers on the maintenance of a perfectly praiseworthy chin-crown of glory.  However the mode, you're attentive. 

So what cautionary word could I possibly dare to issue against your growing affection for these patches of wonder-hair?  Nothing against the beard, certainly, but rather what motivates its growth; under the skin, in the soul.

I wonder sometimes if the preoccupation with your outward effort toward manliness is crowding out any chance of the development of your inward virtues as a man.

Now, now -- I fully acknowledge that we beardless* women are not blameless; in fact, we are the queens of questionable motivation;  how natural, really, is straightened hair?  Where is mascara's true place in our aims for true beauty and womanhood?  In contemplative nail-painting sessions I have pondered this struggle as much as the next gal, and from this weak human stance share a beautiful truth in which us ladies, in recognition of our shortcomings, at some point in our lives have taken refuge as a substantial platitude for our true worth as children of God:

 "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight." - 1 Peter 3:3-4

For us ladies, the hangup that keeps us from depending on God is this concern about our beauty, our appearance-- this is the secret cleft for our self-worth, as much as we may try to deny or overlook it.  In much the same way, I fear the beard has overshadowed, more than your face, your heart's confidence in God as your true strength.

In truth we all, somehow or other, have pursued meaningless vanities with our lives, poorly stewarding our time or finances or mental energies by giving them to what does not matter. (Think TV shows, new jeans when our legs are already well-enough covered, trivial crap with NO functional purpose, physical, spiritual or otherwise...) Be alert!  Where are your thoughts, time, expenditures really getting you? Further, what are they doing for others?  We give ourselves constantly to what is at best worthless and quickly passing, or even worse, drawing us away from God rather than driving us to abide more deeply in Him.

Though this 1 Peter verse was written as a word to wives, a closer look reveals a truth more universally-applicable. What produces this gentle and quiet spirit in the wife?  It is her steady trust in God which comes from knowing Him, having experienced His characteristic faithfulness and completely satisfying love. 

In what should we, then, as brothers or sisters or bachelors or husbands or wives or widows, invest our hope for fullest life and unshakable identity?

Let's look at what God has shown us:

"...you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect... through him you believe in God...and so your faith and hope are in God... you have been born again through the living and enduring word of God.  For,
   'All people are like grass,
   and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
    the grass withers and the flowers fall,
   but the word of the Lord endures forever.'" - 1 Peter 1:18-25

So, then, as we are born again through the living and enduring Word of God, and the Word of God endures forever -- that is, lasts longer than beardhair or mascara (even waterproof), we will do well to invest ourselves in the Word.

For further insight, from Bibleresearch.org's article on Old Testament Beard Law;

"The apostle James directed the following comments to the early church in order to remind them that they should not forget who and what they are and what is required of them:

"But you be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man seeing his natural face in a glass: For he sees himself, and goes his way, and quickly forgets what he is. But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed" (Jms.1:22-25 KJV Para.)

What is it about a man's face that would cause him to reflect on who and what he is and what is required of him? If he wore a beard in compliance with the holiness code, he would immediately be a reminded of his obedience to God and his ways."

So then, fellas, let the beard remind you of your true manliness, not be it.  I assure you, we females acknowledge the diligence and commitment it must take to grow a beard, but what we need from you now and will continue to treasure most later when we're wrinkly old ladies with lipstick-teethed, genuine-heart smiles whose backs can no longer strain to paint our toenails, is your unwavering strength in God's love.  We need your ability to strongly guide us daily in God's truth.  We need and respect and deeply admire your love for His Word and the way you bring it to life for us and those around us in your own wrinkling flesh every day of your life.
You may mystify the world with your hair, but can only serve it with your heart.**

Grow accordingly.

*(bearded even, for that matter.)
**For the unbearded or even balding among you brothers, don't worry, this speaks just as true for you -- we can see your heart in more than your hair.