To beard or not to beard

[Josh]

When I was part of Beachy affiliated fellowships I was content to shave my moustache off. I don’t see why this is a big deal.

[ken_sylvania]

2. Whether or not to wear mustaches. I’m not aware of any biblical guidance on this topic. It seems largely to be a cultural anachronism from the 19th century or even before when mustaches were associated with the military. But as I understand it, that is why the most conservative Anabaptists like the Amish wear full beards but shave their mustaches (which I seriously doubt happened in biblical times).

Yea, no, I don't think there were any Amish shaving their mustaches in biblical times....

And why some more modern Anabaptist groups that don’t mandate beards have historically frowned upon mustaches, like my mother. Other cultures like Islamic cultures which mandate full beards don’t exclude mustaches like some Anabaptists do, so I think the mustache thing is mostly a Euro-centric cultural custom that doesn’t really have any biblical basis. At least that I am aware of.

Leviticus 13:45 KJV!

This??

And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.

How'd you guess it???

[Heirbyadoption]

I think you have to set the sharing permissions on the document to be viewable to anyone with the link. You are likely able to open the document with the link because you are signed in to your Google account but the rest of us don't have access.

You are correct, thanks. I thought I had done so, but it was still on "restricted."

When I was part of Beachy affiliated fellowships I was content to shave my moustache off. I don’t see why this is a big deal.

You may not totally agree with it, but there is a short section in the above mentioned link that may help to explain why some of us consider it to be an issue.

[mike]

When I was part of Beachy affiliated fellowships I was content to shave my moustache off. I don’t see why this is a big deal.

I don't either - why mandate (in the case of Beachys) certain facial hair while forbidding certain other facial hair, based on a hundred years old, and now completely inaccurate, reaction to a military fad?

[Ken]

When I was part of Beachy affiliated fellowships I was content to shave my moustache off. I don’t see why this is a big deal.

My point exactly. Why is it even a deal at all other than it happens to be the fashion that Beachy Amish seem to have settled on. Just conformity for the sake of conformity? Is there a larger reason other than moustaches used to be a military fashion centuries ago?

[Heirbyadoption]

I think you have to set the sharing permissions on the document to be viewable to anyone with the link. You are likely able to open the document with the link because you are signed in to your Google account but the rest of us don't have access.

Ken_Sylvania - You are correct, thanks. I thought I had done so, but it was still on "restricted."

When I was part of Beachy affiliated fellowships I was content to shave my moustache off. I don’t see why this is a big deal.

Josh - You may not totally agree with it, but there is a short section in the above mentioned link that may help to explain why some of us consider it to be an issue. I don't profess to have all the answers, but as regards the mustache, it seems pretty straightforward.

2. Whether or not to wear mustaches. I’m not aware of any biblical guidance on this topic. It seems largely to be a cultural anachronism from the 19th century or even before when mustaches were associated with the military. But as I understand it, that is why the most conservative Anabaptists like the Amish wear full beards but shave their mustaches (which I seriously doubt happened in biblical times).

Yea, no, I don't think there were any Amish shaving their mustaches in biblical times....

And why some more modern Anabaptist groups that don’t mandate beards have historically frowned upon mustaches, like my mother. Other cultures like Islamic cultures which mandate full beards don’t exclude mustaches like some Anabaptists do, so I think the mustache thing is mostly a Euro-centric cultural custom that doesn’t really have any biblical basis. At least that I am aware of.

Leviticus 13:45 KJV!

This??

And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.
I don't think that everyone else (non-lepers) during Old or New Testament times ever shaved their mustaches but kept their beards based on this verse. What does this even mean anyway? Are they not perhaps talking about face masks and not mustaches?

Ken - for the sake of space, I might refer you to the same thing I mention above to Josh, but the context makes it pretty clear that the reference is to a face mask. Plus, were it a reference to a mustache, that would gender limit the command, and I'm pretty sure women got leprosy too... Just a thought.

[mike]

When I was part of Beachy affiliated fellowships I was content to shave my moustache off. I don’t see why this is a big deal.

My point exactly. Why is it even a deal at all other than it happens to be the fashion that Beachy Amish seem to have settled on. Just conformity for the sake of conformity? Is there a larger reason other than moustaches used to be a military fashion centuries ago?

I think the reason for the practice now is twofold; the original reason has basically faded from memory. We don't even know all the original reasons for the practice. In my opinion, it's now more about tradition and separation from the world than it is to distinguish oneself from the military.

[Ken]

I think you have to set the sharing permissions on the document to be viewable to anyone with the link. You are likely able to open the document with the link because you are signed in to your Google account but the rest of us don't have access.

Ken_Sylvania - You are correct, thanks. I thought I had done so, but it was still on "restricted."

When I was part of Beachy affiliated fellowships I was content to shave my moustache off. I don’t see why this is a big deal.

Josh - You may not totally agree with it, but there is a short section in the above mentioned link that may help to explain why some of us consider it to be an issue. I don't profess to have all the answers, but as regards the mustache, it seems pretty straightforward.

Yea, no, I don't think there were any Amish shaving their mustaches in biblical times....

Leviticus 13:45 KJV!

This??

And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.
I don't think that everyone else (non-lepers) during Old or New Testament times ever shaved their mustaches but kept their beards based on this verse. What does this even mean anyway? Are they not perhaps talking about face masks and not mustaches?

Ken - for the sake of space, I might refer you to the same thing I mention above to Josh, but the context makes it pretty clear that the reference is to a face mask. Plus, were it a reference to a mustache, that would gender limit the command, and I'm pretty sure women got leprosy too... Just a thought.

The link I clicked on went nowhere. Is this something you can't summarize yourself in a paragraph or two?

[Ken]

When I was part of Beachy affiliated fellowships I was content to shave my moustache off. I don’t see why this is a big deal.

My point exactly. Why is it even a deal at all other than it happens to be the fashion that Beachy Amish seem to have settled on. Just conformity for the sake of conformity? Is there a larger reason other than moustaches used to be a military fashion centuries ago?

I think the reason for the practice now is twofold; the original reason has basically faded from memory. We don't even know all the original reasons for the practice. In my opinion, it's now more about tradition and separation from the world than it is to distinguish oneself from the military.

I guess it does accomplish that. Because full beards, clean shaven, just mustaches, and all manner of creatively shaved partial beards are all popular now. I actually see lots of non-conservative Mennos wearing goatees with a short moustache. Or what they are calling 'circle beard' below. The only thing you don't commonly see out there in the "world" is the Dutch full beard with no moustache. But they will be in trouble if that becomes a new fashion trend

[RZehr]

And why some more modern Anabaptist groups that don’t mandate beards have historically frowned upon mustaches, like my mother. Other cultures like Islamic cultures which mandate full beards don’t exclude mustaches like some Anabaptists do, so I think the mustache thing is mostly a Euro-centric cultural custom that doesn’t really have any biblical basis. At least that I am aware of.

There are many conservative Muslims in the Middle East that keep their upper lip shaven, while wearing a full beard. Might need Humble Disciple to explain why some Muslims do this.