posted 05-17-2002 09:58 AM            

I would be delighted to read the results of you research on this topic.

You wrote: The problem Arkie is that to obey is better than all burnt offerings and sacrifice.

Ans. Amen.

You wrote: This way of the grace of Yahushua leads one to obey. If Yahushua meant for us to shave then He would have done so and told us it is alright, but He didn't because it isn't no matter the reason behind why He tells us to do something.

Ans. We know from Isaiah 50:6 that He wore some kind of a beard, but do we know that He never shaved or trimmed it? Did He grow it by choice or requirement? Where did the Torah require it?

You wrote: The heathen changed his appearance for many reasons that can be documented. Some because they did not want the spirit of a dead person to recognize then like in ghost haunting.

Ans. I do not shave for that reason.

You wrote: Others used it as a fertility rite to a female goddes they shaved off and offered on her alter.

Ans. I do not shave for that reason either.

You wrote: While others wore the tonsure and the commpletely shaved head to imitate their sun idolatry.

Ans. I do not shave my whole head or for that reason either.

You wrote: Yahueh didn't tell us to shave of the corners of the beard for nothing and this is different than removing or cutting short the hair on the temples.

Ans. In the following scripture, HE said not to shave them off in the context of doing it mourning for the dead. I do not shave for that reason either. [Brackets and enclosures in the following scripture are mine.]

Leviticus 21 (1) And YAHWEH said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none be defiled FOR THE DEAD among his people: (2) But for his kin, that is near unto him, that is, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother, (3) And for his sister a virgin, that is nigh unto him, which hath had no husband; for her may he be defiled [i.e. by touching their dead body]. (4) But he shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself. (5) They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh [for their dead].

You wrote: Archeology and history tell us that the Israeli had a clean uncut beard and did not cut the hair on their temples to not be mistaken for idol worshipper or those which believe the dead are still alive another idolatrous idea where people worshiped their ancestors and didn't want Grandma watching their every move.

Ans. where in the were they required to do so?

You wrote: There are stone engravings from 900-1000 B.C. made by idolaters of Israeli notables that tell us what this passage in the Torah (Leviticus 19:27) means. So yes the word tells us that we are not to trim of the natural corners that develop on the beard when uncut, or to trim the corners of the head which is the hair on the temples to distinguish us from idolaters.

Ans. David, I believe that it says not to do it for the dead, instead of to distinguish them from idolaters.

You wrote: The proof is there is you want it. E-mail me with your snail mail address and I will send you my research on this topic.

Ans. Yes, I want proof. Again, I say that I would be delighted to read the results of you research on this topic.

In Conclusion, the beard was given to protect us from the sun, the heat, the cold, and the insects etc. If I were out in a wilderness I would surely praise YAHWEH for letting me grow a beard. However, I am retired and I am inside almost all of the time. Why do I need a beard? If I thought for one minute that YAHWEH would be more pleased with me if I wore a beard I would definitely honor HIM by doing so. I believe that it is my heart that HE is interested in.
Shalom,
Arkie

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[This message has been edited by Arkie (edited 05-17-2002).]

[This message has been edited by Arkie (edited 05-17-2002).]

posted 05-17-2002 11:37 AM            

I recieved your address and will send it within this next week.

There are other reasons for the beard other than the naturalistic ones you mentioned.

1)That Yahueh wants a distinction between men and women. Of course this is not the only distinction but it sure does help a lot. Of course there are women with facial hair due to hormaonal imbalances in the body.

2) Yahueh calls us to be distinct from the unbelievers and when in our society you have a untrimmed beard and locks on the temples you will be distinct from others. I have found it opens up many doors to witness also.