HAIRCUTS

I won't name any names, but I have met a lot of people who are in bands or who are musicians who have really silly haircuts. In an effort to be 'relevant' or 'arty' they have these so called trendy 'do's. Even in the Christian scene, there seems to be this really nauseating need to play image games to the point where people just look like they are trying too hard.

I have been pondering on these things, wondering where the line is. Obviously, I am in a band, and we have discussed our 'image'. What is ok with God? How much should we change our appearance to appeal to certain people? How much should we mirror what the mainstream music industry does?

As I was reading Isaiah recently, the words of Chapter one verses 11 to 14 grabbed me...

Isaiah 1:11-14 (New International Version)

11 "The multitude of your sacrifices—
what are they to me?" says the LORD.
"I have more than enough of burnt offerings,
of rams and the fat of fattened animals;
I have no pleasure
in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.

12 When you come to appear before me,
who has asked this of you,
this trampling of my courts?

13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings!
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—
I cannot bear your evil assemblies.

14 Your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts
my soul hates.
They have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.

I felt that this is relating to how God can feel about our conduct in doing music, even when it's supposed to be a ministry. He doesn't want us to do as everyone else does, offering superficial and tired sacrifices; going through the motions on a well trodden path. I don't want to offer God more of what he has too much of. I don't want to just follow the rhetoric of what everyone else does, however tempting it is to be part of the throng and conform. I don't want to bring a meaningless offering. I feel conviction about how my attitude has sometimes been. I have sometimes worried that we don't have funky looking videos, cohesive clothing or interesting hair. In verse 14 God talks of 'your appointed feasts'. WE appointed these indulgences. They are not heaven-sent. God says they are even 'a burden to me'.

Later on, in Chapter 3, Isaiah talks more specifically about outward image.

Isaiah 3:16-24 (New International Version)

16 The LORD says,
"The women of Zion are haughty,
walking along with outstretched necks,
flirting with their eyes,
tripping along with mincing steps,
with ornaments jingling on their ankles.

17 Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion;
the LORD will make their scalps bald."

18 In that day the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces, 19 the earrings and bracelets and veils, 20 the headdresses and ankle chains and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms, 21 the signet rings and nose rings, 22 the fine robes and the capes and cloaks, the purses 23 and mirrors, and the linen garments and tiaras and shawls.

24 Instead of fragrance there will be a stench;
instead of a sash, a rope;
instead of well-dressed hair, baldness;
instead of fine clothing, sackcloth;
instead of beauty, branding.

Ok, let's be clear. My intention here is NOT to make this about women. Let's take it that this applies to all who put too much emphasis on the outward. Here, there is reference to all these accessories that the women (people) of the city of God (Zion) have indulged in. God is fed up with all the trinkets and shiny stuff. The last line really hit me hard. 'Instead of beauty, branding'. We live in a culture of branding, image and the outward appearance. Of course, here Isaiah is talking about cattle-branding, which disfigures the flesh and causes pain to the unfortunate soul being branded. And this is 'instead of beauty'.

What I feel so stirred to pray through and process is my hearts response to all the alluring trappings of conforming to the western world's value system, based on the skin-deep (or clothes deep!). I feel God tugging on my heart to push these things further and further down my priority list for the band. I am trained in graphic design and love visually stimulating artwork and clothing, but when this is more important to me than real heart connection to God and his values, this is bad news. I fear that so often we try and get the visual aspect of music and our image right more than chasing our calling in Christ.

Isaiah goes on to promise what the Lord offers instead...

Isaiah 4:4-6 (New International Version)

4 The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire. 5 Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy.

From this I get the impression that as the Lord leads us in his way, he will give us an OBVIOUS new image that cannot be hidden. Like smoke in the day and fire at night. When the Lord gives us his image, it will be striking and unforgettable. Let us use the 'spirit of judgement' and the 'spirit of fire', to judge our hearts to see where we've gone wrong, and then purge it from us for greater cleansing. Then his image will burn brightly in those who let him do this, or 'assemble there'.

Lord, I don't want to offend you my placing my energy, time and money in looking good. I don't want branding Father, I want beauty, your beauty. I want to offer you something truly of me, the individual you made me to be, and not some knock-off cloned effort. I will surrender to your will, and chase after your anointing and your Holy Spirit power. I want to see lives changed, and not because I have wicked hair cut, but because you are in me, and I in you. I shall let you judge my heart on this matter, so that you may cleanse me and that I may burn day and night with your image, your glory, who is Jesus Christ. Amen.