As you can see, it all getting very long and bushy!
Over the last few days I was at the Pentecostal Bible College of Germany. I was was frequently asked why I had let my beard grow and once I was even asked why I was choosing to look like a Tramp?
So I thought today I would share with you all the real reason why I am letting it all grow!
The answer can be found in the Bible, in the book of Numbers, Capital 6:
Numbers 6: 1 - 8 (NIV)
The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of dedication to the Lord as a Nazirite, 3 they must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or other fermented drink. They must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins. 4 As long as they remain under their Nazirite vow, they must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins.
5 “‘During the entire period of their Nazirite vow, no razor may be used on their head. They must be holy until the period of their dedication to the Lord is over; they must let their hair grow long.
6 “‘Throughout the period of their dedication to the Lord, the Nazirite must not go near a dead body. 7 Even if their own father or mother or brother or sister dies, they must not make themselves ceremonially unclean on account of them, because the symbol of their dedication to God is on their head. 8 Throughout the period of their dedication, they are consecrated to the Lord.
5 “‘During the entire period of their Nazirite vow, no razor may be used on their head. They must be holy until the period of their dedication to the Lord is over; they must let their hair grow long.
6 “‘Throughout the period of their dedication to the Lord, the Nazirite must not go near a dead body. 7 Even if their own father or mother or brother or sister dies, they must not make themselves ceremonially unclean on account of them, because the symbol of their dedication to God is on their head. 8 Throughout the period of their dedication, they are consecrated to the Lord.
So you see the reason I am letting everything grow for 6 months is because I want to show the world that I belong to God. The Bible makes it clear that Christians are different to the rest of the world, and in our culture most people shave. The more people look at me funny, or ask questions why, the more I am able to share that God is so real to me that I want to show the world that I wish to dedicate my whole life to him.
As for looking like at tramp.... If you read the life of Jesus, He was a tramp... 20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20). And seeing that every Christians goal should be to be more like Christ, I have no problem when someone tells me I look like a Hobo!
During the last 16 days I have already learnt a lot about what it means to stick out in a crowd for Jesus. People say horrible things, sometimes even the Christians. I am really looking forward to the rest of my time which I have devoted to the Nazarite vow. And trust me it is not easy! There is Grape juice in nearly everything!
To quote my lecturer from the last few days, the blessed, Pastor Peter Schneider "I guess you can call me a Fundamentalist. But I am only a fundamentalist in the Biblical sense. I mean I have a fundament in my life and it is the word of God, everything is built on top of it!" How i wish I could describe myself as so and it be really true!
I would encourage every male Christian to at least once in his life take the Nazarite vow, to show the world that he belongs to God. There is power in God's word like a double edged sword, which pierces the heat of men.
I pray you too will make a stand and let it grow.
Be blessed!
