By Jeff Larson, The Back Pew
When I was in my teens, the Hippie movement was a countercultural wave that emerged in response to the conservative norms of the time, societal materialism, and the Vietnam War. Hippies were known for their distinctive styles, including wide bell-bottom jeans, tie-dye shirts, peasant blouses, and ethnic dresses. Women embraced natural hairstyles, while men typically grew their hair long. The essence of their style was to express individuality and break away from the mainstream societal norms—often referred to as “the establishment.”
During this era, I surrendered my life to Christ, which set my life on a new trajectory. Although I wasn’t fully immersed in the Hippie culture, I did adopt their style and had long hair. I can’t recall the exact circumstances, but as a new convert, I was profoundly impacted by Jesus’ words, “Clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.” This verse resonated with me, and I felt led by the Lord to get a haircut. It was a symbolic rejection of a worldly lifestyle. I wanted to visibly demonstrate to others that the Lord had cleansed me internally, so I chose to dress and appear in a way that reflected someone whom God had transformed. This decision, much like baptism, was one of my earliest acts of obedience.
I’m not suggesting that long hair on men is sinful. However, I believe that if Christ is our Savior, we should lead lives that are distinctly separate from worldly influences. We need to look and act like individuals who have clean hearts and are endeavoring to live right. -Rev. Mark Creech
