Is hair just hair or is it more? I will be the first to admit that I used to think that hair was just hair. I am guilty of shaving my head more than once or cPutting it in different styles. Then I would say they say phase that most people say when they cut their hair "It just hair" or "life is too short to wear boring hair."
I used to believed that short hair or women who shaved their head profess an image of strength. It was as if the women was making a statement of power, courage, and freedom. As though they were saying I am in control I am the master of the ship the captain of my soul.
I too shaved my head and cut my hair to signal change, strength, courage and freedom. My hair is short now but as I become more aware of the essence of having hair and what it means I am on a journey to not cut my hair again. Let me explain why.
In the bible 1 Corinthians 11 1:16 reads:
1 Corinthians 11 New
International Version (NIV)
11 1 Follow my example, as I
follow the example of Christ.
On Covering the Head in
Worship
2 I praise you for remembering
me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to
you. 3 But I want you to realize
that the head of every man is Christ, and the
head of the woman is man,[a] and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who
prays or prophesies
with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 But every woman
who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the
same as having her head shaved. 6 For if a woman does not cover her head, she
might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a
woman to
have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head. 7 A man ought not to cover his
head,[b] since he is the
image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.
8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9 neither was man
created for woman, but woman for man. 10 It is for this reason that a woman
ought to have authority over her own[c] head, because of the
angels. 11
Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man
independent of woman. 12 For as woman came from man,
so also man is born of
woman. But everything comes from God.13 Judge for yourselves: Is it
proper for a woman to pray to God with her head
uncovered? 14 Does not the very
nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to
him, 15 but that if a woman has long
hair, it is her glory? For long hair is
given to her as a covering. 16 If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we
have no other practice—nor
do the churches of God.
In my understanding or revelation of the passage when the Apostle Paul was writing to church about how they(men and women) should conduct in worship together. The word covering is referring to the head. The head meaning who is over you, the person that you submit too. The bible mentions that if you are married then your head is your husband but if you are not married then the head is God. What Paul is saying is that if you are a believer in Christ then you are not your own. As a single woman you are supposed to be submissive to Christ. A married woman is not her own she is submissive to her husband as well as Christ. I am not saying that you are puppets and don't have a voice. Paul broke that down verses 11-12.
When a woman shave or cut her hair what she is saying is that I don't need a covering I am my own woman. This goes for single and married women alike that long hair is given to her as a covering. Covering meaning being protected cared for. I am single so my covering is God and when I cut my hair or shaved my head what I was saying to God is that I don't need covering. I need God and I don't ever want him to think that I don't want or need Him. As for me I know that I need all the covering and protection from God. I had to repent and ask for forgiveness.
Back to my original question is hair just hair? My answer to you is no it is your cover it's symbolic to God that lets Him know that you need and want his protection. It also symbols that you are not your own and that you submit to a higher power.
I hope that I have help someone in understanding that yes we as women have power and strength. But without God we are nothing. Instead of showing freedom of cutting or shaving our hair we can show submission.
