kicked out of ministry because I have dreadlocks

I have been away from the site because I became sickly from last year August and has been in and out of hospital. I was just visiting face book  once in a while if I had to use the Internet. recently I  tried a little fashion that got me kicked out of my ministry by my church elders and out under probation. I had dreadlocks. was that right?

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Permalink Reply by Nathan Williams on February 5, 2011 at 2:38pm

Find a new church.  

 

I can understand people being uncomfortable and saying "woah that's pretty radical, not sure we like that."  They're allowed to have opinions and make suggestions.  But when they get controlling to the point of kicking you out for your style?  That's approaching "cult" level control.

Permalink Reply by Rick Cogbill on February 5, 2011 at 4:36pm

Verah, I agree in principle with the other comments - a seemingly harmless fashion trend should be no reason for being removed from a ministry. But we are from North America; in Kenya things might be seen differently.

 

Are there cultural issues that come with wearing dreadlocks in your area? I've talked with other African worship leaders, and found that in some places, if a woman wore trousers, then she was considered a prostitute. I'm not saying it's right, but just wonder if there is an issue about this in your area.

 

I agree that it should not be an issue, but sometimes the road to changing those perceptions is a long and difficult one. Do what you need to do, but make sure your heart is right before the Lord. Watch out for pride or self-righteousness. They are nasty little things that can sneak up on us. May God be your guide, not men.

Permalink Reply by David Estes on February 15, 2011 at 7:19pm
Other cultural issues include "women keeping there head covered".
Permalink Reply by Greg Moore on February 6, 2011 at 12:46am

I can hardly imagine dreadlocks being a problem (I recently was in a performance of Handel's Messiah in which a tall tenor had a green Mohawk, and no one said boo-hah, except that he couldn't keep the beat) -- I cannot see how it is right to chastise a person for hair style, when we are neither male nor female, Hebrew nor Greek, slave nor free in Christ!

 

But it's a curious world we live in, a world in which the very Apostle (Paul) who said some of the above words also said that it was very obvious that women ought to wear hats and not speak in church, and backs it up with Scripture.  This is a vexation.  I do not understand it.

 

I do know that every culture and location has its limitations and norms, some enforced by rules, others enforced by social approval or disapproval.  Orchestra members wear tuxedos.  This does not help them to play better (the collar hinders the player); but the uniformity gives a message "important music will happen."  Twenty years ago, a pastor could be dismissed for wearing an earring.  Culturally, their was a question of his sexual orientation; today, the earring has come to be meaningless in this regard, and ministers are free (in some locations, at least) to wear such an ornament.  Now, I could wear Groucho glasses to the worship team, but the associations with silly humor are so strong, I would not be allowed to do this for anything except a humorous moment (if at all). 

 

Years ago, I watched a man be expelled from a service for saying "Hallelujah", and raising his hands.

 

I'd tend to vote with the responder who said, "get a new church"; but I also know that not everywhere in the world is that an option (there are countries in which the pastor of the neighbor church will say, 'go back home').

Permalink Reply by Greg Moore on February 6, 2011 at 1:32am

I mentioned this to my wife, who gave me some good words which I will try to condense:

Far more important than whether a hair style is proper or not, is the matter of how you respond to correction, even if the correction seems improper.  To use an extreme example, imagine you are a prisoner and being beaten.  Your response (choices:  whimper, be stoic, show love, fight back, complain) will affect your relationship with the guards, the fellow prisoners, the warden and maybe even as far as an entire nation.

In virtually all societies, submission to authority is highly valued, and indicates strong character.  The only exception is revolutionary orgnaizations, but they generally enforce conformity very strongly among themselves.  Perhaps most important of all is the matter of keeping or restoring a good relationship with your elders.  This situation presents an opportunity for better understanding of each others' hearts.  I believe that the most important question is how highly you value hearts, how highly you value hair, and how you can maintain the joy of the Lord until that glorious Day when no one will care about how one wears their hair.

 

Permalink Reply by Virginia Mmolotsi on February 8, 2011 at 6:37pm
Wow Greg! This is what I call wisdom; our response to situations can build us, others or destroy the lot. So my sister can choose if she'd rather build the relationship with your leaders or loose it to keep a hair style.
Permalink Reply by Stevo on February 6, 2011 at 4:22am
What you wear should matter none, but we'd have to know more about your culture.
Permalink Reply by Mark Sandiford on February 6, 2011 at 4:28am
I'm really feeling Greg moore's comments. I've been a pro-musician for most of my life and was part of a christian band called Christafari (and then Temple Yard) several years ago. We kinda made a name for our selves in Christain music and wearing dreadlocks was one of the ways we really got people's attention.Since that time I've grwon so much by working in my local church moving from volunteer status to becoming the worship pastor.The bottom line is summed up in everything Greg expressed so perfectly. The scripture that comes to mind is paul saying" we're free to do a myriad of things through the freedom Christ gave us, yet all things aren't necessary" especially when they prevent you from doing the very thing God gifted you to do. But I've come to learn from personal experience that by submitting to your church's authority,(if you believe this is where God has planted you for this season in your life, you'll grow to the point where God can entrust to you ythe right and the favor to be the decision maker for your hair style in the future.Who knows maybe then, you may not even care for dreadlocks anymore anyway. but until then stay strong and fervently passionate in humility and a spirit of servanthood. I always remind my crew, He desires our obedience above everything else. Irie mon!
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Permalink Reply by Mark Snyder on February 7, 2011 at 7:22pm
Is this like THE 'Christafari', as in 'Valley of Decision' ?  I used to get into your music when K-Lyt spun your records when I lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  It definitely blessed the town!  Amazing the people who show up on these boards!
Permalink Reply by Mark Sandiford on February 13, 2011 at 1:06am
yes it is. I'm no longer with the group but those days were incredible. God opened unbelievable doors for us through using reggae music.btw my apologies for taking so long to get back with you bro.
Permalink Reply by Greg Moore on February 7, 2011 at 7:43pm
To interject a bit of humor, I got my own hair treatment a month ago.  My wife was trying to give me a haircut with our clippers, which have a short in the cord.  Suddenly they sprang into life, and I had a diagonal Mohawk.  The only way to fix it was to totally bald me.  Pastor's calling me "Curly", and maybe it'll grow back that way.
Permalink Reply by Allan Midgley on February 6, 2011 at 2:03pm

Venah, first of all, hope you are feeling way better now.

Secondly, why do you wear dreadlocks please? Is it because you like it, or are you a rebel/ different underneath lol?  Either way, thats not the issue unless you are doing it for the wrong reason. But, saying that , and you check your heart ( that is all you need to do) on your part. Then I would go back to the Pastor and ask why he is so against your hair style. Talk it out with them and try to see their side and hopefully show your side too. Christ DOES NOT want us to be " the light of the world", but to be "The Salt of the Earth"  full of flavour and variety for Him, that is why His disciples were so different. You must be the woman God has made you to be, not a pastors clown or clone.

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