Sly Bald Guys Forum
Discussions About Being Bald => Tattoos and Piercings => Topic started by: paperclip on January 31, 2016, 12:10:45 PM
-
Hey,
I wonder are there any of you on here who are Christians and maybe attend church who have earrings?
I have been wearing my earrings in both ears for about 4 months now. I switch between cz studs and some black studs about 4 mm in diameter.
I haven't had any negative feedback until 2 weeks ago at church.
An older woman who is a friend of my wife's finally noticed I was wearing stud earrings (she's seen me before many times but never said anything to me about them).
She asked me why did I wear them and I said because I like them. She went on to say that they were a sign of vanity and that I was being rebellious. So, not exactly a rebuke, but I could tell she didn't think I should be wearing them (I don't care what she thinks, I'm still wearing them because I want to)
Just wondering if anyone else has had someone say anything negative about their earrings at a church type setting. Were you told they were inappropriate? And if so how did you respond?
There is a debate whether Christian men should wear earrings--the whole issue of "men wearing women's attire and women wearing men's attire". I don't look at earrings as "womens" attire any more than long pants are "mens" attire.
I have another Christian male friend on another forum who has been wearing earrings for years and he attends a church and has had no negative comments. he was told by his pastor that as long as they weren't satanic in nature that there wasn't a problem. Same with tattoos.
Other than the one older woman who commented, no one else has commented negatively. Another woman in our church bible study group noticed my earrings back in November and just asked me if they were new to which I replied yes.
So not everyone is against them.
Any thoughts?
-
Narrow minded old woman, pay no attention.
-
There are many guys at the church I attend that wear various piercings. I think the key thing in your story is that the woman is older.
-
Some people are just really uptight about this sort of thing. I've never understood why. There is no Scriptural reasonings behind their opinions and their arguments do not stand up to scrutiny. Being a Christian and wearing earrings are not mutually exclusive things.
-
I don't see any issue with it in my church at all. One of the pastors from a sister church down the road has numerous tattoos as well as holes in his ears where ear rings used to be, as do I.
The older generations see things quite a bit differently than we do these days, but ear rings are definitely not just a female wardrobe item.
-
There are not too many earrings in the guys at my church, however, quite a few of them have holes in their ears where earrings used to be. They got them when they were younger and now, due to working in a professional business environment, they no longer wear them (dress code at work).
I don't have a problem with wearing an earring.
-
Thanks for your responses. I feel a little better in regards my being a Christian and wearing earrings.
My problem is when I have something on my mind I tend to over-analyze things so I go to the internet and check out what people are saying. There is such a wide spectrum of opinions it is hard to figure out what is acceptable and not sometimes.
I have no intention of getting rid of my earrings. It is important to me that I continue to wear them. It has a lot to do with being assertive and showing confidence. Along with the shaved head.
By posting this question here, I just wanted to see what the general consensus was regarding this topic. I have posted on another forum about this issue and I got similar responses. The reaction I got at church was the opinion of the person giving it and she is entitled to her opinion. I see other guys at church with earrings so I figured there was no problem. Your responses here only reinforce my own opinion that it is not a big deal.
I just wondered if anyone else had gotten a negative reaction.
When this person made the comment at church, my wife was standing with me and she said "I don't like them, but I probably do things he doesn't like". So my wife doesn't really like me wearing earrings (she's old fashioned) but she can't stop me from wearing them. she tolerates them which is very mature of her. The older woman at church was a little taken aback that I didn't ask my wife's permission to wear the earrings. I think that was half the reason she made the comment in the first place. To see what my reaction would be.
-
Vanity, eh? Was she wearing jewelry? Make-up? Had her hair styled?
-
It was mentioned in deuteronomy that a servant shall have an awl put through it, and a nail through to show that they are a servant.
Many knights Templar would do this and wear a gold nail to sybolize that they were servants for life to christ.
In the song by the Christian recording artist Kemper crabb he uses this symbolism as a lyric
"Here is my ear / Drive through the nail / The world will know / By the ring that I wear / That I am not for sale" — "Doulos" (Kemper Crabb).
-
I attend a very proper (some would say prestigious) church in a very upscale area of Chicago. I got my ears pierced about two years ago - and shortly thereafter they made me a deacon!
-
I see plenty of guys at my church with at least one earring. Our organist has two hoops in both ears. On the other side of the coin, we have three women that are sly, and no one makes anything of that, either!
-
Vanity, eh? Was she wearing jewelry? Make-up? Had her hair styled?
That's funny, that was the first thing I thought about after talking with this woman. I didn't think of it while talking to her. But that's right. She did have earrings, makeup and hair styled. Kind of an ironic comment to make to me (my hair wasn't styled...I don't have any...)(Oh, and I don't wear makeup...)
Is it vain that a man wear earrings but it's not when a woman does? Of course not!
-
I am in the "bible belt" and while not common, there are a number of guys in Church with earrings or other piercings. Probably just the older ladies that object. But I consider it very rude to voice the objection.
-
this woman is a friend and "church mentor" for my wife, and it's just her personality that makes her say what she said. I was a little taken aback by her remark (as I've worn earrings for the past four months) and she never said anything about them before. I think she noticed before and didn't say anything until it bugged her and she finally had to say something.
i didn't really take it too seriously and it didn't really bother me. I have to expect comments from people about things like this. I'm just surprised I haven't gotten more negative comments actually. No one else at church has said anything about my earrings except for 2 women. one said it was a bold move to wear earrings in both ears and the other woman just asked if the studs were new. So no negative comments.
It just bugs me when people ask "why do you wear earrings?" Why do you think? Because I like them and I think they look good on me. Why else would I wear them? Why does anyone wear any particular piece of jewelry? Because they like it.
It's just a dumb question, I think...
-
I'm a Christian and have no problem with it. The church I go to is pretty conservative but accepting of people, there is even one man who before he became a Christian he had bikie (gang) contacts and drug user, and he has earrings and tattoos all over his body, including naked women. No one tells him to cover, it's about his heart, he is the kindest man ever and would be to first to be praying for you if you are in a tough time. Sure if it was me I would probably choose to cover them up in church but that doesn't diminish my opinion of him
-
Exactly. It should be what's in your heart that counts, not how many piercings or tattoos you have. I think a lot of churches are realizing this, that you can't look on a persons outward appearance to judge them. It's not our place to judge them anyway.
It seems also to be the general consensus on here and on other forums, that earrings are acceptable on guys in a church setting. Even the church I go to there are a few guys with earrings. I work volunteer in a bookstore in the church lobby and the woman who is in charge of it has a small nose stud. So I feel OK with my earrings.
When I had the conversation with the older woman who asked about my earrings, I felt like saying, "If Jesus walked in the front door right now, would he really care if I had earrings or not?". I don't think he would even notice...
Just some of the older people have trouble accepting it, but I realize they are in the minority.
-
Fortunately it seems those kind of old fashioned, legalistic viewpoints are going by the wayside. Most Christian folk wouldn't care what earrings or other piercings you have. You're right on about how Jesus would react. He would react with love and acceptance.
-
Fortunately it seems those kind of old fashioned, legalistic viewpoints are going by the wayside. Most Christian folk wouldn't care what earrings or other piercings you have. You're right on about how Jesus would react. He would react with love and acceptance.
Yes, I agree. As many guys (like myself) who got their ear pierced back in the 80's are now in their 50's so the demographic of guys with earrings is naturally aging. I see guys older than me with earrings so I don't feel quite so silly with mine. :D
I find as well that most Christians don't care what earrings or piercings men have. And rightly so. At church I noticed people glancing at my earlobes but no one has commented(except for the one older lady). People don't really care about the issue of guys with earrings anymore.
-
It's an earring that's it.
It's no big deal.
I started wearing one about 3 years ago. Looks great with the shaved look.
Worried at first but now don't care.
I don't take any notice of what others think I do what I want life's too short.
-
I have worn an earring in my left ear for about 3 years now. I'm a Christian and was inspired to to start by reading the story of the bond servant in the Old Testament. I struggled with it - but that is a long story, but then finally gave into the Lord and did it. It's open up doors to talk with people I may never have had approached or had approached me otherwise. It's been a good thing. Still not ready and not considering a tattoo, but that's me.
But, I might like to get a big lawn mower tattoo one day on my head - saying "Mowing every other day!" - Just kidding! :/O
If interested, this guy sums it up fairly well:
http://www.garylellis.org/tag/godly-ear-piercing/
-
Pohawk, thanks for the post and the link to the article. I particularly liked this part:
- As I began this article, piercings (and tattoos) today are primarily “fashion statements.” And, in my opinion, there is no reason to suggest that a person who “inks” or “pierces” themselves in our contemporary culture is in rebellion against the Word of God.
This is my opinion as well. Wearing earrings is only a fashion statement and should not be interpreted as "rebelling" against God.
-
Pohawk, thanks for the post and the link to the article. I particularly liked this part:
- As I began this article, piercings (and tattoos) today are primarily “fashion statements.” And, in my opinion, there is no reason to suggest that a person who “inks” or “pierces” themselves in our contemporary culture is in rebellion against the Word of God.
This is my opinion as well. Wearing earrings is only a fashion statement and should not be interpreted as "rebelling" against God.
Don't sweat it. We just held a very successful men's conference at our church with over 600 men of varying ages in attendance. We actually got two comment cards about the fact that our worship band opened the conference with a secular song choice and we alternated (clean) secular music with worship music during the breaks.
One of our best pastors is covered in tattoos, has piercings, breeds and raises scorpions, watches MMA, and has a goatee fit for the Duck Dynasty Clan. He's also one of the strongest disciples I know.
-
One of our best pastors is covered in tattoos, has piercings, breeds and raises scorpions, watches MMA, and has a goatee fit for the Duck Dynasty Clan. He's also one of the strongest disciples I know.
I like to hear things like this. We live in a society that judges people too much by their appearance. I think we are getting more tolerant, but still have a long way to go.
I would love to attend a church where the pastor was as you described above. He sounds like a real cool guy and I would probably learn a lot from him.
-
I'm wondering why anyone would want to breed scorpions. Do people actually buy them and what do they do with them?
-
I'm wondering why anyone would want to breed scorpions. Do people actually buy them and what do they do with them?
Some church's use poisonous snakes in their services. Could this be something similar ?
-
I'm wondering why anyone would want to breed scorpions. Do people actually buy them and what do they do with them?
Some church's use poisonous snakes in their services. Could this be something similar ?
Yes, I had the same thought.
-
I'm wondering why anyone would want to breed scorpions. Do people actually buy them and what do they do with them?
I've never asked what he does with them, but they definitely aren't used at church.
-
This caught my eye.
Although I do not consider myself a Christian nor would I attend a "Church" of any fashion I am startled when I hear these things. When it comes to ear piercings this was a male dominated activity for quite a while. Pirates would wear their gold on their ears in case of shipwrecks, and mentioned prior, slaves wore earrings to declare their choice to remain in bonds.
As it relates to Christianity then you can go to your Holy Text and quote it because it gives clear instruction on how to treat your slave. Once a slave has earned his Freedom (7 years) he was allowed to go free. However, some slaves loved their masters and had families that were not free. Therefore they would choose to be a servant. In this case the slave was taken to the door post (the one on which the Hebrews would write the words of their God) and then put an awl through the slaves ear. This was a testimony that the slave was there by choice, stating, "I love my master and I choose to serve him". A Christian man wearing an earring would thus be saying "I love my Master (Christ) and I choose to serve Him". The only unfortunate in this situation is not knowing the text well enough to have shared this with her, allow her to see the choice made and what it means to you and that your earring is between you and your God only.
I've worn my earring for over 30 years. Same one. Put it in once.