LONG LOCKS and OPERATION SNIP-SNIP are two captions that appeared in the news lately. “Long Locks” appeared under the picture of Billy Graham which shows his hair brushing his shirt and coat collar. The information is given that the evangelist said in Springfield, Illinois lately that “he has heard complaints that his hair is getting too long” and that “he doesn't object to long hair.”
From pictures one sees in Mennonite periodicals some prominent Mennonite leaders also are learning “the way of the heathen” (Jeremiah10:2) and are being influenced to follow their dishonoring and shameful practices. (1 Corinthians 11:4, 14) Surely “this persuasion cometh not from Him that calleth” us (Galatians 5:8) and if it doesn't come from Him that calleth us it must come from him that would destroy us.
Operation Snip-snip” relates to Singapore's actions against long haired men which they label as a manifestation of a “decadent Western Culture.” Immigration officers are ordering visitors who have their hair over the ears, over the forehead, touching the collar and sideburns below the ear tops to undergo operation Snip-snip” to be eligible to enter the country.
Indonesia has also launched a campaign against long hair on men. There are very few “bushy” men in Guatemala due to the Government's protest to it.
It seems strange indeed that national leaders can see in something a symptom of decadence which religious leaders can see nothing wrong with.
Wouldn't it be something if Billy Graham would go to Singapore to “preach deliverance to the captives” and the national leaders would have to tell him that before he can do that he will have to let them remove his own symptom of enslavement to a “decadent Western Culture.”
Could the church learn a lesson from these national concerns and actions? Yea, verily she should! Perhaps Singapore will rise up in the judgment and condemn the church for labeling “all right” and tolerating that which Singapore knew was decadent and cancerous.
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you.”
– Aaron M. Shank