The New “Goatee”?
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Tue, November 21, 2006
- Viewed 204
- (13) comments so far
A couple of years ago, I glanced over for maybe two seconds to a pastor walking into an auditorium…and he quickly said “It’s new glasses”, as he pointed to his horned rim frames. I hadn’t even noticed…I was just glancing at him as he entered the room, but he was so proud of his new “cool” look that he was about to burst if people didn’t notice…so he interpreted my glance as an affirming look of curiosity….which it wasn’t.
It got me thinking…we’re such sheep. Does Junior High ever end? Are we always going to be enslaved somewhat to the cultural “in” thing? While I’m barely concerned about my clothing (much to the horror of my wife at times), I have my own “fads” I’ve followed. I’m curious as to how much this affects our thinking and whether the gospel is really the filter to our life choices…down to the pants we wear. Just some questions I’m pondering…
-----
Rick White is the lead pastor of CityView Church—a new church located in the Alliance-Texas Corridor, north of Fort Worth. CityView is committed to keeping Jesus and His Gospel as the central focus of their mission and message. CityView was planted by The Village Church and is a part of the Acts29 Network. Rick and his wife of 11 years are proud parents of three children. You can read more of Rick’s writings at his blog, "The 20 Year Baton". He can be contacted via email at
So…you know how a few years ago it was all the rage that youth pastors and pastors began sporting goatees? Well…I’m starting to think that horned rim glasses are the new goatee for pastors/youth pastors. I admit…I sported the facial-foo…but since I don’t really wear glasses (although I should), I’ll be sitting this fad out.
Comments
if you want a Globally Recognized Avatar (the images next to your profile) get them here. Once you sign up, they will displayed on any website that supports them.
Brian La Croix on Tue, November 21, 2006
You’ve hit the nail on the head.
I used to wear a goatee. Now I have a full “scruffy” beard - real short. It’s actually a compromise between my wife and me. She hated the goatee and I can’t stand being clean-shaven - I think I look too geeky without facial hair…
When I picked out new glasses, I almost got horn-rims. I ended up getting some pretty cool glasses, but did avoid the Buddy Holly look!
The point you’re making about sheep is very valid. If we don’t use the scriptures as our filter, we run the risk of not only being sheep, but being eaten by the wolves.
Brian
jawbone on Tue, November 21, 2006
Tommy Hilfiger wear, David Schwimmer haircuts, goatees, horn-rimmed glasses, tattoos, on and on. I’ve seen these fads come and go. Most of it is a collossal waste of money. those glasses can run you $400 a pop. I can almost tell instantly what denomination you are with, what Christian college you attended, and what political persuasion by what you wear.
It confirms the old adage. “Remember, you’re unique, just like everybody else.”
Leonard on Tue, November 21, 2006
I am statring a new fad in 07 for cool hip progressive over 40 pastors who are getting fat and slighlty balding. This group will be setting trends up and down the west coast. You can make applications by logging on to our web site, http://www.coolroundhairlesshepherdsover40.com.
Rick thanks for the article, we are a lot like sheep. Someon should put that in the bible. This kind of faddism is more found I think in the people we follow than the clothes we wear. There are more emergent people who look at me and classify my ministry and thinking, then when they find out I read McLaren and actually like NT Wright, give me a chance to be heard. I run in circles of pastors that calssify anyone with a goatee and phat glasses as to young to know better, will grow out of it, pastors. Thanks again.
kent on Tue, November 21, 2006
I try to look cool and I look bad. (Bad as in not good, as in oh my word what happened not good.)
I try to look rad and I look bad.
I try to look hip and I look bad.
So I look like me and it is still bad.
But the last one takes less effort and money.
I am all about conservation.
Bernie of FreeGoodNews.com on Tue, November 21, 2006
I have a goatee because I can’t grow a full beard. It’s the best I can do.
bobby on Tue, November 21, 2006
Dang it! I wanna be a cool sheep. Unfortunately I hat lasik so I wouldn’t have to deal with contacts so i don’t need glasses anymore. And I’ve always wanted a goatee since before they were cool, but I apparently just can’t grow decent facial hair. It kinda looks more like dirt on my upper lip.
Oh well.
Brian Hennon on Tue, November 21, 2006
Hey,. didn’t you know?? We youth pastors have an image to maintain. In order to reach teens we have to have the most “bangin’” car with the “sickest” sound system. We have to wear skull caps when it’s 100 degrees out, roll up one pant leg and say “yo” a lot when talking to our “peeps”. When we’re hangin’ in their “hood” we have to be a “playa” and know how to “roll”.
Oh yeah, we also have to be able to speak their language…yo.
nora on Tue, November 21, 2006
Rick asks, “Does Junior High ever end?” No, Rick, it does not; it is the place where “the worm dies not”. http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif
Seriously though, I think Rick asks some good questions here. As a woman, I was sadly unable to get in on the goatee trend, but I’ve followed (and am following) many others. I guess what it comes down to for me is, we all need to wear clothes, and so we have choices to make about what to wear and (like my favorite show on TLC) What Not to Wear. I think it’s okay to make choices that best represent your interests and preferences. The problem comes when fashion becomes too high a priority in our lives, when it’s busting the family budget, or when one “just has to have” the new IT fashion article. I don’t think that ignoring fashion trends is necessarily an indicator of monastic spiritual maturity though; it is just probably more an indicator that you do not consider fashion a priority in your daily life.
Peter Hamm on Tue, November 21, 2006
“I have a goatee because I can’t grow a full beard. It’s the best I can do.”
Yeah, me too. If I grow a moustache then I look like a slimy used car salesman, so I don’t…
For me, I try to get what I think looks cool, but I ALWAYS buy the CHEAP thing that looks cool… NEVER the 400 dollar frames… I buy the 40 dollar frames that kinda look like the 400 dollar frames…
8-)
Randy Ehle on Tue, November 21, 2006
My bro-in-law always tries to be hip, so when he got a treble hook stuck in his lower lip a few years ago (trying to teach his 9-year-old son how to cast!), I suggested he just leave it there. I said he’d fit right in with all the other young, postmodern pastors. Alas, he insisted on removing it - yes, himself, with a pair of needlenose pliers. I was hoping he’d start a trend and the next thing you’d see would be Rob Bell with a treble hook!
DanielR (a different Daniel) on Tue, November 21, 2006
Horn-rimmed glasses, goatees and shaved heads could all be considered fashion fads and attempts to look cool, or hip, or rad, or whatever the current term is.
During all the deployments and field time in 24 years in the Army I found it was just easier and cleaner not having hair and got used to shaving it. Now I shave my head becasue, well, I’m bald. When I got out I immediately grew a goatee because I never could while I was in and I like the way it looks on me so I kept it. I wear the oval wire rims that were stylish a few years ago and think I’ll forego the horn rims.
I do think alot of us think about the way we look saying something about the way we are. (Or the way we perceive ourselves). I don’t know if that makes us sheep.
The Sermonator on Tue, November 21, 2006
The horned rims are way over due to be back in style. The hairstyle fad I never understood was the British / Colonial powdered wig. The monastic tonsure is one definately long over due in church circles. Having the abbot shave kept the brothers from being prideful. I could see how that hairstyle would keep one humble. Fashions are sometimes so odd only in hindsight. Remember the two choices scripture gives us are sheep or goats…
V~ on Mon, November 27, 2006
What I find interesting is that the tunes to the following two songs are pretty similar….......
(1) I just wanna be a sheep, Baa-baa-baa Baa-baa…..a kids church song….....................
(2) The Games People Play….70’s easy listening hit ......Hmmmmmmmmmmm ........
Jesus is the Good Shepherd, he knows we have sheepish tendencies. Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound…..............
Page 1 of 1 pages
Post a Comment