Let Your Hair Down

So yesterday I went to church and heard an awesome sermon that seemed to be just what God wanted me to hear. It was a familiar story, but one I hadn't taken the time to fully understand. Luke 7:36-50 recounts the woman who came to visit Jesus when he was with Simon the pharisee. You remember the woman who brought an expensive bottle of perfume, poured it on Jesus feet, and dried His feet with her hair.

First off, a pharisee was defined by the pastor as a "separatist". Someone who feels they are better than others because they sin less. Someone who feels it is their job to identify others by their sins. In the verses noted above, Simon very clearly lets Jesus know the woman is a "sinner". Her only identity to the pharisee was that of her sin. No part of her had any value because to him, her entire identity was found in one word, "sinner".

To the pharisee, she was not worthy of time with Jesus because she was not holy. Jesus was quick to tell Simon to look at her - she had brought a sacrificial gift to him; she had washed his feet; she had let down her hair... I never thought of the connotation of her "letting down her hair". Middle Eastern women did NOT let down their hair, but because this woman had already lost her reputation and was known only as "sinner," she had nothing to lose or hide. She let down her hair and dried Jesus feet. There were no pretenses!

Jesus then told Simon and those around the parable of the two debtors. One owed much and one owed a little but neither could pay so the master forgave them both the debt. Jesus asked Simon, which one was more thankful, and he said the one who had been forgiven more debt. Truth is though that both were in the same boat regardless of the size of their debt because neither could pay.

There are many times in life that we put ourselves on different levels than other people because we feel we are better; we are full of integrity and honor. The truth is that NONE of us wants everyone to find out who we "really are" down deep. Our reputations would be shot if we were completely transparent. Simon had so much sin in his life in the area of pride that he was allowing himself to sacrifice a true relationship with Jesus because of his pretenses!

Jesus showed Simon his failings - he didn't kiss Jesus when he arrived. He didn't wash his feet. He didn't give Jesus His rightful place. The one Simon called "sinner" had done these things readily upon arrival. She knew her need. She knew Jesus' ability to fill that need with his all encompassing love. When we don't see our own need for Christ, it is all too easy to throw stones and to become a pharasaical stumbling block to those seeking Christ. Casting judgement, comdemning, and identifying someone by a sin is NOT biblical nor will it further the kingdom.

Jesus came to save sinners not to walk along side the whole. He did not push the woman at the well to tears before offering forgiveness. He did not hold her hand and control her healing process. He simply said, "Go and sin no more." There wasn't even the HS power back then, and now even though the HS is in us, some of us like to play Jesus and "force" people to heal in our timing and in our ways. We limit God because we do not trust Him.

I wonder why some Christians see it as their job to define people by their sins and then force to them to either "heal" on command OR get out of the fold? Known sinners are not wanted amongst the "holy". Only those who hide their sins are welcomed because after all prentenses get us places with God - note sarcasm.

Not sure, but I do know that this little sinner has found great freedom in "letting my hair down" before God, and in many ways by giving up my "right" to my "good" reputation, I have found great freedom.

I pray I can pass on to my kids a complete understanding of God's grace and enable them to identify people as "beloved by God" no matter what they look like or how they act. We all owe a debt we cannot pay.

Today I pray to God as one confused by those who seek to cause further harm in an already sad situation. If someone seeks to "let down his/her hair" before God, who are you to tell them to pin it back up?