Pastor A.J. Aamir ofResurrecting Faithin Waco, Texas believes if it didn’t grow from your scalp, it doesn’t belong there.
The Pastor made this comment to an organization called "American Preachers." He further told them that he had "instructed" his female staffers to not "wear weaves" to work. His words were: " because “our black women are getting weaves trying to be something and someone they are not. Be real with yourself is all I’m saying.”
His called to action was the fact that he has "a 26 year old mother in my church has a $300 weave on her head. No, I will not be quiet about this.” Sadly, this statement is surely repeated amongst his poor and financially strapped church. His comments has paralyzed our church and culture with stepping across the boundary of personal choice.
Most intelligent persons of our community would agree that if you cannot pay your rent, you should rethink spending $300 of it on your head! We are not privy to how she obtained the money to get the weave, it could have been donated or gifted to her. Whatever the case, it simply is not our business! However, to simply "ban" a fashion statement from "your" church, which I thought Christ was the Head of, is just crossing the line. It is not clear as to whether or not Pastor Aamir is speaking on Christ's behalf or not.
My primary issue with this blatant statement is based on this premise: If Miss Can't Pay My Rent, placed her $300 in the collection plate, I do not believe that the good ole' Pastor Aamir would go running after her to return it! Understanding that Pastor Aamir grew up in a "strict" muslim home sheds more light on his opposition to weave wearers and his feeling as though he has authority to tell the women of his church how they should wear their hair!
This story reminds me of the one found in John 8:1 - 11 (woman found in adultery) - The Pastor has taken a stone and has thrown it! Unless, he has and remains faultless in the realm of debt and finances his approach has been without compassionate and not exhibiting a Christ-like manner of the One he is assumed to represent.
The scripture states:
Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—1 Peter 3:3
In understanding the above-noted scripture, we should not be concerned with the hair on the sister's head but the condition of her heart! The Word of God is powerful and quick and pierces to the marrow and bone and if handled correctly can and will root out whatever insecurities one may have -- if they are willing. However, God has not created any of us to be someone else's Holy Ghost!
The neglect to pay one's rent vs. paying $300 on a weave goes way beyond the fact that she is wearing a WEAVE! Weave wearers know the price can range from $100 and upward into the thousands. Ever since I can remember attending Church, male Preachers have made fun of, or ridiculed women for the wigs, clothes, hands on the hips, and gossiping. Mind you that the Church is made up of over 90% women, male Preachers are still bashing women who are their primary support to the Church!
I wore tracks in my hair for years. A pack of top of the line hair costing over $100 for 4 ounces. However, as other things changed in my life (financially) the once affordable hair style of $50 had risen to over $150 to redo, aside from the every two-week maintenance of $70 that I was faithful to. This hairstyle was no longer a viable option and I stopped and went natural but this was a decision I came too on my own and was not berated into.
We've just seen Beyonce go from waist-length flowing blonde, billowing waves to a pixie cut, and then to a Blonde Bob cut! She has plenty of money -- is it alright for her to attend the Church wearing her weave. Would she be questioned about her self-esteem issues and not wearing her natural, God-given hair, whatever that might look like!?
A lesson of economics, responsibility, and good stewardship would be the most effective solution to remedy this issue but to "ban" a hairstyle is simply way out in left field. A discussion on how, we as a culture, support a billion dollar industry that does little or nothing to enhance and support our community is a viable subject. Making decisions to destroy the hold of this industry on our community is also another viable discussion. Getting a better understanding as to why we gravitate to weave wearing instead of wearing our natural hair, to me, is beating a dead horse. It's a matter of choice! Provoking people to a closer relationship with God and soul-healing is a more effective choice! I would quickly find myself another place of worship over this dictatorship!
This was my say...leave your comments and thoughts below!
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