Appearances matter, now more than ever, especially in this time of promoted gender identity confusion.

A man should not be effeminate. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. A man should not have tattoos. Leviticus 19:28. A man should not have long hair. 1 Corinthians 11:14.

Appearances matter, but so does substance or character. A man must decide between two masters. There are no Ronin. Will it be the Devil or will it be Christ? If we choose Christ and keep his word, we can start with the small things and he will bolster us in the larger. It has been my personal experience that he has been helping me walk before him. I cut out flowery and fruit scented bath and hygiene products and have tried since then to pick products specifically designed and marketed for men. A small change, but Jesus has helped me with bigger fights such as my struggles against nicotine and a porn addiction.

I have heard many people on religious television programming talk about having a covering or the necessity of a pastoral covering. We as Christians do not seek a covering. No man is our head. We have no master except Jesus. 1 Corinthians 11:3.We stand or fall before him alone. And he is gracious to help us stand.

As they sell the prayer shawls on TV, remember it is a shame for a man to pray with his head covered. 1 Corinthians 11:4.

Take every admonition to heart and change what you can to conform to Jesus’ description of a man. A change in appearance can lead to a change of the heart and vice versa.