It has been my experience, just as Peggy and Mike have said, that Christians are by far more cruel to other Christians than unbelievers are. I have known people over the years who are in the music scene and many of the men have had long hair. Personally, I like the look of long hair on men when it is washed and well groomed, but for some reason many who call themselves Christians seem to be on a crusade against it. Somehow I really don't see Jesus turning away from anyone, no matter how they look. He came to seek sinners, not the righteous, and sinners come in all appearances, as do the righteous.
 
   When I was in high school our Southern Baptist church held a youth camp every summer at Panama City Beach, Florida. One particular summer all the kids in the youth department were "on fire" for the Lord, and I was no exception. We had nightly bonfires on the beach with praise songs and an inspirational message. One afternoon I met a good-looking, long-haired young man at the beach and I became friendly with him. I told him I was there with a church group, and how wonderful the Lord was, and how friendly and non-judgmental our church was, and I invited him to meet me at the evening bonfire.
 
   He met me there, but what a shock ! Not only did not a single person, teen or adult, speak to him, but I was instructed to move away from him and sit with the group. Afterwards, when we left to walk back to the campground where we were staying, and had about an hour of free time before lights out, we were told by the adults that we had to join the others inside  the rec room and then they made an announcement that they were cutting our free time short that night. The pastor of the church, who had not once bothered to greet my friend, walked right up to him and told him as he lit a cigarette that there was a no-smoking policy there. We walked away from the group so he could smoke without offending anyone, but the pastor and assistant pastor with him followed us and proceeded to angrily tell him there was no smoking at all and perhaps he should leave. Well do you suppose he ever came back to visit our wonderful born-again, non -judgemental "on fire for Jesus" bunch? Not on your life.
 
    However, that fall when I began college I  completely quit attending church, and became totally rebellious against the hypocritical, self-righteous bunch of liars and gossips of my own church. You see, those people had no idea of the witnessing I had been doing with this young man, and they proved him right when he told me that he had never been welcomed by church people because of his appearance. I found out from my best friend at church that some of the adults and teens who had been at camp there, spread the rumor that they had found me and my long-haired friend "in the bushes", so I was alienated by many. Not only did their judgement of my friend by his appearance alienate him from "Christians",  but they chased me away also and I spent many long years in the wilderness after that.
 
   Years later when I returned to the Lord I once was witnessing to a young man who was the lead singer in a heavy metal band who lived in my apartment complex. I invited him to go to church with me to hear Charles Stanley preach. He had the most beautiful long, natural pale blond wavy hair that I have ever seen. He had a beautiful face and a voice to match, and certainly had his share of female fans. He accompanied me to First Baptist Atlanta for a Sunday evening service, and we got there and sat in about the middle of the church.
 
    After the service we walked into the vestibule hoping to have a word with Dr. Stanley, but an old man, probably a church member there for many years, approached us. Without a single word of greeting, he proceeded to tell my friend that he needed to cut his hair, and launched into a critical tirade. Do you suppose my friend ever went to church with me again? I later moved and lost touch with my friend, but not before telling him  that one day I expected him to be singing songs for the Lord, not the devil. The other guys in the band openly worshipped satan, so who knows what seed was planted there.
 
   My father told me about one of the deacons in the church who owned a car dealership. A bearded elderly man dressed in worn overalls went to the deacon's showroom, looking at cars, and because of his appearance was told that he would probably find something more his style across town. The man left and did go across town, to the Cadillac dealer, and paid cash for a brand new car. He then returned to the deacon, showed him the new car, and told him that he would never spend money in his place, and would advise all his friends, many who were also wealthy farmers like himself, to not do business there either with such a judgemental, self-righteous "Christian."
 
   Those are only several personal examples of many that I could share, and I am sure you all could add to these. Friends, please not judge anyone by their appearance, especially when you have no idea what has gone before. The Bible tells us:
 
   Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. John 7:24
 
   Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Hebrews 13:2