Is the Head Covering for Today? For years the question has circulated through various denominations: should women cover their heads? If so, when? How? With what? The best way to answer any question about the Bible is to look at the Bible itself. Usually, the Bible uses very plain language when giving a command. The difficulty comes when we try to wriggle through loopholes and find that we need to enlarge them a bit, or when someone else comes along and pulls the perceived loophole tight just as we are slipping through. So lets look at the passage where God commands that women wear a head covering: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 V.2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. Here we see the warm-up verse: praise for remembering me in all things, and keeping the ordinances. Let me bring up an important part here: who is the me in this verse? Its Paul is the immediate response that most would give. However, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. God inspired this entire passage, and that makes it very important! V.3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. This verse gives us a delineation of Gods order of authority: God first, then Christ, then man, then woman. This provides the basis for all that follows, because it explains whos the authoritative head of each one. V.4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoreth his head. God says that a man who covers his physical head while praying or prophesying (speaking about spiritual things) dishonors his spiritual head (Christ). This, according to verse 7, is because he is the image and glory of God. It is dishonoring to Christ to symbolically cover Gods glory when praying. V.5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoreth her head: it is just as if her head were shaved. 6 If the woman does not cover her head, She should have her cutoff: but if it is a shame for a woman to have her hair cutoff or shaved off, let her cover her head. We see that for a woman to leave her head uncovered while praying or prophesying is a dishonor to her spiritual head (her husband, according to verse 3). Why? She dishonors her husband to God, because that which is a glory to man needs to be covered in Gods presence so that God receives all the glory. Verse 6 explains that if a woman takes off one covering (the cloth one), her natural covering of hair should also be taken away. However, says God, if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair shaved off (this is talking about cutting the hair very close, in the same way that a sheep is shorn), then she should cover her head. So this leaves us with two options: either a woman cover her head, or have nothing but very short stubble on her head. V.7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. 9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 10 For this cause should the woman have power on her head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. 12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. These verses explain that a woman covering her head does not make her inferior to men. Men and women are equal in value. Without men, no girls would be born. Without women, no boys would be born. Both men and women are needed to keep the earth populated. However, men have authority over women, and women are not to exercise authority over men. A married woman is supposed to submit to her husband (Ephesians 5). But God uses six verses to ensure that we know all are equal in Gods kingdom. We also see from verse 10 that the covering is a sign to the angels, both good and bad. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. This verse has caused a lot of weird reasoning – that it really is talking about men (instead of angels), or that the angels would be shocked to see an uncovered woman, or some other explanation of like caliber. However, I believe it is very simple. The headcovering is a sign to both angels and demons that this woman is submitted to her husband and God, and is a Christian. Angels are not all-knowing. A headcovering shows them that this woman is to be protected. It also shows the demons that theyd better get lost. Furthermore, it offers protection for the womans family. V.13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Verse 13 has been used to say that the decision of whether or not to wear the covering is entirely up to the reader. However, God gave the headcovering as a command, not a suggestion. I believe this verse is merely saying, Think about it a moment. Is it proper for a woman to pray uncovered? It is a rhetorical question saying that it is not proper for a woman to pray uncovered. V.14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. This passage also tells us that a woman is to have long hair in addition to a covering. The wording of the passage could lead one to believe that hair, or long hair, is the covering. However, I believe that God is saying: Since being uncovered is akin to having short hair, and since it is a shame for a woman to have short hair, she should be covered. In addition, she should have long hair. It provides another confirmation that a woman should cover her head. V.16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. This verse goes back to verse 13 to answer the question in verses 13-15. If any man seems to be contentious (literally loves quarreling) and says that he sees nothing wrong with a woman praying uncovered, let him know that none of the churches have any custom of praying uncovered. It could also be interpreted that We have no custom of being contentious about what God says. We just do it. Frankly, this seems very simple. When praying, a man should have his head uncovered, with short hair. A woman should have long hair and a covered head.
Posted on: Mon, 27 Oct 2014 21:03:17 +0000
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