What’s up with Paul on hair and head covering?
Do you have or have you seen those big “church hats”? Some of the hats can cover up to two people’s head. Some look like mini umbrellas. Hey, I am not making fun of your precious hat and I am just reporting my observation. Should Christian women cover their heads while in prayer and in worship? What about those Christian women that do not cover their heads? What about a man wearing long hair? Is it sin? The first part of 1 Corinthians 11 has been one of those scriptures most misunderstood and wrongly applied or avoided.
Before we get into the details, let’s first observe the opening statement which is also very important. “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” vs.1. The better word is “imitate me”. We can imitate the right thing or the wrong thing. That is why Paul is saying imitate me as you see me imitate Christ.
Paul has already demonstrated how he has sacrificially imitated Christ in chapter 10. 31 “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved” 1 Corinthians 10:31-33. Just as Jesus did not seek his own profit, Paul is saying I am doing the same that Jesus did therefore we should not just seek only things that profit us but “profit many that they may be saved”. This is worth imitating for the Corinthians and for us.
Now back to the long hair, short hair and big hats, small hats and all kinds of covering debate. Actually stated clearly in this chapter is the important principle of Headship. “Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God” vs.3. This is really the main point but it has been minimized by the head covering debate. There is a place of order and authority in the kingdom of God. The scripture is calling us to obedience just as Christ willing submitted to the Father. Headship and authority does not mean that the one submitting is inferior. May God help us to be rightly submitted to the authorities He has placed in our lives. If we are going to be kingdom people whom we are, we do not run around doing whatever we like whether at home, in church or any other place we may find ourselves.
Who is your Head? May we seek and find Christ’s Lordship and Headship in our lives. And may we walk in obedience.
1 Corinthians 11: 1- 16
1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
2 I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings,[a] just as I passed them on to you.
3 Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is just as though her head were shaved. 6 If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head. 7 A man ought not to cover his head,[b] since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. 8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9 neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head.
11 In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16 If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. The Corinthians were being reminded of the order of creation and what God intended for His Kingdom. Christ came and established this kingdom on earth therefore we must abide by the order of God’s kingdom. Every kingdom has a King and rules and authority. Christ is our King and as man submits to Christ headship, likewise in the home and in the church, the woman equally submits to the headship (not superiority) of man in the home which is the basic unit of the Church and God’s kingdom.
2. In God’s kingdom, everyone is submitting to headship and authority. Even Paul says “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21). A body with a head is going nowhere. Out of reverence, out of respect and for the purpose of honoring Christ, we must submit and yield to each other. If everyone is trying to have their own way at the same time, there will be a road jam and no progress is made either in the home, at church, work or any other setting. We need each other. “In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman” vs.11.
3. What about praying with head covered for women? “Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is just as though her head were shaved”. Is it a cultural thing or just symbolic? There have been so many interpretations of this passage. I honestly do not understand what Paul is saying except that he is trying to illustrate the important principle of headship which he had stated. In that culture, an uncovered woman is saying I am available and not under any headship or authority. It is possible that some of the Christian believing women of Corinth may be saying that we no longer have to wear covering since we are now free in Christ. Well if they do and are married, that could bring dishonor to their husbands and a disgrace to the Church when people mistake them for available women. Someone observed as follows; “It was a custom, both among the Greeks and Romans, and among the Jews an express law, that no woman should be seen abroad without a veil. This was, and is, a common custom through all the east, and none but public prostitutes go without veils.” (Clarke).
4. How do we put this passage into practice? If you are a woman and you cover your head or do not cover your head while praying and worshiping God, I truly believe that God will hear you as long as you are rightly submitted to the headship of Christ. Please go ahead and wear your beautiful and elaborate hats if you so choose to. Likewise, go ahead and wear your well kept and adorned uncovered hair styles (no shaved head please for women). Jesus has given us liberty. Jesus declared, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth” John 4:21- 24. Are you worshiping God in truth and in Spirit with or without a hat or any other head covering?
5. Paul in another Scripture expresses the liberty we have in the Holy Spirit. “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath [days] Colossians 2:16: We are not to judge to wear or do not wear head cover.
Lord, God, help us to follow you and may others follow us as we follow you our head. Lord, help us to recognize your headship and authority in our lives. Help us to obey your kingdom commands and apply your kingdom principles in our lives. Help us to submit to one another out of honor for you. Amen.
Do you have or have you seen those big “church hats”? Some of the hats can cover up to two people’s head. Some look like mini umbrellas. Hey, I am not making fun of your precious hat and I am just reporting my observation. Should Christian women cover their heads while in prayer and in worship? What about those Christian women that do not cover their heads? What about a man wearing long hair? Is it sin? The first part of 1 Corinthians 11 has been one of those scriptures most misunderstood and wrongly applied or avoided.
Before we get into the details, let’s first observe the opening statement which is also very important. “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” vs.1. The better word is “imitate me”. We can imitate the right thing or the wrong thing. That is why Paul is saying imitate me as you see me imitate Christ.
Paul has already demonstrated how he has sacrificially imitated Christ in chapter 10. 31 “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved” 1 Corinthians 10:31-33. Just as Jesus did not seek his own profit, Paul is saying I am doing the same that Jesus did therefore we should not just seek only things that profit us but “profit many that they may be saved”. This is worth imitating for the Corinthians and for us.
Now back to the long hair, short hair and big hats, small hats and all kinds of covering debate. Actually stated clearly in this chapter is the important principle of Headship. “Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God” vs.3. This is really the main point but it has been minimized by the head covering debate. There is a place of order and authority in the kingdom of God. The scripture is calling us to obedience just as Christ willing submitted to the Father. Headship and authority does not mean that the one submitting is inferior. May God help us to be rightly submitted to the authorities He has placed in our lives. If we are going to be kingdom people whom we are, we do not run around doing whatever we like whether at home, in church or any other place we may find ourselves.
Who is your Head? May we seek and find Christ’s Lordship and Headship in our lives. And may we walk in obedience.
1 Corinthians 11: 1- 16
1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
2 I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings,[a] just as I passed them on to you.
3 Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is just as though her head were shaved. 6 If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head. 7 A man ought not to cover his head,[b] since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. 8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9 neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head.
11 In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16 If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. The Corinthians were being reminded of the order of creation and what God intended for His Kingdom. Christ came and established this kingdom on earth therefore we must abide by the order of God’s kingdom. Every kingdom has a King and rules and authority. Christ is our King and as man submits to Christ headship, likewise in the home and in the church, the woman equally submits to the headship (not superiority) of man in the home which is the basic unit of the Church and God’s kingdom.
2. In God’s kingdom, everyone is submitting to headship and authority. Even Paul says “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21). A body with a head is going nowhere. Out of reverence, out of respect and for the purpose of honoring Christ, we must submit and yield to each other. If everyone is trying to have their own way at the same time, there will be a road jam and no progress is made either in the home, at church, work or any other setting. We need each other. “In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman” vs.11.
3. What about praying with head covered for women? “Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is just as though her head were shaved”. Is it a cultural thing or just symbolic? There have been so many interpretations of this passage. I honestly do not understand what Paul is saying except that he is trying to illustrate the important principle of headship which he had stated. In that culture, an uncovered woman is saying I am available and not under any headship or authority. It is possible that some of the Christian believing women of Corinth may be saying that we no longer have to wear covering since we are now free in Christ. Well if they do and are married, that could bring dishonor to their husbands and a disgrace to the Church when people mistake them for available women. Someone observed as follows; “It was a custom, both among the Greeks and Romans, and among the Jews an express law, that no woman should be seen abroad without a veil. This was, and is, a common custom through all the east, and none but public prostitutes go without veils.” (Clarke).
4. How do we put this passage into practice? If you are a woman and you cover your head or do not cover your head while praying and worshiping God, I truly believe that God will hear you as long as you are rightly submitted to the headship of Christ. Please go ahead and wear your beautiful and elaborate hats if you so choose to. Likewise, go ahead and wear your well kept and adorned uncovered hair styles (no shaved head please for women). Jesus has given us liberty. Jesus declared, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth” John 4:21- 24. Are you worshiping God in truth and in Spirit with or without a hat or any other head covering?
5. Paul in another Scripture expresses the liberty we have in the Holy Spirit. “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath [days] Colossians 2:16: We are not to judge to wear or do not wear head cover.
Lord, God, help us to follow you and may others follow us as we follow you our head. Lord, help us to recognize your headship and authority in our lives. Help us to obey your kingdom commands and apply your kingdom principles in our lives. Help us to submit to one another out of honor for you. Amen.
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