... The answer lies in one answer. How legalist do you want to be and will that following a Law ensure yours or anyone elses salvation?
I believe women should have long hair. I believe their covering is their hair. So yes, every woman should have a covering when they pray, their hair. Obviously, God understands if the woman has lost her hair or another situation like that.
1 Corinthians 11:15 "But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering." KJB
Hmm, I would say that it isn't a matter of legalism, but plain simple obedience to a clear ordinence. The actually act of head covering will save no one. But disobeying God's commands can lead to damnation. So it really doesen't matter what it is.
So, you believe that a woman will go to hell because she does not have her head covered during prayer?
Many people will say that the veil for the woman was just some Corinthian custom that does not apply to us today. But the scripture is very clear.
1 Corinthians 11:
4:Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
5: But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
It says every man and every woman not every 1st century Corinthian.
Here is some background on the importance of the veil and what it means. In the old testament the temple was divided into different parts. A veil was created to separate the holiest part of the temple from the rest of it. Behind the veil was kept the Ark of the Covenant.
Exodus 26:
31: And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:
32: And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]tim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.
33: And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.
34: And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.
35: And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.
36: And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.
37: And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]tim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.
No one was allowed to go behind the veil except for the high priest once a year to give a special offering. For behind that veil Gods glory was shown for He appeared in the cloud upon the mercy seat.
Leviticus 16:
1: And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died;
2: And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.
3: Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering.
4: He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.
5: And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
34: And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the LORD commanded Moses.
The common people were separated from God and had to make offerings and repentance through a priest. When Jesus died on the cross for our sins the veil in the temple was torn. Now the glory of God is no longer veiled and the common people can directly access God because of Jesus.
Luke 23:
44: And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
45: And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
46: And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
So what does all this have to do with wearing or not wearing a head covering. Well it all fits into the reason that Paul gives us.
1 Corinthians 11
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.
Since the man represents the glory of God his head is to remain uncovered for the glory of God is no longer veiled as it was in the temple. The woman represents the glory of man which is to be covered during worship. Also by covering her head the woman is covering her own personal glory, her hair.
15: But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
The womans hair represents her glory and is her natural covering which is to be covered during prayer and prophesying.
So when does the woman need to be veiled, whenever praying or prophesying. Praying is the easy one to understand but a harder one to follow. A man who is wearing a hat should always take it off whenever praying and a woman should cover her head whenever praying. But we must not think that God will strike us down or not listen to our prayers if we fail to do this every time. I would rather pray with a hat on then refuse to pray. If a woman needed to pray but did not have anything to cover her head with her I would say that she should go ahead a pray anyway. For we are under the law of grace, and while we show God our love by obeying Him he will forgive us when we are not perfect.
The definition of the word prophesy is as follows
Strong's Number: 4395
Browse LexiconOriginal Word
Word Origin
profhteuvw
from (4396)
Transliterated Word
TDNT Entry
Propheteuo
6:781,952
Phonetic Spelling
Parts of Speech
prof-ate-yoo'-o
Verb
Definition
1. to prophesy, to be a prophet, speak forth by divine inspirations, to predict
a. to prophesy
b. with the idea of foretelling future events pertaining esp. to the kingdom of God
c. to utter forth, declare, a thing which can only be known by divine revelation
d. to break forth under sudden impulse in lofty discourse or praise of the divine counsels
1. under like prompting, to teach, refute, reprove, admonish, comfort others
e. to act as a prophet, discharge the prophetic office
</TD< TR>
Based on the definition of the word prophesying it includes not just telling the future as reviled to someone by God (as the prophets did) but it also includes praising God (as in singing etc.) teaching, refuting, reproving, admonishing, and comforting others in the Lord. So this is where a woman must decide which specific actions require her to be covered aside from praying. It seems to me that during any spiritual gathering (church services, family devotions, teaching the children from the Bible, weddings, funerals, etc.) a woman should be covered. Some women such as the Amish remain covered all the time claiming that they are always engaged in such actives and that they pray without ceasing. That is okay but I dont think one can be dogmatic on being covered all the time. If God wanted women covered all the time then why didnt Paul write that women are to remain covered at all times. Instead Paul wrote the women should cover when praying or prophesying.
head covering is something that an ancient society believed in. It was customary for women to be veiled, especially in religions like Islam. I find it kinda creepy for women to still want to wear head coverings. Theres no purpose for them and I don't believe it benefits you more than the woman without head coverings.
Many people will say that the veil for the woman was just some Corinthian custom that does not apply to us today. But the scripture is very clear.
1 Corinthians 11:
4:Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
5: But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
It says every man and every woman not every 1st century Corinthian.
Sure the head covering does not save you. This is rather a matter of respect and obedience towards God. And as the Bible deals with this issue, it is a valid point to consider even nowadays, just as it was said before:
Talking about veiled Muslim women: just as a side note, Islam came 600 years later than Christianity, so it was the Christian women who were told to cover their head first.
I was born in Romania, and almost all women there have their heads covered fully for church. Sure, as all over the world, the younger generation tries to get rid of the head covering, it is sometimes really annoying, I know myself, it ruins your hairstyle, I often complain about it. But is the way the hair looks like more important than the obedience and respect for God?
Correct. Jesus is the head of the church and the man the head of his wife.The head leads the body. God is not into confusion, He's not ging to tell the wife one thing, the husband something else....How many heads in the church? answer: One, it's Jesus, how many heads in the home, answer: one, It's the husband......
Covering the head is a teaching method to a basic fact of creation. Go back read it, find the heads, find the creation, you will see the reason for the teaching. It's not important to cover the head, it is important to understand how God created the family, and the church to fit together with one supporting the other.
That is true, but does that mean that this passage is not valid anymore, just because most people dont live according to it? Does it mean the Scripture is not valid anymore, just because most people nowadays do not live according to it?The OP scripture supports traditional marriage in ways that are bing lost to our culture.
2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,"
One of the things I do to make sure I am not confused for a Muslim is to show my hair, whether that's side locks hanging down or just the front bangs. I also let my ears and neck show as these are huge Muslim no-no's. We, I am happy to so, are just not bogged down by that legalism. We have LOTS of freedom with our veils, which can even be hats! It always helps to know their rules so you won't be mistaken, though it will probably happen anyway.
Correct. Jesus is the head of the church and the man the head of his wife.
Sure God does not tell the husband one thing and the wife something else. I mean, yes, the husband is the head of his wife, which means that he has authority over her, but still the wife has her own physical head. We should not mix up between the physical head and the spiritual head (e.g. authority). Paul talks about 2 different things, first about the spiritual head (e.g. Jesus has authority over the church, the husband over his wife) and then he does address the man's and woman's physical head.
That is true, but does that mean that this passage is not valid anymore, just because most people dont live according to it? Does it mean the Scripture is not valid anymore, just because most people nowadays do not live according to it?
Personally I believe the whole Scripture has to be taken into consideration, based on this verse:
I agree but what's important here is: covering the head is the tool, the Godly home is the goal.