covering head during prayer

[Evie]

I was always taught that the covering of a womans head is her hair. At our womens bible study on Sunday mornings, we are doing a study segment on covering your head during prayer. Some woman are like,"no" I don't think so. What are your ideas on this,scriptures would be great also???

 

[DIVA_for_Christ]

I was always taught that the covering of a womans head is her hair. At our womens bible study on Sunday mornings, we are doing a study segment on covering your head during prayer. Some woman are like,"no" I don't think so. What are your ideas on this,scriptures would be great also???

I'm just learning about this as well. From what I am getting we should be covering up in a prayer shawl. Juanita Bynum's Ministry sent me one and I'm studying the scriptures given as reference.

Numbers 15:37-41 (AMP)

37And the Lord said to Moses, 38Speak to the Israelites and bid them make fringes or tassels on the corners in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and put upon the fringe of the borders or upon the tassel of each corner a cord of blue. 39And it shall be to you a fringe or tassel that you may look upon and remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them, that you may not spy out and follow after [the desires of] your own heart and your own eyes, after which you used to follow and play the harlot [spiritually, if not physically], 40That you may remember and do all My commandments and be holy to your God. 41I am the Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord your God.

Deuteronomy 22:12 (AMP)

12You shall make yourself tassels on the four corners of your cloak with which you cover yourself.

 

[holo]

Why would you cover your head during prayer?

 

[Evie]

WELL HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOLO~

some cover their head because of tradition and others because they feel it's being submisive to Christ

Why would you cover your head during prayer?

 

[holo]

I see. I guess my question really is "why would Jesus expect or demand women cover their heads during prayer?"

 

[Linnis]

Some men cover their heads also. I knew a Jewish man in my building growing up and he always wore a hat to"Remind him of who's above him,".

Head covering is a choice. My dad would cover my head with this lace type thing when he'd get in the mood to pray and he's catholic. I never understood why Catholic women wear hats and men remove theirs.

If you read scripture and feel that's what you need to do than so be it. I think some prayer coverings are really pretty & have been thinking and praying on the idea myself.

 

[Evie]

Some men cover their heads also. I knew a Jewish man in my building growing up and he always wore a hat to"Remind him of who's above him,".

Head covering is a choice. My dad would cover my head with this lace type thing when he'd get in the mood to pray and he's catholic. I never understood why Catholic women wear hats and men remove theirs.

If you read scripture and feel that's what you need to do than so be it. I think some prayer coverings are really pretty & have been thinking and praying on the idea myself.

yes,I agree with you. My friend from India uses her prayer scarf only when she prays. She is so into covering her head during prayer that one time we were having a womans retreat and she did not have her scarf for prayer. The closest thing to her was a washcloth,so she threw it on her head. I however disrupted the whole prayer by laughing outloud. Was too funny!!
Anyways many women in our church use prayer scarfs and many of us don't. I had a woman tell me that when the scarf is on her head,she feels like she is in her prayer closet. It is by choice that women use them.

 

[LynnMcG]

Every man praying or phophesying, having his head covered, dishoners his head. But every woman who prays or prohesyies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same if her head were shaved. For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered.
1 Cor 11:4-6

In biblical times a woman's head covering was a sign of modesty and committment to her husband. This was an issue in Corinth much like it is today. Paul continues in verse 16, to explain that there is no true custom either way.

 

[IKTCA]

Sister Evie,
I am most pleasantly suprised to know that you are okay with either approach and so is your church. I know a sister who convered her head for a while, but had to give up because of negative comments. How I wished she continued. Many criticized her as legalistic. How I envy your church that accepts both.

Do you cover your head? If you prefer not to answer, that's fine with me.

Rupert

 

[LynnMcG]

I had a woman tell me that when the scarf is on her head,she feels like she is in her prayer closet. It is by choice that women use them.

Me too! I do not have the luxury of having a prayer closet. So I use a prayer shawl to cover my head sometimes when I pray. It creates that same quiet, undisturbed atmosphere for me. I only use my shawl in private however. I somehow felt like it would be an overstatement in our church and would make me uncomfortable in public. Just too showy in our church. But I only did this after the Lord placed it upon my heart about two years ago. I also agree, that this is a personal decision and not a one-size-fits-all situation.

 

[IKTCA]

Sister Lynn:

Since you received the apostle's word, you will also receive the apostle's reward, as promised by the word of Jesus.

Rupert

 

[Heinrich]

Yes religion seems interesting indeed...

But I don't like religion, I just love my relationship with Jesus.

 

[symphonyb]

I saw this in Europe alot,especially in Catholic regions.Here,I have never seen it at the worship I attend.I understand it though-covering ones hair is almost like wearing a veil.Christ present during worship-seems fitting.

 

[IKTCA]

Brother Heinrich,

Please consider this as my effort to further our fellowship. The subject matter is the head covering. If a sister reads Paul's exhortation to put on head covering, and decides to do so, I want to praise her.

Some of us like certain books of the Bible better. Again within the same book, some believers pay more attention to certain instructions than the others. But all are believers. Some sisters pay little attention to Paul's exhortation to head covering. Some actually follow it. Some even may do so just because others do. But all are believers, and all we regard with respect and honor.

Brother Heinrich,

I am not trying to persuade you into my view. I only ask you if you can leave the door open that, to some sisters, head covering might not be a look-religious practice, but a faithful obedience from submissive heart. Are you cool with this?

Rupert

 

[LynnMcG]

Yes religion seems interesting indeed...

But I don't like religion, I just love my relationship with Jesus.

Why would you confuse this with religion?

My experience was very personal and not meant for your criticism especially since this doesn't even concern you as a man. As a wife and mother it is very difficult to get time alone for prayer. The covering of one's head in reverence to the Lord is also a simple way to simulate a private prayer closet in the chaos of our day.

 

[Pietro]

Of course Jewish men had a tradition of wearing the talit or prayer shawl. Some still do. I think it is cool and wouldn't mind it myself as a way to tell myself and the world that I am temporarily off line and in prayer. But it is not the norm for Christian men and I suppose Jews might take offense. Christian monks used to wear the hoods of their habits also.

 

[Pietro]

Brother Heinrich,

Please consider this as my effort to further our fellowship. The subject matter is the head covering. If a sister reads Paul's exhortation to put on head covering, and decides to do so, I want to praise her.

I wonder though if she would also follow his exhortation to remain silent.

 

[Evie]

Sister Evie,
I am most pleasantly suprised to know that you are okay with either approach and so is your church. I know a sister who convered her head for a while, but had to give up because of negative comments. How I wished she continued. Many criticized her as legalistic. How I envy your church that accepts both.

Do you cover your head? If you prefer not to answer, that's fine with me.

Rupert

I do not cover my head,but lately feel that I may start.
It would be like my private closet with God time,ya know?

 

[mark53]

This whole issue needs to be looked at in the wider context. Paul is talking to Jewish people and / or Jewish converts and other people of his time. If we are to be fully Jewish and obey all these rules what else is there?

E.g. Women do not wear make up or jewelry. Wear clothes like what they wore then. You can't have one or the other. Have you seen Muslim women in their full gear, well, it was similar to that! For men it was easier, but it would mean NO western style clothing.

One must either go fully Jewish / Middle Eastern or not.

 

[whitedove7]

I know covering the heads does not make a person a better Christian. Many of our traditional churches have a vestige of this teaching that has remained in the popular custom of women wearing hats to church on Sunday. God looks at the heart of people.

If that is what your church wants you to do then go with it. If the church does not observe this trandition, then don't worry about it.

What is God's real meaning of these verses and what is the true "covering?" One way we can discern between false and true teaching is to examine the fruit of it. Does it bring freedom, or legalism and bondage?

In conclusion, God is our covering spiritually, for both the man and the woman. Both husbands and wives should cover one another in prayers and with their devotion and loving deeds. The Lord is always teaching us about heart attitudes in the New Testament of the Bible and many of the parables of Jesus and the illustrations of Paul were used to point out these very things. Paul's conclusion to the question of women veiling in I Corinthians 11:16, "But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God." He simply says this is a custom of the women, but it is not a church ordinance. Therefore, if in some cultures, the women are still covering their heads and it is their custom, it would not hurt us to honor that custom if we go there to preach by covering our head if we are a woman. (This could also pertain to our dress as western women when we are in a foreign land. We should restrain from wearing short dresses and shorts. Personally, I don't think wearing skimpy clothes is a good witness, even in our own country, as it doesn't represent Godly dress.) The people we are preaching to in foreign lands might be more open to receive our message if we are considerate of their customs. Paul made this statement:

1 Corinthians 9:20-22 "And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. 22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some."

If a person is more comfortable in covering their heads because of what your church has taught then do it. If a person is not comfortable because it was not taught to them because of a different type of church then, that is ok too! It is what makes you comfortable but it has nothing to do with salvation. Salvation is a heart issue. It is not sin to not cover your head because Jesus is our covering. These are traditions of man.