Head Covering

ohgin · Dec 13, 2005

What do you think about the verse that describe that woman must cover their hair in church service?

tryme · Dec 13, 2005

It's definately Biblical.

But is it hair covering or head covering?

I remember when I was young (yep - see age)
ALL the mature women in the church did indeed wear little hats.
But it also may have just been the fashion of the day.
Gradually as I grew up the younger folk did not and eventually the older folk died off.

ohgin · Dec 13, 2005

It is definately hair covering. The verse says that woman should cover their hair to show their position of authority

JimfromOhio · Dec 13, 2005

Headcovering: 1 Corinthians 11:1-16

Orthodox as well many Anabaptist Denominations, in which women do cover their heads. However, headcovering is a personal choice between a woman and God simply because she loves the Lord and wants to submit to Him. It's a matter of woman's understanding of spiritual submission; that it's one of self-denial, surrender andobedience to the one Who first loved us. So this is simply one must realize that the veiling is a symbol of a biblical, spiritual truth regardless what denomination you go to. Christian women who are willing to wear the veiling because it is the symbol of their place in God's order with an attitude toward the Word along with discipleship and obedience. The primary purpose of the sign of the veiled head is to show God's headship order, and the faithful submission to her part in it. One can only fully understand the deep principles it represents when they are experiencing them in their heart and walking them out in their daily life. A woman just feel the conviction (from the Holy Spirit) to wear a headcovering.

Anyway, the reason I know this so well because my wife wears one simply everyday because she wanted to submit to her Lord. She even communicate with a group of online headcovering message board group.

I do want to make an interesting point, headcovering is becoming more popular and women at our church have been asking my wife about it. There is alot of discussions.

frumanchu · Dec 13, 2005

The principle was to show the headship of the man in the household, in the same manner as it is written that nature tells us men should not have long hair but no definition of length is actually given. The principle in that case is that the distinction between man and woman should not be blurred.

The point is that there is an economy in a marital relationship that should be maintained, even if literally covering the head is not.

StAnselm · Dec 13, 2005

Let's make sure we look at the actual text:

1 Corinthian 11:1-16 said:
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head--it is the same as if her head were shaven. For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head. For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God. Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.

It talks about covering her head, but her hair is given to her as a covering.

It doesn't mention "church services" either, but it does refer to praying and prophesying.

One other item of interest - Paul is explicitly appealing to the created order in this passage. That shows that it's not just a cultural thing - what he says doesn't just apply to first century Corinth.

cygnusx1 · Dec 13, 2005

I am strongly in favour of head covering .

Also I don't think it is an option , say like how much you give.

JimfromOhio · Dec 13, 2005

Paul is addressing this issue in the context of Christian liberty and is not attempting to set a custom for all the churches to observe. My wife and I believe that Paul prescribes the wearing of a head covering by women in corporate worship, not a merely as a cultural convention but as a normative practice which is to be observed in the church in all ages.

Regarding: Head
In greek, there are two different meanings of the word head (kephale). One is a reference to the physical head, the skull, of the man and the woman. The other is a reference to the source and authority of Christ, the man and the woman. Commentators are divided on the meaning of the Greek word kephale (head). Some interpret it to mean source, while others maintain that it signifies authority. Some scholars have examined the evidence and discovered that the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, records a number of places where the term head figuratively means chief or ruler.

We both believe that this applies to "the source and authority of Christ, the man and the woman".

Again, I told my wife that I don't care whether she wears a cover or not. This is HER relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. If she wants to wear one, I am happy. If she does not want to wear one, I am equally happy. I just don't want to "hinder" her relationship with God.

We also look at other verses for guidance such as:
1 Timothy 2:9-10, "Likewise the women are to adorn themselves in respectable apparel with modesty and sensibleness, not in braids and gold or pearls or expensive clothing, but, as is fitting for women who profess godliness, through good works."

1 Peter 3:3-5, "Let not yours be the external adorning of braiding hair and putting on gold or wearing clothes, but the hidden person of the heart by the imperishable (jewel) of a meek and quiet spirit, which is precious before God."

JimfromOhio · Dec 13, 2005

I want to add that I am using Romans 14:1-23, to allow God to temper our passions and the truth of God to guide our convictions. If my wife feels the convictions from the Holy Spirit, who am I to hinder her relationship with God? Its that simple.

pinkieposies · Dec 14, 2005

Thanks for the posts, guys! There are some interesting points of view here.

I, myself, am not too sure where I stand on the whole issue. There are only about two or three women in my church who actually do this. I have asked some of the women who don't why they have decided not to and their responses where somethng to the effect of "Well, it's really just between you and God and you have to decide for yourself". But I have a problem with this: If it pleases God for a woman to wear a covering for her hair in church, would it not follow that he would be pleased that all women would do this? And if this was true, why would any woman still not want to do it? I'm kind of confused about it. I cut my hair considerably shorter recently, and I have never worn a head covering in church. Am I displeasing God by doing these things?

I don't know, maybe someone can help me out with this?

God Bless,
Erin

JimfromOhio · Dec 14, 2005

pinkieposies said:
Thanks for the posts, guys! There are some interesting points of view here.

I, myself, am not too sure where I stand on the whole issue. There are only about two or three women in my church who actually do this. I have asked some of the women who don't why they have decided not to and their responses where somethng to the effect of "Well, it's really just between you and God and you have to decide for yourself". But I have a problem with this: If it pleases God for a woman to wear a covering for her hair in church, would it not follow that he would be pleased that all women would do this? And if this was true, why would any woman still not want to do it? I'm kind of confused about it. I cut my hair considerably shorter recently, and I have never worn a head covering in church. Am I displeasing God by doing these things?

I don't know, maybe someone can help me out with this?

God Bless,
Erin

I have never worn a head covering in church. Am I displeasing God by doing these things?

The issue is this (in my opinion): If you feel the Holy Spirit convicts you to wear one in obedience, wear one. If you don't feel the Holy Spirit convicting you to wear one, then you don't need to wear one.

Reading one of R. C. Sproul books on the topic:

For example, when Jesus sent out the seventy disciples on a mission of evangelism, he told them to take no shoes with them. That does not mean that all preaching and all evangelism for all times and all places has to be done in bare feet. Billy Graham is not sinning by wearing shoes when he preaches the gospel. Bu there are many questions like that that are not so obvious. In that whole context of the eleventh chapter of 1 Corinthians, women are called to cover their heads with a veil as a sign of their willingness to submit to the leadership or headshiop of their husbands. There are three elements here:
1. The submission of the wife to the husband as the head of the home
2. The covering of the head
3. The covering of the head by a veil
How much is principle and how much is custom?

Many Christians believe that we should no longer tell women to submit to the headship of their husbands. Therefore, women don't have to cover their heads. Others say that the headship principle still stands in the home, but the covering of the head was cultural custom that does not carry over into our day, and therefore the veil would be insignificant as well.

The third view of this passage is that it is describing a principle, and that women must cover their heads and use veils to do so.

I am convinced that when Paul says the women are to cover their heads, he is basing that action on how God created male and female. It would seem to me, using a principle of interpretation of what we call hermeneutics, that if there ever an indication of a perpetual ordinance in the church, it is that which is based on an appeal to Creation.

I'm persuaded that the principle of covering the head is still in effect because it was built into creation. And even though it's not culturally accepted anymore in our society, I still believe it's priniciple. I don't think it matters one bit whether it's a babushka, a veil, or a hat, but I think that the symbol should remain intact as a sign of our obedience to God.

R.C. Sproul, "Now, That's a Good Question", Pages 347-348

ohgin · Dec 14, 2005

Well dun think that this is a very good argument here. Of course as a child of God we are no longer submitted under the law but dun u think that this is an act of obedience? I mean if the "holy spirit" convicts you not to get baptised but just having a pure belief is that all right? And I am sure that most of the time, our flesh or the "holy spirit" could convince us not to give a significant amount of our money to the Kingdom of God but should we do it? Well a lot of people claim that they have visions, speak in tongues and do all kinds of weird things in front of the congregation and they claim that it comes from the holy spirit. Well I dun believe that the holy spirit would have inspired them to do all these things because I am sure that the holy spirit would not want fellow christians to stumble other brothers because the bible which was inspired by God states so. Now when the bible which states very clearly that Woman should wear some sort of covering on the head and also states clearly the reason as to why(not just because of some customs or because of the influence of the Corinthian Church) then why would the conviction as to not wearing a head covering come from the holy spirit???

Naomi4Christ · Dec 15, 2005

My understanding is that the only women in Corinth who did not wear a head covering were the prostitutes and loose women. Paul was reminding Christian women that unless they want to give off the wrong signals, then they should make sure they keep their heads covered.

We do not have to keep our heads covered today because we aren't sending signals one way or the other. Paul was saying that if you are a married woman, then look like a married women - the parallels today would be things like wearing a wedding ring, taking your husband's name on marriage, going out drinking on your own etc.

ohgin · Dec 15, 2005

3Now 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. 4Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her headit is just as though her head were shaved. 6If 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. 7A 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. 8For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head.
11In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. 13Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practicenor do the churches of God.

If you look at the verses in context I do not think that Paul was giving that signal. He was definately not telling those Corintian Woman to cover their head because of the moral values of the Corintian Women at that point of time. Paul also said the churches of God followed the same values. And he stated very clearly that the reason as to why head coverings were required was so as to cover the glory of man.

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