Head covering

[Tellyontellyon]

I've seen some Christian women who cover their heads. There seems to be a fairly clear direction about this in 1 Corinthians, so how come this isn't followed very much?
The injunction seems to say while praying, but isn't prayer something that can happen at any moment?
Why aren't Christian women covering their heads?

 

[HTacianas]

I've seen some Christian women who cover their heads. There seems to be a fairly clear direction about this in 1 Corinthians, so how come this isn't followed very much?
The injunction seems to say while praying, but isn't prayer something that can happen at any moment?
Why aren't Christian women covering their heads?

It pretty much went out of style around 50 years or so ago in the West. If you look at pictures of street scenes from before that time you'll see nearly every woman wearing a hat of some sort. Queen Elizabeth wore a hat whenever she was in public. She was probably one of the last generation to do it. But if you look at royal weddings you'll see all the women wearing hats. It's still a formal tradition.

 

[sandman]

I've seen some Christian women who cover their heads. There seems to be a fairly clear direction about this in 1 Corinthians, so how come this isn't followed very much?
The injunction seems to say while praying, but isn't prayer something that can happen at any moment?
Why aren't Christian women covering their heads?

The head covering for women had been a traditional thing for centuries. This context 1Co 11 is referencing married women (wives). Traditionally the hair was considered a sensual thing that was reserved for only the husband to see.

But the conclusion is stated in 1Co 11:16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

 

[PloverWing]

As others have said, Paul's instruction to cover one's head makes sense in a time and culture where every "decent" adult woman covered her head. That's not the culture that most modern Americans and Europeans live in, so the instruction doesn't make as much sense for us.

I see it a similar to saying "If you go to church, put on a suit and a tie", or, "If you're going to church right after going to the beach, put on a t-shirt over your swimsuit". Those instructions make sense for a very particular time period in North American and European cultures, but they wouldn't apply in all times and places around the globe.

 

[seeking.IAM]

We are all Biblical literalists right up until we don't want to be.

 

[Reluctant Theologian]

As others have said, Paul's instruction to cover one's head makes sense in a time and culture where every "decent" adult woman covered her head. That's not the culture that most modern Americans and Europeans live in, so the instruction doesn't make as much sense for us.

I see it a similar to saying "If you go to church, put on a suit and a tie", or, "If you're going to church right after going to the beach, put on a t-shirt over your swimsuit". Those instructions make sense for a very particular time period in North American and European cultures, but they wouldn't apply in all times and places around the globe.

Jesus' and Paul's attitude in general does not seem to be to admonish people to adhere to societal expectations of the day (but they did for societal laws insofar they didn't clash with God's instructions).

Paul's arguments for the head covering for women (a cloth / veil in those days), but also the asymmetry of the relationship between men and women in general, seem to be theological in nature. Therefore I find it too hard to conclude that he was simply using these theological arguments out of convenience just to warn believers to behave according to local societal norms and expectations - that doesn't make sense to me.

 

[YorkieGal]

Good question. I questioned this, myself, many years ago but figured church leaders knew about it more than I did so never revisited.

I may do this, now.

 

[RileyG]

If you ever attend a Catholic Latin Mass, you will see nearly all the women- even girls and baby girls- wear a veil.

Occasionally, you might see it the New Mass, depending how conservative the diocese is.

 

[joymercy]

"Church is a sacred vessel. God can touch a woman in a way he cannot touch a man. He can fill her with life. The number one reason why head coverings are awesome is because only sacred vessels are veiled, and women are sacred." - Fr. Timothy Geckle

 

[John 6:29]

"Church is a sacred vessel. God can touch a woman in a way he cannot touch a man. He can fill her with life. The number one reason why head coverings are awesome is because only sacred vessels are veiled, and women are sacred." - Fr. Timothy Geckle

View attachment 339066

The "Church" is not a place, it is the "Body of Christ Followers...Believers...The ekklēsía who are called out from the world and to God, the outcome being the Church, i.e. the universal body of believers whom God calls out from the world and into His eternal kingdom.

Nice picture though.

 

[joymercy]

The "Church" is not a place, it is the "Body of Christ Followers...Believers...The ekklēsía who are called out from the world and to God, the outcome being the Church, i.e. the universal body of believers whom God calls out from the world and into His eternal kingdom.

Nice picture though.

Thank you. Good point. Yes, we are the mystical body of Christ. Being so, the church is made up of us, and we are now sacred vessels

 

[Reluctant Theologian]

Thank you. Good point. Yes, we are the mystical body of Christ. Being so, the church is made up of us, and we are now sacred vessels

Aren't all believers (male and female) supposed to be sacred vessels? That is, all believers are supposed to be sacred/holy and filled with the Spirit. Not only women. The picture you posted is lovely though - and indeed I take the view Paul seems to be encouraging women to cover their heads literally while praying and prophesying (not just to keep long hair).

 

[joymercy]

Aren't all believers (male and female) supposed to be sacred vessels? That is, all believers are supposed to be sacred/holy and filled with the Spirit. Not only women. The picture you posted is lovely though - and indeed I take the view Paul seems to be encouraging women to cover their heads literally while praying and prophesying (not just to keep long hair).

Yes, all believers are sacred.
What gives forth Life, is veiled at mass, on the altar, and I like it. Its very symbolic and traditional,holy and reverent and I like it. I can think better and pray better while veiled. It keeps things quieter and keeps me meek, and its awesome to be a bride of Christ. I am His.

 

[Margaret3110]

I covered my head for a while, years ago. Tried to do it in a subtle way. It attracted too much attention and wrong assumptions and was distracting for me, so I stopped. There are a lot of ideas about it but I'm not sure what it actually accomplishes in our modern society.

 

[seeking.IAM]

I'm not sure what it actually accomplishes in our modern society.

I think if viewed as an act of personal piety, it accomplishes a certain mind set and satisfaction an individual has with how they approach worship. It's sort of like me wearing a suit to worship while everyone around me is in blue jeans and shorts. For me, it is a matter of respect and honor in approaching God in a sacred space. But often we succomb to pressure to be like everyone else and not stand out.

 

[Margaret3110]

I think if viewed as an act of personal piety, it accomplishes a certain mind set and satisfaction an individual has with how they approach worship. It's sort of like me wearing a suit to worship while everyone around me is in blue jeans and shorts. For me, it is a matter of respect and honor in approaching God in a sacred space. But often we succomb to pressure to be like everyone else and not stand out.

Idk. I tend to dress modestly and often wear long skirts, which already makes me stand out. Add any kind of head covering and I had people assuming I was some sort of religious sister or part of a religious cult. I'm glad it's fruitful for you.

 

[YorkieGal]

Here is a point of view:

What is the Head Covering in 1 Cor 11:2-16 and Does it Apply to Us Today? | Bible.org

The following ‘exegesis’ (if we can call it that) is really no more than an attempt to wrestle with the major hermeneutical-pragmatic double question of this passage, viz., what is the head covering and in what sense is this text applicable today? There are several views in vogue on the text...

bible.org

 

[joymercy]

Reverence to God will always be in "style"

God is not passe

Lazy interior lives show on the exterior life

 

[Reluctant Theologian]

Yes, all believers are sacred.
What gives forth Life, is veiled at mass, on the altar, and I like it. Its very symbolic and traditional,holy and reverent and I like it. I can think better and pray better while veiled. It keeps things quieter and keeps me meek, and its awesome to be a bride of Christ. I am His.

I understand, yet a man also gives life And technically speaking Israel is the bride of God / Christ. I don't recall any theological imagery of Paul using that metaphor for (pagan/heathen) believers coming to Christ. In Paul's writings the Church (collection of believers) is the body of Christ, and Christ is the head of the church.

Of course certainly we are all (men as well as women) supposed to be His. Individually also Christ is the head of man, and man is the head of woman (1 Corinthians 11:3).

 

[Margaret3110]

Reverence to God will always be in "style"

God is not passe

Lazy interior lives show on the exterior life

I don't think it's fair to insinuate that any woman who doesn't cover has a "lazy interior life."