Head coverings...

[PrincessBrideOfChrist]

Hi I was just curious about women wearing head coverings.

It seems there are a few ways of looking at it.

Firstly, it is literal and women should wear head coverings.

Secondly, it is a social thing where women normally wore their head covered and having it uncovered meant you were disgraced as a prostitute, adulteress or pagan. Thus in our society it would be like showing up to church in fishnet stockings, mini skirt and see through top. It's just about dressing modestly.

Thirdly, that to wear your head covered today would draw attention to yourself in many modern churches and therefore defeats the whole purpose.

What does everyone think? I see the argument for all sides.
Also does it have to be a particular covering. There seems to be no specification...

 

[briareos]

Sure

First you need to realize that if people really took these verses literally, for today and seriously they'd have to believe it was a sin to pray with a hat on (but you never hear that)

1 Cor 11.4
Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head

if you want take this serious for today you have to believe it is a sin for a woman to shave her head

1 Cor 11.6
but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.

You have to believe men shouldn't wear hats or hoods

1 Cor 11.7
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.

Paul does ask that you yourself be the judge

1 Cor 11.13
Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered?

Paul appeals to nature, not God...

1 Cor 11.14
Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him

Paul ends his argument by only saying that if anyone disagrees... that no other church practices anything else, he did not use God's word or God's truth to prove his point.

1 Cor 11.16
If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.

Ok.. so realize some things, few really take these verses seriously for today because only women get grief over this... but it talks about men too but no one cares about that. Paul appeals to nature, not only God and he ends his argument without feeling like he can or should prove it and asks you to judge the matter for yourself. Men who harp on this may just be sexist and don't really take these verses seriously.

It came from the culture of the time, not a divine principle.

 

[Ark100]

Just like Paul cited the examples of NOT condemning people who eat certain meat to people who do.

Some people believe in covering their heads, especially Muslims, even many Christians still do it today (at church). They do it to revere God, to show their respect and that is how they have been brought up.

My dad, while growing up used to get really upset with us if we were praying and our heads (the girls) heads were not covered with something, even if it was a kitchen napkin

However those who do not do it, still none should condemn them for God sees the heart. There is a lot of ways to show reverence and respect to being in God's temple than covering the head.

There were a lot of strict religious rules we were to abide by while I was growing up. I did grow up in Anglican family. But when I decided to branch out and just do my own thing, I was led to a pentecostal church which is where my passion for the Lord is.

There have been instances that have made me realize that there is MORE to GOD than what we think, even than what is in the Bible. What we have in the Bible is like a slight reflection of WHO the Father is.

God looks at the heart. So, some may cover their whole heads and body with clothes, but if their hearts are not in the right place, those things mean nothing to God. This is not encouraging dressing provocatively because its definitely wrong.

But man looks mainly at outward things and behaviors while God sees the inside and what is really going on in hearts of man

An example, I have heard where many people say its not a good idea to fast while on a period. I was on a 50/50 on that until the time I had to fast for something to seek God's face. It was around the period. I did decide to fast anyway, and during my prayers when I was really into it, I had this most powerful presence of the Holy Spirit like never before then.

I knew instantly at that point that some things that man take seriously, God does not, He simply looks at man's heart and motives. The Lord showed me He was there and hearing regardless of period or not.

I wear scarves on my head sometimes to church, and I don't sometimes. The Holy Spirit will do what He will on me either way. But it is always good to dress sensibly, not provocatively. But as someone who is following Christ would dress.

So in conclusion It does not matter if you cover your head or not. Revere God, live a godly life and let your heart be pure towards Him and towards others.

 

[Girder of Loins]

If you want to due to some submission exercise or as a conscience reminder to give glory to God, go ahead. Beyond that, there is no "spiritual" relevance and is not a requirement. I'm not gonna go into verses, as above posts have done that.

 

[PureDose]

Hi I was just curious about women wearing head coverings.

It seems there are a few ways of looking at it.

Firstly, it is literal and women should wear head coverings.

Secondly, it is a social thing where women normally wore their head covered and having it uncovered meant you were disgraced as a prostitute, adulteress or pagan. Thus in our society it would be like showing up to church in fishnet stockings, mini skirt and see through top. It's just about dressing modestly.

Thirdly, that to wear your head covered today would draw attention to yourself in many modern churches and therefore defeats the whole purpose.

What does everyone think? I see the argument for all sides.
Also does it have to be a particular covering. There seems to be no specification...

I was wondering myself the other day, I think it is one of the most odd verses in Scripture.


What I have seen is that when women wear hats they incredibly tone down their attractiveness. Moreso even then what other clothes they wear.

But, it also seems strange to me for him to say that a man who prays with a hat dishonors his head. Which, maybe he means God? Or a person?


Also, I can see how a woman is a glory of a man, this is obvious when you consider having seen a beautiful woman married to an older or nerdy guy, for instance. But doesn't that go both ways? If a woman is married to a very good looking guy or wealthy guy doesn't that say something of her glory?

Maybe my senses are just dull.

 

[Ariadne_GR]

I did it this year for a few weeks in Lent as an exercise in modesty, being that my hair is something I take pride in. It is humbling to wear a head covering, though it does draw unwanted attention. One client asked me if I was turning Muslim...sigh! I see both sides, if one feels truly convicted to cover then they should but there is also the issue as I found of unwanted attention.

 

[ezeric]

Some say that as this 'women wearing a covering/hat' was that as this was written to the Corinthians (saints in Corinth) they had a pagan temple worship system (in the city), where a man, would have sex with a woman temple priest (but really just a prostitute) as you gave your money & sex, as your act of worship.

It was pagan.
It was of the devil.
How did the people know the temple prostitutes from the rest of the ladies, they were head shaved. (you can look this up in history of early church).

The temple prostitutes had their hair shaved off.

Now the GOOD NEWS was being preached/taught everywhere, lives were being changed. (including some of these temple prostitutes).
Remember the saints (like some of us) met in homes, where GOD was present in everyone and some of these 'head shaven x-prostitutes' found JESUS and would end up in a home fellowship. Well the 'head shaven' was not only noticeable it was distracting, it also put these women in 'judgement light',
i.e. "we know where you came from..."

Causing division.

So, as an act of GRACE (remember everything in the New Covenant is an act of GRACE) Paul would instruct all women to cover your heads, so that all of them can be 'one' (as they should be in JESUS).

It was to bring unity.
It was an act of GRACE.
Everyone equal - as JESUS taught.

But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ.
Matthew 23

We are all one in Messiah JESUS. Galatians 3:28

-eric

The Exchanged Life

 

[timf]

Firstly, it is literal and women should wear head coverings.

I believe it is literal and yes it would also be disrespectful if a man wore a hat. I see that the Bible says that women are "covered" by long hair. I do not see the need for a second covering.

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.

 

[LilLamb219]

Ezeric brought in the history which is what we need to look at when reading those verses.

Also, I've always thought that if God always wanted women to cover their heads, He would have started with Eve when she and Adam were clothed in leaves...there would have been a mention about it made if it was something important.

 

[PrincessBrideOfChrist]

Hmmm... A lot to consider!

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Ezeric brought in the history which is what we need to look at when reading those verses.

Also, I've always thought that if God always wanted women to cover their heads, He would have started with Eve when she and Adam were clothed in leaves...there would have been a mention about it made if it was something important.

Good point

...

 

[PureDose]

Ezeric brought in the history which is what we need to look at when reading those verses.

Also, I've always thought that if God always wanted women to cover their heads, He would have started with Eve when she and Adam were clothed in leaves...there would have been a mention about it made if it was something important.

Very good point.

That does further highlight the likeliness that this is an ancient, regional, cultural issue, as opposed to an universal one.

 

[Goodbook]

those verses were a bit confusing to me too at first thanks ezeric for explaining. The way I think of it to relate to modern day is remember those women who have cancer treatment they get their hair shaved off, it's a very humiliating (or noticeable) thing so they wear wigs to cover, or a head covering (scarf, etc). A woman's long hair is a glory to her - that is our covering, we don't need to add extra. It doesn't really matter so much for a man - he can be happily bald!

Although sometimes I wear a hat to church and elsewhere because I like wearing them. And I do get some comments some say I suit them and others ask me if I am 'going muslim' lol.

 

[Eloy]

Scripture reads that men should not cover their heads when they prophesy, and that women should cover their heads when prophesying. In the apostolic church the women wear a veil on their heads. I believe this shows a distinction between the man and the woman, not that the man is holier than the woman, nor that the woman is holier than the man, but that there is a godly classification represented by the woman and a godly classification represented by the man. I am a man, but if I were made a woman I would truly be honored to wear a veil on my head in church.

 

[PrincessBrideOfChrist]

Well after reflection I've decided that it was in the context of the society of the day.

 

[vortigen84]

Hi I was just curious about women wearing head coverings.

It seems there are a few ways of looking at it.

Firstly, it is literal and women should wear head coverings.

Secondly, it is a social thing where women normally wore their head covered and having it uncovered meant you were disgraced as a prostitute, adulteress or pagan. Thus in our society it would be like showing up to church in fishnet stockings, mini skirt and see through top. It's just about dressing modestly.

Thirdly, that to wear your head covered today would draw attention to yourself in many modern churches and therefore defeats the whole purpose.

What does everyone think? I see the argument for all sides.
Also does it have to be a particular covering. There seems to be no specification...

I take the view that the passage in Corinthians is talking about two kinds of heads: symbolic (to do with authority), and literal.

With regards to the latter, I believe a woman's hair is given to her as a head covering because that is what St Paul says:

1 Corinthians 11:5, 14-15

But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying disgraces her head, for she is one and the same as the woman whose head is shaved.

...

Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her for a covering.​

I do wonder though if the main point is to do with the symbolic, and Paul is simply using an example from everday life to emphasize his point? However he does make a point about "nature itself", which would seem to imply it unnatural for a guy to have long hair and a gal to have a shaved head. But then you had the case of the Nazirites, like Samson, who had long hair. So I don't know how to sort all that out.

But whatever: a woman's hair is her literal head covering, and her husband her other "head" covering, end of story.

 

[Goodbook]

theres one part that puzzles me still though..about the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. (verse 10) what is this referring to?