redefining the headcover

[Danfrey]

I am working with my 12 year old daughter on wearing a headcover. It has been an exciting experience. We are not exactly your run-of-the-mill Mennonites so we have our own style of dress. I guess you could call us liberal conservatives or conservative liberals. She is wearing bandanas right off the shelf from Walmart. In most churches we have been part of that covered this would be considered taboo, but she has her head covered when she prays and prophesies. Also, she is actually covering her hair with the bandana. I think if we could get to a place that we teach the biblical concept without all the extra baggage that goes along with it, people would be alot more receptive to it. It may not be a white mesh cap, but I can guarantee you when people see her in a jumper and cover, they know there is something different about her. Maybe a kid can be a kid and still not be conformed to the world. By the way, my favorite cover is the one with the puppy paw prints and chew bones.

Thoughts and opinions welcome

 

[MrJim]

The angel aspect of the covering is what I find most interesting.

1Co 11:10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.

 

[theAmishGirl]

The angel aspect of the covering is what I find most interesting.

1Co 11:10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.

I have thought about covering with only a bandana, but in my area, a lot of people wear them just because, so for me I don't feel like it is a seperation. I guess a lot depends on the area you live.

 

[vespasia]

I was wearing a full headcovering last year BUT where I live people kept mistaking me for being a member of the exclusive brethren ( in the Uk they have become increadibly insular so people were scared to talk with me although one or two of the EB woman did do for a while ) and if I went into a city people thought I was a Muslim.

So unless its for some very important time alone with God or I know it would cause real problems for another if I did not I no longer do so.

 

[Danfrey]

I have thought about covering with only a bandana, but in my area, a lot of people wear them just because, so for me I don't feel like it is a seperation. I guess a lot depends on the area you live.

I don't see the headcover as seperation issue. The scripture gives it as more of honor, authority type issue.

I respect those who wear a cover that is more traditional, but if we were to look to the cover that is more historically accurate, it would be a larger veil type. More like what Muslim women wear.

I am not a big fan of defining dress issues beyond modesty, unadornment, and sexual distinction. It seems that the rejection of many biblical standards of dress has come from the church trying to define standards to a level that the Bible doesn't.

 

[MrJim]

I'm seeing more and more of the veiling over the net/cap covering here in the South Central PA area. I know there is a Charity church in the area but I think there are some of the more modern conservatives that are switching to the veiling. I guess it sorta looks like a large white bandana.

 

[oliveplants]

Can I come in here? I'm not anabaptist, but really feel closer to that (this) group than any other....

I also wear the handkerchief from Walmart. I'd bought a snood online and wear it to church (til I lost it), but for day to day just the handkerchief. SOme people do just wear one, but I can't help what they do.

Menno, when you said a Charity church, do you mean Charity Gospel with Denny Kennaston? We have been very blessed by their tape ministry.

Sorry if I'm not supposed to be here, I'll hush. But it feels good...

 

[tulc]

Can I come in here? I'm not anabaptist, but really feel closer to that (this) group than any other....

I also wear the handkerchief from Walmart. I'd bought a snood online and wear it to church (til I lost it), but for day to day just the handkerchief. SOme people do just wear one, but I can't help what they do.

Menno, when you said a Charity church, do you mean Charity Gospel with Denny Kennaston? We have been very blessed by their tape ministry.

Sorry if I'm not supposed to be here, I'll hush. But it feels good...

First off:
WELCOME TO THE ANABAPTIST FORUM!!
as for the headcovering, in my opinion wear what you feel led to wear.
tulc(thinks you should hang out here, we can make some cookies!)

 

[oliveplants]

First off:
WELCOME TO THE ANABAPTIST FORUM!!
as for the headcovering, in my opinion wear what you feel led to wear.
tulc(thinks you should hang out here, we can make some cookies!)

Thank you. I've been doing better at cookies lately, but you should try my strawberry pie!

 

[theAmishGirl]

I don't see the headcover as seperation issue. The scripture gives it as more of honor, authority type issue. \quote]

I disagree in part- when Paul told the women at Corinth that they should wear a headcovering, he did so because Corinth was known as a city where anything is permittable, much like the US today. While YES, the original symbolism of the covering did involve headship, the intent of the instruction was to seperate the women of Corinth from those around them. In many societies of the time, a woman with her head uncovered was seen as having lose morals, so in order to uphold a good image with those groups, Paul instructed them to be modest and wear the covering, in essence seperating them from the hethenistic nature of other Corinthian women.

 

[MrJim]

Can I come in here? I'm not anabaptist, but really feel closer to that (this) group than any other....

I also wear the handkerchief from Walmart. I'd bought a snood online and wear it to church (til I lost it), but for day to day just the handkerchief. SOme people do just wear one, but I can't help what they do.

Menno, when you said a Charity church, do you mean Charity Gospel with Denny Kennaston? We have been very blessed by their tape ministry.

Sorry if I'm not supposed to be here, I'll hush. But it feels good...

http://www.charityministries.org/

This would be the "Charity" I'm referring to.

Yes you are welcome! Where are you fellowshipping now?

 

[oliveplants]

http://www.charityministries.org/

This would be the "Charity" I'm referring to.

Yes you are welcome! Where are you fellowshipping now?

Yep, that's the one!

We currently attend a small independant church. Solid Bible base, but not Anabaptist at all. I am the only one I know who even wears a dress... (and let's not get into our deeper differances.)

 

[AmishBoy]

Yep, that's the one!

We currently attend a small independant church. Solid Bible base, but not Anabaptist at all. I am the only one I know who even wears a dress... (and let's not get into our deeper differances.)

Really? Thats almost depressing.. ofcourse I got to a baptacostal church lol, (Baptist that actually get excited) there are very few that wears a dress.. Wish we could find an anabaptist church..

 

[ZiSunka]

I am working with my 12 year old daughter on wearing a headcover. It has been an exciting experience. We are not exactly your run-of-the-mill Mennonites so we have our own style of dress. I guess you could call us liberal conservatives or conservative liberals. She is wearing bandanas right off the shelf from Walmart. In most churches we have been part of that covered this would be considered taboo, but she has her head covered when she prays and prophesies. Also, she is actually covering her hair with the bandana. I think if we could get to a place that we teach the biblical concept without all the extra baggage that goes along with it, people would be alot more receptive to it. It may not be a white mesh cap, but I can guarantee you when people see her in a jumper and cover, they know there is something different about her. Maybe a kid can be a kid and still not be conformed to the world. By the way, my favorite cover is the one with the puppy paw prints and chew bones.

Thoughts and opinions welcome

I have struggled back and forth over the headcovering since I just joined the mennonite church 14 years ago.

It gets misused and abused so much that I had to put the whole idea on the shelf for a long while.

I have come to the conclusion that headcovering is an optional matter, not essential to salvation or sanctification, a disipline, not a commandment.

If a woman wants to cover for the right reasons, great! If she doesn't want to cover for the right reasons, great! Each woman should be fully convinced in her own heart that it is the right thing to do for her, her witness and her community and family.

 

[theAmishGirl]

I have struggled back and forth over the headcovering since I just joined the mennonite church 14 years ago.

It gets misused and abused so much that I had to put the whole idea on the shelf for a long while.

I have come to the conclusion that headcovering is an optional matter, not essential to salvation or sanctification, a disipline, not a commandment.

If a woman wants to cover for the right reasons, great! If she doesn't want to cover for the right reasons, great! Each woman should be fully convinced in her own heart that it is the right thing to do for her, her witness and her community and family.

What do you mean "abused"? What are some of the wrong reasons in your op.?

 

[ZiSunka]

What do you mean "abused"? What are some of the wrong reasons in your op.?

I've known men who verbally and physically harmed their wives for wearing or not wearing the headcovering.

I dated a mennonite man for a while, and he once flat out told me that if I didn't cover my head in the presence of any men, I was a harlot and was showing myself to be unsaved.

A friend of mine didn't cover her head (we went to a church where some women covered and some didn't) and her husband was constantly belittled for not forcing his wife to cover.

A pastor I knew said that if a woman doesn't cover her head, she was asking to be raped.

It gets really yucky in some anabaptist circles when the subject of covering comes up.

But I will say that if I were married and covering my head meant a lot to my husband and he was gracious and loving about it, I would cover.

I think the wrong reasons to cover are because a woman feels threatened if she doesn't. Another wrong reason is some anabaptists teach that God won't hear a woman's prayers if she doesn't cover. I think covering because of intimidation misses the point.

 

[theAmishGirl]

I've known men who verbally and physically harmed their wives for wearing or not wearing the headcovering.

I dated a mennonite man for a while, and he once flat out told me that if I didn't cover my head in the presence of any men, I was a harlot and was showing myself to be unsaved.

A friend of mine didn't cover her head (we went to a church where some women covered and some didn't) and her husband was constantly belittled for not forcing his wife to cover.

A pastor I knew said that if a woman doesn't cover her head, she was asking to be raped.

It gets really yucky in some anabaptist circles when the subject of covering comes up.

But I will say that if I were married and covering my head meant a lot to my husband and he was gracious and loving about it, I would cover.

I think the wrong reasons to cover are because a woman feels threatened if she doesn't. Another wrong reason is some anabaptists teach that God won't hear a woman's prayers if she doesn't cover. I think covering because of intimidation misses the point.

Ok- I understand what you mean now

 

[Danfrey]

I would agree that covering for the wrong reason is a waste of time. The right reason to cover is because scripture teaches it and history backs up the teaching.

I don't understand the idea of salvation issues and non-salvation issues when we are discussing biblical teachings. I understand the issue of standards that are not scriptural teachings...for instance

the cape dress...not defined in scripture
Jewelry.....forbidden in scripture
modesty......scriptural
cap style cover......not defined
cover........defined

How can rejecting a scriptural teaching not be a salvation issue?

 

[ZiSunka]

I would agree that covering for the wrong reason is a waste of time. The right reason to cover is because scripture teaches it and history backs up the teaching.

I don't understand the idea of salvation issues and non-salvation issues when we are discussing biblical teachings. I understand the issue of standards that are not scriptural teachings...for instance

the cape dress...not defined in scripture
Jewelry.....forbidden in scripture
modesty......scriptural
cap style cover......not defined
cover........defined

How can rejecting a scriptural teaching not be a salvation issue?

So you believe a woman has to cover her head to be saved?

 

[Danfrey]

So you believe a woman has to cover her head to be saved?

I am saying that the cover is a clear scriptural teaching. Each person will be held accountable to God for the commands he has given that we choose to reject.

My point is that we can not pick and choose which scriptural teachings are salvation issues and which are not unless the scripture teaches them that way. For instance, we are told not to judge or be judged on holy days, food, and Sabaths. We live in a society that likes to raise personal preference above scriptural teaching. Bring up the issue of wedding rings and see how quick the conversation starts spinning.