Head Covering for Women (1 Corinthians 11:5-15)

Head Covering for Women (1 Corinthians 11:5-15)

I decided to write on this topic in light the of the Head Covering Movement. It has been on my mind for sometime and writing helps me process my thoughts.  A head covering represents the order of God's ordained leadership in society.  A head covering is a sign that a husband is indeed the head of the wife and she is under his leadership. So I decided to search the Scriptures concerning my role as a wife when it comes to head coverings. When is it appropriate to wear one or should I wear one in public? I have heard various agruments against it, one being that this was a cultural thing. I decided that Scripture would be my guide and his Word tells me to rightly divide the Word of God (2 Timothy 2:15). So I will begin by writing what I believe is my biblical role as a wife to my husband.

As a young lady I prayed for a husband. Hannah sought God for the desires of her heart and she asked God to give her a child. God heard her cry and went beyond her prayers, and granted her not one child but six children. She was my inspiration. I sought God for a husband with only one criterion in mind.  If I was to respect and submit to a man as Scripture commands, then for me, he must have this one quality. I didn't ask God for a man with great wealth, power, intellegence, or even good looks. I asked God for a man who would love Him with all his heart, soul and might. A man after God's own heart. I knew this was the type of man I could respect and submit to and no other.

I knew this was the type of man who according to Scripture would love me, protect me and provide for his family. I knew this was the type of man who would provide spiritual leadership and guidance that would have an impact on  my faith.  And I can honestly say, God granted me what I asked for and then some. I have the best husband in the world for me. He is gentlemanly, dilligent, handsome and has one of the greatest minds I've ever known. In truth, he fascinates me.  And most importantly my husband has a deep love for God and His Word and has taught me so much. Respect and submission to my husband is easy. He is the boss of me and I couldn't have asked for a better husband. I said all of this because Scripture is clear that husbands must love their wives, protect and provide for their homes; and that wives are to respect and submit to their own husbands (I Peter 3:1). One cannot claim to know God and love God while having a blatant disregard for His word (although we all struggle with sin).

As a young wife at 23, learning my role as a wife was difficult for me at times. I had been used to being responsible for myself since I was 18, when I moved out of my parent's home. I was accustomed to going wherever I pleased, I spent the night at my girlfriends' homes. I would pick up and leave for days at a time with friends and I enjoyed my freedom. I was free like the wind within my faith to God. I wasn't drinking and partying or sleeping around. I was usually hanging out with my Christian friends. Shortly after marriage I really struggled with submission to my husband and what it meant and why. Why had God established this order in society? Did God love men more than women? Over the years my husband earned my much-deserved respect and devotion, but not before God himself taught me as a wife why it is my duty to submit to my husband. Let me clarify: my submission to my husband should never come at the cost of disobedience to God or Scripture. So in essence my submission to my husband comes with qualifications. A good lesson in that is the story of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5). In going along with Ananias, Sapphira submitted to her husband but not to God.

In reading Genesis 2:15-16, I came to understand that Eve's part that led to the fall of man was her failure to obey God through her husband. Verse 15 says that God took man and put him in the garden. Verse 16 says, "God commanded the man saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it:" I can deduce from Scripture that Eve at this point was not yet created (Genesis 2:18). I can only assume it was through Adam that the command of God was relayed to Eve. Eve was fully aware of God's command to not partake of the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:2). I have often wondered why she did it. Was it her curiosity, or was it maybe her lack of trust in her God and husband that led to her disobedience?  Scripture tells us that Eve was deceived by the serpent and it led her to disobey and sin (1 Timothy 2:14). Adam, on the other hand, was not deceived; he knew fully well what he was doing when he partook of the forbidden fruit. In Genesis 3:12, Adam tries to cover up his sin by indirectly blaming God, who gave him the woman, and the woman, who gave him the forbidden fruit. Adam's part in the fall was that he failed to accept responsibility for his actions (Romans 5:12).

Fast-forward to the New Testament. In Scripture when women are commanded to submit to their husbands, it is always followed with a command for husbands to love their wives or honor them (Ephesians 5:22-25; 1 Peter 3:1 & 7). Why is that? I believe it all goes back to the Garden. As the wife submits to her husband, she absolves herself of anything that goes wrong. She is just obeying her husband, and he solely is responsible for what goes wrong. And he can no longer blame the woman, whom God gave to him like he did Adam in the Garden. He must accept responsibility and accountability for his decisions and actions. As a wife submits, she is perfecting her husband for what he did wrong in the Garden.  As a husband loves his wife, he is teaching her to trust him, to follow his lead. He too is perfecting her for what she did wrong at the garden. A husband is teaching his wife to obey God through him. And so they compliment each other, teaching one another and perfecting one another. There is a reason for the love and submission between a husband and wife as it serves a purpose in God's infinite wisdom.

I mentioned all of this to lay the foundation for what I feel is truth according to Scripture concerning a woman wearing a head covering. There is a reason for a woman to wear a head covering. According to Scripture it is the job of the woman to submit. It is to be a willing submission in accordance to God's ordained leadership. It is never a man's job to dominate his wife. Husbands are to love their wives and wives are to submit to their authority.

According to Paul the Apostle, there are two instances in which a married woman must cover her head. One is in public prayer and the other is in publically prohesying. Why? According to Paul, it is because of the angels. I believe it is because when the people of God assemble themselves together, the angels are watching and they are under God's command. They submit to His will and carry out the orders from God. Therefore women cover their heads when they publicly pray or publicly prophesy. This shows they understand God's ordained leadership. In my understanding this is not a cultural thing but in respect to the angels watching. So for me it is a command I intend to obey when publicly praying or prophesying.

I searched throughout the Old Testament to see if I could find any Scriptures concerning head coverings for women, but I couldn't find anything. Perhaps I need to search some more, but I do know Paul the apostle studied under Gamaliel, a well-known and esteemed Pharisee in Jewish law. I have always been taught to never create a doctrine from a single obscure Scripture, so I aproach this belief cautiously. I can deduce that it is certainly not a sin to pray with my head uncovered; it only disqualifies me to prophesy or pray publicly at best. As for me personally, I hold to the conviction to cover my head when publicly praying or prophesying to honor God and the angels. Paul said that love covers a multitude of sins. It does me no good to cover my head if I do not have love. "He that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love" (1 John 4:7-8). According to Scripture faith, justice and mercy are the weighter matters of the law (Matthew 23:23). I would much rather practice faith, justice and mercy than cover my head but live unrighteously.

I do not hold to the belief that God requires a woman to cover her head at all times. If that were true, then the countries where women are required to cover their heads would be most blessed. Instead it is the complete opposite. The countries where women cover their heads are the very same countries in the top ten with most violence against women. Men who demand that women cover their heads are also the men who tend to be the worst perpetrators of violence against women. These countries have the highest rates of female suicide and  child marriage, and the highest rates of domestic violence with few women's rights. So no, I can't say that covering their heads has alleviated discrimination, sexual harrassment and rape. In fact it is safe to say it has the very exact opposite affect to what I would call a blessed life as a woman. Why? 

I realize that I do not serve the same God that they do. My God is a good God. He created both male and female in his image (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 5:1-2). He called both male and female Adam in the day he created them. He is a God of equality; there is neither male nor female (Galatians 3:28). I may play a different role as a woman, but I have equal status in the eyes of God as my husband. God is a God of freedom, not oppression. "Now the Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" (2 Corithians 3:17).

I also believe that it rains on the just and the unjust (Matt. 5:45). All of mankind is under the laws of God, whether they realize it or not, both the rich and poor. In this day and age money equals power, but soon a day is coming when righteousness will rule.

So when I see these countries where women are required to cover their heads it seems to me that there is a direct correlation between women's inequality and head coverings. In these countries women and young girls suffer. Some of the most egregious crimes against women and girls take place where women cover their heads. I asked myself why? There are no coincidences in this world. Everything under the sun serves a purpose.  According to Paul a woman covers her head while prophesying. I am reminded that throughout the Old Testament whenever God called a prophet to prophesy, for the most part it was to prophesy against: against Israel, against a king, etc. Perhaps inadvertantly these women are bearing witness or prophesying against the egregious crimes against women. God is slow to anger, but he will by no means clear the guilty. He will judge those who destroy females and children who are also created in His image.  He will rise up in anger and there are consequences for the evil actions perpetrated by evil men (Deuteronomy 9:8). Without repentance, eventually your sin catches up to you. Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.

End of the Road

Well, this is about it for Simple Church of Katy, and this blog.  

The main reason Tricia and I started up here was to provide, and participate in, a home church in the Katy area. But despite much serious labor and prayer we haven’t seen much in the way of new faces, and we really needed fellowship with friends besides each other. So we were encouraged recently to find an existing group where we seem to fit. We will be meeting with them going forward. If you’re interested in knowing more about the group let me know.

 

We will still be hosting meetings at our house, just not on a weekly basis. And we will still be having our weekend outreaches. So please pray for us!

 

Oh, and if you have an interest in Christian theology please consider ordering a copy of my new book, Transcending Vision. Thanks!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coming Soon: Transcending Vision

 

I may be posting a little less often in the coming weeks. At the moment I'm working hard on various finishing touches to my upcoming book, Transcending Vision: Christian Theology in an Age of Empiricism, with a Foreword by Dr. Ernest Musekiwa. 

 

I've written books before, but I'm more excited about this project than most. I believe that when someone like me writes for God's glory, well, God is glorified.

Below is the Table of Contents as it stands now:

 

 

Foreword by Dr. Ernest Musekiwa

 

Preface                                                           

Introduction

 

 

I. Outlines of Christian Theology

 

1. Laying the Foundations: Axioms of Christian Theology

 

2. Theology Proper: Divine Attributes and the Trinity

 

3. Christology: Son of Man and Son of God

 

4. Soteriology: Many Called, Few Chosen

 

5. Eschatology: The Present and Future Kingdom

 

II. Instantiations of Christian Theology

 

6. And the Word Was God: A Study of John 1:1-18

 

7. Building on the Foundations: A Study of 1 Cor. 3:1-15

 

8. Theology at the Fringes: Miracles, Dreams and Visions

 

9. Theology beyond the Fringes: Heresies in History

 

10. The Human Condition and the Hope of the Gospel

 

Index 

             

White-Hot Faith and the Fruit of Discipleship



Last Sunday I met with some believers from…well, honestly I'm still not sure where they're from, at least in terms of identifiable church organizations or denominations. They appear to be part of what I can only describe as a "network of networks" – which as it happens is also how I would describe the structure of a biological organism. Right off the bat I was getting the sense that they had grasped part of what Paul meant by his analogy of "the body" to describe the church.

Mostly young folks (I turn fifty-four this month, so anyone under fifty is young), these people were gathering to do church in an apartment just outside Houston. I was frankly struck by their wide-open friendliness, their passion for discipleship founded on the Word, their boldness to preach the gospel, their vision for the nations, and most of all, their eagerness to partner with other churches for the cause of Christ. Tricia and I decided we would stay in contact with them, if for no other reason than to catch some of their fire and maintain connections beyond our own house church.

 

So what drives a church to such heights of zeal? I know from experience that this is not the sort of thing that can be maintained through sheer discipline, or the genius of leadership. Peer pressure and accountability may explain it in part, as might the courage and optimism of youth. But I suspect what's going on is deeper (and simpler) than all that. It's what Steve Addison calls "white-hot faith":

 

The disciples' transformation from a scattered band of defeated and despairing men into the leaders of a dynamic missionary movement was achieved through their shared experience of the risen Son and his Holy Spirit. The expansion of early Christianity was more than a social phenomenon or human enterprise.… A passionate faith is at the heart of every dynamic missionary movement. It is the greatest resource. Today, where Christianity is expanding rapidly in the developing world, it is often the only resource.[1] 

 

Another way to explain this is to say that most of us make Christian life and ministry far too complicated. Most of us seeking to make an impact for the gospel proceed with a fairly complex set of tools and skills: theological education, public speaking techniques, books and study aids, tracts and fliers, blogs and websites, etc. Valuable and useful as those things are, they cannot possibly substitute for being filled with faith and the Holy Spirit. We should recall here that the disciples were "uneducated men," unsophisticated and uncouth, whose only credentials were that "they had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13).

 

When I met for lunch to talk about all this with Rodger, the man who initially reached out to me, he told me that for him the important thing was "Abide, abide, abide." And of course Jesus did teach that abiding in Him would naturally (or supernaturally if you prefer) cause his followers to bear fruit (John 15:1-5). As we diligently seek Him, in prayer, in the Word, in worship and fellowship, we begin to take on His heart and His vision for the world. As we draw near to Him, He draws near to us. And in His presence the Great Commission makes perfect sense.

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[1] Steve Addison, Movements That Change the World: Five Keys to Spreading the Gospel (Downers' Grove, IL: Intervarsity, 2009), p. 49-50.

 

 

Who Is the Greatest?

 

 

That question clearly preoccupied the disciples of Jesus as they walked with him in and around the hillside of first century Judea. Indeed, on at least three occasions these purportedly humble and meek men of Galilee were caught bickering about their own prominence and prestige in the kingdom of God. Mark's Gospel recounts one of these incidents as follows:

 

Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, 'What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?" But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." (Mark 9:33-35).

 

Despite their longing for greatness, the disciples were apparently a bit embarrassed to have their self-seeking and vain ambitions exposed. In other words, even while desperately wanting to be recognized for their greatness, they wanted to somehow appear humble about it at the same time. Of course human nature has not changed a bit since the days of Jesus. Most of us, and I dare say men especially, are driven by these same desires today. 

 

How then can we train ourselves out of such a deep-seated thought pattern? Here are some thoughts that may help us:

 

1. The question should not have to be asked. In a kingdom the greatest is the king. So it is that in the kingdom of God, King Jesus is the greatest. The rest of us are less great by many orders of magnitude, or if you prefer, our greatness strictly does not compare with the majesty of God. 

 

2. The question is misguided. Paul's analogy of the body should give us some perspective on this. Just as the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you" (1 Cor. 12:21), so the eye cannot say to the hand, "I am greater than you." Eyes and hands have different functions altogether. In the same way you and I have different gifts, callings, strengths and weaknesses, etc. The question of who is greatest (next to Jesus) simply cannot be answered.

 

3. The question reveals a carnal and even idolatrous appetite. Most believers would agree that money, food, and sex are all good things in themselves, but can become idols when sought above the kingdom of God. The same principle holds for respect and prestige. Being honored is a good thing, but seeking and longing to be honored at the price of service to others or worship of God is idolatry. John warned us against "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life" (1 John 2:15). 

 

This is an important point to consider, as it directly impacts our faith. "How can you believe," said Jesus, "who receive honor from one another but do not receive the honor that comes from the only God?" (John 5:44). It's a rhetorical question, of course. We cannot have faith in God and at the same time strive for prominence and recognition. Let's try to remember that ultimately we answer to God alone, for God alone is "able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think... to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen" (Eph. 3:20-21).

Radical Faith

 

 

 

When I was a blissfully happy, zealous new convert to the Christian faith many years ago, someone told me: "If you were to know in advance everything that God was going to do in your life, you'd never be willing to follow him in the first place." I disagreed with that at the time, thinking, like the apostles James and John, that I was ready to pay any price for the kingdom. But I agree with it now. I am thankful that God did not disclose the details (or allow me to experience the associated emotions!) of what I would undergo in the years to follow, because indeed I may not have had the confidence to continue in the faith.

 

Possibly this explains why Christ's call to us is unconditional, contingent only upon his own authority as Messiah, Savior and King. "Follow me" he says (Matt. 5:10; John 21:19), and "Forsake all" (Luke 14:33). He knows that if we leave our options open ("I'll follow him, unless of course it gets too difficult") we will eventually find reason to abandon our commitment to follow. So we either "take the plunge" and follow Christ unconditionally, or we don't follow him at all. Effectual faith requires this kind of unqualified obedience. Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it memorably: "Only those who obey can believe, and only those who believe can obey." 

 

Jesus persistently disallows any qualifications or disclaimers in asserting his right to rule and reign over our lives. Moreover he reserves the right to carve out different destinies for different individuals within his grand kingdom purpose. We answer directly to God, on his terms. Thus when Peter asks what fate awaits his fellow disciple (probably John), Jesus tells him, "What is that to you? You follow me" (John 21:22). Such an orientation to life can only be described as "radical," literally rooted in the self-evident goodness and authority of Jesus himself. 

 

How does this play out in "real life"? Countless ways. Here are a few:

 

We must forgive and love our worst enemies.

We must confess our sins, even while sincerely striving to overcome them.

We must tell the truth, even when it hurts us or costs us.

We must endure hardship and suffering without complaining. Etc.

 

Now this message is troubling for most of us, partly because these demands sometimes seem downright impossible to meet. Only by radical faith, rooted in the promises and character of God himself, can anyone come to accept, let alone hope to one day actually meet, these demands. But for the radically faithful (literally "full of faith"), there is great comfort in the assurance of Scripture that God will bless, protect and honor those who risk everything for the costly pearl and great treasure of the kingdom of God. 

 







Locating the Church

 

 

(Pictured: Conversion of St. Paul, Nicolas Lepicie, 1767)

 

When people find out that I am a Christian, they typically will ask me where I go to church. And when people ask me where I go to church, they typically are expecting to hear something like: "Oh, I'm a member at First Baptist, the one over on Main Street where Pastor Jones preaches." In other words "church" is commonly understood to be a certain building, in a certain location, led by a certain individual, meeting at a certain time according to a certain schedule.

 

My actual answer to the question is inspired initially by Matt. 18:20. There in the context of addressing the problem of offenses in "the church" (v. 17), Jesus says: "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." From that statement about the church we can deduce:

 

1. Church is a gathering of two or more people.

2. Church is people gathering not just for any purpose, but in Christ's name.

 

Those being the conditions, I am actually involved in church in all sorts of places: my house, a friend's house, a park outdoors, sometimes even my workplace – and yes, occasionally the big building down the street that holds meetings on Sundays and Wednesdays. I cannot pinpoint the church's location, because the church – the body of Christ – is a living entity; and Christ, being its head, decides what that body does and where it goes. 

 

In other words the church is not something we can or should control. Its movements are led by Jesus and its flow is directed by the Holy Spirit. The outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost was not on anyone's church calendar. No one voted in Paul as an apostle to the Gentiles. When an angel told Philip to preach to the Ethiopian at Gaza, he obeyed God rather than try to convince his pastor that he was not imagining things (and chances are good that he "missed church" while enjoying fellowship with his new friend out in the desert). 

 

So are we against church buildings, schedules, budgets, pastors and programs? No. God has clearly used and doubtless will continue to use all those things for his glory. But Christians ultimately must obey God rather than men. We submit to the structures and programs of men only as God directs, because those men must answer to God just like the rest of us. "And," said Jesus, "If the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch" (Matt. 15:14).