Hat-wearing (a)
Part 1 of 3
SHOULD CHRISTIAN WOMEN COVER THEIR HEADS FOR WORSHIP?
Is this just a human tradition or is it a New Testament scripture requirement? Is this for the women in Paul’s time, or is it for Christian women of all time? Is not a woman’s hair the covering spoken of here in the Bible? Has not the modern church discarded this as unnecessary for these modern times? Laying aside all pride and prejudice, what is the real truth objectively speaking?
Would you
really like to know the truth? Are you sure? Would you have the courage to
follow your convictions “though the heavens fall”? Do you have the moral
courage to go against popular trends and fashions for Jesus’ sake? Are you not
afraid to look like “those people?” Are you sure?
Is it your primary purpose to please Jesus; to do the will of your Father which is in heaven? If the answer is positive, then there is good news for you in these words of Jesus:
“If any man
will do his will, he shall know of
the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself
[human tradition].” John 7:17. So happily for you, those who really want to “do
his will” will understand the truth, with the Holy Spirit’s help, while others
who really don’t want to do “his will” but their own, will likely not
understand and may even stumble over God’s word.
Now with the Spirit’s help and a prayerful, noble spirit like the Bereans (Acts 17:11), let’s go directly into the Word, trusting Him to guide us into all truth.
Question: Is any portion of the Bible human tradition?
Answer:
2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
Thank God for His answer. Let us now study the Scripture in question “for correction, for instruction in righteousness;”—even the righteousness of our Savior Jesus Christ.
The main scripture text is found here in 1 Corinthians 11:1-16, written by the great, Spirit-guided Apostle Paul.
1) Be ye followers of
me, even as I also am of Christ.
2) Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember
me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
3) But I would have you know, that the head of
every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head
of Christ is God.
4) Every man praying or prophesying, having his
head covered, dishonoureth his head.
5) But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth
with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one
as if she were shaven.
6) For if the woman be not covered, let her also
be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be
covered.
7) For a man indeed ought not to cover his
head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory
of the man.
8) For the man is not of the woman; but the
woman of the man.
9) Neither was the man created for the woman;
but the woman for the man.
10) For this cause ought the woman to have power
on her head because of the angels.
11) Nevertheless neither is the man without the
woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
12) For as the woman is of the man, even so
is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
13) Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman
pray unto God uncovered?
14) Doth not even nature itself teach you, that,
if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
15) But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory
to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
16) But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
Question: is the Bible of sufficient authority to establish
this matter, or do we need other books?
Answer:
Since the Bible is the greater light (like the sun) and
other inspired or religious books, the lesser light (like the moon), it is
self-evident that the Bible is fully sufficient to establish this and any other
truth, upon its own scriptural authority.
The moon derives light and power from the sun, and cannot
have or reflect light independent of it, likewise all other religious books
must derive light and authority from the Bible, but the Bible, like its Author,
the Sun of righteousness, is independent of, and superior to all earthly
authority. Therefore, in this study, deliberately, no attempt will be
made to use other books to address the questions but the Bible only.
Now let us look at the CONTEXT very carefully proceeding
verse by verse.
Paul so closely and indisputably follows Christ, that he challenges the Christians to be his followers even as he follows Christ. He then praises them for faithfully keeping the God-given ordinances already delivered to them, before he gives and explains to them another such ordinance. Then in verse three, he begins the subject and carefully lays the biblical foundation upon which this other ordinance (head covering for women) is based. Let’s follow closely.
“But I would have you know, that the head of every man is
Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is
God.” 1 Cor. 11:3.
What is the foundation here?
Answer:
It is the way in which divinity and humanity are linked up for the plan of redemption—God, Christ, the man and then the woman.
Contextually, therefore, we see that the following ordinance is based upon and honors this solid biblical principle. How is God the head of Christ? Christ “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” Philippians 2:7.
In this way, He became the Son of God and God became his head. Christ then stands at the head of humanity and thus became “the head of every man.” And of course, the Lord established man in this chapter and other portions of the bible as the head of the family: of the woman and children.
“For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.” Ephesians 5:23
An understanding of this rock-solid bible principle gives
light that automatically answers many related questions. For instance:
Question: Is this head-covering ordinance only for the
Christians in Paul’s time?
Answer:
This question calls to mind another in the same verse. Is
Christ the head of every man only for the Christians in Paul’s time? If this
answer is yes, then this ordinance is only for Christians in Paul’s time. But
inasmuch as Christ, the Son of man, and Son of God, is still the head of every
man today, then obviously this biblical and redemption-based principle is
equally valid today, where Christ is still recognized and honored as the “head
of every man” the head of humanity. Thus, the head-covering principle reflects
honor to Christ as the head of humanity.
Will you be among those who gladly honor the Son, even at the sacrifice of convenience or personal pride? And is it the Father’s will that He be thus honored?
“That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the
Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.” John 5:23
Question: Does this head-covering ordinance have anything
to do with culture or human tradition?
Answer:
Does the plan of salvation have anything to do with human
tradition? Is the great mystery of the incarnation, “the Lamb slain from the
foundation of the world” “which things the angels desire to look into,” (1 Peter 1:12) and reflected here, nothing
but a human tradition? Shall we insult the Almighty by saying that this
ordinance and its foundation Truth is just culture or human tradition? Shall we
not rather give thanks to God, for its profound “instruction in righteousness?”
Question. Would this head-covering principle or ordinance
be of local or universal application?
Answer:
Since Christ is the head of humanity without regards to time or locality, therefore this headship ordinance is unrestricted by time or locality. Consequently, it is valid in any place and at all times.
Now that we understand its biblical foundation, let’s proceed to the ordinance itself.
“Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.”
This is clear. In worship or religious services, Christian men are to take off their hats or head-coverings.
“But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her
head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were
shaven.
For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but
if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.”
When it comes to the woman, is not this where the problem is? Is it really because the word is not clear, or is it because it is a too humbling experience for some proud hearts who pay a lot of money to style their hairs and would not want it covered? Notice the bible makes a distinction between the man and the woman, does it not? Is this distinction being made in our churches between men and women today? And what is Paul saying here?
He makes it clear that while the man should take of his hat, the woman should keep hers on, otherwise she is in violation of this bible ordinance and is dishonoring her “head” (the man) and also indirectly dishonoring Christ, the “head” of her “head” [the man].
Verse 15, that a woman’s hair is given her as a natural covering will be explained later. But verse 6 makes it clear, that if the woman does not want to cover her head, to make the distinction with the man, she should be shaven. Without debate and playing word games, does not to shave mean to cut off the hair? And if she is too ashamed to cut off her hair what does the bible say? “Let her be covered.”
If the Bible means, that the woman’s hair is sufficient as the requirement, why does the Scripture say it is required “when praying or prophesying” [engaging in worship or teaching the scriptures]? Can a woman take off her hair (unless it is a wig) and put in on for “praying and prophesying?” Since the answer is no, something besides the hair is needed for women to obey the scriptures here.
The Apostle Paul continues.
7) “For a man indeed
ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of
God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
8) For the man is
not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
9) Neither was the
man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
10) For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.”
What of the angels of God here? Even they are dishonored
when the woman refuses to obey this scripture. Not only is the man dishonored,
but the angels and Christ himself, the “head” of the man. Do Christian women
want this type of “liberation” today; a freedom to dishonor Christ? Would they
have the moral courage like queen Ester, to stand for the right even in the
face of death?
Let’s read on.
11) Nevertheless
neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the
Lord.
12) For as the woman is
of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
13) Judge in
yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
14) Doth not even
nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
These verses above are also very clear. Verse 13, calls upon even humans to judge the impropriety of women brazenly entering the presence of God to worship with heads uncovered. We trust that the “wise virgins” will not sleep on in happy lukewarmness without the “extra oil.” Verse 14 shows that even in nature, God still wants the clear distinction between men and women.
15) “But if a woman
have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a
covering.
16) But if any man
seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.”
The two last verses on the subject need to be carefully
considered, for many misunderstand them.
The Bible explains here that a woman’s hair is given her
for her glory (beauty) and as a natural covering, even as the skin is, for
example, a natural covering.
Question: Is this natural covering, the one required for
the head-covering ordinance to show the way humanity and divinity are linked?
Answer:
While the skin is a natural covering, which one of us would
dare to appear in public in nothing but the natural body covering? We judge it
proper to put on clothes before appearing before others, right? Likewise,
correctly understood, verse 15 is in perfect harmony with verse 6. Two coverings are actually being referred to
in these scriptures. One that is given the woman naturally, her hair for beauty
and glory, which
she cannot put on and take off at will, and another, like the clothes we
put on, which she must put on when “praying or prophesying.” This is the only interpretation that
harmonizes perfectly the entire passage. The Apostle Paul, an extremely learned
man, and specially taught of God with visions and revelations and even “caught
up to the third heavens@ ” where
he learned of things, not lawful to reveal to others, would not be
self-contradictory. Any other interpretation of this verse makes it contradict
other verses in this same chapter, and thus cannot be correct.
What of verse 16, the last verse in this passage?
16) “But if any man
seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.”
Question: What is Paul saying here? Is he saying that it is
not our custom to obey the ordinances of God?
Answer: No.
What Paul is saying is that it is not our custom as the churches of God, to be contentious and quarrelsome over the requirements of God. When God speaks in other words, it is not our custom to debate, argue and raise arguments in favor of disobedience and contention. Rather when God speaks we obey and that is the end of the matter. This is our custom; this is the custom for the churches of God.
Would it not be nice if we can say the same for the
churches of God today? That when the requirements of God are given, there are
no debates and strife and disobedience but just loving obedience?
Question: Okay, the word of God here, is much clearer now,
but is not head-covering a small matter that has nothing to do with our
salvation?
Answer:
Let’s listen to the words of the Master himself:
“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” Luke 16:10
“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” Luke 6:46
“He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2:4
John 13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
Question: Are modern Christian women still required to
dress modestly?
Answer:
“In like manner
also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with
broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.” 1 Timothy 2:9,10.
“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end
of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:20
Romans 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15
Do you love Jesus? Are you willing to stand up for him in the face of opposition and ridicule, or are you anxious to be popular and modern? Would you confess him in your daily life, dress and example?
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15
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