Hat-wearing (b)

Part 2 of 3

SHALL THE WOMAN LEAVE HER HAT ON WHEN THE MAN TAKES HIS OFF?

     What does Paul mean in 1 Corinthians 11 concerning the woman covering her head? Does not verse 15 show that the hair is her covering?

…Says the Holy Spirit, "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.) Note the way the chain of divinity links humanity—God, Christ, the man, the woman.

1Co 11:4-9—Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head [[ God ]].

5  But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head [[ the man ]]: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

6  For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn [[ that is, if a woman will not wear a hat, then let her cut off her hair ]]: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered [[ let her wear a hat ]].

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.

 

     The above scripture teaches that a man ought to take his hat off when praying or prophesying (teaching the Scriptures) while the woman should put hers on. Why? Because the head of the man is God but the head of the woman is the man. If the man covers his head he dishonors God. Hence, if the woman uncovers her head when praying she dishonors her head—the man, and by dishonoring the man she dishonors God, for the man is the "image and glory of God." Moreover, the covering of the woman's head when approaching God symbolically sets the man—(her head) aside and thus comes before God.

     Again, this begs repeating, is the scripture teaching that a man ought to take off his hat when praying or prophesying (teaching the scriptures)? If yes, then

     This scripture plainly teaches that a man ought to take his hat off when praying or prophesying (teaching the Scriptures), while the woman should put hers on.

     Do not conclude by reading verse 15 that the woman's hair is the covering above required, for if that be the case, then logically man should shave his head in order to make the distinction between the two, and as we know that man has never been required to shave his head, it proves that the woman's covering when praying is NOT her hair but her hat or some other head covering. Again, if the Spirit of God is teaching that the woman's hair is the covering above required, why say, When "praying or prophesying"? What else could she do? How could she take off her hair (covering) when NOT praying unless she wears a wig? Can she put on or remove her natural hair at random? Furthermore, as women never bobbed their hair in Paul's time, it would have been unnecessary to ask them to leave it on, and again he says, "If the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn or shaven. These words plainly lay down the rule that if the woman is neither shorn nor shaven, then "let her be covered." In these verses is stated that the "woman having long hair, it is a glory to her." Therefore, the covering of her hair also denotes humbling before God or, as it were, laying aside her glory.

     The Scriptures therefore make it clear that any religious occasion which requires the man to take his hat off, requires the woman to put hers on.

     When asking grace at meals it may not be necessary to follow this rule, but it certainly is essential when teaching or worshipping whether it be at home or in church.

    "God leads His people on, step by step. He brings them up to different points calculated to manifest what is in the heart. Some endure at one point, but fall off at the next. At every advanced point the heart is tested and tried a little closer. If the professed people of God find their hearts opposed to this straight work, it should convince them that they have a work to do to overcome, if they would not be spewed out of the mouth of the Lord. Said the Angel, 'God will bring His work closer and closer to test and prove every one of His people.' Some are willing to receive one point; but when God brings them to another testing point, they shrink from it and stand back, because they find that it strikes directly at some cherished idol. Here they have opportunity to see what is in their hearts that shuts out Jesus. They prize something higher than the truth, and their hearts are not prepared to receive Jesus. Individuals are tested and proved a length of time to see if they will sacrifice their idols and heed the counsel of the True Witness. If any will not be purified through obeying the truth, and overcome their selfishness, their pride, and evil passions, the angels of God have the charge, 'They are joined to their idols, let them alone,' and they pass on to their work, leaving these with their sinful traits unsubdued, to the control of evil angels. Those who come up to every point, and stand every test, and overcome, be the price what it may, have heeded the counsel of the True Witness, and they will receive the latter rain, and thus be fitted for translation."—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, p. 187.

     Just in case the above is still unclear let us take this a little further. Is 1 Corinthians 11 a parable? No. Is it a prophecy? No. Then we should observe the meaning of the words and be consistent with its application.

Objections: The Bible says “…here a little, and there a little…” (Isa. 28:10). And some mistakenly assert this to mean (without proof) that unless the Bible repeats a passage with an additional practical application that it mustn’t be accepted as “instruction” (2 Tim. 3:16).

     Unfortunately for this strained idea this disposition has no basis in scripture. On the contrary Jesus defeated the enemy by quoting in context and just the necessary portion in His own words the principle of Deu. 8:3:

Deu 8:3—And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by EVERY word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

 

     If Deu. 8:3 is true for Jesus Christ, who is our example, then

Pro 30:5, 6—Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

6  Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

 

     To impose such an artificial rule without “a thus saith the Lord” would be to aid the arch deceiver to cause us to forfeit the crown of life.

     Let us be logical, reasonably sound, and sensible, please, for Christ’s sake.

     Is the scripture teaching in vs. 4 that a man ought to take off his hat when “praying or prophesying (teaching the scriptures)” true? Let’s apply the same standard made by the objection. Is there another scripture in another part of the Bible that speaks to men when “praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head”?

     Can anyone find what the Apostle Paul is advocating in 1 Cor. 11:3 to be written anywhere else in the bible? Is it a requirement that in order for any of Paul’s ordinance to be true that those verses of scripture must be found somewhere else before they can become applicable? Are you sure?

     As we put this man-made rule to the acid test, we will learn that this is an uninspired, unsafe procedure of understanding and applying the scriptures for this simple reason. The order of the hierarchy in the church is established in 1 Cor. 11:3 by the Apostle Paul without any permission of any previous verse in the Bible. Furthermore, the hierarchy of offices of authority being established in the body of Christ is found in the following chapter in 1 Corinthians 12:28. It says:

1Co 12:28—And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

 

     Although we acknowledge the authorship of the human writer, I’m sure we fully understand and are aware that it is not the man but rather the Authorship of the Holy Spirit. He, of course, is not under any human conscription as to how any scripture are to be judged and applied inconsistent with Himself for, He is God. Thus, It is the Holy Spirit setting the founders of the Christian church as the highest office and authority in the body of Christ. We ought then to be very careful, and consistent with the Bible, in our understanding with any plain scripture set before us and its application lest we be found trespassing.

     Now, where and when did God do this before? Will any obedient child of God lawfully reject 1 Cor. 12:28 or 1 Cor. 11:3, 4 as being insufficient for implementation without a secondary source? God forbid.

     Are we beginning to observe the nature of this fallacious inconsistent argument? By claiming vs. 15 corrects the meaning of vs. 6 how and why did it fail to touch vs. 4 by that claimed “new” standard? All this while simultaneously and logically acknowledging the simplicity and incontrovertible truth as it applies to the head of a man when “praying or prophesying (teaching the scriptures)”?

     If we are dead to self and want to be sincere and found guiltless, “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15), then logically we have no lawful authority to divorce vs. 15, part (c) (“for her hair is given her for a covering”) from vs. 15 part (a), (b) and the question in vs. 13.

     The fact that anyone would require an additional claim (to be found somewhere else) is to unwittingly acknowledge the veracity of the original claim. The fact that in order for vs. 6 to be true and applicable exactly as it reads it must be found in another place in the scripture, while at the same time fully acknowledging the truthful application to men (vs. 4) without any additional Bible passage for vs. 4 is another unwitting confession of the original claim stands true and is required in order for the female to honor God.

     Finally, if we are willing to cast away our pride of opinion, we will see that what is found in vs. 6 is also consistent with vs. 4, 5, 7, and 13. If not, then why would an “ordinance” Authored by the Holy Spirit be established just to be undone by vs. 15 part (c) with no regard to part (b), (a) of the same verse and vs. 13?

 

   Now, after applying the “twoedged sword” (Heb. 4:12) let’s get some “balm of Gilead” (CH:536.2; PK:119.1).

…Every gem of thought, every flash of the intellect, is from the Light of the world.—DA:464.4

…As understanding of Bible truth depends not so much on the power of intellect brought to the search as on the singleness of purpose, the earnest longing after righteousness.—GC:599.2

     Abraham obeyed God in all that He commanded, and was very careful even to the smallest particulars; thus it was counted to him for righteousness, but we have not done so.  See Gen. 26:5; Gen. 15:6.

     Those who endeavor to obey all the commandments of God will be opposed and derided; their way will be made very hard. They can stand only in God. In order to endure the trial before them, they must understand the will of God as revealed in his word; they can honor him only as they have a right conception of his character, government, and purposes, and act in accordance with them. None but those who have trained the intellect to grasp the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict. To every soul will come the searching test, Shall I obey God rather than men? The decisive hour is even now at hand. Are our feet planted on the rock of God's immutable word? Are we prepared to stand firm in defense of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus?—4SP:411.2

…Many are attracted by the beauty of Christ and the glory of heaven, who yet shrink from the conditions by which alone these can become their own. There are many in the broad way who are not fully satisfied with the path in which they walk. They long to break from the slavery of sin, and in their own strength they seek to make a stand against their sinful practices. They look toward the narrow way and the strait gate; but selfish pleasure, love of the world, pride, unsanctified ambition, place a barrier between them and the Saviour. To renounce their own will, their chosen objects of affection or pursuit, requires a sacrifice at which they hesitate and falter and turn back. Many "will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." Luke 13:24. They desire the good, they make some effort to obtain it; but they do not choose it; they have not a settled purpose to secure it at the cost of all things.  {MB 143.1} 

     The only hope for us if we would overcome is to unite our will to God's will and work in co-operation with Him, hour by hour and day by day. We cannot retain self and yet enter the kingdom of God. If we ever attain unto holiness, it will be through the renunciation of self and the reception of the mind of Christ. Pride and self-sufficiency must be crucified. Are we willing to pay the price required of us? Are we willing to have our will brought into perfect conformity to the will of God? Until we are willing, the transforming grace of God cannot be manifest upon us.—MB:143.1, 2

…As in earlier ages, the special truths for this time are found, not with the ecclesiastical authorities, but with men and women who are not too learned or too wise to believe the word of God.—COL:79.1

…I must be a wholehearted, decided Christian in all things. I must be persevering. I must not trust in myself alone as capable of perfecting a Christian character. If I do, I shall certainly fail. While it is my privilege and duty to grasp and improve as a blessing every gracious opportunity, every means possible for the improvement of my mind and the strengthening of my soul, I look alone to Jesus who is the true source of all power to mold my character after the divine pattern. While I will look to Jesus, who is the author and finisher of my faith, catching the divine rays of light from heaven, I am daily pressing forward toward the mark for the prize, believing that what grace has begun glory shall crown in the kingdom of God.—11MR:112.1

Ps 51:10—Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

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