To Cover or Not to Cover

Paul concludes chapter 10 letting the people know his process for reaching people with the gospel - he will do whatever he must and talk to whoever he must so that some might be saved…

His final charge to the church at Corinth… imitate me as I imitate Christ.

In this next section Paul is not answering direct questions but addressing issues he feel led to address… remember I said we will talk about whatever Paul talks about and this weeks is another one of those types messages.

1 Corinthians 11:2–16 (CSB)

2 Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold fast to the traditions just as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of the woman, and God is the head of Christ. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with something on his head dishonors his head. 5 Every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since that is one and the same as having her head shaved. 6 For if a woman doesn’t cover her head, she should have her hair cut off. But if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, let her head be covered. 7 A man should not cover his head, because he is the image and glory of God. So too, woman is the glory of man. 8 For man did not come from woman, but woman came from man. 9 Neither was man created for the sake of woman, but woman for the sake of man. 10 This is why a woman should have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11 In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, and man is not independent of woman. 12 For just as woman came from man, so man comes through woman, and all things come from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair it is a disgrace to him, 15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her as a covering. 16 If anyone wants to argue about this, we have no other custom, nor do the churches of God.

Here is the set up - Paul has clarified our freedom in Christ. There is also a shift in the perceived place for women in Christianity. Perceived because God has always held women in high regard but man took advantage and abused the order God established.

It is possible the women in Corinth wanted to remove their veils in church because they felt a need to symbolize their new status as full participants in the body of Christ.

Being equal they wanted to be like the men and to worship unveiled.

Even though this passage is directed at the women mostly, guys don’t think there isn’t anything for you too. The first thing is this…

God has ordained an order of authority and the administration of that order.

Here is the order God - Christ - man - woman.

We need to understand this - our subordination is not the same in completeness. Our subordination to God is way deeper than to each other - our subordination to each other is a model of how we will subject ourselves to Christ.

Don’t try to become something you are not.

Paul’s admonition for the women to cover their heads was not a knock on women.

Paul was telling them that they are valuable as women and do not need try and be like a man.

There are differences between men and women - I know duh right? Those differences are designed to to make men and women interdependent - women need men and men need women.

The Lord’s headship over man implies an exaltation of man so too with the woman. Man’s headship over the woman does not imply subservience but instead lifts up the woman.

Headship does not proclaim the rights of men to enslave it insists that men recognize the high value God places on women.

Thus, in wearing a veil (that “sign of authority”), the Corinthian women would be displaying for men and angels as well, the stunning fact that in Christ it is no shame to be female! Each time women participated as women in the ministry of the church, they would show again the value, worth, and glory of womankind.

The context of Paul’s discussion is worship - whether male or female…

We need to be concerned with how we conduct ourselves in worship.

Worship is not about us - the focus should be on God.

How we dress or how we act can be a distraction.

We need to avoid inhibiting someone else’s moment of worship.