1 Corinthians 11:2-16 Worship and Traditions

Worship and Traditions

GG Connect

Chair Bible p. 958

What do we do with a text about head coverings in a church in Gastonia in 2020?

Not too far removed...

Picture from the Sunday Parkwood officially became a church…Feb. 2, 1964.

Note hats…also note the hats hanging in the back.

Why are many of the women wearing hats? (tradition, fashion or conviction)

Why are none of the men wearing a hat? (tradition, fashion or conviction)

Main Idea: The manner that we conduct ourselves in public worship communicates what we believe about God and one another.

Context of . At this point in time in Corinth, women who were married wore a head covering or put their hair up in public. A movement, started by upper class Roman women, had begun to influence other women to stop the practice and to wear their hear down or in some cases to shave their head. (more later)

Apparently, most of the women in the Corinthians church were maintaining the practice when they gathered to worship. As a result, Paul writes in v. 2...

2 Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.

What does he mean by tradition? Tradition: specific practice handed down. ( the result of teaching)

Tradition is a practice of the church that conveys what we believe.

Over time, we can forget what we believe and just practice the tradition,

or change what we believe(either corrective or coercive with culture) as a result do away with the tradition,

or as the culture changes, realize that the tradition has become confusing instead of helpful.

The sermon is not an argument for a tradition. The purpose is to cause us to reflect on what our traditions are communicating.

The manner that we conduct ourselves in public worship communicates what we believe about God.

He is the Supreme Authority.

3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.

What does text mean?(not mean) Does not denote a hierarchy, if so, it would begin with the head of Christ is God. Some have argued it has to do with source…if so, then the head of Christ is God would mean that Christ is from God.(not true) Christ is God, co-equal and co-eternal. .

Equal does not explain the entire text. wife and husband are equal because they are both made in the image of God. But man and Christ are not equal.

The key is the word head. Much has been written on this verse. Let me simplify much research to say...“Head” is used to connote some form of authoritative relationship. (Gardner 480)

The headships of Christ, husbands, and God had one thing in common to which he drew attention: each head should be honored. This practical concern comes to the foreground in the repetition of the word dishonor (11:4-5). By their actions in public worship, men are expected to honor Christ (11:4), and wives are expected to honor their husbands (11:5), just as Christ brings honor and glory to his heavenly Father (15:24). (Pratt 182)

The headships of Christ, husbands, and God had one thing in common to which he drew attention: each head should be honored. This practical concern comes to the foreground in the repetition of the word dishonor (11:4-5). By their actions in public worship, men are expected to honor Christ (11:4), and wives are expected to honor their husbands (11:5), just as Christ brings honor and glory to his heavenly Father (15:24). (Pratt 182)

Authority does not denote inferiority.

... it is not hard to conceive of a person voluntarily submitting to another or having authority over another without questioning equality of community status. Many obvious examples from common life spring to mind. One to be considered in church life is the call for a congregation to obey their spiritual leaders or elders (; cf. ). Such submission is voluntary, and the position of leadership is a role to which some of God’s people are called. Yet no one brought up in the Christian tradition would ever question whether leader and flock have the same status as members of God’s community and before God. Of course they do! (Gardner 484)

We must be careful not to get hung up on the human relationships and the honor expected and miss the One who both deserves all honor and glory, the One who inspired the Holy Word which are now studying.

Colossians 1:18 ESV

18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

We gather acknowledging that Christ is the head of the church and we seek to give him preeminence in everything.

He is the Creator.

7 For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man.

The wearing of a head covering has to with distinguishing between men and women.

Crucial clarification: Verse 7 is not intended to mean that men are made in the image of God and women are are not…The Bible makes clear that both are made in his image.

Genesis 1:27 ESV

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

What does it mean then that woman is the glory of man? Has to do with what God has done and why.

7 For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. 9 Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.

the argument continues to draw on the Genesis account of God’s creation...

Genesis 2:18–23 ESV

18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” 19 Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”

helper…ezir. Word used for God in the OT and the manner which Jesus describes the coming of the Holy Spirit in .

How does the manner which a wife honors her husband glorify God? …reflect the trinitarian nature of the Godhead.

John 8:54 ESV

54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’

John 16:14 ESV

14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

John 12:28 ESV

28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”

Paul does not deny, then, that women are the image and glory of God, but he concentrates on their distinctive role in bringing glory and honour to their husbands. (Schreiner 232) Paul’s point is that this created difference between husbands and wives has not changed simply because people have become Christians. The created order should still be respected. In this way, as worship takes place, it is ultimately only Christ to whom glory is given. (Gardner 492)

10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; 12for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.

Genesis 4:1 ESV

1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.”

Illus: Sanctity of life Sunday…the core issue is where does life come from…God.

The Sanctity of life, homosexuality, transgenderism and other similar subjects stare us in the face and are confronting every area of our lives. These issues are pressing into how music, media, art, literature, education, business and many other areas of life are conducted. At the time Paul wrote 1 Corinthians, Romans society was going through a tranisitional period where women were getting rid of head coverings and other social norms to express themselves sexually. Men and women were changing their hairstyles and dress to express their new found freedom as homosexuals, one of the reasons for shaving their heads as women or letting their hair grow as men. 1 Corinthians helps us to know how must we as followers of Christ respond to a similar situation in all of life. This text guides us in navigating public worship so that what we do communicates what we believe according to Scripture.

The manner that we conduct ourselves in public worship communicates what we believe about one another.

We are male and female.

13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering.

Wherever you go and whatever time you study, men and women have differentiated themselves with their hair.

Primarily, men and women still do the same in our culture. We still have men’s and women’s hairstyles and clothing.

Illus: wearing of a ring in our culture.

When we gather. Men should clearly be men and women should clearly be women. We have not appropriated a specific dress. We do not have a uniform or a set wardrobe. Yet, we must give thought to how we present ourselves so that we do not divert the attention of worship from the One we have come to glorify. Our gatherings must never become about the individual.

Men and women should avoid sexually provocative clothing. Don’t play naive. You know when you are drawing attention.

Drawing attention to yourself is a violation of .

When Christians display this creational order in worship (and in marriage), God is pleased. Gender distinctions are not a curse to be covered, but a blessing to be celebrated. (Um 198)

Some are husband and wife.

4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, 5but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. 6 For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head.

Most cultures have come up with public displays to reveal that men and women are married.

Illus: wearing of a ring in our culture.

In our worship and GG gatherings we should honor our spouses and treat one another with respect. Women should make sure that in no way they are subverting the leadership of their husbands.

What if my husband does not lead? Never a reason to act unbecoming to him or in front of him. Pray for him.

Husband you must love your wives as Christ loves the church (). You must never demean her in any way publicly.

Illus: Poking or looking at spouse, speaking negatively toward them in a gathering.

What if I am unmarried?

1 Timothy 5:1–2 ESV

1 Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.

We are the family of God. We are to treat one another as a healthy family. We are...

We are one in Christ.

4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, 5but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.

Unlike the Jewish tradition, women were not relegated to an area of the temple separate from the men for public worship. In the church men and women worship together, while remaining distinctly male and female. We come together to worship the Lord God through Christ the Lord.

Men pray and prophecy, wife(women) pray and prophesy.

Galatians

Acts 2:17 ESV

17 “ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;

We will deal with the meaning of prophecy in Ch. 12-14. What about women should be silent? We will deal with that text in ch. 14.

The point here is how the people of God, specifically men and women, husbands and wives, participate in a gathered service.

Thank God for the voices of women lifted in song and prayer.

So What?

Are we conducting ourselves in public worship in a manner that communicates biblical truth?

1 Corinthians 11:2 ESV

2 Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.

,

1 Corinthians 11:16 ESV

16 If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.

We should reflect the fact that we are the Body of Christ when we gather to worship.Our conduct and practices must find their warrant in Scripture. We should not knowingly do anything that disregards or disobeys the teaching of the Bible.

Simple and straight forward worship services centered on Christ.

Regulative principle: only that which is prescribed.

Are we conducting ourselves in public worship in a manner that communicates the gospel?

1 Corinthians 10:32-11:1

1 Corinthians 10:32–33 ESV

32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

English Standard Version Chapter 10

32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

11 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV

1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Illus: When our personal preferences dictate our worship, what is the “gospel” that we communicate?

When cultural norms dictate our worship, that is the “gospel” that we communicate.

We do not gather to proclaim the good news of culture. We gather to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ who gave his life for us to redeem us from our sin and self so that we might glorify Him.

Are we conducting ourselves in public worship in a manner that glorifies God?

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Do I decide what to wear and how to conduct myself based on me or the glory of God?

Does the way I sing and participate communicate my love for me or love for the Lord?

Do we attend our worship services for us or for the glory of God?

Illus: When someone watches our videos 50 years from now what will they see?

Response: Yet not I but Christ. “when the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat. Yet not I, but through Christ in me!

Prayer:

Sad situation.

Holiness

Holiness

Repentance

Perseverance.

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