Authority
Notes
Transcript
Intro:
Intro:
AG: I will tell you unashamedly that I am not scared to preach on this passage. Not scared, I am terrified! I want to handle the Word of God rightly and accurately and preach the whole counsel of God. There is a big temptation to jump right over the top of these verses in your Bible. You read this passage once, twice, or five times, and you always come away with the same brilliant, theological question – “What now?” “What does this mean?”
Besides the difficulty of the passage, we are talking about women here! Women! When pastors deal with passages such as this there is a real temptation to sit back, cross your arms and say, “Well, let’s see what the preacher man has to say about this!”
But let me give you rule #1 for this morning: “If I say something that can be taken in two ways, one good and one bad, always assume that I meant it in the good sense of the word.” And rule #2 is that when you are in doubt, refer to rule #1.
TS: This chapter begins a new section of the book about order in the church. Pretty large and meaty section of the book.
Illus: A study was done on how members of the various sections of a major symphony orchestra perceived each other. The percussionists were viewed as insensitive, unintelligent, and hard-of-hearing, yet fun-loving. String players were seen as arrogant, stuffy, and unathletic. The orchestra members overwhelmingly chose "loud" as the primary adjective to describe the brass players. Woodwind players seemed to be held in the highest esteem, described as quiet and meticulous, though a bit egotistical.
Interesting findings, to say the least! With such widely divergent personalities and perceptions, how could an orchestra ever come together to make such wonderful music? The answer is simple: regardless of how those musicians view each other, they subordinate their feelings and biases to the leadership of the conductor. Under his guidance, they play beautiful music.
That said, chapters 11-14 of 1 Corinthians help us understand some principles of public worship, and how Christians with all of our differences and diversities can submit ourselves to God and harmonize with our fellow believers. This will be seen in the roles of men and women in the church and in the home, proper procedure for the Lord's Supper, how to use your spiritual gifts to help others, showing true, Godly love and not self love, and so on.
RS: So, why are these verses so tough? Because culture, context, and characters always play a huge part in understanding Scripture. We have to consider to what extent and how this applies to us today. I don’t think we can lift this teaching that was written to 1st century Corinthian Christians and plop it right down on 21st century Christians in America.
I will endeavor to give you a basic understanding of the teaching and also throw in some universal truths that apply today that you can use.
You ready for this? Cause there ain’t no turning back now...
I. The Sensibility of Submission (2-3)
I. The Sensibility of Submission (2-3)
Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.
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.
This passage makes sense after you study and understand it.
It is a sensible and logical teaching.
Paul wants them to understand it.
God wants us to understand it.
I don’t think that God doles out difficult verses to understand and then has a fun time watching all the theologians fight over what it means.
– Listen, there is something here that makes sense and that we are to get hold of
– Paul starts with words of praise.
Even with all their problems and spiritual immaturity, Paul was glad they were remembering some things. They respected Paul’s authority on the teaching he was trying to give them.
They were receiving the teaching, but it wasn’t always changing their lifestyle.
– The problem with Corinth, is the same as the problem with us...
is not our doctrine, but our morals.
Not our beliefs, but our behavior.
It is easy to have the right beliefs.
We read it, we believe it
It is another thing altogether to live it.
Oh, I have no trouble not stealing from others.
But rest assured, you and I both have temptations which are hard to resist.
When we sin, by omission or commission, we reveal that we can have great beliefs, yet our practice be off the mark.
– Same with us. We have no issues understanding the proper role of women in church here. We get the fact that women are to submit to their husbands. The problem comes in the practical application of that on a daily basis.
– Look at verse 3. Paul uses logic here to open the conversation on submission.
Three statements about headship.
First, Christ is the head of every man.
Second, man is the head of the woman.
Like it or not, this is the way God has set it up. So, your beef is not with me, it is with God.
It is not right for the woman to be the head of the man. God says the head of every woman is the man.
This applies mostly to husband and wife relationship.
– A church may have some women who are better Bible students, better theologians, and better speakers than any of the men, including the pastor.
But if those women are obedient to God's order, they will submit to male leadership and will not try to usurp it.
A wife may be better educated than her husband, better taught in Scripture, and more spiritually mature than her husband. But because she is spiritual, she will willingly submit to him as head of the family.
– Third, God is the head of Christ.
Christ has never been inferior to God the Father in essence, but he has always been submissive to God the Father's will.
– Now, what is meant by the word “head” in verse 3.
Headship can mean “authority.” Let’s read it like that.
The authority of every man is Christ, the authority of every woman is the man, and the authority of Christ is God.
– So the concept of authority and submission fits better, and it just makes sense.
II. The Symbols of Submission (4-6)
Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head,
but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.
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.
Our text gets into church life here and the roles of men and women in church.
Notice one important thing first:
When we discuss roles and authority, it has NOTHING to do with value.
There is NO distinctions as far as personal worth, intellect, or spirituality are concerned:
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
All humans are precious in God’s eyes.
We are image bearers of God
Made in His image
Every life is valuable and of worth
There is no distinction in this regard between men and women.
There is no intellectual difference
One gender is not inherently smarter than the other.
Both have the same awesome potential
Both are equipped by God with the tools to learn and thrive in their purpose.
We stand on the same ground spiritually
All are lost and in need of a savior
All can be saved only by grace through faith.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
All can serve GOD
Both men and women can witness
Both men and women can meet needs of those around them
Both men and women can disciple others.
Verse 4 talks about praying and prophesying.
Prayer is talking to God about people, and prophesying is talking to people about God.
– When a man prays or teaches in church, his head is to be uncovered.
The word head is used first to talk about a literal head, the man’s head.
The second time it is used, it refers to a man’s figurative or spiritual head, Christ.
You ever heard someone say at a function when the pray, “hats off gentlemen,” and wondered why? How come men shouldn’t pray with a hat on? The answer’s right here.
– Watch, if I cover my head (point to head) when I pray, I dishonor my head (point to Christ).
I am not really showing that I am in submission to Christ.
– Now just the opposite is true of the woman.
She is to pray with her head covered. If she prays with her head uncovered, she dishonors her head, which is the man. Because the man is her authority and source.
What does all this mean? The next question to ask is this: What is meant by head covering?
– Is it a veil like you wore at your wedding?
Is it a coat you would where on a windy day?
Is it a baseball cap you wear backward like a gangster?
Or, is it talking about hair?
– To those questions, let me answer emphatically and clearly – Yes! And No! And I really don’t know!
– There are those who lift this quite literally from 1st century Corinth and apply it to women in church today and they insist that their women wear a hat or veil to church. (even elevating this to the level of a church ordinance)
We obviously at our church don’t believe it teaches that.
– Here is what was going on then and then we’ll talk about what it means for us today.
In their cultural context:
Human tradition of wearing head coverings while praying began in 4 AD
The Corinthians were probably following that tradition, yet Paul condemns it.
IN their customs, women covered their heads and men left them uncovered.
It showed their submission to men.
To cover their heads, was showing a reversal of Biblical roles.
Back in Corinth, women were usurping men’s authority in the church.
They were acting like men. They asserted their rights and disregarded all actions of a godly lady.
Paul says, they might as well just shave their heads (like prostitutes in their culture).
For the Corinthian ladies, the covering was a sign of submission and reverence. The mark of loose, rebellious women of the day was a shaved head. They were indicating to the culture disrespect for men, for God, for authority, for creation, etc. They were rejecting the role that God had given them.
– What God is trying to communicate to us today is this...don’t just have the symbols of submission, have the reality of submission in your heart.
That is what is most important. Don’t just have the hair of a lady, put on the modest apparel of a lady, talk like a lady of submission, actually be in submission to your husbands and spiritually to other men in the church.
Ladies must be careful that your practice of submission speaks louder than the symbols of submission.
– Some woman have all the symbols of submission, but they don’t give a plug nickel what their husband says.
To men, we must be the godly men God has called us to be.
To often, men have abandoned their responsibility
Too many children are raised without Father’s in their lives and many studies as well as a look at the evening news reveal the damage that has caused.
To many churches lack leadership because the men won’t grow in Christ and stand up like they should.
– Men and women alike ought to fulfill their God-given, distinctive roles in the home and also in the church.
III. The Support for Submission (7-10)
III. The Support for Submission (7-10)
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.
For man was not made from woman, but woman from man.
Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.
That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.
– This wasn’t just a matter of custom.
Scripture support for this idea of the woman submitting to the man goes all the way back to creation.
– When man was created, he was created in the image of God and for the glory of God.
Man, like God, was also given a sphere of sovereignty. In other words, man was given dominion over the created world. He was told to subdue his environment. Man was given rulership.
However, he was not complete on his own. He needed a companion to serve by his side.
– Women were also created in the image of God.
Look at verse 7, it says the woman is the glory of the man. Together they glorify God as the live by His word.
The role of dominion was not given to the woman –
In this text, Paul says she is the glory of the man. Her job is to submit to the direction of the man, to whom God has chosen to reveal His glory.
– Woman was created from the man, verse 8.
But woman was also created for the man, verse 9. Her role was to come under his leadership, his protection, his care.
She was to be help for him (Genesis 2:20).
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.
– Look at verse 10. The woman should have this symbol of authority on her head because of the angels.
Angels? Where did that come from?
This is one of those odd verses to us today.
Remember that angels were present with GOD at creation.
and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,
so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
When we live in our mutual God given roles, we set a proper example of obedience and submission to God’s authority.
The universe is watching what kind of wife and woman and men and husbands we are.
IV. The Symmetry of Submission (11-12)
IV. The Symmetry of Submission (11-12)
Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman;
for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.
– Lest men misinterpret what Paul is saying, he is quick to bring balance back to the discussion.
Though it is right for a woman to submit, that is not a cause for man to take it to extremes and abuse his power over women.
There is a mutual submission in marriage as two become one.
One in all things.
– Paul reminds them of their mutual dependence on each other.
The man is nothing without the woman, and the woman is nothing without the man.
– We are not talking about man having superiority over a woman.
We are talking about man having authority over a woman. Women are not inferior, all things are of God.
Paul reminds us to follow Biblical roles.
Neither the Lord, His apostles, nor churches would allow a rebellion against God’s order
We are all men and women to submit to God
This is hard for all of us at times.
Today, this issue in particular is touchy, but the Biblical way is the only choice we have.
Paul also teaches as believers, we are to submit to each other.
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
As believers we can learn from and support each other.
In the home it is especially important.
– In the Lord's work, women are as important as men.
Their roles are different both in function and in relationship, but not in spirituality or importance.
Though it is true that the woman is not independent of the man, it is equally true that the man is not independent of the woman.
Men and women are complementary; they need each other.
– God isn’t honored when battle each other
He doesn't want us to be at each others throats and devalue each other.
There must be a balance in the church.
V. The Simplicity of Submission (13-16)
V. The Simplicity of Submission (13-16)
Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered?
Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him,
but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering.
If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.
– Paul asks the church at Corinth to disregard his apostolic authority for a minute.
Judge for yourselves. Think about this and realize that this matter of roles and genders and distinction of men and women in church and in the home is really quite simple.
– Nature even teaches us that men and women have different physiological makeups.
Nature itself shows us the distinction of the sexes.
– The topic of hair comes up.
This is weird place to wrap this up but we’re going to figure it out.
Part of this is cultural in the lives of the Corinthians.
Long hair displayed a message to the world of modesty and respect on a woman. To have short or a shaved head a disgrace and displayed immorality
It was the opposite effect for men
So this needs to be remembered in context of their day.
We have no Biblical length of hair in the Bible
Where does “short” and “long” begin?
That is a matter of conscience
– The Bible says that a woman’s hair is her glory.
It is her veil ( no need for another)
Maybe that is why God uncovers so many of us men? (rub head)
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
There is to be a distinction between men and woman. Both genders have different roles in church and home life. Both genders have different responsibilities in church and home life.
– If women dishonor their husbands at home, they dishonor Christ. If men dishonor their wives at home, they dishonor Christ. If we dishonor Christ, it corrupts our worship services. And it damages our witness in the world.
– This matter of women and worship is very important.
