Deploying God's Pattern of Relationships in Public Worship
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Introduction
Introduction
Last week we concluded what ended up being a 2 part message covering 1 Corinthians 11:3
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.
The last message centered around this thought. God is all about relationships. He created us for relationships. Our primary relationship is with Him. In fact, we are soon going to be at verse 11, which states-
11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
The essence of that verse within its context is that all of us are of God, men and women alike. It is every person’s responsibility to re-establish and maintain their relationship with God.
God also designed us, so we might enjoy relationships with one another. Thus, God established order within relationships for two primary reasons.
Relationships, done God’s way, produce unity.
Relationships, done God’s way, teach submission.
For this reason, God clearly says that Christ is the head (leader) of every man, and men are the head (leaders) of every woman.
God uses the physical head of a person’s body as a beautiful illustration of His design within relationships. Our heads contain our faces and our brain. The brain, as we know, is crucial to the entire nervous system within the body. It is the headquarters, so to speak. The brain is responsible for sending instructions that help the body to function in unity. A clear head (healthy mind, aka brain) creates harmony helping the hands, feet, fingers, and face work efficiently and productively. At the same time, the brain clearly leads and guides all other members of the body. Each member of the body must submit to its authority. If your little toe tells your brain what to do, you are in big trouble. That is not how the body functions, and there is something seriously wrong. No, the brain creates unity and keeps the other members in submission.
So it is with relationships under God’s design. When we do things God’s way, there is harmony and production. Through His design, we learn a valuable lesson about submission. All of which we spent much time talking about last week.
This week, the Holy Spirit moves us forward to the local church and public worship. He takes the principle of verse 3 and applies it now to local churches. Remember that this letter is God’s instructions to the local church at Corinth. Therefore, it stands today as our instruction for our church as well. That is the whole reason we are doing this extensive study. Our desire is to be the local church God desires. So let’s look at how we are to Deploy God’s Pattern of Relationships in the Public Worship of our local church.
Note first-
A Practical Design
A Practical Design
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.
You may have noticed something important here. In verse 4, we read “every man praying or prophesying,” In verse 5, it says “every woman that prayeth or prophesieth.” Prayer and prophesying are essential elements of public worship.
We can summarize both of these actions this way.
In the most general senses praying is talking to God about people, including ourselves, and prophesying is talking to people about God. -MacArthur, John. 1 Corinthians MacArthur New Testament Commentary (MacArthur New Testament Commentary Series) . Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition.
Remember there are two basic types of relationships identified in Scripture. There is our relationship with God which is vertical. The second is our relationship with others which is horizontal. Therefore, God established two actions representing these essential relationships within a believer’s life. We are to pray (talk to God about others) and prophesy (speak to others about God).
Going back to our text, we see the Holy Spirit applying the principle of verse 3 to the area of public worship. Public worship includes these two actions of praying and prophesying. What is the focus of verse 3?
God made us relational, so we could work in harmony and learn submission.
The Holy Spirit applies this principle to a local church’s public worship. He starts with men. Why men? God ordained men to be the spiritual leaders within their families, communities, and, especially, their local church. For that reason, the Holy Spirit states:
4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
Now, let’s stop for a minute and address an issue before us. The problem is custom and context. You will note the phrase “having his head covereth.” It literally means “having (something) down from the head.” Many students of God’s Word and history understand this to mean a veil. As you probably know, a cover was often worn in many Asian and Middle Eastern cultures. In fact, it is a custom still practiced in many of those areas, especially within Muslim communities. In many of those cultures, the veil was for a woman only. Men did not wear them. It is considered absurd and rude in such cultures for a man to wear a veil. However, for a woman, it was proper.
It would seem then that the Holy Spirit not giving us a universal divine requirement about head coverings in these verses. Instead, He is simply acknowledging the local customs of that day as He teaches some practical application of the principle in verse 3. Look again at verse 3.
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.
Who is the head (leader) of men? It is Christ. Thus, according to verse 4, a man who covered his head brought shame (dishonoureth) to his head (leader), the Lord Jesus Christ. By that same token, we read verse 5, which states:
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.
A woman who did not cover her head with a veil brought shame (dishonour) to her head, her husband.
Both verses reinforce God’s design for relationships. The accepted practice of that day was men did not cover their heads, for they answered to God. Women covered their heads because they answered to their husbands. These were symbolic acts signifying submission to God’s divine order.
A woman’s veil, in Greek and Roman culture, signified a married woman’s commitment to her husband. As I said earlier, in many Eastern cultures, it still signifies her promise not to expose herself to other men and that her beauty and charms are reserved only for her husband. It was the same at the time 1 Corinthians was written.
Now, remember the local church at Corinth has its share of problems. It would seem from these verses that women were not submitting to their husbands as they were praying and prophesying without their veils. The Roman Empire was a hotbed of cultural and spiritual upheavals. Among those was a growing sense of what we know today as the women’s liberation movement and feminism. Women were bucking the norms of society by removing their veils and even cutting their hair to look like men. There were even hints of them demanding treatment as men. Attacks on marriage and raising children were on the rise. Obviously, the local church saw infiltration of those movements.
This issue of wearing or not wearing a head covering falls into the same area as eating meat offered unto idols. It was not an issue of whether it was right or wrong to wear or not wear a head covering. The real problem was this. There was a rebellion taking place against God-ordained roles and relationships. A rebellion demonstrated by women praying and prophesying within the local church with no head coverings.
SIDE NOTE: The issue in these verses is not about dress or modesty. There are places in Scripture that address that issue. Dress is primarily a cultural issue. For instance, in Nepal and India, men and women dress differently than here. Mostly, men dress the same as in Western cultures wearing pants and shirts. Nepal and India have a national dress for men, but it essentially involves wearing pants and a shirt. For women, it is quite different. Unmarried women wear long flowing pants and a shirt that comes down past their waist. Married women traditionally wear very long fabric that wraps around their waist, covering them from the waist to the feet, which is thrown back over their shoulder. For a top, they essentially wear the equivalent of a halter top with their midriffs exposed. Thus, a woman’s dress identified her as married or unmarried. However, even those traditions have changed over time. Many married women today, in both Nepal and India, will wear the dress of an unmarried woman as much as they do of an unmarried woman. And, with the influence of Western society, many Nepali women today have even abandoned such dresses for blue jeans and t-shirts.
My point is this!
The overriding principle deals with obeying the relationships and roles God ordained.
It is not about women worshipping publically with their heads covered.
As for women praying and prophesying in public, we will deal more extensively with that subject in an upcoming passage. Suffice to state that it is okay for women to pray and teach within the local church within God’s parameters and with proper submission to authority.
In the end, the practical application is this.
There is a proper distinction between males and females. Thus, every man must clearly act as a man in public worship before the Lord. Every woman must clearly act as a woman in public worship before her husband or father. These distinctions MUST NOT BE BLURRED within a local church.
There is one more practical application in verse 6, which applies specifically to women. Look at verse 6.
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.
Now please do not shoot the messenger here. I am simply going to state the obvious from this verse. How you, as a woman, respond is entirely in your court. I must remind you, however, that God expects submission.
The shaving of a woman’s head has always been associated with shame. Concerning veils, in many cultures, a married woman who uncovered her head disgraced or shamed her and her husband. Thus, the Holy Spirit associates this symbol with rejecting her role within her relationship with her husband. It is such an egregious act that He says she might as well cut off all her hair. That is the word “shorn” in verse 6. The term “shaven” has some significant cultural context as well. A shaven woman in Corinth was often a prostitute in the pagan temples of that day. Even today, many women who are part of the feminist and homosexual movements shave their heads, placing themselves on the same level as men. Ladies, please be careful that you do not put yourself in a position where others make the same comparison.
Now, look at verses 7-10; we will finish with this next point.
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.
A Proper Defense
A Proper Defense
Remember that is passage is about the principle established in verse 3. In particular, it is about male leadership and not about custom. At the heart of this principle is this. What God has ordained must be followed and never compromised. A man covering his head is a sign of subordination to man and not to God. Note again verse 7.
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.
Man was created in God’s image morally, mentally, and spiritually. God created man in His image and glory. God created man with intellect, will, emotion, knowledge, and holiness. Much of which was corrupted by sin. However, all is restored in Jesus Christ.
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
God is the Supreme Ruler of the universe. Thus, as man is created in God’s image, God made man ruler over all His creation. It was God’s divine plan, as seen in Genesis 1-2. Both men and women are created in God’s image. However, note verse 8.
8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
Originally, God created a male adult first.
7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Later, as already noted in previous messages, God made an adult woman from a part of Adam.
21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
God granted to the adult male, Adam, dominion, and authority over all that He, God, created. Later, this was reinforced after the fall of man into sin.
16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
God said to the woman, “thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.” Thus, men are to represent God in authority and leadership, accomplishing God’s goal of man being in His image and glory. Thus, for that reason, men are not to wear any symbol of subordination during public worship of the local church.
On the other hand, women are for the glory of men. Look again at verse 7.
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.
As men are to live in submission to God, women are to live in submission to men. Just as men manifest God’s image and glory by leading with authority, women are to manifest men’s authority by carrying out man’s will.
Man is both the image and glory of God. Women are the image of God and the glory of men.
Another way to look at it is this. Men are demonstrations of a beautiful creation created in God’s image. Women are demonstrations of a marvelous creation created in man’s image. We see this in Genesis 2:21-22 as the woman was taken from the man, the man woke up to say, “WOOOOMAN!”
However, when it comes to personal relationships with God, a woman can deeply connect with God as much as a man. Both are made equally in God’s image. An image that can be restored by placing faith in the finished work of Christ.
Even though a woman is entirely in the image of God, she is not directly the glory of God.
Men are the glory of God as they submit to God’s authority and leadership. Women, in turn, are the glory of men as they submit to the authority and leadership of men.
Note some other defense of this in verse 8.
8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
Again, God brings us back to the order of creation. God created Adam first and gave him dominion over all creation before the woman was created. Then God created woman from man.
23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
Now note this from our text.
9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
God created women for men. It does not mean that she is intellectually, morally, spiritually, or functionally inferior to men. She is unique. Her role is to arrange herself under a man’s leadership, protection, and care. Additionally, she is uniquely designed to be “an help meet for him” according to Genesis 2:20.
Now, look at verse 10 of our text.
10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
In this verse, we have a keyword. It is the word “power.” It means the rightful power or authority. A universally accepted symbol of authority is a woman’s veil. Wearing the veil conveyed to all that she willingly submitted to her husband’s divine authority.
You will also note in this verse the connection to angels. Angles are essential “messengers.” The Holy Spirit is explicitly talking about God’s holy angels. The ministering messengers have a prominent characteristic. They are completely obedient to God. In fact, they obey His every command immediately. They are creatures of great power. It is power derived from God and always submissive to His will. Satan and his band of angels were expelled from God’s presence because they used their power for their own gain and glory rather than God’s. The holy angels, though, exemplify proper subordination.
Here is the connection. Women are obliged to God’s ordained order of authority to avoid offending these extraordinary beings known as angels. They were there at creation. Non-submissiveness is offensive to them as they too know and understand God’s design for men and women.
4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.
5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched the line upon it?
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner stone thereof;
7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Conclusion
Conclusion
What have we learned? God ordained relationships and the roles within those relationships. Men answer to God’s authority. Women answer to man’s authority. It is the foundation of all relationships even those within the local church. Thus, men are designed to lead the public worship of prayer and preaching. Women may pray and teach under the direction of male leadership.
In the end, the main principle is all about submission. Men submitting to God. Women submit to men as men submit to God. In doing so, God is glorified.