LORD’S DAY, NOVEMBER 4
1 Corinthians 11:4-6
1 Timothy 2:9-10

“Let her be covered.”

HEADSHIP IN THE CHURCH (II)

In the days of Paul, it was customary for women to wear a head covering. This head covering is symbolic of the woman’s submission to the authority of the man. However, there was a movement in those days which was very much like today’s Woman’s Rights Movement. This movement encouraged women to cast off their head coverings and to dress liberally as a show of their equality with men. Many of the pagan rituals involved priestesses and prophetesses who uncovered their heads while praying or prophesying.

Thus, Paul gave two injunctions to the church at Corinth. First, men must not cover their heads as they worship God publicly. To do so in those days was to deny the headship which God had vested upon them. It would be an abdication and dereliction of their God-given duties.

It is also noted that in the Roman empire, men covered their heads during their public pagan devotions (Kistemaker). It seems like such a practice might have entered the church of Corinth. Paul thus wanted the worship in the Corinthian church to separate themselves from such pagan customs. The worship of God must reflect a right theological understanding of His Word.

Second, women must cover their heads in public worship. When they failed to do so, they were indicating their insubordination to the male leadership of the church. Such an act was shameful and disgraceful, just like if a woman had shaved off all her hair.

The fundamental principle here is that there must be respect for the order which God has established in the church (1 Cor 14:40). We honour God when we honour the ordinances which He has set for His worship.

THOUGHT: We must dress appropriately as we worship God.
PRAYER: Father, help me to dress modestly before Thee.