The Use of Head Coverings: I Cor.11:3-16

Though this passage’s discussion about head coverings has several interpretive ambiguities, it also contains several very clear truths. The first is that there is a divine order in creation: “Christ is the head of every man, and the husband is the head of his wife, and God is the head of Christ.” The apostle John explained this clearly: “As the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge.” (5:26,27; see also 5:19-22)

Secondly, since the Father and the Son are both fully God (Jn.5:22,23), then the discussion about headship and submission has nothing to do with superiority. Though God gives different roles to husbands and wives, the are fully equal in their standing before God: “Woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman.” (11:11,12)

The third clear truth is that wives are warned not to dishonor their husbands. (11:5) In Paul’s day they dishonored their husbands by not wearing a shawl over their hair. Though in most cultures today a lack of a head covering doesn’t communicate disrespect, wives should be concerned about how they can honor their husbands. Wives, how do you talk about your husbands’ in public? Do you trumpet his failures or do you praise his successes? (You may need to look hard to find our successes!) How do you treat your husband in private? Do you badger him for his lack of commitment to you and the kids? Or do you praise his stumbling attempts to be a husband and father? (We are slow learners!)

Finally, there is a clear message to us husbands -- we desperately need our wives to be complete: Man is not “independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman.” How can husbands develop this interdependence? We husbands need to ask our wives’ opinions: “How am I doing as a father? Do the kids respect me?” We need to remember that being the leader doesn’t mean that we have to control all of the decisions. If a wife is a better organizer, let her decide where to put things in the garage. If she is a better money manager, let her set up the household budget. The wearing of a head covering communicated timeless principles. We can do away with the head coverings but we must not do away with the timeless principles.


February 5 Study: I Cor.11:17-34
It is easy to let our practice of the Lord's Supper lose its reality and simply turn into a ritual. Paul had strong words to correct the abuses that were taking place in Corinth. What was wrong in Corinth? How should the Lord's Supper be pracaticed?


Next Prayer Fellowship: Feb.12, 6 P.M. Any volunteers to host?