Sisters, what do you believe about 1 Corinthians 11 and the Christian woman's head covering?
I am so conflicted on this issue, and I would really, really appreciate your thoughts - if you have thought about it, why you've reached the decision you have; and if you haven't thought about it, why it hasn't been an issue in your life.
A little background: I have been drawn to covering my head ever since my mid-teens, when we moved to a very conservative Baptist church and I began dressing semi-plainly. I read a lot of materials from Rod and Staff, Christian Light Publications, and the Charity churches during that time, and I was mostly drawn to the way the head covering looked. In my radical anti-conformity, I saw the head covering as a quick and dramatic way to proclaim to the depraved world that I wanted no part of it.
As I grew older and learned more about the Scriptural reasoning behind the head covering, I came to the same conclusion many covering sisters have, which is that I simply can't reason away 1 Corinthians 11, especially when backed up with Numbers 5:11-31 and the uncovering of the woman's head during her time of judgment. Substituting the word "hair" in all the places it says "covering" is just too confusing, and I believe Paul would have been clearer about it if God had meant that long hair was an option. Today, I really and truly believe that, for the sake of the watching angels and powers of light and darkness, a woman should wear a symbol on her head to show that she accepts her role as a woman and that she is under the protection of God - and, when applicable, of the man He has placed in her life to care for her, be that her husband or father.At the moment, however, I still do not cover, except for times when I am in deep prayer about something and feel the need for a little extra "something" to help me focus and to demonstrate my deep emotion and need.
There are two reasons for this. Firstly, and most importantly, my dad has said that he prefers I not wear a head covering right now. There are several very good reasons for this that I won't go into, but the point of it is that I completely respect and am glad to honor his request - after all, since a head covering is a symbol of submission, it wouldn't make sense to wear one in direct opposition to my dad's wishes. :-P
The second reason is that I can't yet determine whether my motivation is truly for obedience to the Scriptures, or if there's still a little bit of that self-righteous attitude of "LOOK at my VERY obedient HEAD COVERING." From my own experience - in my very own actions - I know that there is nothing uglier and more hampering to the Gospel than a Christian who is full of herself and excited to show the world how much better she is than its filth. When I dressed semi-plainly, I was full of disdain for girls who wore shorts and T-shirts - even born-again girls who had a much more vibrant faith than I did. And I didn't do much witnessing during that time of my life, either. I'm sure my condescension showed. I don't ever want to be that way again.
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But despite this hope/plan, I still feel conflicted about it. Is this really the right way to read this passage? What about the many vibrant Christian women I know who do not cover - can God speak to us individually on this, rather than it being a Church-wide mandate? I would definitely be drawing attention to myself - does this violate the woman's "prime directive" of modesty? What about the usual covering-dresses pairing - I don't really feel called to wear only dresses at this time; would I have to make the switch anyway, if I started wearing a covering?
Yes ... lots of questions. :-} You see why I need some answers.
What do you believe? I know many of you have met the issue and decided on it; some of you have covered, and some have not. Could you tell me why you chose what you did? Even a simple testimony like this from someone I know would be really appreciated.
{And just as a caveat, I am aware that head coverings are a so-called "non-salvation" issue; I'm definitely not as hung up on this issue as I am on my quest to get to know God more deeply and personally. But still, it is an issue that has nagged at me for almost 10 years now, and I'd love to get it settled at some point.}
Thank you so much for your input! I love you ladies and appreciate your thoughts!! :-)
Hugs,
Vicki
Well it's a very good question. There has been a lot of debate over this subject. Personally I don't wear a head covering.
ReplyDeleteHistorically, head coverings were worn for modesty and to keep from being a distraction or being vain with your hair. (If you do some research over Jews and their beliefs on hair and head coverings I think you'll find it interesting. I don't know much but what little I know is interesting, and it helps to always go to the SOURCE that started it all the Jewish culture.)
Modern day, You will stand out, not a bad thing at all. But people will be watching you and have questions. This is a brilliant opportunity to stand alone and be a witness and be ready always to have an answer for the hope that lies within you. But is that how you want to stand out is the question. It's a matter of the heart, if you ask me. Man looketh on the outward appearance but the Lord looketh on the heart, and if you want that reminder every time you pass a mirror that you are protected and under His authority, then by all means wear one, but it is the heart that matters, not how you look on the outside.
Blah, and I feel like I made no sense but it's my two little cents on the matter.
A few thoughts... :)
ReplyDeleteIn reading the 1 Corinthians 11 passage I do not see it saying anything about the woman's head covering being a piece of fabric/lace. All he talks about is hair. "But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering. But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God." - 1 Cor 11:15-16
I personally think wearing a "headcovering" is unnecessary in our culture. They are a barrier as well, since they give the wearer this "see, I am so holy" aura about them. I think they draw attention in the wrong way. Shouldn't it be the character and love of Christian ladies that stands out to the world? Not this thing on our head that is supposed to show we are holy and submissive. Others should see that in our actions and speech. :)
In my personal experience the ladies/girls I've known who wear them have always been the ones who decided they should, NOT their husband or father. (One lady basically said she'd do it even if her husband didn't want her to.)
I was blessed by your desire to respect your dad's wishes and not wear one!
So I wrote a long comment and then went to Canada and my computer deleted it and then school kind of happened and...yeah... :P
ReplyDeleteBut. I do not wear a head covering. It's always been something I have seen as a cultural thing - and in our culture, it carries an awful lot of baggage. We are called to be different from the world, and I want to be different from the world. But the idea that God calls us to wear hand-sewn dresses and special head coverings never made sense to me. Or rather, I should say, the idea that God calls us all to wear that has never made sense. Look at birds. Look at dogs. Look at plants. Look at anything God has made and see the incredible variety...why is it that we try to make it that there is only one correct way to be? If at some point in my life I was convicted to cover my head, I would take to wearing hats (which I love anyway) or cute scarves all the time, rather than the typical head covering. Yes, I believe in being counter-cultural...but putting up a barrier between myself and the people that surround me would feel more anti-cultural than counter-cultural to me. Like peppering the world instead of salting it.
Along that line, though, the Bible has soooo little to say about it. When people say "head-covering" somehow this is the idea: http://www.candleonthehill.net/store/catalog.php?category=15 Why? Why is that more spiritual than http://www.9channel.com/taobao/product-3014943991932-14943991932.html or http://img03.taobaocdn.com/bao/uploaded/i3/T11eHRXhddXXbiCCw2_045251.jpg (ignoring the make-up, which is another level.) Is it better because it covers their hair? Why isn't it called a hair-covering then? (And if our hair is our glory, why on earth are we covering it up anyway?) But how do we know a white square bobby-pinned to our head is the right way to do it? For me, I would not be able to explain to myself why exactly I had chosen to to wear it, let alone to anyone who asked me. I know girls who wear scarves around their neck and then put them on their head when they pray...I've known people who wear hats only to church...I know people who wear standard head coverings all the time. There are variations and I think that is okay. Like you mentioned with covering-dresses - I do think if a woman feels convicted that she should only wear dresses...she should only wear dresses. If she and her husband agree that wearing a head covering (of some sort...) would signify her embracing of her role as wife...then she should do it. To not do what you feel God is telling you to do is never a good idea. :P But it's not in the 10 Commandments or the Commands of Christ or anywhere clearly spelled out (what did they tell the gentile Christians? To keep themselves from things strangled and from idols - not a word about head coverings), all of which to me says...it can be an individual thing. Which is why he was writing to the Corinthians about it and not to all the churches.
That said...I think you're entirely right to go with the direct command of honoring your father. :) If at some point things change...I don't know that I've ever seen someone wear a head covering and jeans, but I think it would be interesting. :) And you would be probably more likely to get conversations about it than if people just immediately wrote you off as 'one of those people'. :P And if you feel it would be a good reminder for yourself and perhaps provide a starting point for witnessing...why not? :)
And there, I went and wrote a super long comment again...*blush* with much rambling that hopefully made a bit of sense at some point. :P But yeah...that is where I am at with that. Have you made a decision in the past two months? :)
good grief, that was a HUGE comment. sorry. XD
ReplyDelete