Sermon Audio Archive

What Must I Do To Be Saved?

  

FROM: 1/26/03 Radio Program

Question:

I Corinthians 11 speaks of women wearing a head covering. Why do you not follow this practice?

Answer:

Put very simply, this is because Paul speaks of this practice as a custom (I Corinthians 11:16). This was a practice common at this time to show the submission of the women. In context, Paul speaks of an order which was established by God (v. 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."

Yet, this passage of Scripture is not speaking of women as "inferior" in any way, for Paul shows that while the woman was "of the man" (initially, in Creation, Genesis 2:18-25), now, man is "by the woman" (by childbirth) neither sex/gender is inferior to the other (I Corinthians 11:11-12).

Evidently, these women, understanding that in Christ, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:28), were not wearing these coverings (akin to a "burqa") like they would have done otherwise in Corinth. Paul tells these women who were "praying and prophesying" (v. 5) in the age of spiritual gifts, to wear them, and not appear to non-Christians as if they were not in submission.

Evidence to show that this was a "custom" being regulated by Paul includes verse 16 which calls it a "custom;" saying "the churches of God" have no such custom. Not only this, Paul told the people to "Judge in yourselves ..." about whether or not it was fitting for a woman to pray "uncovered." (v. 13). What command is there in the Bible which ever gave someone the option to "judge" in himself about whether or not he thought a command made sense? The commands of God are expected to be followed, regardless of whether or not we ever think they "make sense." Yet, Paul relies upon the people's judgment in this case.

Furthermore, we know this was a custom being regulated, for a few centuries earlier, for a woman to be "covered," was not a sign of submission, but a sign of prostitution!! (See: Genesis 38:14-19). It is for these reasons we do not follow this practice today.

Back to Radio Program Questions - Answers