To my fellow sisters in The Lord (regarding headcoverings)

This post is to and for my sisters in The Lord...

To be honest part of me would much rather not post this. I am sharing this because I feel like The Lord would have me to share it.

As one who the Spirit has led to wear a headcovering during church meetings, prayer, and often other times as well, and without ANY condemnation toward those who do not cover, I would like to submit a few verses and thoughts for your consideration in love.

But especially to those of my younger sisters who The Spirit is drawing to obey this teaching from the New Testament scriptures, I would now speak from the heart...

Firstly, many (most?) well meaning modern believers will tell you that this New Testament ordinance was merely cultural or that your hair itself is the only covering being spoken of in this passage. They are very right in saying that it is not a salvation issue, but there is a 'faith once delivered unto the saints'...and headcovering with some sort of physical covering, most especially during worship and prayer, has been part of the outward expression of that faith for almost 2,000 years.

For almost 2,000 years homosexuality was known to be is a sin that will keep you from inheriting the Kingdom of God...now it is widely being accepted IN MANY CHURCHES.

For the better part of 2,000 years for a Christian to divorce and then remarry another person was considered adultery, now it is accepted among true believers without thinking twice.

I bring these things to mind only as a reference point for my younger sisters who find yourselves growing up in these last days: In regard to the practice of headcoverings or any other New Testament teaching, you must prepare to be a fool for Christ's sake--not just before unbelievers--but a fool before your fellow blood bought brothers and sisters who will often see you as ridiculous, outdated and legalistic. (If in your heart you feel you are better than them because you cover your head, then the enemy will rejoice --for he would like you to join him in the condemnation that is a result of pride.)

But if in your heart of hearts you know that you know that you know that the Lord Himself has placed a pure and fervent desire to be wholly consecrated to Him before men and angels, I want to encourage you to be willing to set aside even the well meaning opinions of men in order to obey God. [Edit: for clarification, I want to encourage you to obey the word of God, even if you do not fully understand the purpose of a particular New Testament teaching.] If The Lord has given you light in this or any area that others perhaps do not have light on yet, may your love for them utterly eclipse the differences you may have with them in doctrine. [edit] If I cover my head and obey every outward instruction given in the New Testament, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Lastly, we do walk in the midst of an unseen world, surrounded by angels both good and evil, engaged in warfare against an unseen foe and all his hosts. I submit that the Church of Jesus Christ has not cast off the teaching on headcoverings because of new light but because the darkness of the world and its prince are increasigly creeping into the church. May we stand fast, and having done all, stand amidst the even greater falling away that is still to come.

"...we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men............the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head because of the angels." (1 Corinthians 4:9-10, 11:10)

May The Lord give us increasing understanding...but above all may He pour through us that love by which all men will know that we are His disciples.

Can you share what kind of head covering you wear? Honest question.

brandy

i appreciate your post but would sincerely like to ask you as one who does not cover but dearly loves my Lord could you fellowship with me? would you be able to look past the fact that I have shoulder length hair, wear loose fitting jeans(modest ones), and do not cover my head and still fellowship with me?? I love the Lord with all my heart, just as you do and sister if the two of us find ourselves together in these last days standing arm in arm against the darkness in this world I would pray with you, I would willingly fellowship with you and have no issue doing so.

thank you for your consideration
rdg

Brother,

As for church meetings and private prayer times I mostly use a scarf/ shawl that I already have around my neck. If you've ever seen the way our sisters in India often wear a headcovering, that is how I most often wear one.

RDG,

I most certainly would have fellowship with you -- and would consider it an honor and blessing! To put your mind at ease please know that of the sisters I am closest friends with and cherish deeply, some wear jeans, some wear dresses, some wear headcoverings all the time, and some do not wear them at all. :)

God bless you sweet sister!

Thanks brandy!

Would it be appropriate for a young girl to pull a hood up- like on a hooded sweatshirt?

I remember back when I was a kid in the early 70s when I attended my grandmas Brethren church in Indiana that a lot of the ladies wore hats, generally some variation of the pillbox hat. I don't think my grandma wore one every Sunday. I got the impression that hats were worn more to look dressy or as a fashion accessory as opposed to being a sign of submission. To be honest though, I never actually asked her why she wore it.

It definitely would have been easier for a woman to cover in prior decades when hats on ladies were fashionable. I just watched an episode of Leave it to Beaver and the mom wore a hat when going to a meeting at the school.

RDG,

I most certainly would have fellowship with you -- and would consider it an honor and blessing! To put your mind at ease please know that of the sisters I am closest friends with and cherish deeply, some wear jeans, some wear dresses, some wear headcoverings all the time, and some do not wear them at all. :)

God bless you sweet sister!
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thank you for responding appreciate that. i know of some who feel convicted to wear only dresses, wear no makeup or jewelry, who cover their heads, and do not cut their hair. some will only fellowship with those who are the exact same mind set as they are and i have no ill feelings towards them. others are willing to look at the fruit and heart of a person and fellowship can and does happen. i appreciate those who allow me to walk in the convictions the Lord has placed on my heart and do not judge me as rebellious or dis honoring my husband.

where two or more are gathered and Jesus is head, love can work in each persons life according to His good and perfect will i believe. submission begins in the heart in all matters and because of who He is in us a natural outpouring and desire to submit and obey happens as we grow in Him. i have learned its best to step back and allow the Lord to work in another persons life. sometimes when an issue is forced or pushed the work He wants done is actually hindered.

rdg

Brandy,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on head coverings. After being saved in 1988 I was filled with the Holy Spirit in 1997. The Lord then led me to a like minded fellowship.

The women there all did wear head coverings. It was never commanded by the men or leadership or a rule. I attend a different church today made up primarily of people from India and all the women also cover their heads. When new women come they do not cover their heads but if they continue to come and the Lord adds them to the church, they eventually cover their heads.

Again, it is not commanded or a rule. I suspect that the women who have their own meetings most likely discuss the topic and I believe that the women who do it are definitely doing it from the heart as a sign of submission to God and not man.

In my old fellowship husbands NEVER demanded that their wives wear head coverings.

Likewise, a woman should not DEMAND that her husband love her like Christ loves the church and gave Himself for it. But if he is obedient to God and he does love his wife that way he also is doing it from the heart.

As a man, I know women who wear head coverings and women who do not who both love God. The thought NEVER, EVER, EVER, crosses my mind as to which of the two are more spiritual.

When I am in a mens fellowship or breakfast or prayer meeting and there are men who come wearings hats such as baseball caps. When we pray, these men remove their caps.

I do not question why they remove their caps but I believe it is a sign of submission and honor to God.

Thanks for posting a separate thread on this topic as I wanted to share my experience with this issue without getting involved in debating the subject.

I have one question.

Verse 15 says "but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering.".

This headcovering, it could be that it is her long hair that covers, at least that's what this verse shows, right? How do you read/explain this verse, dear sister?

(I am not looking for a discussion, but to honestly know how people that are for headcovering explains this verse and to study it better together with my wife)

This headcovering, it could be that it is her long hair that covers, at least that's what this verse shows, right? How do you read/explain this verse, dear sister?

Whenever we have such doubts we should always compare scripture with scripture. If we just go by one word, we may often be deceived. That is why all those who just take the word 'covering' from verse 15 and there by ignore the entire command of head covering are wrong. If they are Consistent then they should force all women to have long hair. And long means how long? What is the measure?

Here are my points to prove that Long hair is not the replacement of Head Covering:-

1. Verse 6 reads that :- For if a woman does not cover her head, let her also have her hair cut off.
Here Apostle says the opposite of what you inferred from Verse 15. He says a women who does not want to cover her head should have her head shaved in verse 5. Which simply means long hair is not to be covering by itself but has to be covered. Basically Apostle gives only 2 options,
Option 1:- Cover your head
Option 2:- Else Shave your head.

There is no option of having long hair as a covering.

2. In Verse 7, we read that 'Women is a Glory of man'. In verse 15 it says long hair is the glory of Women which belongs to man according to verse 7. The glory of man should be kept covered. That is the whole intention of Head Covering. Hence Long hair should be covered.

In essence, what Apostle says in Verse 15, is Long hair is the Glory of women. It is her beauty. Hair has always been a beauty aspect of women till this day. Such glory of women should be kept covered in Church.

Even in verse 15, Apostle does not say Long hair is a type of Head Covering. He is only saying that long hair is a covering to give her glory. But this glory should be kept covered in Church or public prayer.

Good morning everyone,

Have not forgotten about this thread....hope to reply during the children's nap time today. :)

Thank you for your patience.

If you would like some reading material by G.W. North (A speaker here on SI) on this subject. There is a great little article that I could send you titled "A sign of Authority." Please let me know.

With Love in Christ.

Brother Todd, you had asked:
"Would it be appropriate for a young girl to pull a hood up- like on a hooded sweatshirt?"

In reading your question the thought came that before the Searcher of hearts, one pure and humble hoodie wearer, in a sea of covered heads who are just going through the motions, might not be altogether unlike the widow's mite that was cast into the treasury and meant more to Him than all that the rest gave.

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Sister RDG,
Thank you for what you shared. You mentioned: "i have learned its best to step back and allow the Lord to work in another persons life. sometimes when an issue is forced or pushed the work He wants done is actually hindered."

Yes, there is a delicate balance. And I would never want to push anyone away since we are members not only of Him but of each other even as it is written. The Lord definitely has to work in someone's life.But at the same time, it has been my experience that He does use the testimonies, exhortations and encouragements of other saints to work in someone's life.

I pray that the Lord Jesus by His Spirit might work through even what is shared in this thread to bring the truth of God's word to light in love.

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Don't have time to make further replies right now, but wanted to thank each of you so much for the questions and testimonies you've taken the time to share!

Brother Wijnand, thank you so much for your question and your patience.

We have been very busy the past few days and I wanted to prayerfully be led of the Spirit in this reply. (Actually feel uncomfortable answering a brother in regard to doctrinal things but in light of Acts 18:26 and the fact that Greg is encouraging me to, will gladly share what I am able...

Firstly, yes, at first glance this verse can seem to say the exact opposite of what Paul just spent so many verses carefully explaining. Just to include surrounding verses quickly:

13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not even nature itself teach you that... if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 But if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God.

As brother Sreeram mentioned, the Greek word translated as covering here is not the same word that Paul uses for covering when speaking of the physical symbol that a woman should put on her head. For what its worth, Christians in the past centuries have taught and believed that Paul was simply saying that as evidence that a woman should have a covering, even nature itself has given her a veil of sorts....but he also writes in verse 14 that this natural veil of the hair is her glory. And the reason why the long hair itself cannot be the covering is touched on in verse 6:

"if a woman does not cover her head, let her also have her hair cut off...."

And then verse 7:
"For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man."

Even though the context was different, passages like these do bring to mind what Peter said regarding Paul's letters: "...His letters contain some things that are hard to understand..." (2 Peter 3:16)

Lord Jesus, by Thy Holy Spirit quicken the truth you have breathed through the words Paul the Apostle spoke as he was carried along by your Spirit. For it was You the Living Christ speaking through Paul and giving instructions through your holy apostles. Deliver us now O Lamb of God from the fog of confusion with which the prince of this world has blinded our minds. Do it for Thine own Name's sake that we may walk blamelessly before Thee in these last days, even as the coming of the lawless one draws nigh. Grant us Lord Jesus to walk in the faith once delivered to your holy ones without hypocrisy and without compromise. Pour forth Thine own Spirit from on high and make Thy words known to us that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Amen.

Brandy:

Interestingly enough, I have just been studying this topic from the perspective of submission in marriage and the order of authority that God has established in the family and the church. I will throw in my two cents worth.

It seems to me that the issue of a physical head-covering is only as significant as it is a true reflection of a heart that is in submission to God and His order of authority. If a woman wears a physical head-covering, yet has a heart of rebellion toward her husband, her head-covering is meaningless. By the same token, the woman who has a heart of true submission to her husband as she submits to God, yet does not bear the physical head-covering, in my opinion, is just as if she wore the physical covering.

I will type more later. I will say that in our fellowship, we do not practice physical head-covering, but you would be perfectly at home fellowshipping with us and we would feel totally at home fellowshipping with you.

I wanted to comment on a previous post. I am not wanting to be contentious, but I wanted to make a statement about the Greek words used and discussed. It is true that the word for covered (vs. et. al.) and the word for covering (vs. 15) are slightly different Greek words, but the difference is only between the noun and verb form of the same word. The meaning is not different. In one instance the word is used as a verb (covered) and in the other case is is used as a noun (a covering). Both indicate a veil. We could say that verse 4 says that she should not pray unveiled and that verse 15 says her long hair is given her for a veil.

Paul begins this portion of scripture by stating the order of authority in the church and the family. He then uses head-coverings as the example of or symbol of that authority. At the end of his admonition he says, basically, that people in the church at Corinth should not be contentious about this issue because the same tradition of head-covering is also practiced by all of the churches.

What I find interesting is the progression that Paul uses. First the absolute statement of the authority structure God has set forth. Then the head-covering as a symbol of that authority. Then the hair length as a type or natural example of the head-covering.

I honestly believe that this admonition is not an absolute command that all Christian women should adopt a physical head-covering. I believe the point is submission to God's structure of order and authority in the body. For the Corinthians, the freedom that the women had in Christ and the equality of women before the throne of God (see verses 11 and 12) might serve as a logical reason for women to abandon veiling themselves. Paul says that in order to preserve their witness before men and before angels (recall that we are a spectacle to men and to angels) women and men should observe the symbol of authority just as they observe the actual authority that God has established.

I believe that a woman practicing physical head-covering is a beautiful thing as long as that head-covering faithfully represents a true condition in her heart. Why should the presence, or absence for that matter, of a bonnet, cap, shawl, etc. on the head at all times or only during prayer and worship be a point of contention between believers?

The majority of the body of Christ in our culture do not practice head-covering and almost none of the non-believers in our culture do so. Just the submission to her husband alone would be enough of a manifestation in our culture to cause any female believer to suffer reproach for the sake of the gospel, let alone the physical veil.

This is my take on these verses as far as I understand them. Yet, why would I in any way, shape, or form condemn a sister in Christ who believes she should wear a head-covering. In fact, I have occasionally fellowshipped with families who do, and it is a total non-issue.

Will be continuing to submit quotes and/ or thoughts to encourage my sisters in Christ who The Lord is leading to wear a headcovering.

First though, thank you brother David and brother Travis, for taking time to share some of your personal testimony regarding these things. It has been a blessing.

Grateful to all who have posted...great is our Lord and greatly to be praised!

Stumbled upon this quote from Derek Prince today when looking for something else...just wanted to share:

"In giving instructions about the conduct of worship in the New Testament church, Paul writes: 'For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.'...

In almost all cultures there are certain rules of conduct which govern the way people relate to their king. We call these rules protocol.

Like an earthly king, the Lord, too, has His protocol. Some of the requirements of heaven’s protocol are stated in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16. They remind us that Christians in their worship are not just a little isolated group on their own. On the contrary, Paul says, "we have been made a spectacle to the world [the universe], both to angels and to men.” We have seen that the "angels” include both good and evil angels.

As a token of our respect for the Lord, and also in our own best interests, we need to study and to follow the requirements of heaven’s protocol."

Quote:
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Why should the presence, or absence for that matter, of a bonnet, cap, shawl, etc. on the head at all times or only during prayer and worship be a point of contention between believers?
______________________________________________________________

Travis, for the long term it does not work. You are a male and may not be able to understand the dynamics that exist between women who cover and those who do not. In fact, I am certain males don't understand at all the tension that arises because one has the conviction and the other does not.

I have worked in a crises pregnancy center for 15 years with females who did not cover. We got along fine but we were not a brotherhood. Our goal was to help females in a crises and teach moral purity along with sharing the Gospel. Other then this there were a LOT of differences among us but we chose to get along - it was a lot like working at a job.

(if you want to know about the differences among the staff at CPC, there were Southern Baptists, Calvinists, AOG, Catholic - whose husbands were military, Mennonite, Charismatic... wide spectrum of doctrine amongst us.)

This may not answer your question, Travis, but this is my answer.

Sandra

You are a male and may not be able to understand the dynamics that exist between women who cover and those who do not. In fact, I am certain males don't understand at all the tension that arises because one has the conviction and the other does not.

Sandra: I understand what you are saying. I did have to chuckle a bit when I read the line above. Having been married for 23 years now, and in some form of church leadership for more years than that, I have seen the conflicts that arise, and I have to say that it arises from innumerable issues of which head-covering would be only one.

I guess I am not saying that conflicts do not arise, but that they should not arise. I understand that we all, to one degree or another, walk in the flesh from time to time. Praise God we can grow into ever increasing levels of maturity although we will never "get there".

It reminds me a bit of a marriage conference that my wife and I attend each year. I have been raised in the Pentecostal movement, and I would not trade that heritage for anything. I pray in tongues and believe in the present day manifestation of all of the gifts of the Spirit, and have witnessed most all of them from time to time. The people who conduct the conference are about as fundamental, holiness baptist as one can get. They look with great suspicion on anything that resembles pentecostalism. We have had some brief conversations about the difference as a church associated with our particular movement is located about 10-15 miles up the road from this camp and the community is very small. But the fellowship around the things of God is so sweet each year when we go there. There has always been a perfect harmony and unity in the Spirit when we are there. If head-covering is a hot-button issue for some, then surely the tongues issue is more.

I guess if one is walking in the flesh, the physical presence of a head-covering might cause them to react in some way. I guess I must admit your point about being a male, because it makes not one hill of beans difference to me.

By the way, I am not against head-covering in any way shape or form. I simply do not believe that in our culture this particular practice is the protocol of the day.

Let me give you a quick example. Paul in the letter to the Corinthians commanded women to learn in the church in silence and wait until they went home to ask their husbands if they had a question. He also commanded them not to teach. Yet in Romans, Paul commends Phebe to the Roman church and tells them to see to her every need as she ministers among them. To me this indicates somewhat of a cultural mandate for the sake of the witness of the church in the culture. I believe the same to be true for head-covering. But I never want to be or to come across as contentious about the issue. I am not.