Must A Woman Wear A Head Covering In Worship?

Must A Woman Wear A Head Covering In Worship?

Dear Bro. Waddey:
Does Paul's teaching in I Corinthians chapter 11 mean that women today must wear head coverings in the worship service?
-Felix

Dear Bro. Felix:
In Corinth, women were expected to cover their heads as a sign of their submission to their husbands. Some women, having become Christians and renounced their old pagan way of life, had cast aside their head-coverings. This was one of the problems the Holy Spirit led Paul to address.

Underlying this instruction is the necessity to respect the divine order of authority instituted by God. Thus Paul starts by saying, "the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God" (11:3). In that day and society, women were expected to demonstrate their subjection by covering their heads in public. When women came to the worship assembly of the church and participate with uncovered heads it showed dishonor to their head (11:5). To do so cast her in the public eye as no better than a woman with a shaven head, i.e., a shameless woman of the streets. (11:6). The covering was an outward sign or symbol of her recognition and acceptance of the authority of men in the church (I Tim. 2:11-12).

Paul reasoned that woman's subjection was a foundational part of God's plan for the human race. He looked back to the creation event. The man was first made and then the woman taken from him. The man was not made for the woman but the woman was made to be a suitable helper for the man (11:8-9; Compare Gen. 2:18-22). He goes on to add that women should wear a sign of the authority over her because of the angels (11:10). Likely this means because God's angels are present with us when we worship. Some think it means because of evil angels who would encourage their rebellion against men. He notes that even nature makes a distinction between man and women. The woman wearing her hair long and the men cropping theirs shorter (11:15). Thus they should also respect this difference. He closes by blocking further contention regarding the subject saying, "we have no such custom, neither the churches of God." This I take to mean that neither Paul nor any other congregation tolerated their women refusing to show submission to the males leadership of the church. (11:16).

As to whether this applies to us today, we should ask is it the case in our society that a woman shows respect to her husband, or to the men of the church by wearing a covering on her head? The answer in some societies is, yes, but in others, no. In most Middle-Eastern societies, should a woman become a Christian and refuse to cover her head in worship, she would be deemed a rebel and an unworthy example. The same is true in many other societies. In such environments, a Christian lady should be willing to conform to that cultural practice lest her influence for good be damaged. On the other hand, in most of the Western world, a head-covering is not a sign of her subjection. Hence it serves no religious purpose for her to cover her head. Think of it just as you do dress styles. They vary from culture to culture. What is considered modest and acceptable in one might not be considered so in another. Like Paul we Christians should seek to be all things to all men so we might be able to save them (I Cor. 9:22). We conform to social standards, not necessarily because they are God's ordinances, but lest we cause others to stumble at our conduct (I Cor. 9:23; 10:24).

This practice falls into the same category with the "holy kiss" mentioned by Paul (Rom. 16:16). It was their customary manner of greeting. Our customary manner of greeting here in America is to shake hands. In either case our greeting must be pure and sincere in Christ. The same is true of the ancient practice of washing the feet of one's guests. That custom is not applicable in our modern society. We show our hospitality in other ways that are just as important.

The underlying principles on which Paul based his thoughts are still applicable for us wherever we might live. Christ is still head of the church. Man is still the head of the woman in the church and home. We all must respect God's plan for authority and submission.

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