By Bob Vaughn -
uca@uncommonanswers.com
"Contending for the faith once delivered to the saints"
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We All Have Two Heads!
1 Corinthians 11:3. But I
want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of
woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Paul's words here establish the topic of
instruction thru verse 16. "Head" in this verse is used in the sense of
authority. Christ, in this verse, is said to be subject to God. That
does not make Christ any less God himself, for He is God. His
manifestation of the Godhead is willingly serving as the godhead deems
best. Performing your task, even if it means following another's
directions, does not make you an unequal to them. Likewise, the woman's
role does call on her to be subject to the man in his role, but it
doesn't make her "less" than the man. When this God established line of
authority is unbroken "peace" reigns, and the Father is pleased. If
your place of service in God's plan calls on you to be subject to
another, that alone doesn't mean that you are less than the other.
Verse 4 - 5. Every
man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his
head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered
dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were
shaved. For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it
is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be
covered. Two "heads" are
discussed here; the literal head and the authoritative head. Covering
of the literal head served as a sign of submission. A man praying or
prophesying having his literal head cover - being subject to his wife -
would be breaking God's order and dishonoring his authoritative head,
God. But a woman praying or prophesying with her literal head uncovered
- not being in submission to her husband - would dishonor God. As a
sign of "disgrace" - possibly for unfaithfulmess to her husband - a
woman would have her head shaved. This shaved head then meant that she
was not under the authority of her husband. A woman should be covered -
subject to her husband - and if not let her be disgraced - that is
shorn or shaved.
Verse 6 - 12. For
a man indeed ought not cover his head, since he is the image and glory
of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man is not from woman, but
woman from man. Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the
man. For this reason a woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her
head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, neither is man independent
of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. For as woman came
from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from
God. A man ought not
cover his head - be subject to his wife - because he is the image and
glory of God. It is a wife's position to bring glory to her husband.
She is his helper - Genesis 2:20. She was taken from man - Genesis 2:21
- and for man. The covering, the symbol of her husbands authority, on
her head may have relieved the angels - messengers of God; possibly the
pastors as in Revelation 2:1 - of any need for correction. In God's
order, men and women are not independent of each other, but compliment
each other.
Verse 13 - 16.
Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with
her head uncovered? Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man
has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? 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. Think
about it, talk about it amongst yourselves, encourages Paul. If a woman
is with head uncovered; out of God's order; not submissive to her
husband; and thereby being disobedient to God; can it be proper for her
to pray? The natural strength and stamina of a man, as well as his God
given position, teaches us that he should not wear long hair as a
covering indicating that he is subject to his wife. A woman who is not
disgraced - shorn or shaven; who has her hair, in your culture has no
significance, then it doesn't matter. The length of hair and it's
symbolism is a cultural thing. Authority is a God ordained thing and it
does matter. But, if you want to be contentious about the subject of
"authority", such contention is not allowed.
When authority is forced there
will be resistance. When we all lovingly submit to God's order, there
is peace. God lovingly and patiently encourages us to be submissive to
His authority. We likewise should lovingly and patiently encourage
others to be submissive. It's for God's glory and our good.
Bob Vaughn