Head Covering Issue.

Should a woman cover her head when praying or prophesying? Is her hair an accepted covering? Why does the World of today have a problem to understanding this biblical issue? Is the Bible which is the inspired word of God saying anything about covering head? Well, if you can draw your mind humbly near of God, you will become wise by understanding the real truth on covering head issue. See what Bible says: Covering or no covering has been a delicate issue for many years. It is seen for Christian churches as a conscience or personal opinion. In reality, how should we treat it as a gray issue? Was it a trivial admonition, or was it an instruction given to man through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that God expects every mankind to adhere to? If that is the case and the truth, then we would need a clear and complete understanding of the head covering issue, so that every one would be able to make an educated wise decision whether to stand for the Lord our Creator or for man. Before looking at 1 Corinthians 11:1-16, let us establish a foundation. What issue was Paul addressing? What was the subject matter? Was Paul addressing men having long hair or women with bald heads? What was his main concern? Paul, a follower of Christ, a minister unto the Gentiles (Romans 15:16) had the responsibility of teaching and delivering all the precepts of Christ unto the Gentiles. Historically, The Corinthians were not Jews, they were Gentiles. Paul had a grave work to do in Corinth, for Corinth was famous for its wealth, luxury, trade, prostitution and idol worship. Needless to say, considering their corrupted practices, the command to teach, baptize and teach again, was completely exercised in Corinth, so that the Corinthians would instructed the way of the Lord. Therefore, Paul instructed the Corinthian believers in this fashion: 1 Corinthians 11:2 "Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you." Paul's targeting was to deliver the ordinances of Jesus Christ to the Corinthians with the hope that they would keep them. The ordinance that he was delivering in this instance, was the covering of the head by Christian women when praying or prophesying. Let us dig through each verse to get the full understanding. 1 Corinthians 11:3 "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." Paul is laying the foundation in verse 3. He wants every mankind to honor their head. Therefore, Paul explained the situations in verse 4 that would cause an individual to dishonor their head.

1 Corinthians 11:4 "Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonored his head." Paul addressed first to the men. He wanted to explain to the Corinthians, the

Christian way. He explained that if a man prays or prophesy with his head covered (a hat or any form of head covering) he dishonored his head, which is Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:5 "But every woman that prayed or prophesied with her head uncovered dishonored her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven." "But," the Bible says, which means, "on the other hand," when a woman prays with her head uncovered, she dishonors her head which is the man. At this point Paul introduces his first comparison to stress the repulsiveness of not covering by stating, "For that is even all one as if she were shaven." How many bald headed women do we see walking around? Having a bald head as a woman just does not look right, and that is why Paul used the "as if she were shaven" example. We have to keep focus as well on the subject matter. The subject matter is the ordinance of a woman covering her head when praying. "Shaven" is not the issue, nor the subject. It was used so that the Corinthians would have an example. Paul uses another comparison a few verses down as a reasoning point to expose the unnatural nature of a woman not covering her head. Notice that the admonition to cover was given while the Corinthians had hair, else Paul would not have suggested for them to be shaven. We will follow up on that point later. 1 Corinthians 11:6 "For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered." In this verse, the subject matter remains covering. Paul is now explaining what "for that is even all one if she was shaven" means. Why would Paul compare a woman not covering her head when she prays with being shaven (walking around with a bald head)? The answer, it is a shame. It is a shame basically to all women to walk around with a bald head. A woman understands well, that her hair is her beauty. Likewise, he is saying unto them, for which they understand well, it is also a shame to pray with your head uncovered. Christ used the same approach when preaching to the multitude. He would use something that the people understand so well, something that they could relate to, so that he could effectively drive home his point. In addition, Paul says, "For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn." Which woman would jump to that alternative? None. It is easier to just put something on their heads. So Paul created a situation where making the decision to cover relatively easy, considering the alternative. The Bible says, "He that winneth a soul is wise." Proverbs 11:30. Paul had good reasoning ability.

1 Corinthians 11:7 "For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man." Remember, the Corinthians needed to be thought in the ways of the Lord. They were not Israelites. The ordinance of head covering was important for them to understand. Why? It is all about headship, honoring and giving glory to ones head. So Paul confirms the fact that a man should not cover his head in verse 7, for he, the man, is the image and glory of God. On the other hand, a woman should cover her head, for she is the glory of the man.

The Misunderstandings - Shaving and long hair as a covering Matthew 13:34. All these things spoke Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spoke he not unto them: Christ always used parables when speaking to the people. The Bible makes it clear that without a parable spake he not unto them. Why? Because spiritual things are spiritually discerned. The entire multitude were not spiritual. Therefore, he would use earthly examples that the people could relate to, thereby, explaining the way that he would have them to walk. Paul used the same method. Many analogies were used in Paul's writing to communicate effectively his message. Therefore, when he spoke of shaving and long hair as a covering, they were used to cement his point. Let us look at those verses. 1 Corinthians 11:13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Paul promotes choice and personal conviction. As he often spoke words like, "let every man be convinced in his own mind," likewise he is saying to the Corinthians, "Judge in yourselves." Then the question is asked, "is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?" Paul selective choose the comely for its meaning conveys his message beautifully. According to the dictionary, comely means, "Suitable or becoming; proper; agreeable, seemly, good behavior" Paul is saying to the Corinthian women, that praying without covering their head is not becoming, it is not proper. 1 Corinthians 11:14-15 Verse 14: Do not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? Verse 15: But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. Paul wants the Corinthian women to view the act of not covering their heads when praying as against nature, and a shameful practice. He plans to achieve that by comparing not covering, with a man having long hair. Therefore, in verse 15, he is merely showing the Corinthians what looks good and what does not. The subject remains covering, however, the comparison between the hair length of a man and a woman is use to convey the shamefulness of the act of not covering when praying. When Paul says, "for her hair is given to her as a covering," that is in direct relation to his comparison of a man having long hair. "But" he says, if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her. Then he says "For," in other words, "Why is it her glory," for it was given to her for a covering. In other words, a woman is supposed to have long hair and not a man. The long hair/covering issue was used as an example to express what is natural, and what's not. Thus explaining that not covering is unnatural. Remember, in 1 Corinthians 11:5, the woman had hair on their head. The women of Corinth had long hair. Yet Paul was advocating a head piece, a covering. We know they had hair, else he would not suggest for them to be shorn or shaven. Shorn means, "To remove hair by cutting or clipping." They must have had hair to shave it or shorn it, right? Therefore, contrary to the teachings of many, Paul was not saying that the hair of a woman is an accepted covering. Christian women have been covering their heads a generation and more ago. Were our fore fathers wrong? Were the Christians of the 1960's and 1970's wrong? Was it truth then? Friends, God does not change and we should not

change the principles of God in order to conform to this ever changing, corrupted world. It is written: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever. Heb. 13: 8.” Wherever you are, wether you are female or male, remember you need a clear and complete understanding of the head covering issue, so that you would be able to make an educated wise decision whether to stand for the Lord our Creator if you believe in Him or for man if you believe in him. My prayer to you today, I want you to understand that ”the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.“ (Proverbs 1: 7).

Appreciated & recognised as true belief by Authentic Ministry Opportunity [AMO] WORLD WIDE. Tatien Nduwimana Presiding AMO Minister.