If you met me in person, you would notice that I wear something on my head. I usually wear a black scarf over my long, brown hair that I wear up. This is a belief of mine from the Bible. I wear it for no other reason than that.
When I worked at a local grocery store, customers would frequently ask me:
“May I ask you a question?”
“Certainly.”
“What is that thing on your head?”
“You mean my scarf?”
“Yeah.”
My usual reply was:
“I wear this on my head because the Bible teaches in 1 Corinthians 11 that women are to cover their head to show their place in God’s created headship order.”
The usual response I got was something like:
The usual response I got was something like:
“Oh, yeah, the Bible does say that.”
Hearing that always kind of surprised me because the people asking me were obviously somewhat familiar with that passage of Scripture.
Others would say to me:
Hearing that always kind of surprised me because the people asking me were obviously somewhat familiar with that passage of Scripture.
Others would say to me:
“Oh, wow, I didn't know that. I’ll have to read that sometime.”
Some felt bad that they had even asked me by saying:
Some felt bad that they had even asked me by saying:
“I'm sorry if I embarrassed you.”
I always reassured them that I was very happy to share. It didn’t bother me at all.
With a look of ease and a smile, many would usually say to me:
I always reassured them that I was very happy to share. It didn’t bother me at all.
With a look of ease and a smile, many would usually say to me:
“Well, it looks nice.”
Other people commonly wanted to know if I was part of some denomination.
My usual answer was:
Other people commonly wanted to know if I was part of some denomination.
My usual answer was:
“I am just a Bible believing, born again Christian, with a desire to obey God’s Word. That is all.”
While there are some Christians who do practice this, in the United States and western nations as a whole, it is not a common thing to see a woman with her head covered.
I grew up not knowing what a head covering was. I never saw a woman with a head covering on until I was in my early teens. If someone would have told me as a young teenager that I would one day wear a head covering, I would have said:
While there are some Christians who do practice this, in the United States and western nations as a whole, it is not a common thing to see a woman with her head covered.
I grew up not knowing what a head covering was. I never saw a woman with a head covering on until I was in my early teens. If someone would have told me as a young teenager that I would one day wear a head covering, I would have said:
“I don’t think so.”
For many people, it looks different, strange, and even weird. Those would have been my thoughts as a child. I grew up being somewhat familiar with 1 Corinthians 11, but I never read it much.
When I was 15 years old, I began reading that passage of Scripture more.
The first part of 1 Corinthians 11 begins with the Apostle Paul giving a clear outline of God’s headship order. God - Christ - Man - Woman.
For many people, it looks different, strange, and even weird. Those would have been my thoughts as a child. I grew up being somewhat familiar with 1 Corinthians 11, but I never read it much.
When I was 15 years old, I began reading that passage of Scripture more.
The first part of 1 Corinthians 11 begins with the Apostle Paul giving a clear outline of God’s headship order. God - Christ - Man - Woman.
I grew up knowing about God’s headship order, something that does not change.
(1 Corinthians 11:3)
In the next few verses, the Apostle Paul says that men are not to cover their physical head, and women are to cover their physical head. He makes a clear distinction between headship order and the physical head by mentioning hair. (hair obviously grows on the physical head)
In the next few verses, the Apostle Paul says that men are not to cover their physical head, and women are to cover their physical head. He makes a clear distinction between headship order and the physical head by mentioning hair. (hair obviously grows on the physical head)
(1 Corinthians 11:4-6)
Paul goes on to share when and why men are not to cover their physical head and when and why women are to cover their physical head, pointing the entire reason to when God created man and woman.
Paul goes on to share when and why men are not to cover their physical head and when and why women are to cover their physical head, pointing the entire reason to when God created man and woman.
(1 Corinthians 11:7-9)
Lastly, the Apostle Paul finishes that portion of scripture by saying that it is a shame if a man has long hair, but that it is a glory if a woman has long hair.
Lastly, the Apostle Paul finishes that portion of scripture by saying that it is a shame if a man has long hair, but that it is a glory if a woman has long hair.
(1 Corinthians 11:14-15)
In other words, men are to have short hair, and women are to have long hair.
That all made perfect sense to me.
I was taught God’s headship order. That is something that does not change.
In other words, men are to have short hair, and women are to have long hair.
That all made perfect sense to me.
I was taught God’s headship order. That is something that does not change.
I was also taught that men should have short hair and women should have longer hair. That is also something that does not change.
I was also taught that men should not cover their head when praying, but it was okay if a woman had something on her head when she prayed.
I knew the reason for all these things went directly to this portion of Scripture.
However, I was never taught anything about women having long hair and covering their head. I grew up doing whatever I wanted with my hair, and I did not cover my head.
Reading this portion of Scripture is why I now have long hair and why I now cover my head.
I believe that God’s headship order does not change. I also believe that everything the Bible says about men in this chapter applies for today. Because of that, I came to believe that everything the Bible says about women in this chapter also applies for today.
Would it be right to say that the Bible applies to men in this chapter today, but not to women?
I get questions and strange looks for wearing a head covering, and I understand. It’s not a common thing.
I have been accused by some that the only reason I cover my head is for the “praise of man”.
However, I was never taught anything about women having long hair and covering their head. I grew up doing whatever I wanted with my hair, and I did not cover my head.
Reading this portion of Scripture is why I now have long hair and why I now cover my head.
 |
| A head covering similar to the one I wear. |
I know there are different views about this portion of Scripture, as to how and when a woman’s head covering should be worn, and I respect that.
I believe that God’s headship order does not change. I also believe that everything the Bible says about men in this chapter applies for today. Because of that, I came to believe that everything the Bible says about women in this chapter also applies for today.
Would it be right to say that the Bible applies to men in this chapter today, but not to women?
I get questions and strange looks for wearing a head covering, and I understand. It’s not a common thing.
I have been accused by some that the only reason I cover my head is for the “praise of man”.
No, I don’t get the “praise of man” for doing this. I usually get the opposite, particularly from relatives who “put me down” for doing this.
I don’t cover my head for any denomination. Trust me, if I covered my head for people, I never would have put on a head covering in the first place. I do this for God and God alone. It is in His Word.
The Bible doesn’t say what a woman’s head covering should look like so I don’t define that. I only desire to obey it in obedience to God. The Bible seems to indicate that it is a woman’s glory, her long hair, that is to be covered so that is why I cover mine.
When I was in Israel, I enjoyed seeing conservative, Jewish women who also do this. They cover their head and hair almost identical to how I do with some slight variations. Their reason for covering their head might be different than mine, but still, it was encouraging to see.
Our Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, was Jewish. His mother surely would have covered her head. Down through the centuries, women have always covered their head. It has only been in the last 100 years or so that western women, in general, no longer cover their head. While this still remains in the pages of our Bible, this has become a lost practice for western women.
I have long, thick, wavy, dark brown hair, and there are times I would love to wear my hair down. I love it. But God says it is to be covered.
Someone once asked me:
I don’t cover my head for any denomination. Trust me, if I covered my head for people, I never would have put on a head covering in the first place. I do this for God and God alone. It is in His Word.
The Bible doesn’t say what a woman’s head covering should look like so I don’t define that. I only desire to obey it in obedience to God. The Bible seems to indicate that it is a woman’s glory, her long hair, that is to be covered so that is why I cover mine.
When I was in Israel, I enjoyed seeing conservative, Jewish women who also do this. They cover their head and hair almost identical to how I do with some slight variations. Their reason for covering their head might be different than mine, but still, it was encouraging to see.
Our Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, was Jewish. His mother surely would have covered her head. Down through the centuries, women have always covered their head. It has only been in the last 100 years or so that western women, in general, no longer cover their head. While this still remains in the pages of our Bible, this has become a lost practice for western women.
I have long, thick, wavy, dark brown hair, and there are times I would love to wear my hair down. I love it. But God says it is to be covered.
Someone once asked me:
“Why would God tell women to have long hair only to cover it?”
It was a good question, and it made me think.
It was a good question, and it made me think.
My conclusion was:
Not everything that is beautiful on a woman is meant to be seen by everyone. According to God, my body is also beautiful, but that is also to be covered and not put on display for everyone to see.
Some things in the Bible are a mystery to me.
Some things in the Bible are a mystery to me.
One of the biggest mysteries to me is that, by covering my long hair on my head, I get to display something to the angels who are watching. I marvel that such a small thing on woman’s head could be that way, but indeed, the Bible says it is.
“For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.”
1 Corinthians 11:10
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