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q.gif (1639 bytes)  Please explain to me if a woman should cover her head when she is praying.


a.gif (1659 bytes) 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 says, "1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. 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. 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 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. 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. 8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. 9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. 12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. 13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? 14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. 16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God."

The context clearly shows that a woman wearing a veil was the outward acknowledgement that she was created from the man and in submission under him (under the covering).  This is important in the matter of prayer (that we be obedient to the roles that God has ordained for us), if we want the Lord to hear and answer our prayers.  Psalm 66:18 warns, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." 

Being in the "submissive" role may seem less powerful, and even very vulnerable, but that is not the case when we obey the Lord.  Look at verse 10 again, "For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels."   Covering her head when she prays, in acknowledgement of her role of submission to her husband, causes God to send forth the angels in power on her behalf.  Psalms 103:19-20 says, "The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.  Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word."

This headcovering is illustrated by nature.   In verses 14-15 from above, "Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?  But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering."  Even nature itself teaches that a man should have his head uncovered (pictured by short hair), and a woman should have her head covered (pictured by long hair).

If a person is following what God has engrained into us by nature (that a man has short hair, and a woman has long hair), then the headcovering matter is not to be a matter for contention.  Verse 16 from above says, "But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God."  That means that if a local church is in an area where they do not have the custom of women wearing headcoverings when they pray, then it is not to become an issue of contention in the church.  If the women are obeying what God has built into their nature, then they will, in fact, have their heads covered, by their long, flowing hair.  Verses 14-15 above say, "Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?  But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering."

If a local church is in an area where the women practice wearing headcoverings when they pray, then practice it.  If the local church is in an area where they do not practice that custom, then do not make it an issue.   Whatever the case, make sure that you teach what God has engrained into our nature: "Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?   But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering."

It is sad that the contemporary church of today twists this passage and tries to make long and short hair just a "cultural" matter that does not apply to us today.  Please notice that is not the case.  God has engrained it into our very nature that it is a shame for men to have long hair, and it is a glory for women to have long hair.

For more information on hair and the Christian's appearance, please see the Bible Course on the Christian's Appearance, BC-E-106.

 

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