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HEAD COVERING

john roy bohlen & John 5:30

RUN FOR COVER!

 The Bible says in 1 Cor 12:3  "No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,' except by the Holy Spirit."  Jesus said, "Why do you call Me ‘Lord', but do not do what I say?"

 Question: Are you willing to do anything God would ask you to do?  Are you sure?  Persecution?  Imprisonment?  Some people are like the parable of the sower, who, when faced with difficulties, draw back from obedience to the Lord, like Peter, who vowed that, no matter what happened, that he would stay strong.  How about you?  Is Jesus Christ your Lord? 

 In the New Testament, the Lord gives some instructions to a certain group of people.  But more that 98 percent of them are not doing what the Lord requests.  Let's take a look:

 1 Cor 11:4  "Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying, disgraces his head.  5  But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying, disgraces her head; for she is one and the same with her whose head is shaved.  6  For if a woman does not cover her head, let her also have her hair cut off; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, let her cover her head. 7  For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man."  (NAS)

 1 Cor 11:10  "Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.  11  However, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.  12  For as the woman originates from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman; and all things originate from God.  13  Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with head uncovered?        14  Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him,  15  but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her?  For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16  But if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God."(NAS)

 There are 4 instructions given here:

        1.  A man should not wear a head covering when praying or prophesying.

        2.  A woman should wear a head covering when praying or prophesying.

        3.  A man should not have long hair.

        4.  A woman should have long hair.

 Right away, we have some people wanting to argue with this.  Here are some of the arguments:

 Objection 1: "I do not want to wear a head covering."

Response:  You do not have to, just do not participate in the service.  The only problem with this is that God wants you to participate, "That you may all prophesy one by one." 1 Cor 14:31, And, "Covet earnestly the best gifts, especially that you may prophecy." v.39, And, "Each one of you has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, an interpretation." v.26.

Behind these instructions is the commandment, "Let those of you who are spiritual know that what I am saying is a commandment of the Lord." v. 37.

 
Objection number 2:  "Head covering was a custom of that day, and not the custom of our day, therefore I am exempt."

Answer: There is nothing in the narrative to suggest that this instruction was cultural, any more than the later verses about communion was cultural.

 
Objection 3:   "Paul was a chauvinist, so I don't have to listen to him." 

Answer:  Jesus wasn't married, so I do not have to listen to Him?  1 Corinthians was inspired by God, and is infallible, and is God's instruction.

 
Objection 4:  "A woman's hair is given to her as a covering."

Answer:  If we substitute the words, "hair covering" in place of "head covering" the other passages are ridiculous.  Like, "If a woman will not have long hair, then let her have short hair."

 Objection 5:  "If I wear a head covering, people will think me strange."

Answer:  John 12:43  "For they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God."  (NAS)  Is this you?

 Objection 6:  "It is better to be submissive to one's husband and not wear a head covering, than to wear one, and be unsubmissive." 

Answer:  It is better to be both submissive, and to wear the covering.

 Objection 7:  "This can become a meaningless, legalistic religious ritual."

Answer:  Marriage, baptism, communion and foot washing can become a meaningless ritual, or a religious exercise.  But we do not lay them aside.

 Objection 8:  "I can not understand why I should do this."

Answer:  Would: "Because the Lord wants you to." Be a good enough reason?

 Objection 9:  "Why does Paul pick on the women?" 

Answer:  Paul, by the Lord's instruction picks on the men as well.  He commands them to NOT wear a head covering or a hat in church.  I know of some men whom I have asked to remove their ball cap in church, and they were annoyed.  The Lord also tells the men to NOT have long hair.  He also reminds us that men come from women, and that the man cannot be independent from the woman.  You see, there are instructions for both.

 Objection 10:  "But Jesus had long hair!"

Answer:  Just because Hollywood made a mistake, does not mean that we must.  In those days, only those who were "Nazarites" had long hair.  A Nazarite was one who took a vow to never cut his hair.  Although Jesus was from the town of Nazareth, does not mean that he was a Nazarite.  He was not.  One never sees a Roman with long hair in those Bible times.  Just a short time after Christ, Paul tells us that it is a shame for a man to have long hair.  He would not say that if that were not the case in his time and place.

Objection 11:  "Only the harlots went bare headed in those days.  That's why the instructions in those days."

Answer:  There is nothing implied, suggested, hinted at, insinuated or stated that indicates this as the reason for the instructions.  Thus we should allow Jesus to be the Lord over our head, as well as our heart.

 Objection 12:  "I do not have a revelation of this truth, therefore I am exempt."

The instructions are plain.  Perhaps the "revelation" will come, as you obey.

 Objection 13:  "Long hair is inconvenient, doesn't look good on me, is too hot, requires too much of my time, etc."

Answer:  Matt 11:28  "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  29  Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls.  30  For My yoke is easy, and My load is light."  (NAS)   I once saw a picture of all of the Miss America's in the pageant's history.  Not one of them had short hair.

 Should we be legalistic about this?  In Nigeria, where we have ministered 8 times, the custom of wearing a head covering is almost universal, except in some of the more "modern" hyper-faith churches, etc.  In the other churches, it can happen that they will not even allow a woman to enter the church if she does not have a head covering.  Thus, it could be possible to keep a woman away from hearing words of life, in order to even become a Christian.  I believe that a church should not exclude a woman from entering, but perhaps, should exclude her from participating in prayer, testimony, teaching or prophecy unless she puts a literal covering upon her head.  When we pastored in Phoenix, 29 years ago, we kept a box of scarves and mantillas in the pulpit, for ladies to use, who wanted to participate, but who had come unprepared.
 I conclude with Paul's closing statement on the subject.             1 Cor.11:16  "But if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God."  In other words.  Here it is.  Do it. 

Run for cover! Are you willing?

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