Expert: Joe Norman - 4/14/2010

Question
QUESTION: hi, i seem to read Paul as advocating for head covering in the form of a hat and that anyone who argues with this should no that there is no other tradition that the churches of Christ subscribe to. i am very disappointed to read that some say that Paul was saying the churches of Christ do not have the tradition of head covering-please clarify. Secondly, there is to me reasonable inference that there may have been other churches at the time of this address to the Corinthians, hence the importance of saying what the churches of Christ do and don't do, so it the deduction accurate that there might have been certain denominationalism already in the time of Paul and the writing of this letter, which would have made Paul all the more eager to spell out doctrine?

ANSWER: Hi Percy,

First, I need to apologize because it was difficult for me to understand what you wrote. I am not completely sure I understood everything you said, but I will do my best to answer you regarding head coverings for women.

The church in Corinth had many problems and there was much turmoil and the beginnings of divisions within that one congregation. Chapter 11 is about congregational meetings. The first matter discussed by Paul is women and the wearing of head coverings. Paul begins by giving a word of praise in verse 2 for their holding fast to what he taught them. Paul reminds them that the head of woman is man and the head of man is Christ and the head of Christ is God the Father. Paul discourages any sort of tyrannical dictatorship of man over woman, but rather that the relationship between a man and woman should be one of love and consideration.

In verse 4, he says any man who prays with his head covered dishonors his head. It displayed effeminacy. In verse 5, he says a woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head. Why? Because she appears manly and thus disregards the headship of man. Paul continues to explain that man was created in the image and glory of God but woman is the glory of man (vs 7). Later, Paul explains that long hair is a natural head covering for women which is a glory for them but disgraceful for a man to have long hair (vss.14, 15). It is clear to me though, that Paul was not making new law for all times and for all peoples. Verse 16 proves this to be true.

16 But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.

He is basically saying, if after all I have written in favor of a woman wearing a head covering, anyone is still wishing women to discard the veil, he should know that nowhere in the churches is the custom of women praying uncovered to be found. It was part of their culture and showed respect to the leadership of man over woman but not in a dictatorship way. Head coverings and or veils are not custom here in the U.S.A. and in many modern countries. But there are things men and women do with their hair and head which make it very clear who is man and who is woman. There are also things one can do to blur that line and confuse people. The idea that never fades in the passing of time is that women need to show respect to the leadership role of man over woman. This is done by women not appearing to be dressed similar to men and visa versa. Cultures are very different from each other and some fade with time. What we should be concerned with as Christians today is not blurring the line between male and female in our appearance.

In Conclusion, it is not law for all women who are Christians, no matter what country one lives in or when in the timeline they live. All they need be concerned about is not blurring the line between what one looks like - male or female.

I hope I have helped. If I didn't understand your questions and answer them, please try to be more clear in a follow-up question. If you think of new questions let me know too. I pray I helped you in what I wrote.

In Christian Love, Joe Norman

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Brother Joe, thanks for your answer, i agree that it is not custom in modern society, and i also stand by a belief that is important emulate the church then, knowing that it might not be part of our culture, but it is practiced by the churches of Christ of which Paul was leading- i think if we follow other teachings, without contextualising then also we should follow all else, i don't wish to debate this in light of 1 Cor 8:1... this is my next question, i am in JHB South Africa and i had vision, where in i was in the streets of JHB and all the buildings had fallen as if there was some earth quake, then a voice said in that vision i must tell the believers that they need to shun evil, drop secret sins and live circumspectly, because something shocking was coming to SA and only those with the Holy Spirit would comforted, afterwards many will try to go back to faith but they will fail because of self judgement" ... this was no dream but a vision, i have sought to tell my Pastors, friends and post it on Face Book, my question is, is there a scripture that confirms this, are there any other vision that God is giving to the saint internationally  (JHB johanesburg & SA is South Africa)

Answer
Hi Percy,

I don't agree with you about head coverings but don't wish to debate this either. My main reason is that this is not a debate site. I must tell you that I do not believe anyone today receives "visions" from God today. There is no scripture to confirm your "vision" either. God no longer gives visions to anyone. The purpose of miracles in the first century was to help establish the Lord's church and all the miraculous "gifts" from the Holy Spirit were only for the first hundred years. Once the last of the apostles and the last person who had "gifts" given to him by the laying on of apostles' hands died, no one else received these "gifts". The Bible is "that which is perfect" mentioned in I Cor.13:10. Once the church was firmly established and the New Testament was completed, there was no more need for anything miraculous. When Christ returns, it will all happen instantly in the blink of an eye.

In Christian Love, Joe Norman