Expert: Joe Norman - 7/8/2011

Question
Hello!

I have just a couple of questions that if you could help me with, I would appreciate it.

While not a member of the Church of Christ, we have been visiting one and are considering joining.

In the past, my husband and I have been considering whether or not I should wear a head covering. This is something I have felt drawn to and my husband doesn't mind if I do or do not cover.  We have studied together I Corinthians 11 and to be honest, we are beyond confused by it.  Could you explain the Church's stance on this subject?   I know it is not a salvation issue, it's one of those personal choices.

We do not celebrate Christmas or Easter as Christian holidays, although we do celebrate them as cultural holidays.  I've been hearing a lot of talk recently from acquaintances about how celebrating them at all is sinful and if we want to celebrate any holiday as Christians, then we should celebrate the Biblical holidays which the Jewish disciples and early Jewish Christians did.  I am interested in celebrating these Biblical holidays, if for nothing else, then as a homeschooling project.  I would like to know your thoughts on this.  Again, I know this is not a salvation issue.

Blessings!
Susan

Answer
Hi Susan,

I do appreciate your choosing to ask me your questions. I actually did a lesson on head coverings once when I had a yahoo Bible Study group. Now the churches of Christ do not have an official book of creeds or doctrines which specify our "official stance" on anything. We are all independent and autonomous local churches. We don't have any church governmental body which oversees all the local churches. We strive to use the Bible alone as our guide for how to organize, worship, and everything else. Some local churches do have slightly different views on things like "religious holidays", head coverings, Bible classes, etc.

It seems that many within the Lord's church struggle as to how to differentiate what things were just a cultural practice of the time and which were commanded and expected by God for all Christians everywhere in every generation to do and practice. Don't feel bad that you struggle with it too. Remember Peter said some of the things Paul wrote were difficult to understand. I think Peter made an understatement because I think more than just some of what Paul wrote is difficult to understand. BUT, in most cases it is we who are to blame because we tend to make what we read more complicated than I think Paul and God intended.

I think there are two key points that should help to clear up confusion regarding I Corinthians 15. The first point is that nowhere else in the New Testament is this topic of head coverings even spoken of but this one chapter. This indicates to me that a covering other than actual hair was a cultural practice of that time and in that region of the world. Also it seems clear to me by evaluating verse 15, what is most important to God is that women maintain their natural head covering which was given to them by God...their long hair. Now of course "long" is not a specific length. I really don't think any woman should have haircuts that are similar to a man's length and style. This is my opinion on the matter. It can be "short for a woman" but should be clearly longer than most men's hair and not at all similar in style.

But then in verse 16 Paul speaks of someone being contentious regarding the requirement for women to have a head covering. He states that "we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God." That verse especially tells me this was strictly a cultural thing not to be carried on from generation to generation.

Now let me address the holidays topic. The churches of Christ #at least most I know of# do not celebrate religious holidays as "Christian" holidays but I'd say the majority of members do celebrate them as secular cultural holidays. I do know of individuals and even some local churches as a whole who believe it is sinful to celebrate these holidays at all. I do not agree with anyone who says it is sin to celebrate them at all. I think it's perfectly safe to celebrate them just not religiously....as a cultural secular thing. Of course that is just my opinion. I don't really see anything in the New Testament to indicate Christians today should celebrate ANY holidays as religious practice...not even the holidays the early church celebrated. I believe it would be wrong to bind such holiday celebrations upon others. We have nothing in the New Testament indicating we should celebrate certain days.

If a specific scripture regarding holidays troubles you, please let me know and I will evaluate that passage for you. But the bottom line as I see it is we as Christians are not sinning by celebrating Christmas and Easter, etc as secular cultural holidays.

In Christian Love, Joe Norman