“A Hairy Issue”

Monday, August 20, 2012

Could you help me with I Cor. 11 as far as the head covering or not covering?  How long/short should the hair be?  Why is there such a multitude of different interpretations on this passage?  Also, if you choose to wear a covering, do you only wear it in the assembly or every time you pray as well?  A girl we worship with ALWAYS has a "hat" on.  Just curious for some clarification; thanks!

Sincerely,
In Over My Head

Dear In Over My Head,

Women must always have their heads covered while praying (1 Cor 11:5), but God has built into every woman a permanent head-covering – her hair (1 Cor 11:15).  God designed men and women differently… this should be no surprise to anyone that has ever dealt with the opposite gender!  Men are to be the leaders in the home (Eph 5:23) and the church (Tit 1:5-6).  Women are the heart of the family (Tit 2:4-5), and men are not complete without them (1 Cor 11:12).  Both genders are equal heirs of salvation, but they are designed with different strengths and roles (1 Pet 3:7).  One way that God signifies this is by having men look different from women.  When women have long hair and men have short hair – it pleases God (1 Cor 11:14-15).  There are varying degrees of long and short hair, but ultimately – men are to look like men, and women are to look like women.  This principle is even borne out in the Old Testament (Deut 22:5).  The teachings of 1 Cor 11:1-16 are simply teaching that a woman’s long hair is a God-given covering for her head, and men are not to have that same covering due to their varying roles in leadership.  The confusion over those verses is caused by people not paying attention to 1 Cor 11:15 when it says that a woman’s “hat” is her long hair.

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