1 Corinthians 11:1-12, "Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, 5 but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.6 For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head. 7 For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. 9 Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; 12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman."
In this section he answers the question about head coverings in the assembly. God has order in everything in His universe, so we should desire to see His order in every area of our lives, including when we come together to worship the LORD. The order in the chain of command is God the Father, Jesus the Son, the Holy Spirit, the man, the woman and the children. This is not to say that we are not equal as men and women, even as it is not to say that the Holy Spirit or Jesus the Son is not equal to the Father. No, men and women are equal, and God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit are equal, but in the chain of command there is an order that God has set up. “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh.” (Colossians 3:18-22a)
So there is order, we have to have someone in charge; it does not mean they are better. “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:26-29)
First, we see from this verse that a woman could be praying and prophesying (basically preaching) in the assembly. Next, we learn if she is praying or prophesying she needs to have a covering of some kind. Without a covering she would be showing disrespect.
God has ordained order in the creation of men and women, there is an order of authority, and that is the way it should remain here on earth. Now in heaven we will be like the angels and not have a distinction in our sexes. We may appear to be male or female, but we will not have sex organs. I get this from this verse: “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.” (Matthew 22:30)
“..submitting to one another in the fear of God.” (Ephesians 5:21) There is a careful balance in this area of authority. Men are not to lord it over women, not even the pastor of the church is to lord it over women.
Without the man we would not have the woman, and without the woman we would not have the man. We need each other, and the women in the church will be more apt to submit to authority if they are loved and treated with respect by the leadership.
Dear God, I humbly submit to You and to those You have set above me, all the while knowing that You see me as equal to all of Your other creations. I praise You!
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