Today’s reading includes 1 Corinthians 11, the home of the controversial head covering passage.
In the church you can find all sorts of people: women with long hair, women with short hair, women who wear coverings, those who don’t, men with long hair and men with short and men who remove their hats during prayer.
We’re actually not going to lay out the answer to what might be right in this article. Instead we’re going to ask ourselves: have we studied this passage? Where do we stand? Why did we come to that conclusion?
I’ve met those who had never realized the first 16 verses of 1 Corinthians 11 were in the Bible. I’ve met those who had been told it was simply a cultural thing, took the teacher at their word and that was it – never exploring the rebuttals to that claim. I’ve met those who have studied extensively and hold the position that the hair is the covering and therefore women must have long hair and men shouldn’t. And those who have studied extensively and concluded that women must wear an additional covering. And then those who have studied extensively and concluded that not only do you need a covering, it needs to be long. And those who have studied extensively and don’t believe it applies today.
What I want to do today is provoke you to read and study the Bible, seek out opposing views, pray, whether it’s over the head covering or any topic you’ve been presented with that you’re unsure about.
The truth is, most people I’ve met who talk about their journey in understanding 1 Corinthians 11 reveal that at some point or another, they’ve held nearly every position. Understanding changes, knowledge deepens over time. The best we can do is make sure we’re at least trying to seek wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. Over and over God conveys that it is the humble and willing heart he seeks, and therefore there is grace for error. But a humble and willing heart seeks and listens and will change and grow, that’s the key. Are we humble seekers?
How about this one: are we treating the scriptures impartially? One thing I can say about this passage is that it is just as simply and clearly stated as other controversial verses which we typically defend and practice today, especially those concerning the roles of women which some also see as being cultural.
So, here’s the conclusion:
Can we answer why we do what we do, why we believe what we believe? Is our faith, is the Bible, our compass as we go through the paths of our lives? Do we consult it? Do we test all things?
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” – Romans 12:2
“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation” – 1 Peter 2:2
“But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:21
Today’s reading: Ruth 2-4, Ps 117, 1 Cor 11
Pursue Righteousness 