HEAD-COVERINGS: When OPPOSITION Occurs



For now we see through a glass, darkly;
but then face to face:
Now I know in part,
but then shall I know
even as also I am known.
1 Cor. 13:12

Any Christian witness is going to bring opposition. But what should a Sister do when Husband opposes the head-covering? What should she do when  Husband does NOT want her to wear it ?

Scripture , as always, has the anointed answer. Let us consider the context of the Head-Covering, 1 Corinthians, chapter 11.

Verse 3 BEGINS the reasoning for a Sister to wear a veiling:

"But I would have you know,

that the HEAD+ of every man is CHRIST;

and the head of the woman is the man;

and the HEAD of CHRIST is GOD. "

Thus, the Apostle establishes the authority-line, the Headship, that is to be found amongst Christian churches....  and Christian HOMES. 

Husbands dislike the head-covering for a variety of reasons. One major reason is embarrassment: they don't want to be married to a "dowdy"- looking wife. They want "their" wife to look fetching and lovely !

Sisters, can you honestly blame them?

Do you want Husband to dress

in any way

to embarrass YOU ?     

NO!  

Each of us has different "standards" in our mind's eye as to what is "okay" and what is "embarrassing."  When we go to church, go out to eat or shopping,  go to visit "our" side of the family, or when we are on a public job.... IT MATTERS  how Husband looks when we are together ! 

Chances are that you not only want his fingernails without car grease, but you also want him  not to appear as a  homeless street-man [ in his most comfy old plaid flannel shirt , moccasins, and rubbed raw cordoroys].... even if he is sparkling clean!  Some Sisters cannot stand to have the public see Husband's knobby knees underneath those bermuda shorts, either... it simply robs Sister of dignity!

Likewise, MOST husbands want their wives to REFLECT THEM and THEIR VALUES. 

Now, a head-covering can look dignified. It also can look lacey and feminine. However, it can be quite UN-dignified,  looking like canning-day or garden-work attire. Sometimes, a red or blue man's work handerchief is worn.... and dignity flees !   

Furthermore, a well-designed "early Christian" head-covering can resemble a Roman Catholic nun's covering. It may resemble an Anabaptist's cap or shorter veiling. The Charity veiling comes in all lengths. Most are either dark or light. Some are see-through.

Some veilings sit back on the head as a "symbol" of a head-covering ( ? ) and some hug the circle of the face, showing NO HAIR at all.

BUT, if Husband is embarrassed to have "his wife"  seen in public with ANY of those head-coverings on, then the Sister better find out WHY.... with a firm assurance to Husband that she will not go against his standard. 

If Husband wants his wife to CHANGE the style , then she should do so. 

But, if Husband is uncomfortable with ANY head-covering, then forsake it ... for his sake and to keep the Authority / Headship line in tact in the home...  as per Verse 3 ! 

Likely, a Sister in that predictament will be able to wear it IN HER PRAYER CLOSET where no-one else is present. She may be able to wear it IN THE HOUSE when no-one is home.... but she should walk in integrity towards Husband and remove it before answering the door or doing garden work if she lives in a suburb.

Even worse, if Husband wants his wife to look pretty when he arrives home from work.... she should do so. Fix the hair becomingly yet modest. Remove the chore clothes or garden clothing and don something appropriate --- home clothes that are fetching. If Husband likes earrings, put them on for at least his entrance and suppertime at the table.

IT IS NO SIN to look pretty for Husband.

Indeed,  it is a way to say, "You are important to me... so important that I will STOP my day and LOOK WELCOMING just for  you . "

So, even if YOU, dear Sister, are convinced that you need to wear a covering .... but Husband opposes it.... lovingly follow his headship in this matter.

For, that is what the COVERING means, in truth: that you are under Husband's headship!

The LORD knows your heart of obedience towards HIM+ .... but let it begin at home, with your Husband.

Truly ,

it will be accounted

as your obedience

towards HIM+.

+  +  +

In the name of The FATHER,

WHO created us;

HIS Holy SON+ JESUS,

Who+ saves us;

And their Blessed HOLY SPIRIT,

Who sanctifies our obedience

unto The Living Word+.



THE HEAD COVERING... part 2

The Head Covering ….. part 2

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We are continuing on the Head-Covering Teaching from 1 Corinthians 11, picking up from where we stopped. In review, the first 3 verses establish the Godly governing order in the Christian home and church: man is the head of woman, CHRIST JESUS is the head of man: GOD is the head of CHRIST.

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Every man praying or prophesying,

having his head covered,

dishonoreth his head.

1 Cor.11:4

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Verse 4 today is straightforward and easy to understand… in the KJV. Some modern scholars, however, dislike this rendition BECAUSE the Greek text literally says… “Every man praying or prophesying having down over the head dishonors his head”.
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Upon careful reading, WHAT is “hanging down over the head” is missing in the Greek text. It is grammatically an “understood” element [according to the classic Greek New Testament Lexicon, BADG, p. 405, under kata.]
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It is understood to be a cloth covering and has so been understood in the Early Christian writings of the first 200 years as well as by all the Christian church up to the last few decades!
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Tertullian, a well-known Christian apologist, wrote (circa 211 A.D.) about a soldier who was somehow a Christian. He would not put the Roman laurel band or wreath as a crown on his head because he was Christian. He was martyred because he wouldn’t deny CHRIST before men. Keeping in mind 1 Cor. 11 regarding the head covering issue for both men and women, let us hear what Tertullian said to the church when he gave instruction as to wearing a “band” or crown, as awarded by the Roman government for various government honors:
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Much less may the Christian [man] put the service of idolatry on his own head — nay, I might have said, upon Christ, since Christ is the Head of the Christian man — (for his head) is as free as even Christ is, under no obligation to wear a covering, not to say a band.
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But even the head which is bound to have the veil, I mean woman’s, as already taken possession of by this very thing, is not open also to a [laurel] band. She has the burden of her own humility to bear. If she ought not to appear with her head uncovered on account of the angels, much more with a crown on it will she offend those (elders) who perhaps are then wearing crowns above.
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For what is a crown on the head of a woman, but beauty made seductive, but mark of utter wantonness, — a notable casting away of modesty, a setting temptation on fire? Therefore a woman, taking counsel from the apostles’ foresight, will not too elaborately adorn herself, that she may not either be crowned with any exquisite arrangement of her hair.
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What sort of garland, however, I pray you, did He who is the Head of the man and the glory of the woman, Christ Jesus, the Husband of the church, submit to in behalf of both sexes? Of thorns, I think, and thistles, — a figure of the sins which the soil of the flesh brought forth for us, but which the power of the cross removed, blunting, in its endurance by the head of our Lord, death’s every sting.
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Yes, and besides the figure, there is contumely [contempt] with ready lip, and dishonor, and infamy, and the ferocity involved in the cruel things which then disfigured and lacerated the temples of the LORD+, that you may now be crowned with laurel, and myrtle, and olive, and any famous branch, and which is of more use, with hundred-leaved roses too, culled from the garden of Midas, and with both kinds of lily, and with violets of all sorts, perhaps also with gems and gold, so as even to rival that crown of Christ which He afterwards obtained.
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For it was after the gall HE+ tasted the honeycomb, and HE+ was not greeted as King of Glory in heavenly places till HE+ had been condemned to the cross as King of the Jews, having first been made by the FATHER for a time a little less than the angels, and so crowned with glory and honor. If for these things, you owe your own head to HIM+, repay it if you can, such as HE+ presented HIS+ for yours; or be not crowned with flowers at all, if you cannot be with thorns, because you may not be with flowers.
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Ante-Nicene Fathers, VOL 3. TERTULLIAN, PART FIRST, SECTION 4, entitled: The Chaplet or De Corona (Of the Crown), Chapter 14, pg. 102
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But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth

with her head uncovered dishonoreth her head:

for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

For if the woman be not covered,

let her also be shorn:

but if it be a shame

for a woman to be shorn or shaven,

let her be covered.

1 Cor.11:5-6

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No woman I know is happy about going bald or being bald, as some dear ones have endured with chemotherapy treatments. Every woman who has had to endure baldness has gone to great lengths via wigs or hair-pieces or scarves or hats to avoid looking freakish. It is a great sorrow to her.
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The Apostle here is teaching the church that BEFORE GOD, a woman praying or prophesying unveiled is as outlandish TO HIM+ as a bald woman is to normal society. If she refuses to cover her head properly, then she is to be made bald. It’s a good antidote. She’ll cover her head then, and without a struggle, no doubt!
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There are some teachings out there that affirm the head covering IS hair. That cannot be because substituting “hair” in the above verses for covering makes the entire verses of no sense.
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Next blog on this topic will show WHY … the Biblical reasons… WHY The LORD governs the home and church this way.

Following the Authority Line

Why can't I go deeper with CHRIST? What's the block?

I know I love HIM+... I've committed myself to HIM+

... what's the problem ?

I am hearing this common theme amongst Brethren: Let's MOVE ON! Let's go DEEPER! There's more... there's more... And indeed, good Brethren, there is. However,the only way presented to go deeper is more reading, more studying, more evangelizing of the unsaved... all of which are good... but there truly exists the REST of the package!

For instance, I do not hear much concern about following the authority line, neither in the home nor in the church. Now mind you, I'm NOT talking about the baseless, man-made "apostolic succession" that some groups practice.

If the true, Biblical authority line was established and practiced-- as it was in the Early Church-- there would not be so many exhortations needed about Christian dress :>), just for instance.

This is not to say that MEN RULE... This is to say that the brothers SET THE EXAMPLE FIRST. This is the first line of defense (in both the home and church) against the wayward spirits of the flesh and world. These spirits constantly tug and pull at the Christians.

The authority FIRST brings himself totally in line with CHRIST'S Words (Matthew 5,6 and 7,and rest). Then he will have the spiritual authority and the spiritual power in the unseen realm to oust the rebellious spirits leading the flock astray. Yes, it will COST YOU BIG-TIME as you apply Matthew 5,6, and 7, and the rest, to your own life, your home, your family, and your church.

You will indeed pick up HIS+ cross and die daily to yourself as you learn to lay down the sword and the lawsuits and practice love towards your enemies... individual and corporate... both perceived and real enemies.

You will indeed pay the price, receiving the reproach that was laid upon CHRIST JESUS, if you stop laying up treasures for yourself on earth. TAKE NO THOUGHT FOR THE MORROW so that you may use your time to serve CHRIST JESUS with ALL of your heart, soul, mind, and strength. As you step out of this world's economic system to serve CHRIST JESUS, you will see a marvelous thing happen: HIS+ economic system will care for you and you will indeed be living in Psalm 23 and know NO WANT or lack of any needful thing.

Yes, dear Brethren, go the next step. Don't stop the exhortations but do start by laying the example FIRST.

Want the Sisters to dress modestly? Then get out of your cut-offs, shorts, nicely-cut jeans, tank tops, open-necked shirts, and backwards ball caps. Cover your bodies with work overalls, work pants, solid colored long-sleeved shirts with the collars buttoned... no chest, no he-man hair, no muscles rippling... look nothing like the world but rather like a CHRISTIAN brother... and you will see the Sisters change their dress to be not only modest but also to reflect CHRIST and be in line with the Apostle's words... at least, the Sisters who are consecrated in their hearts to living for The LORD with all of their heart, mind, soul, and strength.

Yes, go ahead, pay a price for following CHRIST. No-one is holding a gun to your head to keep you from doing so, is there? Yes, there are commandments to follow in the New Testament. They are given to help us grow... and grow closer to HIM+.

JESUS our LORD said, "If you love ME+, keep my commandments." See John 14 and 15.

I hope this is helpful, dear ones, in your endeavor to have more of CHRIST and less of this world.

In Christian love,
Sister Judith Hannah