DISHONORING THE HEAD

1 Corinthians 11:4-7 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoreth his head. 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. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

Before entering into the study of the lesson text, the verse preceding must be understood and believed. It states, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Paul, in writing to the church at Corinth, lays the basis for the correction of error being taught, and/or practiced in this body of Christ. Here he gives, by inspiration, the hierarchy within the church. God is head over all and has delegated all authority to His Son, Jesus Christ. Christ, then, is head over the church and has delegated all authority to men of the congregation to rule: some as qualified elders to carry on the work of the church; some as qualified deacons to fill service capacities; some to preach, teach, and conduct worship services. However, within worship services of the church, women are to keep silent (1 Cor. 14:34; 1 Tim. 2:12), not usurping the authority of men that have the delegated authority to teach and lead the congregation. Women are to respect their specific roles in the church of Christ, being subordinate to that given to men. Each level of this hierarchy is expected to honor those above themselves. Women are to honor men as their head; men are to honor Christ as their head; Christ is to honor God as His head. This is God's arrangement. It is to be respected and obeyed within His kingdom.

It can be insinuated from Paul's writing, that proper respect and honor was not being displayed within the worship services of the congregation of the body of Christ at Corinth. It is debatable whether the dishonor, referred to in this text, demonstrates disrespect to one's self or disrespect toward one's head, as it applies to their superior. Most seem to agree the dishonor, here, refers to disregard for those in authority over them rather than disrespect for their own heads as described in verse 3, above. That being the case, Paul could very well have been referring to both men and women that were dishonoring those, that by God's design, were their respective superiors - their heads.

In this instance, members of this congregation evidently demonstrated dishonor to those in authority by disregarding the head covering customs, of that geographical area, and of that period in time. The custom of that day, much of which was carried over from the Old Testament, dictated that men participating in worship service should remove their headwear - that is, caps, turbans, or other head coverings. Failure to do so demonstrated dishonor to their head, which was Jesus Christ. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoreth his head. Again, it must be understood that "praying" or "prophesying" refers necessary acts of a scriptural worship service - leading a congregational in any act of worship, as well as preaching and teaching the gospel of Christ to the assembly. Paul expands on these acts of worship in Chapter 14, of this letter. Men were to, not only honor Christ in worship, but they were to conduct the service with the proper spirit and understanding in order to edify all members of the congregation.

Paul continues, But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoreth her head. Again, praying and prophesying refers to the worship service, and it is in this assembly where this honor is to be shown. In this period of time, and in this particular society, custom dictated that women were to wear appropriate head covering when participating in worship service in order to honor their heads, which were the men of the congregation. It must be understood that women's participation in worship was much different from that of men. This we know from Paul's teaching, as found in Chapter 14 of this letter. He wrote, Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church (Vss. 34-35).

Speaking in the church assembly could be in the form of conducting a public prayer or preaching from God's holy word. Carrying out these acts of worship is restricted to qualified men of the congregation; women are not permitted to do so. Certainly women are to participate in all acts of worship. They are to listen and lend their personal thoughts in silence, as prayers are uttered; they are to eagerly listen in silence, as the gospel message of Jesus Christ is being read and preached in their presence. Demonstrating their agreement or disagreement with prayers that were uttered, or lessons being preached, is not to be expressed openly within the worship service. Rather, if questions or further explanations are necessary, women are to ask their husbands at home. It would, then, be the husband's responsibility to seek answers and meanings that may have arisen from these acts of worship. Nowhere, by scriptural example, are women excluded from participating in the edification of others in the worship act of singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (See Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). And, as God's people, we are privileged to have their beautiful soprano and alto voices blending in harmony with the voices of the men of the congregation. Most certainly the women members of the church of Christ are to remember the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus by partaking of the Lord's Supper - of the emblems representing His body that was broken, and His blood that He shed on the cross of Calvary. Women are also expected, even commanded, to support their congregation with contributions that were set side for that purpose in order to further the cause of Christ.

Indeed, women are required to worship God, but in the manner that God requires, showing all honor to those designated as their head. Again, the custom of women demonstrating honor to their head (the men in authority within the body of Christ), was to wear head coverings common and acceptable in that day and time. What this covering actually was is not specifically stated. Today, the common covering of the head of women, is their hair, as well as hats, bonnets, and scarves. However, at that time, and within this social setting, the veil was regarded as a badge of subordination, and, if not worn during worship service, was a demonstration of dishonor to her head - that is, to the men of the congregation, which had been delegated this responsibility by their head, which was Jesus Christ. Disregarding the accepted conduct of a woman showed dishonor, and was as if she (her head) were shaven. Again, in this era and time, women having shaven heads demonstrated total, and shameless, defiance of all authority.

By inference from the wording and context of Paul's letter to the church at Corinth, some of the women of the congregation were defying God's order of authority. They were, evidently, demonstrating it by ignoring the custom of dress that indicates their honor and acceptance of their heads of authority by having their heads uncovered in worship service. There is further indication that women were speaking out and teaching within this body of Christ. This, Paul writes, was a direct violation of the will of God, who requires that qualified men of the congregation perform these acts of worship. Again, referring to the inspired writing of Paul, found in chapter 14, of this letter, we read, Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; ...for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. It must be noted here, that this restriction pertains to the worship service within the church of Christ - it does not restrict women from teaching the word of God at other times.

We know that married women are, not only to set a good example for their family, but if their husband is an unbeliever, she is to do her best to teach him God's plan of salvation, convince him to accept Jesus as his Savior and to be baptized into the body of Christ for the remission of his sins (See 1 Cor. 7:13-16). We also know that, either by inspiration or simply by a more complete knowledge, certain women prophesied (or taught) the word of God (Acts 2:17-18; Acts 21:9). And one of the best examples of godly women teaching the word of God to men, was Priscilla, along with her husband, Aquila. After hearing Apollos speak and teach diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John, (they)...took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly (Acts 18:24-26). Assuredly, it is God's will that, both men and women are to proclaim the gospel message of Jesus Christ at every opportunity they may have to teach the way of God more perfectly, both in word and deed. However, within the worship service of the body of Christ, teaching is restricted to qualified men of the congregation.

Not only from the lesson text, but the verses that follow, through verse 16, Paul continues to emphasize the need for all Christians to recognize the unique role God has established, and assigned specifically to them, to be accomplished within the body of Christ. Doing so, all will demonstrate honor to those that have been place by God into positions of higher authority. Dishonor is demonstrated when this authority is usurped, and when customs of all ages, that are normally associated with reverence to those in authority, are cast aside. Disregarding such customs shows defiance of God's order, and thus dishonoring the head!