Head Covering and hair. Wondering what ppl's belief is and if they do wear a head covering.

Frances - posted on 06/01/2011

I have read the scriptures and prayed about it and for me I believe that my hair is to be my covering. It has not been cut in over 20 years. However, if something happened to my hair, such as cancer or an accident, then I believe I should wear a covering.

Janae - posted on 03/24/2010

I do wear a head covering, all the time. I belong to a conservative Mennonite church where we all (women of course) wear head coverings and skirts and dresses. It seems like you are all aware of where this Biblical practice comes from (1 Corinthians 11). I agree with those of you who said that this particular practice is about conviction. I do feel convicted through the Holy Spirit to be wearing a head covering, so I think it would wrong for me not to wear one!

Lorie - posted on 03/24/2010

Very interesting topic. It's true about knowing the times of the letter and the culture helps us understand the meaning behind it. It's encouraging people are talking about this; otherwise we all can get caught up in legalisms versus the heart of the word. Glory to God!

Stephanie - posted on 03/19/2010

not so. a prostitute would be out side the church(ept in Corinth on which the whole be silent women thing started(the woemn were running the church(s) there) and wouldn't have the right to govern over them anyways(becouse in most the citys epecialy at the time of the latters and all the church didnt have right of way) .. the cutting of the hair talk about how it is wrong for a man to have long hair and women to have short hair is talking about how we are not spost to look like the other gender(becouse of the other temples alowing prostitutes in their courts(not Christain temples tho the greek ones) .. i could go on and on. but i will not. ha

Stephanie - posted on 03/19/2010

Janelle Clark ; You point is what i have been trying to say. God may tell one person to worship one way(still not going agenst the Bible. im not an open theist(believeing all gods are a path to The god.) but Paul was talking to one church(he never wrote to other churchs telling them to have their women cover their heads and there was alot of church(mostly greek ones/or none hebrew ones) that did not cover their heads. and Paul never said anything to them.(at that time they did not have the Bible in a whole and wouldn't share their letters but if it was put on their hearts to tell/talk to other churchs thats a dif story) .. its so intresting what everyone does Believe tho.

Stephanie - posted on 03/19/2010

I would say that that would be between you and God. No one else can tell You what is right in Your faith. hey it is Your faith. tho as a membered 'church goer it should be talked about amongst the elders(or other members as well) if it is expected of its women memebers to do so. (so that the church(bilding not whole as in body) could govern/protect its memebers easyer) ..

Darcel - posted on 03/18/2010

I was taught that 1st Corinthians 11 was explaining the spiritual order of the church and Paul was using a natural illustration to explain his points. Verses 14-16 of the KJV states:

Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

Here Paul is comparing the order of the church to a natural application explaining that nature itself has laws we abide by and thus God's church has a spiritual order, that we should abide by, but it is not the natural covering of the head that is the topic.

As a result I do not wear a hat in my home church, but out of respect I'll wear a hat if I visit another's church and it is required.

Janelle - posted on 03/18/2010

personally i do not wear head coverings. there are a couple of ladies in our church that do, in our area it is mostly a mennonite or amish thing to wear a head covering, and they wear them all the time. i also don't wear skirts and dresses all the time - a couple of my close girl friends do. we had a long discussion about it one day and what we came up with was that God convicts people differently. Unless, or until, God convicts someone to do this (either no pants, or headcovering), its not a bad thing but in a way it kinda is bc they are not doing it to be obedient to the conviction God lays on their heart but bc thats what other people think they should be doing and also its a bit of a pride thing 'oh look at me i'm so godly for doing this'. on the flip side though, if God lays it on your heart to be doing this (either one, or anything really) but you don't do it, then you are sinning and in violation of God's direct command to you.
from what i understand this was also a cultural thing, as the prostitutes and temple girls would not have their heads covered, and would have their hair shorn as well, so the christians were to separate themselves so that people could tell just by looking that they were God's women, not the temple's.

Victoria - posted on 03/18/2010

Hey Doris, just a question, why are you Not allowed have your head covered?

I don't think that submitting to our churches or denominations traditions is always submitting to God, if their traditions don't line up with the word of God, then they are in error and we as children of God, Ministers, Pastors, Teachers of His word, need to be ready to accept where we don't line up and be ready to change.

For example, in our church for many years the women didn't have their heads covered and then God opened up the scripture in 1 Corinthians 11 to us and showed us where we were not following the word correctly, and as a church body we (especially the women) were only to happy to receive Gods word, and walk in it. So where as we might be obedient to our churches or denominations traditions and practices, it doesn't always mean that we are being obedient to Gods word. Saying that, until God makes known to us "the secret things" of his word we are Not accountable, but once we know the truth as it is written, then we are fully accountable and yet God still gives us the choice to receive His word or reject it.

I can honestly say that once we received this command from God there was a greater anointing upon the women, in worship, in being used in the giftings, and for those who were used in teaching and preaching (lay ministers and pastors) ministries. As God continues to open up the mysteries of His word to His church, many of the practice of God that we have brushed under the carpet in modern times, He will bring back, letting us know that just because we didn't think they were important anymore, He never considered them any less important that when He first gave them.

Heather - posted on 03/18/2010

God lays different convictions on everyone. For some it is a sin to wear pants, for others it is not. For some it would be a sin to teach with their heads uncovered, for others it is not. 1 Corinthians talks about everything being permissible but not everything is beneficial. It's the heart of the matter.

•Romans 14:22 & 23 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

Doris - posted on 03/18/2010

So My Sisters, I have a question: Am I not submissive unto God in my faith? I am an Associate Minister in my church and the women ministers are not allowed to wear hats in the pulpit nor are we allowed to wear pant suits. Does this mean that I am not submissive to God? I am able thru the Holy Spirit to preach, teach and most often times I want to believe that I am obedient. Your thoughts?

Nanette - posted on 03/18/2010

To me that seems that Paul would have been directing one of GODS churches in a different direction than the other churches. The word clearly states that we should not be a respecter of persons. So we must study (2 Tim 2:15) Study to show yourself approved unto GOD a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY dividing the word of truth. Which tells me if he found the need to say Rightly dividing the word , then there must have been some wrongly dividing of the word.The covering of a woman's head shows submission to the GOD given order & "Chain of Command" as Victoria stated earlier. The issue here is the " Heart Attitude" of Obedience to GOD'S Authority and submission to HIS established order "as to the Lord". Eph 5:22

Autumn - posted on 03/16/2010

yes your right that it was written to the Corinthians. and also if you were a prostitute, they would cut your hair to shame you.

Victoria - posted on 03/16/2010

In our Church all the females right down to my 4 year old (who just happens to be the youngest) have their heads covered. It makes us available if God wants to use us in the giftings, tongues, interpretation etc... Not only that, but if we are singing (even as a congregational member) it's a public act of worship, even receiving the message the minister is teaching or preaching is a spiritual act of worship (in the public arena), so we choose to keep our heads cover during all this time, even when I'm teaching the kids in the class room I keep my head covered and we are teaching our daughters (as a whole church body) from early on, that they should to as an act of submission to God as well as (by faith) to the husband God will bring to them in the future. My girls have been wearing hats of some sort to church since infancy.

I hope this helps Heather.

Heather - posted on 03/16/2010

Okay, side question... This is about public acts of worship, so would everyone have covered their heads at church, or just those who were doing so in front of others?

Victoria - posted on 03/16/2010

I believe that in public acts worship (at Church or worship conferences etc) Women should have their head covered, (I wear a Hat) God gave us this instruction as a way to show that we are in submission to our head (husband & God) as well as to give us authority to prophesy, teach, preach etc....in the public arena. This belief has come after reading and being taught from 1 Corinthians. I don't wear it at home, when I'm reading my bible or worshiping, or out and about only at Church. At the end of the account about head coverings in 1 Corinthians it also say in 1 Cor 11:16 If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God. That says that it's for all the women in the Church, Not just for the Corinthian church. Also I thinks it's important to remember that the following account is about the Lords supper or communion, and if we hold that as something sacred and important, why don't we hold the previous teaching in the same way.

Stephanie - posted on 03/16/2010

Heather Hart; I have found similar findings. and yes Paul was writing to that one church(also on the topic of women teaching/preaching in church. that church it just happens the women were running thnigs and allowing horable things to go on in the house of worship one of them being temple prostitution(that other religions practised) and is not relavent to all churchs. Also sense he has praised other women for doing just the same thing he was telling the Corinthians not to do.(as im sure Youhave studied ha i just find it so intresting);

i wonder if alot of ppl do not study the historaical part of the Bible insted of just takeing it as its only sorce of imfermation. .. not trying to say the Biblt is unreliable im just stateing to understand it fully(better) we have to study the time periods and the ppl in them to take in what the Bible is all about.

Thanks for responding to this it was nice to read some one else's views on it.

Heather - posted on 03/15/2010

I did a small study on this just over a year ago. I concluded that the section of Corinthians that this was written in was meant only for the Corinthians. However, my faith has grown much since then, and I will defiantly take the time to look up the Scriptures that Nanette shared. My previous conclusion was based on lots of different things. I studied the time period and setting. But also, Galatians tells us that God does not judge by external appearances, and that we are clothed with Christ. Also it is referring to public worship, not just when we are at home praying or what not. But when a group of believers are assembled containing both men and women.

•Romans 14:22 & 23 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

Nanette - posted on 03/15/2010

I just posted a poll with this same question... I myself believe we are to wear the head coverings. If we believe Gods word is true and Hes a never changing God then we should obey His word uncompromisingly. We can't just apply the things of the bible that make us comfortable or whats acceptable to "society". Heres where I draw my conclusions from... 1Corn 11:5, 1 Thes 5:17, 1Corn 11:2, 1Tim 2:9-10, 1Corn 6:19-20, Rom 14:13, Mat 5:28, James 4:7 , 2John1 :6, Mat16: 24-26( This one is key, ending all my question or justifications on why I couldn't), Deut 7:9, John14:15, Gal 2:20, Pro8:17, 1Peter3:3-5 and 2Chro 7:14. Need I go on , so with that said, Thats why I now( as of 2 weeks ago) wear the Hajab. Let God be true and every man be a liar. God Bless