"What’s That On My Head?” Head Covering

“What’s That On My Head?” Head Covering

Judges 13:1-5 Acts 18:1-18: 1 Corinthians 1:1-16

Genesis 1:27-30 Genesis 2:18-23

How do the instructions Paul gives in 1 Corinthians 11 on head coverings apply to us today in the church and what was the point of the discussion?

Let’s talk about football for a moment. On November 21 at 8:15pm the Cleveland Browns play the Pittsburgh Steelers. If you don’t mind I want to say a prayer for the players. (Put on a Cleveland Browns Hat) Lord, bless the players on the Cleveland team, protect them from injuries and help them to do their best.

(Put on a Steelers hat) If you don’t mind I want to say a prayer for the Steeler players. Lord, bless the players on the Steelers team, protect them from injuries and help them to do their best. Now did I sin in praying the same prayer for both teams?

We have been doing a sermon series on the book of 1 Corinthians. The book is written by the Apostle Paul. Paul writes this letter in part, to answer some questions that the believers in the city of Corinth had sent to him. We don’t have that other letter, so at times it is difficult to know if Paul is quoting their question, and then giving a response to it or if Paul is giving instructions on his own. We do know that Paul was providing teachings to correct some of the problems going on in the church.

The bible is not one book, but 66 books put together. The best way to understand the Bible, also called the Scriptures, or the word of God, is to compare what it says in one section with what it says in another section to stay spiritually balanced. If there appears to be a contradiction in the teachings of Scripture, then it probably has to do with the reality that we do not understand all that is taking place in a passage.

Context of a passage is very important. By context I mean who said it, why was it said, where was it said, when was it said, how was it said and what was said before it and after it. Not everything that is written in the Bible is true. The bible clearly says,” if you eat a certain fruit, you can become as wise as God and you will not die.”

The context of that passage however, is that it was said by Satan, in order to trick Adam and Eve into sinning against God. The context lets us know, that even though it is found in the word of God, it is clearly a lie. So don’t waste your time trying to find out where that fruit is or what kind of fruit it was.

The person who is reading a Scripture passage is also bringing their own context to the Scripture of how they think something should be understood. Certain words in a scripture passage are given a meaning that are not in the text. The person’s own culture and experiences in life, influences how they read a text. It may differ vastly from how the text should be read.

Few things have caused more division in the body of Christ than these 16 verses in chapter 11 of 1 Corinthians. Let’s look at this passage together to gain a greater insight to what Paul is saying. It’s okay if we don’t all come to the same conclusion. I’m just asking for us to be honest thinkers about the passage and not read more into something, than is actually there.

Paul begins with a word of praise for the Corinthians. He had just ended chapter 10 with a plea to not cause other believers to stumble by our actions. He openly acknowledges that believers will sometimes see things differently that are not essential to our faith and salvation and that’s okay. We still have the same Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

In verse 11:2 he writes: 2 “I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you.”

Now Paul commends them for following something he has explained to them before. We do not know which traditions that he is referring to, but the Corinthians know exactly what he’s talking about. Some people will read this verse, and assume that Paul is talking about the passage which is to follow is one of the traditions Paul is speaking of in verse 2. But Paul never says that.

In fact in the NIV and ESV verse 3 starts with the word, “But” which seems to be something different from the traditions mentioned in verse 2. Paul now has to deal with something the Corinthians had asked him about concerning men and women and worshipping together. Verse 3 says 3” But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.”