For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, - Titus 1:5
Over the past few weeks we have been discussing the subject of Christian liberty. This morning we will focus on a new topic. I have titled today’s sermon, “Christian Order”. Without further ado, let’s go ahead and dive right in…
I. THE PROPER ORDER (1 Cor. 11:1-3, 8-9)
Paul began this portion of his letter to the Corinthians with a compliment praising those who sought his counsel, respected his teachings, and held fast to the traditions that he had delivered to them. Though there were some at Corinth who were seeking to undermine Paul’s authority and cast dispersion upon his name and reputation, obviously there were many others who still valued his wisdom and instruction. Otherwise they wouldn’t have continued corresponding with him. Paul urged them to imitate him - not because he was anything special, but because he imitated Christ.
Next, Paul stated the guiding principle upon which his upcoming teachings would be based. He wanted the Corinthians to clearly understand this unchanging Christian order: God (the Father) is the head of Christ (the Son), Christ is the head of man, and man is the head of woman. This order was established by God and is His intentional design.
Women originated from men in that Eve (the first woman) was created from Adam (the first man). According to the Biblical account of creation, God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep, took a rib from his chest, and used it to create Eve. The LORD fashioned her for his sake, not the other way around, to be a suitable helper for him (Genesis 2:19-22). In other words, she was made to be his wife. Thus, the man or husband is to be the head of the woman or wife (Ephesians 5:22-23).
II. HEAD COVERINGS (1 Cor. 11:4-7, 10)
It was a cultural and customary practice within the New Testament church for men to uncover their heads during church meetings, which Paul referred to in this passage as “prayer and prophesying”. Men were to remove their headscarves, turbans, or other head coverings in church. Those who did not brought disgrace upon their heads. Men's’ heads were to remain uncovered as a symbolic expression of their place in God’s created order as ”the image and glory of God”.
On the other hand, women were to keep their heads covered during church gatherings. They were to leave their scarves on. Paul equated a woman in church without a head covering to a woman whose hair was cut off or shaved. It was considered disgraceful in that culture for a woman not to cover her head during church. This custom symbolically expressed a woman’s place in God’s created order as “the glory of man”. Christian wives were to submit to the authority of their husbands as an example to the angels who watch over humanity in submission to God.
Apparently there were some in Corinth, perhaps both men and women, who were thwarting these traditional norms. In so doing, they were misrepresenting or perhaps even overtly rebelling against God’s order. The improper use of head coverings within the church subtly indicated a rejection of the established, God-given roles for men and women.
III. MEN AND WOMEN (1 Cor. 11:11-12)
Paul stated that man cannot exist without woman, nor can woman exist without man. They are interdependent upon one another. Both are absolutely necessary to the continuance of the human race. Though the first man, Adam, was created before the first woman, Eve, since then every other man who has ever lived has been born of a woman. Though God has assigned them different roles and has fashioned them with different biological, physiological, and anatomical characteristics, both sexes are of equal worth to Him. The LORD created both male and female in His image (Genesis 1:26-27), and both are equally valuable in HIs sight.
Jesus Christ provides an insightful illustration. He is one with the Father, equal in nature, essence, and being (Philippians 2:6). Jesus is fully God. Yet, despite this equality, Jesus chooses to submit Himself to the Father’s authority and will. Rather than rebelling against God’s established order, Jesus humbly defers to it, and accepts His role in the triune Godhead. This in no way makes Him less than the Father, just as a submissive wife is in no way less than her husband. They simply serve different roles that are designed to compliment one another.
IV. JUDGE FOR YOURSELVES (1 Cor. 11:13-16)
With these things in mind, Paul challenged the Corinthians to judge for themselves whether or not it was appropriate for a woman to participate in a church service with her head uncovered. The widely accepted tradition was that she should not, but this restriction was not found anywhere in the Law. So, was this man-made tradition valid? What did nature reveal or teach about this cultural practice?
Generally speaking, women tend to have more hair than men. They also tend to keep it longer as they age, because men are genetically more prone to balding. Women also tend to have a greater concern for their hair and spend more time and money on it than men do. In New Testament times long hair was considered dishonoring for a man, but “a glory” for a woman. Seeing that hair itself is a head covering, it is more likely that a man’s head will naturally be uncovered or at least less covered than a woman’s head. To some extent, this likelihood served as a basis for the tradition.
In the end, the custom of the time was for men to have their heads uncovered and women to have their heads covered during church gatherings. This was common practice in all of the Christian churches, not just in Corinth. Those who broke this tradition were commonly seen as contentious and controversial. Their unwillingness to consent to the widely accepted norm was viewed as offensive and provocative to the church.
CONCLUSION
Notice that Paul never explicitly told the Corinthians whether or not to comply with the tradition. He simply explained how it was practiced, how those who rejected it were viewed by others, what it symbolized, and how it came to be. Ultimately, he took the same approach as he had previously taken when dealing with food sacrificed to idols (1 Corinthians 10:15) - he told the Corinthians to judge for themselves what they should do. They were capable of making this decision.
The real issue at play here was not so much about the covering of the head, but rather the condition of the heart. Those who, by their practice, intentionally rebelled against God’s order for men and women were creating chaos in the church. They were resisting their Biblical roles, rather than submitting to them. As such, they were defiantly sinning against God.
In most modern societies, including the United States, it is now culturally acceptable for women to leave their heads uncovered during church. This is no longer considered offensive or contentious behavior. Most men still remove their hats in church, but this is usually done as an act of courtesy more than a religious expression. Though these customs have changed over time, the main idea has not - God the Father is the head of Christ the Son, Christ is the head of man, and man is the head of woman. No matter how much we may dislike or rage against it, this remains the God-given order or “chain of command”.
Over the past few weeks we have been discussing the subject of Christian liberty. This morning we will focus on a new topic. I have titled today’s sermon, “Christian Order”. Without further ado, let’s go ahead and dive right in…
I. THE PROPER ORDER (1 Cor. 11:1-3, 8-9)
Paul began this portion of his letter to the Corinthians with a compliment praising those who sought his counsel, respected his teachings, and held fast to the traditions that he had delivered to them. Though there were some at Corinth who were seeking to undermine Paul’s authority and cast dispersion upon his name and reputation, obviously there were many others who still valued his wisdom and instruction. Otherwise they wouldn’t have continued corresponding with him. Paul urged them to imitate him - not because he was anything special, but because he imitated Christ.
Next, Paul stated the guiding principle upon which his upcoming teachings would be based. He wanted the Corinthians to clearly understand this unchanging Christian order: God (the Father) is the head of Christ (the Son), Christ is the head of man, and man is the head of woman. This order was established by God and is His intentional design.
Women originated from men in that Eve (the first woman) was created from Adam (the first man). According to the Biblical account of creation, God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep, took a rib from his chest, and used it to create Eve. The LORD fashioned her for his sake, not the other way around, to be a suitable helper for him (Genesis 2:19-22). In other words, she was made to be his wife. Thus, the man or husband is to be the head of the woman or wife (Ephesians 5:22-23).
II. HEAD COVERINGS (1 Cor. 11:4-7, 10)
It was a cultural and customary practice within the New Testament church for men to uncover their heads during church meetings, which Paul referred to in this passage as “prayer and prophesying”. Men were to remove their headscarves, turbans, or other head coverings in church. Those who did not brought disgrace upon their heads. Men's’ heads were to remain uncovered as a symbolic expression of their place in God’s created order as ”the image and glory of God”.
On the other hand, women were to keep their heads covered during church gatherings. They were to leave their scarves on. Paul equated a woman in church without a head covering to a woman whose hair was cut off or shaved. It was considered disgraceful in that culture for a woman not to cover her head during church. This custom symbolically expressed a woman’s place in God’s created order as “the glory of man”. Christian wives were to submit to the authority of their husbands as an example to the angels who watch over humanity in submission to God.
Apparently there were some in Corinth, perhaps both men and women, who were thwarting these traditional norms. In so doing, they were misrepresenting or perhaps even overtly rebelling against God’s order. The improper use of head coverings within the church subtly indicated a rejection of the established, God-given roles for men and women.
III. MEN AND WOMEN (1 Cor. 11:11-12)
Paul stated that man cannot exist without woman, nor can woman exist without man. They are interdependent upon one another. Both are absolutely necessary to the continuance of the human race. Though the first man, Adam, was created before the first woman, Eve, since then every other man who has ever lived has been born of a woman. Though God has assigned them different roles and has fashioned them with different biological, physiological, and anatomical characteristics, both sexes are of equal worth to Him. The LORD created both male and female in His image (Genesis 1:26-27), and both are equally valuable in HIs sight.
Jesus Christ provides an insightful illustration. He is one with the Father, equal in nature, essence, and being (Philippians 2:6). Jesus is fully God. Yet, despite this equality, Jesus chooses to submit Himself to the Father’s authority and will. Rather than rebelling against God’s established order, Jesus humbly defers to it, and accepts His role in the triune Godhead. This in no way makes Him less than the Father, just as a submissive wife is in no way less than her husband. They simply serve different roles that are designed to compliment one another.
IV. JUDGE FOR YOURSELVES (1 Cor. 11:13-16)
With these things in mind, Paul challenged the Corinthians to judge for themselves whether or not it was appropriate for a woman to participate in a church service with her head uncovered. The widely accepted tradition was that she should not, but this restriction was not found anywhere in the Law. So, was this man-made tradition valid? What did nature reveal or teach about this cultural practice?
Generally speaking, women tend to have more hair than men. They also tend to keep it longer as they age, because men are genetically more prone to balding. Women also tend to have a greater concern for their hair and spend more time and money on it than men do. In New Testament times long hair was considered dishonoring for a man, but “a glory” for a woman. Seeing that hair itself is a head covering, it is more likely that a man’s head will naturally be uncovered or at least less covered than a woman’s head. To some extent, this likelihood served as a basis for the tradition.
In the end, the custom of the time was for men to have their heads uncovered and women to have their heads covered during church gatherings. This was common practice in all of the Christian churches, not just in Corinth. Those who broke this tradition were commonly seen as contentious and controversial. Their unwillingness to consent to the widely accepted norm was viewed as offensive and provocative to the church.
CONCLUSION
Notice that Paul never explicitly told the Corinthians whether or not to comply with the tradition. He simply explained how it was practiced, how those who rejected it were viewed by others, what it symbolized, and how it came to be. Ultimately, he took the same approach as he had previously taken when dealing with food sacrificed to idols (1 Corinthians 10:15) - he told the Corinthians to judge for themselves what they should do. They were capable of making this decision.
The real issue at play here was not so much about the covering of the head, but rather the condition of the heart. Those who, by their practice, intentionally rebelled against God’s order for men and women were creating chaos in the church. They were resisting their Biblical roles, rather than submitting to them. As such, they were defiantly sinning against God.
In most modern societies, including the United States, it is now culturally acceptable for women to leave their heads uncovered during church. This is no longer considered offensive or contentious behavior. Most men still remove their hats in church, but this is usually done as an act of courtesy more than a religious expression. Though these customs have changed over time, the main idea has not - God the Father is the head of Christ the Son, Christ is the head of man, and man is the head of woman. No matter how much we may dislike or rage against it, this remains the God-given order or “chain of command”.