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Humbling and Hedging Yourself to Honor God
1 Corinthians 11:2-16
The treatment of women in Christianity has been varied. Today, women pastors are common in mainline churches. But in other circles, women can only be homemakers and baby-factories. This was the case in Rabbinic Judaism and Greco-Roman times. They had no authority and couldn’t get Roman citizenship. In cases of adultery, men were expected to commit it, but women were executed for it. But Christ’s teachings restored the equality God had designed. Our Lord didn’t follow human customs. He talked to the Samaritan and Syro-Phoenician women - they were Gentiles. He called the bent over woman, a daughter of Abraham - a term never used before. He even had women disciples in his inner circle. And both are gifted to serve God, with the Spirit falling on both men and women. That’s why his apostles taught their equal status in church - neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male nor female - all are equal in Christ, but yes, with different roles to play. But here’s the problem - we often imbibe the world’s philosophy. Like patriarchy - men seek to subjugate women and each other. Or feminism - women seek to throw off male headship. And the Corinthian church was not exempt from such carnality. And it affected their worship and reputation. So Paul addressed this issue, but in a very unique way. We’ll explore it in 3 propositions. Firstly, he teaches the principle of propriety in worship. Secondly, he explains the reason for such propriety is God’s headship. Thirdly, he encourages humble obedience as the response to God’s headship.
Firstly, he teaches the principle of propriety in worship. In the Corinthian church, women were liberated from the old pagan inequality. But the problem was this - while they embraced the equality, they challenged the roles God instituted and thus the decorum in worship. In verse 2, he commended them for keeping this ordinance or tradition he taught them. But there was a small minority in the church who contested Paul’s teaching. Verses 4-5 describe the dishonorable worship in church. Some men had covered their heads and some women had uncovered their heads when prophesying or praying. In fact, we learn by so doing, they dishonored God by disregarding the distinctions he set for men and women. And that affected the worship and testimony of the church. The covered man dishonored Christ and the uncovered woman dishonored her husband or father and therefore also Christ. And it gave others the impression they disregarded these roles and distinctions, verse 10. So to understand this passage we need to understand the context. If not, we simply make this passage an instruction for women to wear head coverings.
In the Greco-Roman world, all women wore their hair long with a head covering. It was not a tudong or hijab; it was more sheer and translucent. So it wasn’t meant to conceal but to symbolize. And it symbolized submission and modesty - that she was under the authority and protection of either husband or father. So important was it, that it was shameful for a woman to appear in public without a covering. But this was especially significant in Corinth, which was the center of Aphrodite worship. There, her priestesses went without veils to symbolize their priestly authority. And these priestesses were essentially temple prostitutes. Each night they’d descend on the city and were easily recognized because they didn’t wear head coverings. They were independent, sensual, lofty, having their own authority. And from the text, it’s clear some women in church had put aside their head covering. Perhaps they mistook their equality in Christ to mean they had no authority over them. After all, there’s neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, bond nor free. So they were publicly praying and prophesying uncovered. But this affected the propriety of worship. These sisters were proclaiming and flaunting their independence. And Paul had to address it.
But on the other hand, it’s clear some men were covering their heads in public worship. So what? What’s the big deal? Well, in Greco-Roman religious culture, pagan priests would pull up their togas over themselves to cover their heads whenever they prayed or performed sacrifices. And men of high social status were also involved in such worship - but not the slaves or lower castes. And they’d also do the same. It was a status thing - a high class thing. So those of a certain standing were doing it in church - covering their heads to symbolize their class. And don’t forget - the Corinthians were obsessed with might, nobility, and education.
So in this passage, Paul told the women to cover their heads and the men not to cover their heads. He said this was a matter of custom, of decorum. In verse 13, he said, “Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?” Is it fitting, suitable, or becoming? Is it proper decorum? Now, to be clear, such an argument can be a very dangerous way to force people to conform to some tradition. Like - “Isn’t it more fitting to wear a suit and tie to church? Don’t you want to wear your Sunday best? You mean you don’t want to honor God?” But Paul wasn’t doing that. He was speaking against their spirit of rebellion and pride, by bringing up the custom of head coverings. Why? Verse 16 tells us that this was a universal custom or practice in the early church - by both Jewish and Gentile Christians. Now, what’s a custom? It’s an accepted practice that enforces a moral or social principle. Some customs enforce good principles - like showing up early to church, or at least on time, to show respect; but other customs enforce sinful principles - like showing up late to a Chinese wedding and leaving early to show your status. Yes, custom is not law, but there’s a reason behind why it’s done. And the head covering for women wasn’t a bad custom. It symbolized modesty and submission. So Paul told the women - for the sake of your testimony and propriety in worship, keep the custom. But the head covering for men symbolized pride and status. So Paul told the men - for your testimony and propriety in worship, ditch that pagan custom. Remember, Paul was addressing the spirit of humility and propriety in worship, and whether or not they kept the custom of covering their heads, revealed their heart motivation and whether or not they were borrowing from the world.
So secondly, he explains the reason for such propriety - it’s God’s headship. Why should there be such propriety in worship? Why’s it wrong for men to emphasize their status by covering their head? Why’s it wrong for women to show their independence and authority by uncovering their head? Because it wasn’t humble. And doing it in church is grotesque. Remember, we do not live for our own pleasure. We must remember God’s glory and headship. If Christ is our Savior and Lord, and he served us, what are we doing by wanting to be one up? And here, Paul gives 3 illustrations or examples to emphasize God’s headship. The first is social order. Verse 3 - “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.” There’s an order to things. God the Father is head over Christ. Christ is the head over every man. And every woman has a head over her, either her husband or her father. Now, we know there’s equality between men and women. Paul compared the relationship between Christ and God with men and women. And God the Son and God the Father are equally powerful, wise, eternal, good, just, etc. Therefore, men and women are intrinsically equal. But there’s a social order. When Christ was on earth, he submitted to his Father. “My food is to do the will of him that sent me!” And he was obedient unto death. So likewise, there’s a social order for husbands and wives. Ephesians 5:22-24 reminds wives to submit to husbands as to the Lord, because he’s her head.
The second example he cites is creational order. In verses 7-9, Paul reminds why men can’t cover themselves, but women must. Follow his argument. Why shouldn’t men cover themselves? They’re created in God’s image to glorify him, not themselves. They don’t hide his image. They’re under his authority, and are not themselves lords. Similarly, a woman also doesn’t glorify herself. She’s not to proclaim her authority or autonomy. Why? Man didn’t come from woman, but woman came from man. It references how Eve was created from Adam. And also, the reason for woman’s creation - it was for man. Verse 9 - “Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.” Paul uses this to show headship - that none of us can just do what we want to do. And likewise, Paul also put these proud men in their places. Verses 11-12 tell us that all men since Adam come from women. “Neither is the man without the woman…even so is the man also by the woman.” Every man is born of woman. Why so proud? The first woman came from man. Why so proud?
The third example he cites as a reason is natural order. And this is a bit more complicated to interpret. Verses 13-15 - “Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? 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.” Now, I encourage you to study deeper into this. But suffice it to say that Paul believed nature itself intended for women to have long hair, but not men. Whether his usage of this argument means it’s a true fact of nature, or he’s just citing a common belief then, he’s using it simply to say this - it’s unnatural for men to have a covering of long hair, so men shouldn’t cover their heads; and it’s natural for women to have a covering of long glorious hair, that’s why they should veil themselves.
Paul was using these arguments to say the same thing. We must glorify God - and what you do, your behavior, symbolizes that. And in those days, it had to do with head coverings. Men - don’t cover your heads to elevate yourself. You’re not God. God is. Glorify him. Don’t shame yourself by thinking you’re something you’re not. Women - cover your heads. Yes, you’re elevated as a daughter of Abraham, saved by Christ - but you’re still under authority. Now beloved, we don’t have such a custom. So how can we obey and apply this? We get some hints.
Thirdly, the response to headship is humble obedience. There must be humility before God. In fact, if the women didn’t cover their heads in worship, it was so shameful that Paul said, in verse 6, they should just shave off their hair. They must’ve thought - we’re equal! We’re not subject to anyone! But that’s exactly Paul’s point - this attitude is actually not spiritual. It’s grotesque. If you really knew the principle of headship, you’d adopt the right humble and worshipful attitude. You wouldn’t want to be a bossy wife. Let me make this a bit more relevant. What’s the symbol of sisterly submission? Well, if a Christian wife speaks highly and fondly of her husband; bears with his slowness with gentleness. Or when she seeks his advice and gives him sound advice. What symbolizes a lack of humility? When she speaks disdainfully and impatiently. When she nags him mercilessly or manipulates him to do her will. You’re behaving like a grotesque bald prostitute. It’s not your intention or identity, but essentially that’s the vibe you’re giving out.
What about the man? For those who cover themselves to make themselves one up? Paul said this actually makes you very shameful. He’s embarrassed for them. Because it doesn’t elevate God. In fact, it shows how contentious they really are, verse 16. Beloved, in our tradition, some actually think that their contentiousness is a mark of spirituality and independent thought. They delight in distinguishing themselves this way. Others flaunt their status, wealth, or knowledge. But they’re such an embarrassment to the cause of Christ. But Paul said in verse 16 - “But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.” If you disagree with this judgment, as you do, you’re pitting yourself against all the churches of God. They understand this. Why don’t you? Comply before God. Restrain yourself. Hedge yourself in. Refrain yourself from such lofty and independent behavior.
Dearly beloved, it seems as if this passage is on head coverings. It is and it’s also not. It speaks about the deeper heart issue of autonomy, independence, and pride. And each of us has a head covering issue. It could be in the area of marriage - some husbands subjugate their wives, and some wives are very difficult. That affects propriety in church. It makes a mockery of Christ. There are some who seek to distinguish ourselves and it’s an issue of pride. It makes a mockery of Christ - who distinguished himself by dying and serving. But we want to be elevated. It’s shameful. And Paul told the women to cover up because of the angels, verse 10. Either it refers to visitors or visiting pastors in their midst who’d be shocked by this pride and dishonor of Christ; or it could refer to actual angels - who desire to see a right attitude of worship among the redeemed. They themselves cover their body and eyes before the glorious God, and continually serve him. Why shouldn’t the attitude of redeemed worshipers be that of humility?
As we come before the table of the Lord, we come with our own head covering issue. We each have something that makes us one up. Like the disciples who argued who’d be first - at the Last Supper. But no one washed the feet of Christ. And yet Christ stooped down, with towel around his waist, and a wash basin, and he washed each of them. In fact, he humbled himself unto death, being covered with stripes and crowned with thorns, while his Father covered the land with a shadow because of his shame - so that he could wash us with his blood. And we’re reminded to wash each other’s feet with that same humility. We’re reminded to be humbled again by his atonement. We come today not to declare our goodness, but to proclaim our brokenness, pride, and shame - but we also come to proclaim Christ’s salvation to rescue us from these things. Let us cover ourselves in humility, and discover our pride so we may proclaim the glory and honor of Christ alone.
- The Principle of Propriety in Worship
- Context
- Custom
- The Reason for Propriety Is Headship
- The examples of headship
- The symbols to glorify God
- The Response to Headship Is Humble Obedience
- Humility before God
- Compliance before God
Conversation for Change:
- What makes it hard for a woman to submit to a man? And what makes it hard for a man to lead a woman?
- Sisters: How am I functioning in church and family in ways that honor my husband/father and my officers? How have I demonstrated a submissive spirit and how has this brought me contentment and joy?
- Brothers: How do I exhibit respect for sisters in church by encouraging them? How have I served as a brother in church so they may serve as sisters?
* As a matter of courtesy please advise Rev. Mark Chen, if you plan to use this sermon in a worship service. Thank-you.
(c) Copyright 2024, Rev. Mark Chen
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