Head Coverings

I occasionally see women wearing “head coverings” in church assemblies. The authority for that is found in 1 Cor. 11:5, “every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonors her head”. So… some women wear head coverings in the assemblies.

Let’s take a look at that. The activities being restricted are prayer and prophesy. This chapter in 1 Corinthians is surrounded with other chapters that are discussing “spiritual gifts”. Let me suggest that the prayer and prophesy being regulated here are prayer and prophesy that have been gifted to mankind... specifically women. And function to permit women to use their God given gifts and still show respect to her head (her husband, Jesus and God).

The gift of prophesy is a gift that is exercised in the assembly (1 Cor. 14). Women were given that gift. Phillip is cited as having four virgin daughters who had the gift of prophesy. How were they to exercise a God given gift in the assembly when it is “shameful for a woman to speak in the church" (1 Cor. 14:34-35)? ...By wearing a head covering.

Of course we don’t live in an age of miracles anymore and that regulation is no longer necessary. However, even so…I commend the women who wear head coverings for following their consciences.