CRITICAL CONTEXTUALIZATION

1 Corinthians 11:1 - 16

Covering of the Head in Church

The covering of the head in church has been an issue that has stirred a lot of argument and contention among believers. Among many churches, the Church of Pentecost is one that strongly enforces the covering of the heads of their women in church. An interaction with a member of the Church of Pentecost revealed the following reasons. Women in the church, particularly in rural areas, have been made to believe that without the covering of their hair with scarf when they are praying God would not listen to their answers and that it is actually a sin to pray without the covering of the hair with scarf when praying. Another reason given is that the absence of the scarf gives the idea that you are not saved. This is so because there have been cases where people have been forced to receive Jesus Christ anew because they were not wearing scarf over their heads. Another issue that was raised is that of submission. It is believed that the scarf on the head of the woman is a sign of submission to God and to man. As it is literally stated by Paul that a woman without the head covered dishonours her head that is the man. Now, a deeper look at the passage reveals something deeper than the traditional and shallow interpretation given to it by some Christians. The prophecy as predicted by Joel in Joel 2:28, and referred to by Peter in Acts 2:17 was to all flesh including women. And had there not been such gifts bestowed on women, the prophecy could not have had its fulfilment. The only difference marked by the apostle was, the man had his head uncovered, because he was the representative of Christ; the woman had hers covered, because she was placed by the order of God in a state of subjection to the man. However, it was actually a custom, both among the Greeks and Romans, and among the Jews an express law, that no woman should be seen abroad without a veil. This was, and is, a common custom through the entire east, and none but public prostitutes go without veils. And if a woman should appear in public without a veil, she would dishonour her head that is her husband. The apostle Paul encourages the women to cover their head because there had to be a distinction between the prostitutes and themselves. Propriety and decency of conduct are

the points that the apostle seems to have more especially in view. As a woman who dresses loosely or fantastically, even in the present day, is considered a disgrace to her husband, because suspected to be not very sound in her morals; so in those ancient times, a woman appearing without a veil would be considered in the same light. It appears in this passage of scripture that Pauls admonition to the church in Corinth was more culturally motivated. In response to the three reasons given by the member of the Church of Pentecost, the following are to be considered. On the point that the absence of the scarf hinders prayer and its actually a sin against God, it should be noted that the conditions spelt in scripture for the answering of prayer have no connection with physical adornment. Among these conditions are faith, holiness, knowledge of the Word of God and forgiveness. These can be found in Mark 11:24, James 5:16, 1 John 5:14-15 and Mark 11:25. The absence of the scarf cannot be regarded as sin against God because that instruction from Paul was culturally motivated. Moreover, sin is a transgression of the law and which does not include the wearing of scarf or veil over the head. 1 John 3: 4. In contrast to the claim that the wearing of the veil on the head is a proof of salvation, the condition upon which a man is saved is purely the grace of God and nothing else. Ephesians 2: 8 and 9 affirms that we are saved by grace through faith and not works. Inasmuch as there is part for man in the receiving of salvation, it is certainly not the veil. This is because we confess with the mouth and believe with the heart for salvation. Romans 10: 10. The issue of the womans submission to the man is clearly out of context. Submission, which is a result of humility is purely a condition of the heart and cannot in anyway be proved by a physical adornment. To reduce submission to physical adornment is to give room for pretence. Paul in another place encourages submission of women to their husbands and there is no mention of wearing veil as a sign. Ephesians 5: 22- 24.