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The Word of God
1 Corinthians says, “Doth not even nature itself teach you”
This simple phrase clears the matter up quite well for me. Verse 14 does not start off with any implication that the hair given to us by God is the covering spoken of in the previous verses. It starts off saying “Doth not even nature” telling me that he was not speaking of a natural thing before, but now he is. Her hair is a covering, not the covering.
My Experience with Covering
When I put my covering on, and wore it the first day, I did not have the intention that it would be a continual practice. I thought that I would continue my study on the subject covered and that at some point I would be fully persuaded that my hair was covering enough and at that time I would remove my scarf. The Lord, I believe, had other plans.
The first thing I noticed was my sinful mouth. When my husband would do something I didn’t approve of my voice would get that tone. You know, that melodious, sarcastic, might as well be shaking my finger in his face tone. I was horrified! Was I under spiritual attack because of my decision to put this on my head? Then as the day went on I slowly realized that this was nothing new. I had been speaking to my husband in this manner all along. (My scarf hasn’t cured this, by the way, I am still working on it, but before I didn’t even recognize it so I have a step in the right direction anyway.)
One thing about me is that I wasn’t born until 1977. By then all the good old years, when the order of headship God established was still recognized, were long gone. This fact and another verse from 1 Corinthians 11 are what lead me to reason number three.
The History of Covering
1 Corinthians says, “But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, nether the churches of God.”
My Wycliffe commentary says this, “No such custom, i.e., no custom of women worshiping without coverings.” I tend to agree with him but whether I get the full intention of the writing here or not, it did point me to a very important question, “What was the custom?”
We have very little to examine about our early church fathers. The furthest we are able to go back is to the second century by looking to the paintings in the catacombs. There are at least three depictions of women wearing head covering on these walls.
As you look at depictions of women throughout history, you can see them doing many of their daily tasks with heads covered, not just during worship. We all know the pilgrim women had a head covering. In the 1800’s women started removing the head covering for daily things but not even 100 years ago and they were still wearing them for church at least.
It is interesting to see how this change was slyly snuck in. Modest hair coverings where first replaced with stylish hats to strip away the meaning behind the fashion and then was totally done away with all together. Now it’s gone into a 180 where folks like me are stared at and talked about as if it is unacceptable to cover.
I have to admit, at times it seems outlandish to me as well, but then I am quietly reminded of Proverbs 3:5 , “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”
