head coverings
The doctrinal teaching of head covering is often a very misunderstood topic, yet it carries the most profound and glorious principle.
The Apostle Paul in writing to the Corinthian Church addresses this issue in 1 Corinthians 11. This chapter gives instruction of how believers are to behave themselves in the Body of Christ in relation to the Breaking of Bread (or whenever we assemble together) and especially with regards to the order of God. God Himself is head over all. The Lord Jesus is in submission to the will of His Father, man is in submission to Jesus and the woman is in submission to the man. Clearly, everyone has a HEAD they are in submission too.
The Lord Jesus is the express image and glory of God (Hebrews 1:3; 2 Corinthians 4:6). Man is the image and glory of God (1 Corinthians 11:7), but the woman is the glory of the man and if she has long hair it is her glory. There are two very clear principles that come out of these passages of scripture. Submission and glory. The only way God’s glory can be revealed is if we are in submission to His order. The scriptures declare “that no flesh should glory in His presence” (1 Corinthians 1:30), and “my glory will I not give to another” (Isaiah 42:8b).
If the woman is the glory of the man and her long hair is her glory, should that glory be exposed in the Body of Christ? Clearly not. The only way for this “glory of man” to be hidden is to put it under cover. Practically this takes place by a women covering her head (with a hat or a mantilla). The scripture which says a woman’s long hair is given her for a covering is the Greek word ‘peribolaion’ which means to wrap around. The idea here is to cover her bodily glory. The phrase “let her be covered” (1 Corinthians 11:6b) is the Greek word ‘katakalypto’ which means to cover up, veil or cover one’s self. Clearly a different meaning. Both coverings carry the idea of hiding the glory of man, so the glory of God can be revealed in the Body of Christ.
Understood in the correct spirit, this is the most wonderful principle reminding the men to remain in submission to the Lord Jesus, as He is in submission to His Father, so God’s glory can be seen in the face of Jesus Christ. What happened to Lucifer and the angels who resisted this principle? If a woman then, is used in a meeting by praying or exercising a spiritual gift she is ‘leading’ at that point in time. However, by being under cover she is protected by being in submission and under the order of God. Glory to GOD!