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Headcoverings
The purpose of this page is to explain my position on this issue for the sake of
anyone who reads this site and happens to be curious, and as a tool for those in
the midst of studying the issue. It is not to provide an excuse for a
woman who does not want to do what she believes God is telling her to do. If you
are convicted to wear a headcovering separate from your hair, by all means do so.
My Dilemma
A year or so ago, the subject of headcoverings was brought to my attention. I had, admittedly, never really understood the passage in 1 Corinthians 11 which is the basis for this practice, so I figured I'd better study it. If I go without a covering, I wanted it to be because I had studied and concluded that the Scriptures didn't require it; not because I chose to ignore portions of Scripture. Since the Bible must be interpreted in light of itself, I immediately saw two problems with interpreting the passage as referring to a physical headcovering aside from the hair. The first is that in the New Testament, God does not lay down a bunch of new "rules". He replaces, changes, or expands some (as in the Sermon on the Mount), but nowhere else in the New Testament do we read of God instituting new requirements except for those sacraments which are directly related to Christ's sacrifice.The bigger issue is clarity. If we read this passage and arrive at the conclusion that it requires us to veil our heads, that conclusion raises a number of questions. When should I cover? What kind of veiling should I use? How much is it supposed to cover? What kind of fabric does it need to be? At what age do "girls" become "women" and need to cover their heads? If you determine that you need to wear a covering at all times, what about when you're in the shower? While getting dressed? During lovemaking? This confusion doesn't fit in with the instructions God gives elsewhere. When God told Noah to build the Ark, He gave him building plans. When God told the Israelites to build the temple, He also gave them building plans, as well as instructions for the furniture, placement, etc. including all materials. He gave them patterns for the priests' garments, all the way down to the tassels on their robes and which stones belonged on the ephod and in what positions. He gave them the recipe for the anointing oil. When he instructed them to make sacrifices, he told them what to sacrifice, how old it should be, what condition it should be in, who was to bring it and when, and exactly what they were to do with it. When He instructed them to celebrate feasts, God also instructed them in how to celebrate them - who was to celebrate, where they were to celebrate, what they were to eat or not eat, etc. If God were instructing us in 1 Corinthians 11 to wear veilings on our heads, the evidence suggests we would also see explicit instructions for how to carry that out - what the veiling was to look like, when it was to be worn, etc.
It did not make sense to read the passage with the interpretation of the hair as the covering, either. It is just possible to read verse 6 as telling us that if (since) it is shameful for a woman to be without her hair, she should not shave her head or cut her hair. The problem with this reading is that the instruction is so painfully obvious. If Paul had written the passage with this intent, he would have to have assumed that his readers already accepted the point he was trying to make. If that were the case, there would not have been any sense in his writing it.
I read articles online, I read books, I listened to tapes, and of course studied the Scripture itself, and I have come to the conclusion that the topic of this passage is not headcoverings, but authority. The best way I know of to demonstrate how I "read" this passage is to paraphrase it for you. This is not intended to be "The Gospel According to Rachel". Paraphrases are not Scripture. I'm just hoping that this will clearly communicate what I see so that you can go back and read the passage in the Scripture and understand what I'm saying.
My Paraphrase - 1 Corinthians 11:2-10a
But I want you to know that God is the head of Christ, Christ is the head of every man, and man is the head of woman. Every man who prays or prophesies while his authority is abdicated, dishonors his spiritual head (that is, Christ). But every woman who prays or prophesies while out from under the appropriate male authority (her father or husband), dishonors her spiritual head (that is, her father or husband), for that is one and the same as if her physical head were shaved. For if a woman is not spiritually covered, let her also be (physically) shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved [and the implication here is that it is], let her remain under her spiritual covering. For a man should not be under a woman's authority, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man is not from woman, but woman is from man. Nor was man created for woman, but woman for the man. For this reason the woman ought to have authority on her head. [Here it adds, "because of the angels. I have no idea what that means or how it's relevant. If anyone has any ideas, let me know.]I think that a huge key to this passage is verse 10. Most translations render this as "For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head." This would seem to imply that there is, indeed, the need for a veiling. You will note, however, if you have a Bible that differentiates (by italics or brackets), that "a symbol of" was added by translators. I cannot begin to comprehend why they felt the need to add this unless it was simply a matter of interpretation, and I don't believe it belongs. If we read that "a woman ought to have authority on her head," I believe the meaning of the earlier verses becomes clear. Consider the following.
1 Corinthians 11:2-10a, expanded
But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head [spiritually] covered [with authority], dishonors his [spiritual] head [Christ]. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head [spiritually] uncovered [with authority] dishonors her [spiritual] head [her father or husband], for that is one and the same as if her [physical] head were shaved. For if a woman is not covered [with authority], ler her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered [with authority]. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head [with authority], since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. For this reason the woman ought to have authority on her head.Is it not common in our churches to see men praying covered, and even more common to see women praying uncovered? (Who is spiritually leading in their homes?) This discussion of order makes perfect sense in light of the next three-and-a-half chapters. They all discuss order. At the end of chapter 14, Paul even comes back to the subject of women and submission when he says we are not to speak in the church, but to learn from our husbands at home.
This is how I understand these verses (and my husband and I are in agreement on this). I realize some of you will disagree with me and that's fine. Please study the Scriptures for yourself and act according to your own conscience and your husband's leading.
For an explanation of the perspective that hair is the woman's covering, see Mom of 9's article.
For an eplanation of the perspective that the woman's covering is a separate, physical veiling, see Renee Ellison's article.