I Corinthians 11: A Hairy Issue

"Why don't we follow these rules about head coverings today?" asked my wife during our Bible reading the other night.  "And yet we insist on other laws, like the ones on homosexuality?"

Good question.

Fortunately, it also has a good answer.  Paul goes to almost painful lengths to drive his point home that women ought to keep their heads covered in church while they are praying or prophesying (at least we get a word from the apostle here that women can pray and prophesy!)  The head covering, or veil, is a symbol of authority over her, because the head of the woman is man, just as the head of man is Christ. 

Also, women should cover their heads because of the angels (vs. 10).

Oh.  Okay.

Interpreting the Bible requires that we consider which commands are timeless principles and which are anchored in the cultural setting of the day and age in which it was written.  For instance, no pulled pork sandwiches?  That was the kosher law for the Jews, but Gentiles don't have to observe this particular rule.  How about offering our sacrifices at the Temple?  Well, in addition to the fact that the Temple is no longer in existence, we are also instructed in the New Testament that Jesus is the perfect atonement, sacrificed once for all.

Which group do we believe head covering falls in?  Is head covering a custom, a cultural "habit" (pardon the pun) that is a product of the times?  I would say yes.  Wearing veils or head coverings went out of fashion in the Western world long ago.  Wearing a head covering does not convey "a symbol of authority" upon a woman any more - it just sets her apart as different.  Maybe that's still a good thing, but does it really rise to the level of a law?

But other rules are not culturally-determined.  They are not symbolic.  Instead, they revolve around issues of immorality and idolatry.  Prostitution is not something that was once forbidden but is now (or may sometime henceforth) be acceptable.  The same could be said for bribery, or stealing, or bearing false witness.  Any kind of perversion of the relationships that God established among us, or between us and Him, represents a sin.  This would include homosexuality, as well as the regular laundry list of sexual sins. 

As much as we might wish it to be otherwise, laws regarding morality are not debatable.  If that offends anyone, I'm sorry - but it's not really my rule.  It's God's!