why aren't christian women covering their heads anymore?

Question

"Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head...If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head"
1 Corrinthians 11:3-6

uhohitzchris:
so, it's up to us to choose what to follow and what not to follow..so, God send us his words but we have the choice to follow what we want.

anjelkake:
thanks for showing me that contradition.
it says at first if you don't cover we cut your hair and then it says yeah but your hair is your cover!!

tami l:
then why should God talk about the culture in his book...is it to confuse us or what?

Grey Girl:
we follow his rules, but what are his rules? if you are christian then his the rules are what is in the bible..then yes God cares if you cover or not..

trentroy:
true christians believe in the bible as a whole. if you think that there are parts which are not logical then am not sure if you are a christian.

acts2:38girl:
it says if you don't cover you should have your hair cut off

mrsdokter:
why isn't it important? did God change his mind over the time?

pstod:
at least you admite that the bible was written by a man and that it has nothing to do with God

Arielah:
yeah but go and tell them that. how can i choose what to believe and what not to believe? why should God give us a book and then he gives us the choice to take what we want?

Ken Sisk:
contradition as i said before

Julia in Miami:
how can i know which is a religious practice and which a cultural thing then?

shakeragroad:
so, the bible is not the words of God.

Melanie:
words of God should be applied at every time and age and if they don't fit in other eras then they aren't God's words

MishMash:
am confused too!
I Corinthians 14:33 that "... God is not the author of confusion..."

michele_miss:
lol don't worry i don't want to live centuries behind, i just want to show my christian brothers and sisters what's wrong with their beliefs...

Answer 1

Now I'm confused. anjelkake said to read further, that the hair on a woman's head is sufficient covering. However, just previously, as stated by the questioner, "If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off;" So, my little brain cannot handle all of the contradictions!

Answer 2

Well, I figure people either have to believe it all or not at all. I personally think christian women should cover their heads - IF they believe in the writings of the New Testament by Paul, Peter, John, James, etc.

I only believe in the gospels, I do not take anything that Paul (or the other guys) says as scripture or an authority that is over my own conscience. He was the first Christian mass murderer and a preacher that somehow had all his "stuff" saved and published by some scripture guys a long time ago. Doesn't make him more of an authority in my eyes, thats for sure.

I think the whole covering thing is a matter of conscience. I used to have my head covered when I was younger because that is what was expected and required, but I no longer do that.

I think there are a lot more things to worry about nowadays than this stuff.

Answer 3

During the time and the culture of the day, this was prevelant. A jewish woman, a married woman never left the house without covering her head. Here Paul was addressing the husband's headship in line to the will of God and for that the woman to come under her husband's authority as unto Christ. The husband was to protect his wife because of her worth in Christ and lead her in a loving honorable relationship by Christ. The woman being covered signified honor, respect and dignity, not insubordination as so many westerners think. The veil meant that she was to be respected as a woman of God. The veil also meant that she was modest and not flaunting herself shamefully. The attention was to the Lord alone, not to her. Moses wore a veil whenever he came from the presence of God to meet with the people because of the honor and glory of God that was upon him. Same for a woman. A woman without a veil meant that she had no honor, no dignity, no respect or covering. Men did not respect woman without a veil or covering back then. Today, women of God are encouraged to dress modestly and with honor and dignity because they represent a King, Jesus Christ, so they should dress and behave likewise, a daughter of a King!

Answer 4

The 1 Corinthians verses about women covering their heads, especially in worship, deal with cultural norms in Paul's time and place. Not every line in the Bible deals with eternal religious practice, and such is the case here.

Having said that, there are still places in the world today where Christian women do cover their heads in church. When I was in Japan, I often saw women with covered heads in Mass.

Answer 5

According to my study bible it says, "To understand how this teaching on had coverings applies to us today, consider: (1) What issues were being addresses? The underlying issue is male headship as related to God's and Christ's headship over everyone...(2)What principles offered here transcend their cultural context? Paul certainly would oppose behavior that could appear seductive; he also warns against bringing dishonoron one's fmily... (3) How can these principles be applied today? Paul's message then was: Show respect for and submisison to your husband by covering your head during public worship..."

In other words, to transcend into modern times, not wearing a head covering during worship then, would be like wearing a low cut slinky seductive dress during worship now.

It's a matter of respect.

Answer 6

This one of the misunderstood set of scripture verses in the Bible. First a bit of history. Corinth was very male centered and women had no rights. Many Jewish converts to Christianity and other Christians had been kicked out of Rome and settled in Corinth only to find out the hardships women faced, St. Paul in his first letter to the Church in the Diocese Of Corinth gives advice to instruction on how women and indeed men can avoid being hurt.

Answer 7

Nuns do...Many christains don't follow the bible literally these days ,,but nevertheless I've seen many Arab christians cover their heads. Thanks for bringing this up as a Muslim women I get a lot of flak from some Christans for covering when the bible tells them to do it as well. I think Christians should support respect Nuns and Muslimas, and anyone who covers for God not call them backward or oppressed.

Answer 8

There are two types of instruction. One deals with principle, and these have continuity through time and culture. The other deals with practice. Many instructions dealing with practice had to do with specific cultural norms and expectations. Head covering has to do with humility and submission. Those are principles. Humility and a submissive spirit should characterize followers of Jesus in all times and places. This principle could be expressed in a variety of practices, which could vary from one culture to another and from one era in time to another.

All that being said. Humility and submission are sadly lacking in American christianity in both men and women. The fear of the Lord is not common today, and conformity to the ways of this fallen world is often the norm in the church. This is sad, but it is not a reflection on Jesus Himself. He is the Savior of mankind whether we respond to Him properly or not. And one day He will return to establish His holy kingdom of love on earth as it is in heaven.

Answer 9

Women have moved away from this doctrine because of many reasons. But I believe that the main reason is that the Word is not being taught in spirit and in truth. We have abandon these nuggets in the Word and traded them for a hand full of beans.

Answer 10

Some christian women do. When studying these scriptures in Corinthians you will notice references to hair. A woman should have her hair as a covering. I do not cut my hair because it is my covering and my glory.

Answer 11

My wife asked this question a few years ago...you must study ALL the scriptures, a woman with long hair, HAS a covering.
Just as it is a shame for men to have long hair it is also a shame for a woman to have short hair, unless she wears a covering.

Should have read just a little further

(1Co 11:13) Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?

(1Co 11:14) Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

(1Co 11:15) But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.