Head Covering for Women ~ A blog interaction

In February 2011, I (Jane Coley) received a question on my blog (janesjournalfromkenya.blogspot) about head coverings for women. The question was from a woman of Amish/Mennonite background and I thought the interaction would be interesting to read.

From Missionary Momma:
Have you considered covering your head?

My response:
No. And this is why. - The books of first and second Corinthians are Paul’s writings to the Christians at the church of Corinth, and his purpose was to settle the contentions that were in the church, and there were many.
To this particular contention (concerning a head covering on women when they pray) Paul’s response is given in verse 16 "But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God."
Paul’s addressing of this contention (found in I Corinthians 11:3-15) is structured in such a way that he:
1.) defines the contention in their understanding; basically he was telling them - this is what you do and this is why I understand you do it,
2.) Paul clarifies the Word of God by stating a woman’s head/authority is her husband,
3.) And for added emphasis, Paul states a woman’s head is already covered with her hair,
4.) Then, to wrap things up, Paul ends this discussion with... "we have no such custom...".
Thank you for your question.

From Missionary Momma:
"The books of first and second Corinthians are Paul’s writings to the Christians at the church of Corinth." Do you also dismiss the Lord's Supper which is in the very same chapter?

If the covering is only hair, what does 1 Cor. 11:5 mean? How does a woman dishonor her head?

Are you suggesting that Paul goes into a discussion on a woman's covering and why she should wear one only to end by saying "we have no such custom"?

Paul says "we have no custom" of being contentious about the practice of covering. Why? It was, to the apostle an obvious conclusion from the created order (v 14) and to the angels looking on (v 10).

Mission: Modesty (Part 3)

I think the reason I had the most problem with the whole “skirts vs. pants” issue was because it was my mom and dad’s standard… but not mine. The whole “because I said so,” the “because it’s the right thing to do,” and the “because it’s a good testimony” reasons weren’t good enough for me. It wasn’t personal to me. It wasn’t MY standard or something the Lord had convicted me about personally.

I believe this is the problem with a lot of Christian girls today who were raised with the “skirt only” standard. Once the Lord began dealing with me about this area of my life (and many other areas) it became my personal standard. I couldn’t fight it anymore. I could no longer argue with the One who spoke the worlds into existence and hung on a cross for my sin. He told me He wanted better for my life; it became common sense for me once He convicted me about the way I was dressing.

Let’s go back to the three girls I mentioned in part 1 of this series: Kristina, Kirstyn, and Jessica. Remember I said that we all began to have a discussion about this topic at the church one Tuesday afternoon? It was interesting to me that the Lord was working in all of our hearts regarding this issue at the same time. I believe the Lord worked it that way so we could all be an encouragement and share our different thoughts about the matter with each other.

As we talked we shared our struggles, our reasons, our hopes, our fears, and the lessons the Lord was teaching us. For a few of us, we had been raised in skirts our whole lives. Skirts were all we had ever known until the past couple of years. They were the old way for us – it had been a long, enduring process of applying the “children, obey your parents” law set forth by God in His Word. However, now that us four girls are older and now that the Lord has dealt with each of us personally, we can look back and see the reasons why. We can see the bigger picture. It’s not a “clothes” issue; it’s a testimony issue - it’s a heart issue.

Kirstyn shared what the clincher was for her about this matter. She had read the following verses during her devotions:

Jeremiah 6:
(16) Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

Mission: Modesty (Part 2)

Don’t miss the beginning of this series: part 1!

Let’s take a look back in history when fifty or sixty years ago it was rare to find a woman wearing pants. Why? Because pants were classified as men’s clothing. The issue wasn’t that pants were wrong for women to wear. Rather, it was a modesty issue. It was a distinguishing mark. A lady was classified by her modest clothing, her demeanor, and how she conducted herself in public.

So what’s changed? Why are pants now accepted as the norm for women, and skirts raise questions? Did God? No. He can’t (Malachi 3:6). So then if God didn’t change, then that means over time people changed. They changed their standards and beliefs and trailed behind whatever the popular movement was. The “time’s changed” and so did the trends – and the people followed. When I got older and stupid enough to stand up to my parents, I began really questioning why I wasn’t allowed to wear pants. All the kids my age were making fun of me, I got asked if I was Amish at least once a week, and – let’s be honest here – skirts are not the most modest thing for a tomboy to be hanging upside down from trees in. And yes, I took being a tomboy to a whole new level.

My mom would always take me back some thirty-some years and recall how the Lord worked in her life and convicted her that as a Christian she should be wearing skirts. Then she would whip out Deuteronomy 22:5 and quote it to me: “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.” Lastly she would end her side of the discussion with something like this:

“If we let this issue slide, then what’s next… low-cut shirts? Above-the-knee dresses? Spaghetti-strap tank shirts, shorts, or mini skirts? That’s not pleasing to the Lord. If a boy sees you wearing pants, His thoughts will not be on the Lord – you’ll become a stumbling block for his thought process. Do you want to do that?” …and so on.

Mission: Modesty (Part 1)

I know. You took one look at the title, made a distorted facial expression, and were half-tempted to close this page. But you’re still reading at this point, so we’re off to a good start.

I have been dealing personally with the issue of "skirts vs. pants" in my life. *gasp! Oh no she didn’t…!* Oh, yes I did. Stay with me though…

I have grown up wearing skirts and dresses all my life. However, I also argued and fought with my parents about it every step of the way. Because my parents standard wasn’t MY standard, I felt that it was being forced on me. Which, I suppose, in a way it was. But it was their house, their rules – my job was to simply obey.

“Fine! I’ll obey your rules now, because I have to, but one day I will wear pants… because I don’t share your same conviction.”
Mom would just look at me and smile while I continued my tirade. And when I’d finally stop rambling on about how I disagreed with her, she’d speak up: “Well, that’s a few years off yet, and when you have your own children maybe then you’ll understand the importance behind it. one day you’ll realize this is the right thing to do.”
In reply, I’d begin another outburst: “Mom! There’s nothing *wrong* with pants! They’re not sinful!”
She stopped arguing with me after awhile – she realized I wasn’t going to “get it” no matter what she said.

Eventually I became gutsy enough to hide pants in my parent’s house and wear them whenever I hung out with my “group of friends.” I’d change into pants in my car on the way to wherever I was going, and then I would change back into my skirt on the way home. After pants became a norm for me, I started progressing into other areas of dress. Skimpy shirts, mini skirts, shorts, dresses missing half the material on the top, and bikinis. I wore it all; I had no boundaries – well, very few.

After I was back in right relationship with the Lord, He began dealing with me about several issues. My modesty (i.e. clothing) being one of them. About a week and a half ago I bagged up 75% of the pants I owned and dropped them off at the Salvation Army. I was holding back about 3 or 4 pairs… “just in case.” The Tuesday following my Salvation Army drop-off run, I went to my church to practice with the trio I play the piano for. When I walked into the auditorium they were having a discussion about clothing… mainly the “pants vs. skirts” issue. Ironic, is it not? God was dealing with all three of those girls with the same exact issue (at the same exact time) that He was dealing with me about! Kirstyn and Kristina had been raised the same way I was. Kirstyn wore her first pair of pants once she got married. Kristina has always worn skirts. I rebelled against my parents, and thus wore pants when I shouldn’t have. Jessica was not raised the way we were, but since being married has adopted the “skirts only” standard for herself and now for her daughter.

Why…?

Stay tuned for part two!

~ Heather Joy
http://growup318.com/