The Open Scroll

What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'
Mark 13:37

Headcovering

Some time ago, I had been prompted by the spirit of the Lord to ask why the relationship between men and women was such a mess, particularly within the church. The answer that became inescapably apparent is that men and women in the church have rebelled against the Lord by disobeying commands governing their gender roles. Myself included! One example of this rebellion concerns headcovering. You too may have been deceived regarding this practice by those you have trusted to teach and model proper God fearing behavior. May the Lord in His kindness, mercy and grace grant us eyes to see and the wisdom and courage to obey. Glory to God!

My first real indication that headcoverings was personally relevant came when I was praying in my office one day a few years ago. A relative had recently given me a beautiful tallit. She had purchased this traditional prayer shawl during a recent trip to Jerusalem and I was very pleased to receive it as a gift. Jewish men typically wear a tallit on their head while praying and you will find men in Messianic congregations wearing them as well.

While I was praying in my office that day I unwrapped the tallit and placed it over my head. What I had expected to find was a more intimate and powerful experience but what I found instead was that I was extremely uncomfortable praying with it on. While I didn't understand the reason why, I took it off immediately and never put it over my head again. Some time later, the Lord began to open my eyes as to why I had that experience. I had dismissed headcovering as not applicable and unimportant, but the Lord showed me that it really did matter to Him and that it affected our relationship.

Here is the focal passage about headcovering from the NASB.

The topic of headcoverings is addressed only once but from what is recorded we note that the churches (both Jew and Gentile) were already practicing in the manner outlined above. Any contention about the matter was settled with this argument; that neither those with Paul nor any others of the assemblies had any variant practice.

If you are confused about what point Paul really made in the headcoverings address, look at the passage again and see how the commands are very simply stated in verses 4-5a. Don’t let the discussion of related issues distract you from the simplicity of the command itself. Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying disgraces his head. 5 But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying disgraces her head.

The supporting context gives us insight into the spiritual significance of the practice. It is first about headship. According to verse 3, God is head of Christ who is head of man who is head of woman. Headship is a matter of relative authority; it is the government instituted by the sovereign God that is imprinted into our very nature.

There are no apologies made for this order and none are necessary. This is what the sovereign God purposed and He is good. The practice of headcovering is rooted in the divine order of headship. It should be clear that headcovering practiced properly expresses this divine order and whatever blessings that might be predicated upon it would be manifest. Conversely, it should be equally clear that headcovering practiced improperly by ignorant or disobedient saints perverts the expression and whatever curses might be predicated upon it would be manifest.

There is a succession similar to that of headship in the expression of God's glory in those created after His image. The glory of God is man. The glory of man is the woman. This order is rooted in unchangeable truths; origin and purpose. The man specifically originates from God. (Genesis 2:7, I Cor. 11:12) The woman originates from man. (Genesis 2:21-22, I Cor. 11:8) "The woman is the glory of man" because the woman was created for the man's sake, to be a helper fit for him. Once again, there are no apologies made for this order and none are necessary.

We have then these two primary issues that are the foundation of headcovering. This practice illustrates the divine government and further manifests the glory of God as it is particularly ordained to be exhibited in those who are created in His image. All who are watching both in heaven and on earth see this witness.

The Hair

An important part of the context is a lesson from the natural realm regarding hair. Although this revelation is primarily intended to instruct us about the practice of headcovering, it also instructs us about proper hair length for each gender. I'm going to begin this look at the teaching from the natural realm with verses 14 and 15.

It seems odd to people in many cultures today that we are to know these things intuitively. The ability to discern honor and glory has truly been imprinted in the very nature of our flesh by our Maker, but it is an unfortunate fact that many of us have lost any natural sense of propriety and shame.

Let me first note that hair is a kind of covering. It is a kind of natural covering that is different from the kind being primarily addressed, which is one that may be put on and taken off at will; a garment that veils or hides the head and even the hair that covers it. The fact that hair is a covering is a natural observation that is immediately obvious. Hair covers the body and the head most particularly. There is a difference between the genders regarding hair in that men tend to lose their hair as they mature. There are exceptions, but this is the general rule. In some cultures this balding is viewed as undesirable but in biblical cultures it was viewed as a sign of distinction and honor that comes with maturity. This is the basis for the practice of Roman Catholic monks shaving their heads in a common baldness pattern. The women generally retain their hair with age, and it is stated about a woman that it is given to her as a covering. No such statement is made about hair being given to man as a covering. Long hair on a woman is a glory to her. (same word used for glory everywhere else in the context) We learn from the succession seen in verse 7 that man "is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man." We cannot infer that "her long hair is the glory of woman" according to that same pattern but we can and should note that this natural covering expresses glory. (Glory is itself a covering (See Exodus 24:16, 40:34, Numbers 16:42, Habakkuk 3:3, Job 40:10) It clothes or covers.) In contrast to long hair being a glory to her, we see from verses 5 and 6 that having her hair shorn is disgraceful.

If we construe the conditional "if" (but if it is disgraceful) as suggesting that it depends upon our individual feelings as to whether or not it really is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved we have negated the clear message of verse 5. Without the natural expression of glory that is given her for a covering, it is disgraceful. Long hair on a woman bears a natural testimony about divine order in which there is no shame or dishonor.

By means of the relative length of our hair mankind exhibits varying degrees of natural glory. We exercise a degree of control over the expression of this natural glory by the choices we make about our hair length. The Heavenly Father's obedient children who bear His image are a true reflection of Him. He is made known through us as our behavior and appearance model Him. “He who has seen me has seen the Father.“ There are obvious differences that may be generally observed between the genders in both behavior and appearance. There are certain ways of expressing ourselves with respect to our gender that are identified in the scriptures as appropriate. Long hair on a man is a dishonor to him, but on a woman it is a glory to her.

Masculinity becomes a man and femininity becomes a woman. A man should not dress like a woman and should not be effeminate. A woman should neither dress like a man nor act manly. Generally, the church today fails to practice the proper behavior and appearance distinctions between the genders, perverting the witness of natural glory and bringing disgrace upon Christ and His church. What model do you and I present, friend?

I have observed that when headcoverings is practiced improperly, verses 4 and 5 indicate that it is the man's or woman's head that is disgraced. When hair length is improper, you may observe from verses 14 and 15 that it is not the head but rather the very man or woman that is personally effected. In verses 5 and 6, the length of hair and headcovering issues are shown to be related. Two kinds of heads are addressed in the context, though the same Greek word is used for both. With regard to the improper practice of headcovering, which kind of head is actually being disgraced? Is it merely the part of a man's or woman's physical anatomy that is improperly covered or uncovered, or, does this disappointing humiliation extend to what verse three had just described as the head? Yes! The disgraced head is not merely a "what" but also a "whom"! As the glory is passed along the line, in like manner the shame is passed back up the line. When praying or prophesying and a man covers his head, because "Christ is the head of every man," Christ is disgraced. When a woman in similar circumstance fails to cover her head, because "the man is the head of a woman," the man is disgraced. Although a man accustomed to this state may not feel particularly disgraced by the woman's impropriety, the reality is such that he is. It should be apparent that the condition of disgrace is upon Christ, the man and the woman when either hair length or headcovering is improper.

The Language of Headcovering

Now, when a garment is put on the head to cover it, the natural glory expressed by one's hair is covered, hidden, physically obscured from view. This is what I believe to be the basic function of the headcovering; to hide the glory that would otherwise be manifested.

There is a sense in which these things may be viewed as symbolic, but do not presume that they are "merely" symbolic in that obedience is somehow less important!

It is specifically during the acts of prayer and prophesying that the Lord has expressed His will concerning the covering of the head. This is the sole context in which headcovering commands apply. Consider this view of an obedient couple, praying or prophesying together. The man has his head uncovered and the woman has her head covered. An onlooker with understanding of the "glory trail" may observe that the man has no glory of his own because the woman who is his glory has her head covered. Neither can any glory of the woman’s own be seen because her hair, which is a glory to her, is covered. As the man and woman thus commune with their God, no glory of their own is seen; they are in a state of humility, of willing subjection. What glory then is seen among them? Since man is the glory of God, and his head is uncovered, the glory of God is seen! The only glory observable as men and women properly practice headcovering is the glory of the one they honor by this manner of obedience; the glory of the Sovereign God, under whose authority they willingly yield!

With regard to headship, the testimony of headcovering is such that the man’s uncovered head signifies his acceptance of Yahweh’s hierarchy of authority, expressing his trust in Christ as he acknowledges his authority over the woman. The headcovering on the woman’s head further signifies her acceptance of Yahweh’s hierarchy of authority, expressing her trust in Christ through acknowledging the man’s authority over her. For both the man and the woman to fulfill their roles in the body of Christ, abiding in the Lord according to the greatest law of love, they must abide thus in humility, trusting in Christ, abiding according to the Sovereign Lord’s appointment of authority.

The practice done properly bears the appropriate testimony! Deep spiritual truths about headship and glory are thus presented through the unspoken language of the uncovered and covered heads of those who bear His image. By way of headcoverings, the Creator makes Himself known as the origin of all things by those who are obedient in the Lord. It is a memorial, a reminder to us of the sovereign God's rule. It is a testimony of the divine chain of command, the authority structure ordained by the Creator in our very creation. It is a witness of the present faith of the practicing saints. It is a means of bringing honor to the church, both Christ the head and the members of His body.

Now, what if a man and woman choose not to practice headcoverings, denouncing the practice in defiance of the Lord’s command? According to I Corinthians 1:25-31:

This scripture found earlier in the same book of I Corinthians provides some valuable insight into the glory language of headcoverings.

The carnal mind considers the practice of headcovering to be a foolish and a weak thing. As such, it will bring shame to those who are wise in themselves, who reject the Lord’s wisdom as foolishness. The KJV of verse 29 is, “That no flesh should glory in His presence.” The covering of the head is a matter that pertains to the flesh. When one is praying or prophesying, they most assuredly are before God, being in His presence. If the flesh should glory or boast in His presence, it is the opposite of humility, an act of self-exaltation. When the saints do not practice headcovering properly as they pray or prophesy their flesh glorys in His presence. Do you understand now that when the woman’s head is uncovered the man’s own glory, which is the woman, is exposed and her hair that is a kind of covering that itself expresses glory is exposed? And, what if the man had long hair? Even with his head properly uncovered, that natural glory would be manifested. This prideful self-exaltation that is the flesh glorying in the presence of God is wrong! If both genders covered their heads, no glory at all would be exhibited, neither God's nor man's; which is also wrong! This important witness to all creation is perverted when these simple commands concerning headcovering are rejected.

One testimony given by saints who disobey the commands concerning headcovering is that they reject Yahweh’s hierarchy of authority. The message is given to all who understand this communication that Christ is not trusted. Can we pretend that the angels don’t observe and understand this expression? Whether headcovering is practiced in public or in private, they most certainly do!

The woman’s headcovering addresses the glory of both the woman and the man, and the angels understand whatever testimony is presented! The man's headcovering practices are similarly understood. The language of headcovering may be unknown to ignorant men and women but I assure you that those who occupy the heavenly realms know it.

It is a fact that there are two kinds of angels who notice; those for us and those against us. Those for us are in positions of great influence, with very real and direct impact on our lives. So are those who are against us. Would you like to alter the balance in your favor?

Consider the following passage - a VERY relevant scripture.

There is a transfer of authority to the angels that hinges upon humility in the presence of the Lord. Do you still think headcoverings or hair length is of no consequence to you?

Given the disregard for this practice (and most other matters of the God-ordained hierarchy of authority - see The Obedient Family. Also Propriety in the Assembly of the Saints) by most of the latter day professing church, is it any wonder why relationships between men and women are so messed up? The blessings associated with obedience have been forfeited and, instead, the church has come under a curse. The nature of curses is such that their manifestations typically relate in some way to the commands specifically rejected and disobeyed. Since the practice of headcoverings concerns the divine order of headship should we be surprised that a curse is manifested in the headship relationship of disobedient men and women? Although the fullness of the manifestation of such curses cannot be attributed solely to rebellion against headcovering, can any honest and mature saint deny that it must be a factor? Do you see how the matter of rejecting God's order has given the powerful demonic spirit of Jezebel entrance to preside with great influence over the church?

The relationship between a man and a woman is inherently a particular form of government; headship. When the form of government is in the very nature of mankind, any tampering with it has to cause a problem in the "kingdom." If the instituted head is rejected and another set up in its place by means of subversion and treachery, this coup d'état cannot be honored by the Creator, whose appointed subregents have now become subject to those whom He has not appointed. The kingdom without blessing and under a curse must fall. It cannot be any other way! Instead of man acting as head of women what we commonly have now is the inverse, women ruling over man. The superficial profession is usually that the man rules, but it is understood that a woman merely permits this illusion to be maintained while she herself exercises control by manipulation and/or intimidation. The Christian man has in such cases become an emasculated puppet ruler. The pretext of anarchy does not mask the reality of the coup.

Beyond the man/woman headship relationship, the Christ/man headship relationship should be addressed here as well. His rebellion against Christ by rejecting His headship is manifest in that, though claiming servitude to Christ, his affairs are directed according to his own will. Prayers are offered requesting blessing on these affairs, which may be seen, if you're honest, as a veiled attempt to manipulate Christ. Does this seem familiar to you? There is a bumper sticker that reads "God is my copilot." That's just not right! If God is your copilot, I recommend that you swap seats as quickly as possible and let Him drive where He will.

Imagine now, if you would, an assembly where the pastor has been convicted of sin in the matter of headcovering and that he has come to repentance. Imagine that he has the courage of his new conviction. What if he boldly preached and taught this matter to the assembly and feared God rather than man? (II Timothy 4:1-4) What would it look like to believe I Corinthians 11:5-6?

Since a woman who prays or prophesies and does not properly cover her head is to have her hair cut off, would she be presented with the choice of one or the other option? Would the saints form two lines? Headcoverings, or, a shearing? Some men and their women might run out the back door, never to return. Hmmmm. Imagine what faith in a community of believers would look like.

An Example of the Practical Understanding of Authority

Let me give a scriptural example of power and faith that accompanies the practical understanding of authority.

Such great faith as that for which the centurion was commended exists when one such as you or I follow his example, correctly attributing to the Lord who is with us the authority He truly has. Y’shua has authority over sickness, and He has authority over us.

I have come to realize that when a man and woman believe and obey the command concerning headcoverings it exhibits their understanding of authority in a practical way. Have you come to realize this? What a powerful revelation! Halleluyah! Whenever you are convicted of sin and come to repentance, turning from darkness to walk in the light, you may always expect the attendant promises of blessing to begin to be fulfilled. This is just as sure a reality as having borne the consequences of sin.

Let’s look at this account a little more closely and receive the instruction about great faith as it relates to headcovering.

The centurion understood how authority in the spiritual realm worked like authority in the natural realm. The natural is actually modeled after the spiritual and the wise learn about the unseen spiritual through what is seen in the natural. The centurion knew that the healing he wanted for his servant was not dependent upon his own worthiness, but was rather a matter of authority. He understood the simple hierarchy of authority in the relationship he had with his servants. He was also an officer in an army who knew his position in the chain of command and functioned accordingly. The military chain of command in the natural is like the chain of command in the spiritual realm. The heavenly host is a heavenly army, and the host operates according to the chain of command. Each individual member has an assigned rank with a specific domain under the supreme authority of the captain of the host. Now, this wise centurion knew he could command his servant in the natural, but when it came to the spiritual realm he was not the master. He knew he couldn’t command his servant to be healed because he didn’t have authority over the sickness. But he knew who did! And so he sought and found the one who had this authority and humbly made his request. The Lord was gracious in response, not only granting his request but honoring this man with a commendation!

Now, when a saint deliberately practices headcovering, he or she makes such a declaration as the centurion made, do they not? An acknowledgment is made in a language simple to understand that we accept our assigned position in the chain of command, in the hierarchy of spiritual authority. Obedience to the commands regarding headcovering is a simple act of faith that speaks of the individual’s willingness to be subject to those set over them. For men, it further speaks of accepting the delegated responsibility and attending burden of accountability as a sub-regent appointed to execute authority within the assigned domain. So, you see, the language of headcovering communicates the same essential truth the centurion spoke.

Imagine if an earthly army began to function like the church today.

Suppose a General gives an order to a certain Captain to move camp. He expects it to be done. But if the army were like the fashionable church man and church woman, it wouldn’t likely get done. The Captain would return to the General to give an account and reason for his failure. He would complain that the troops refused to move camp unless the General came and told them himself, a fact the General would already know because those under the Captain’s command would have already come complaining that the Captain was trying to tell them what to do. And then, since the army had no real concern for the General's agenda that was to defeat the enemy in battle, the enemy would overrun the camp and the battle would be lost. And so it is with the church today as it is being overrun by the enemy!

How many men say in their hearts, “I would not think to offend the woman by speaking to her about such a thing as covering her head. It is too risky, because she will surely disregard my position of authority and rebel against me.” How feeble! Lord, strengthen the weak in faith. And, how many women say in their hearts, “I’ll submit to you, Lord, but I won’t submit to men.” Oh, to think that a woman could possibly submit to the Lord without also submitting to the man whom the Lord has placed in authority over her! What a clever deception! Lord, open the eyes of the blind. Both men and women who denounce the practice of headcovering will be confronted with their pride and lack of trust in the Lord, which is fear. There is no fear in love. Perfect love casts out fear! Men, you have authority over the woman. You are therefore responsible and accountable.

Let us not remain in ignorance and withhold this powerful testimony from heaven and earth any longer, church.

Encouragement in Conclusion

It is a well established truth that the fundamental Keys to Developing a Hearing Ear is to do what is heard. Again, the ability to understand secrets is directly related to the doing of what is heard. (Luke 8:18, James 1:22-25) This is a dynamic relationship, ever in flux. As you hear and obey by doing, your ability to hear increases. As you hear and fail to do, you are deceived and the ability to hear decreases accordingly - it is subtracted from you. Headcovering is a practice, a matter of doing. If you’re a doer of the word, and you haven’t yet “done” headcovering - well, you’re on the threshold of a new level of hearing! The hearing of the secrets of the kingdom of God is a basis of the salvation of your soul.Those who humble themselves willingly in submission to the Lord’s authority, who yield to those in authority over them and exercise proper authority over those appointed under them, such as these will be found qualified and will be exalted to rule with the King of Kings in the kingdom to come!

How much greater might the blessing be upon your life if you were to adopt this practice that the powerful churches of the first century practiced? If your role in the body includes being an example to others, how much better would the testimony be if your example was according to obedience? And, what might be the effect of your proper acknowledgment of Yahweh’s authority structure to the angels who observe? How might your obedience effect the degree of influence the spirit of Jezebel exerts in your life? Will you receive an intercessory position over Jezebel's strongholds? Will you be granted an influential role in freeing your brothers and sisters?

Our freedom in Messiah allows the Lord to bless us without regard for anything beyond simple faith - to a degree. While we are young, and, for a season, the Lord allows us to be weaned on the milk of the word, and there is in that early season of our development relatively little expectation about our behavior. As we mature, we come to a place of greater expectation, learning the Lord’s discipline for those whom he loves, and we are brought into a place of abiding. The Lord draws us closer and we learn to enjoy Him particularly as a friend, while at the same time coming to greatly respect his holiness and authority. The Lord deals with us individually, in a way very personally suited to who we are. Now, you may rightly say that the Lord has blessed you greatly despite any prior ignorance and neglect of certain practices. However, there comes a time when the holy spirit convicts us of the need to change. Perhaps the spirit has been moving upon you with regard to headcovering.

Headcovering as a practice of the church is similar to the practices of baptism and the bread and wine communion.They should be practiced in the proper ways giving the Lord due honor; bringing blessing to those who practice them and bearing the appropriate and intended powerful testimony before witnesses. They should not be viewed as merely carnal practices but rather as they are in truth; spiritual. Proper instruction concerning them is certainly the duty of those appointed to minister to the assemblies of saints through teaching, but, indeed, each man is personally responsible to search out truth for himself whether what he is being taught is actually so.

The Structure of the Headcovering Passage

Headcovering Resources

Is a Woman's Hair Her Only Covering? (Joseph Herrin)
Head Covering and Government (Joseph Herrin)
Sarah’s Children (Joseph Herrin)
Christian Women’s HEADCOVERING Directory

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