A: From
your other post, I understand you to be referring to the head
covering as worn by Mennonites and some other groups. I will try to give
you an honest answer to this difficult question.
I remember that years ago I would simply go to 1Corinthians 11:15 which
states, "But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for
her
hair is given her for a covering." I would then say that since the
Bible
says that a woman's hair is given for a covering, then that was all this
passage was dealing with.
However, with further study, I have come to realize that God did not
spend 12 verses just to tell a woman to have long hair. In fact, that
does not seem to be a problem of his day. Verses 5 and 6 of this passage
teach us that if a woman does not cover her head when praying, then she
might as well have her hair shaved off. It is talking about two different
things. I am convinced that these women did have some sort of a head
covering in addition to their hair.
I have been further convinced by a history of believers in America. When
my mother was young, ladies almost always wore a hat to church. Then,
I
saw a picture of a congregation when my grandmother was a young lady.
All
the women had coverings. In fact, many of them were bonnets. And this
was
at a Baptist church. In talking to my mother I am convinced that they
were doing this to obey the command in 1Corinthians 11.
Though I have not studied it in great detail, this is the direction the
trend has taken as I understand it. Women in America used to wear simple
coverings to church. With time, these became more and more decorative.
Then, they became hats and these became more and more outrageous. With
more time, the hats disappeared. Now, in recent years, the hair has
gotten shorter and shorter until most women have no covering at all when
they pray.
Yet, I do not know the solution. I sought the Lord's guidance on this
when I studied it. With our society in its present state of of
disobedience to God, to demand coverings would be to incite rebellion
of
a grave sort. After all, the wearing of a covering is a sign of
submission. Also, at this present time, it would identify us with groups
like the Mennonites who are wrong in other areas. In fact, I have no
doubt that it would split churches down the middle. And, finally, it
is
only one item out of many that needs to be corrected in our lives. It
is
probably not the place we should start.
Therefore, I have decided to emphasize the importance of long hair for
women as a covering. After all, God did give this as a partial answer.
I
will press for revival in the hearts of men and women. And, I will hope
that some day ladies who love God much more than they love the praise
of
men will voluntarily choose to return to a modest covering of some sort
for the sake of Christ.
So, to answer you question, I do not think it a sin for ladies to wear
a
covering in church. This is especially so if they do it as an act of
submission to God and their husband. But I do not think it wise for us
to
require it at this time. May the Lord bless you.
Till He comes,
Pastor David Reagan