As I interpret it, the message is to avoid disgrace. As people of integrity, our role is to live a life of positive influence in accordance with our belief system. If the message of your culture is that a certain behavior (or appearance) brings disgrace, then avoid it. With God's help, live a life of honor and honesty!
Torri Carroll - 11 years ago
Personally, I interpret it as an overall lesson, not a specific "rule". To me, it is about modesty. It says that women's long hair was giving to them as a covering. It's just reminding them to be modest and cover themselves to be able to focus more on God, and to not distract fellow followers. But of course, everyone has their own idea of what it means, and that's okay.
I concur with 4 my gods glory as well as Olatimehin Ayodele. Contextually it is a matter of adhering to the culture and order, spiritually it is a matter of witness and influence so as to not become a stumbling block.
Paul was addressing the church of Corinth, stating the importance of staying honorable within their culture. In that time period, men with long hair and women with shorter hair were labeled prostitutes, and thus would be unlikely and unbelievable witnesses for Christ, hindering the growth of the Church and cause a stumbling block to less mature Christians. Similarly, Paul mentions the eating of food sacrificed to idols in chapter 8. Much like long hair and head coverings for women, and short hair for men, he was reminding them that what they do and how they present themselves in a given culture or environment has great impact on immature believers and non believers. He was not stating that they could not eat meat sacrificed to idols, as idols were meaningless and did not affect the food that God had provided. He was stating that by eating such meat around non believers and less mature Christians, they could cause confusion. The same things applies to chapter 11, whether a man or woman has long hair or not, or wears a head covering or not is not the issue, but rather, how it would influence their witness to those around them was the issue. Be sensitive to those around you! Are you doing things that could negatively impact your witness to them. If so, change your course of action (so long as it stays the course of scripture!) so you can have the best opportunities to show God's love and be a light and witness to the world.
Olatimehin Ayodele - 11 years ago
Well, this i think is not about superiority or inferiority, it is about order.
Your topic may seem like a little matter, but Jesus said if you can't be faithful with the little things how will you handle the big things (My Paraphrase) If God said it I believe it.
Mary M. Hall-Rayford - 11 years ago
In order to truly get a complete understanding of any scripture, we must understand what was being addressed and why at the time it was being addressed. The Holy Spirit should always have the last word when we have questions about our direction and conduct in the church.
I wholeheartedly agree with Torri Carroll and Mary M. Hall-Rayford. My sentiments exactly!
As I interpret it, the message is to avoid disgrace. As people of integrity, our role is to live a life of positive influence in accordance with our belief system. If the message of your culture is that a certain behavior (or appearance) brings disgrace, then avoid it. With God's help, live a life of honor and honesty!
Personally, I interpret it as an overall lesson, not a specific "rule". To me, it is about modesty. It says that women's long hair was giving to them as a covering. It's just reminding them to be modest and cover themselves to be able to focus more on God, and to not distract fellow followers. But of course, everyone has their own idea of what it means, and that's okay.
I concur with 4 my gods glory as well as Olatimehin Ayodele. Contextually it is a matter of adhering to the culture and order, spiritually it is a matter of witness and influence so as to not become a stumbling block.
Paul was addressing the church of Corinth, stating the importance of staying honorable within their culture. In that time period, men with long hair and women with shorter hair were labeled prostitutes, and thus would be unlikely and unbelievable witnesses for Christ, hindering the growth of the Church and cause a stumbling block to less mature Christians. Similarly, Paul mentions the eating of food sacrificed to idols in chapter 8. Much like long hair and head coverings for women, and short hair for men, he was reminding them that what they do and how they present themselves in a given culture or environment has great impact on immature believers and non believers. He was not stating that they could not eat meat sacrificed to idols, as idols were meaningless and did not affect the food that God had provided. He was stating that by eating such meat around non believers and less mature Christians, they could cause confusion. The same things applies to chapter 11, whether a man or woman has long hair or not, or wears a head covering or not is not the issue, but rather, how it would influence their witness to those around them was the issue. Be sensitive to those around you! Are you doing things that could negatively impact your witness to them. If so, change your course of action (so long as it stays the course of scripture!) so you can have the best opportunities to show God's love and be a light and witness to the world.
Well, this i think is not about superiority or inferiority, it is about order.
Your topic may seem like a little matter, but Jesus said if you can't be faithful with the little things how will you handle the big things (My Paraphrase) If God said it I believe it.
In order to truly get a complete understanding of any scripture, we must understand what was being addressed and why at the time it was being addressed. The Holy Spirit should always have the last word when we have questions about our direction and conduct in the church.