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Ask FGBC #33: What about head coverings in church for women?

Jim Butler · 2024-12-27 · 368 words · 2 min

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Summary

Qa

Paul's instruction concerning head coverings in 1 Corinthians 11 illustrates the principle of male headship in public worship rather than imposing a binding liturgical mandate on women.

This brief question-and-answer exchange addresses whether women are required to wear head coverings in corporate worship, with particular reference to 1 Corinthians 11 and 1 Timothy 2. The speaker argues that Paul's concern in the passage is male headship in the gathered church — a man preaching, prophesying, and leading in the public assembly — and that the head covering or hair functions as an illustration of that principle rather than a binding liturgical mandate. Head coverings are neither forbidden nor elevated to marks of a holier walk with God; the analogy drawn is to voluntary circumcision, which carries no religious commendation before God.

Key quotes

I think Paul's point in the reference to the angels is that when the angels look at a church on a Sunday, it's not, does Sister Susie have a hat on? It's, is there a man in the pulpit?
If Sister Susie wants to wear a hat to church, sure. But that's not a more holy walk.
Don't think it commends you to God. I would say the same.

Applications

  1. Do not elevate a head covering to a sacramental or religious mark of a holier walk; what matters is the ordering of male and female roles in the gathered assembly.
  2. If a woman chooses to wear a head covering, do so freely, but do not regard it as something that commends you to God.
  3. Recognise that disagreement on this question is permissible; enforce neither wearing nor not wearing as a matter of church discipline.

Questions this sermon answers

Are women required to wear head coverings in church?

The speaker argues there is no binding mandate in 1 Corinthians 11 to wear a physical covering; Paul's concern is male headship in the assembly, and the covering or hair is an illustration of that principle, not a religious requirement.

What is Paul's main point about head coverings in 1 Corinthians 11?

When the angels observe a congregation, what matters is that a man is preaching and leading in the public assembly — the head covering functions as a symbol pointing to that principle of male headship.

Is it wrong for a woman to wear a hat to church?

No, a woman may freely choose to wear a head covering, but she should not regard it as marking a holier walk with God or as commending her to him — just as voluntary circumcision carries no religious merit.

Oh, that's awesome.

Head Coverings Question

We could do the headdress one now. The head covering?

Male Headship as the Core Issue

I do think it's a light of nature question. Not light of nature, like he does talk about, like, I think it's an anti-cross-dressing. Man be man, dude be dude. I think it has to ultimately do with male headship in the life of the church.

And I think that, you know, when you look at Paul's admonition in 1 Timothy 2, when he talks about women and their hair, it seems moot if they're wearing hats in church worship. So, I don't, and the absence of a command in 1 Corinthians 11 to wear a hat. you're not going to find it. It's almost a sacrament among some, you know, my wife now covers and we're in a holy walk. So, there's a revival of it.

You see revivals of it every so often. I think there is one presently where covering is, you know, the absolute mark of submission on the part of a woman.

The Angels and Public Worship

I think Paul's point in the reference to the angels is that when the angels look at a church on a Sunday, it's not, does Sister Susie have a hat on? It's, is there a man in the pulpit? Is there a man preaching and prophesying and preaching and praying in the public place? Women aren't supposed to be in the public place preaching or teaching.

And then I think the hats or hair is an illustration of that point.

No Binding Mandate to Cover

I don't think it is a mandate that you must cover. For sure. For sure. And people disagree and that's fine.

If a woman wants to wear a hat, that's fine. I just, I don't think there's religious significance in it.

Circumcision Analogy Applied

It's like Paul in circumcision. If you're a Jew and you want to get circumcised because it's in your DNA or your blood or it's your culture, go ahead. But don't think there's religion in it. Don't think it commends you to God.

I would say the same. If Sister Susie wants to wear a hat to church, sure. But that's not a more holy walk. But hats were never an old covenant thing, right?

Unlike circumcision.

Scripture References

  • 1 Corinthians 11
  • 1 Timothy 2

Study notes

Theological terms

  • Complementarianism
  • Light of Nature
  • Male Headship×2
  • Regulative Principle