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God Has Ordained Headship by Doyal Thomas "But I
would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of
every woman is man; and the head of Christ is God." (I Cor. 11:3) INTRODUCTION It is, or at
least it ought to be the desire of every man who speaks or writes on matters
pertaining to God's word to do so with one dominant motive. And that motive
should be that all that is said or written will redound to the glory of God.
To do otherwise is to exhibit character that is dishonest, and is a flagrant
demonstration of self-will. It is with the
desire to be used of God, and to exalt His well-beloved Son, the Lord Jesus
Christ, that I now write. I have no desire to seek to gather followers to
myself, nor to separate myself from others. Nor do I seek to be the
instructor of dear brethren, in a fleshly manner. I confess that there is
much about this subject that I do not know. But I want to know. May God be
pleased to grant grace to me as the writer, and to you who may read these words
to desire His glory in all things. With this prayer, I send forth this
booklet. Because man is a
fallen and sinful creature, his faculties, including his will and desire is
toward self-gratification. He does not seek the glory of God. Man's conduct, therefore,
being a reflection of his depraved character will always, unless Holy Spirit
directed, proceed along toward an expression of self-will. He will always
seek self-gratification and self-elevation, and in so doing, will attempt to
bring God down to his own fallen level. This is evidenced by the awful,
cutting words of Romans 1:21-23. &#-109;Because
that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were
thankful; but become vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was
darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. And changed
the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible
man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things." The terrible
state into which man has degenerated in these last days can be unmistakably
traced through his recorded history. It is recorded in God's word, as well as
in the accounts that man has given of himself in his own secular
history. Admittedly, in
secular history man has attempted to camouflage himself, as does the
chameleon. But the facts give him away. He paints an entirely different
picture of himself than the facts will bear out. He attempts to pass over his
innumerable failures and exalt his seeming successes. All the while he
continues the delusion of his mind toward bigger and better accomplishments
"just around the corner," or surely "just over the next
hill." Because we will
be discussing the subject of God ordained headship, there may be those who
will not care to follow on. Since this headship is to be symbolized in the
Lord's churches by men wearing short hair, and no external covering (hat,
cap, etc.), the women are wearing long hair and an external covering (hat,
veil), there will be some who will take issue with us. This position is in
direct conflict with the position that they have been taught by others.
Before you lay
this book aside, please read it through very prayerfully, and give a fair
hearing to the truths contained. If, after careful study, you find it to be
contrary to the teaching of God's word, then lay that to the failures of the
writer. If, on the other hand, the positions set forth are in harmony with
the teaching of God's word, then give Him all the credit, and none to me.
Brethren, all I ask of you is that you give the same attention to the subject
that you would ask of me if you were the writer, and I were the one who would
read these words. For those of you
who hold opposing views on this subject, may I ask you to think back to the
instruction that you received that led you to the position you now hold?
Please, dear brother, bear with my presumption for a short season. To be taught a
certain thing by other men does not, of itself, render that thing to be
correct. To hold to a position that the Bible does not teach is to exhibit
the self-will of man, and it tends to bring reproach upon our dear Lord, and
upon His precious churches. And it is from His precious churches that His
chosen bride is to be taken. Do you and I
really want to know what God's word teaches about this matter? Are we able to
lay aside our prejudices and earnestly contend for the faith, as once
delivered to the saints? If we do want to know the truth, and if we are able
to approach the problem with an open mind; a willing mind, then it must be
acknowledged that it was grace that enabled us to do so. May God be pleased
to grant such grace to each of us now. OLD TESTAMENT
PATTERNS Before we
undertake a study of the truths that God has been pleased to reveal through
His word concerning headship, as it is expressed in the text chosen for this
study (I Cor. 11), let us examine some other teachings of God that set forth
His Divine Order. Let's go "way back," so to speak, to the time
when God first began to teach His creatures about the matter. Let's go back
in order that we may be established. God is
unchangeable, as His attribute of immutability so very plainly declares.
(Mal. 3:6; James 1:17). He did not suddenly begin to present Himself as being
immutable when these scriptures were recorded. They simply declared that He
is, and always has been immutable. They did not make Him to be immutable;
rather, they proclaimed the eternality of His immutability. Likewise, when
God authored the words recorded in Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians,
including chapter 11, He set forth His demands that His churches observe His
order in the matter of headship. And it did not suddenly become His order.
Rather, these scriptures declare that these positional demands have always
been in His mind and purpose. God is not one who continually legislates new
laws, nor is He one who modifies His views in keeping with the times. Men indeed do
these things, and then take great pride in themselves for being flexible, or
adaptable to circumstances. It may be wise politically, for one to be a
pragmatist, to roll with the punch. But to seek to be one in matters
pertaining to God is not wise. This kind of failure on the part of fallen man
has given rise to every movement toward "progress" and
"advancement" in his recorded history. Humanism is the outpouring
of the thoughts and intents of a corrupted heart. "Situation
ethics," "no absolutes," and other such perversions are the
fruits of rebellion. They are not the cause of rebellion. They are the fruits
of rebellion. Man rebels because he is a rebel. Man sins because he is
sin. Because God is
immutable, He has structured all things systematically. I do not mean that He
is forced into a pattern according to man's estimation of what is systematic.
But as He sees order in all things, He so operates orderly. God is a God of
design, and He has eternally determined to create, administer, and bring to
consummation all things as seemeth Him good. "Wherefore,
when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offerings thou
wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me." (Heb. 10:5) The will of the
Father has always been that His Son would take upon Himself a body of
prepared flesh. A body that is the "express image" of God. A body
that would be offered up as a sacrifice for sin, in order that payment for
those sins might be made, and that redemption might be effected through the
shedding of His blood. In this image Adam was created and brought bodily
forth. "And God
said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have
dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the
cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth
upon the earth. So, God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he
him; male and female created he them." (Gen. 1:26,27). Adam is the first
man whom God created and brought forth. And when Jesus was born into His
humanity, His body was of the same kind as was Adam's body at its creation.
Jesus looked like other men. That is, in body, He looked like other men, for
He was a man. But Adam was not
the "express image" of God. Jesus was. And is. Adam was not the
pattern that dictated the appearance of Jesus. No, it was just the other way
around. Jesus, as seen by Omniscience, was to come forth with a prepared body
at God's time of appointment. And it was in the likeness of His body that
Adam was created. Jesus did not look like Adam. Adam looked like Jesus.
What terrible
blasphemy evolutionists spew forth when they declare that God gradually
brought man into his present form and body. Such filth is declaring that God
did not see His Son in a prepared body before the world was, and determine to
create a man in that image. Away with such foolishness and blasphemies. Away with
it! With God's
purpose ever in His mind, in regard to His creative work, He proceeded to
take of the dust of the earth and make man. He already had spoken the earth
into existence. Out of nothing, He had brought it forth. Then, of that earth,
He made Adam. Adam was made, in
the physical sense, to appear as God intended for His Son to appear. When he
was physically made, he was yet but an inanimate being, for he was made of
inanimate material; i.e., the, dust of the earth. To complete His
creative work of making man in His image, God breathed into the nostrils of
this "dust man" the breath of life and only then did he become a
living soul. He immediately began to live. He began to exhibit life, for he
now lives, and moves, and has being. All the activities of life are because
of life. Life imparted to him from the source of all life. That is, from God
Himself. Adam, being the
first man, is the father of all his offspring. Thus, he is the federal head,
or representative head of his race. All the sons and daughters sprang from
him, and this according to Divine Order. We all had our standing, both
positionally and actually in our father, Adam. And as he stood, so did we,
even when as yet we had no being. Likewise, as he fell, so did we, even when
as yet we had no being. But, dear reader,
there is here a much deeper and richer declaration of God's eternal purpose.
It was not just the mere arrangement of physical life as seen in Adam. Though
we were all seen as being in Adam by our Eternal Sovereign, it is but a
figure of a greater display of God and His infinite wisdom. For what is here
pictured is Headship of our dear Lord over those chosen of the Father in Him
before the foundation of the world. (Eph.1:4). "For as
in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (I Cor. 15:22). All those
standing in Adam, positionally and actually, died when Adam died. Even so,
all those who stand in Christ shall be made alive, because He is alive. It is
because of this standing in Christ, positionally and actually, that all the
elect ones of God are made to rest in the Blessed Hope. Who are these who
are in Christ? Why, it is those, and only those who have been chosen in
Christ before the foundation of the world. They are in Him positionally,
because they have been seen as being there in the mind of God from all
eternity. They are in Him actually, because the Son has purchased them with
His own blood. And in God's appointed time for each of them, they have been
in Him by birth. They are born into that relationship as sons. The blood of
Christ secured their place in Him, and the effectual work of the Holy Spirit
in quickening them, and calling them into sonship by the gospel, secures
their actual position. Each one thus
chosen of the Father becomes a son at his birth. They are identified as being
in the family of God. To be a child, one is begotten of a father. This is
evident even in the human realm. But this truth declares an even greater
truth. That is, that one is a son of God only if he be born of God, being
begotten by Him. "Ye must be born again." (John 3:7). All God's
children, then, constitute the family of God. Included in this family are
those Old Testament saints. Every one of them without exception, for they
were born into this relationship. Also included are New Testament saints.
Every one of them without exception, for they too were born into, or will be
born into this relationship. Likewise, future saints (those born after the
rapture) will be in God's family, for they will be born into that
relationship. Those chosen in
Christ before the foundation of the world will, without fail, be birthed into
the family of God. This is God's eternal will, and nothing can stay His hand
in fulfilling that will. This is definite atonement. This is certain
salvation. This is positive redemption, and there will be no miscarriages.
Every one chosen shall be born, for "He shall see of the travail of
his soul, and shall be satisfied: . . ." (Isa. 53:11a). Travail in
childbearing is followed by birth. God thus ordained it and it shall be as He
has decreed. Those whose sins were upon Jesus Christ on the tree shall be
delivered, for the travail of His soul was for them. Now, out of this
family comes the bride. The bride must not be, yea, cannot be taken out from
among any other. Therefore, the bride is a chosen bride. A bride chosen and
espoused to the Bridegroom. This espousal is until the time appointed for the
marriage to take place. At that appointed time the marriage will take place
and the bride will truly become the wife. The bride then is of the family of
God. But not all the family members are in the Bride of Christ. Only those
who are chosen to that grand position. And these will then clothe themselves
by their faithfulness. According to the
types that God has shown in His Book, the bride will first have been
identified as being of the proper family. Then she will be set forth as
having been chosen, and her will and desire during this time will be toward
her Betrothed One, and to Him only. She will yield unto Him in every way and
will be made happy in doing so. She will want to be pleasing to His every
desire, knowing that His desire for her will be for His glory, and for her
good. In the marvelous
types, God has demonstrated this coming soon relationship. In the case of
Abraham and Sarah, it can be seen that Sarah was first a member of Abraham's
family. And she was also chosen to become his wife. (Gen. chp. 11). As his
wife, she was led to honor him as her lord, for she submitted to him and even
referred to him as her lord. (Gen. 18:12). More striking
still is the marriage between Isaac and his chosen bride, Rebekah. Remember
Isaac, the child of promise through whom the Seed should come? When a bride
was to be chosen for him, his father Abraham distinctly ordered that his
servant was to choose, or select a bride for his son out of his own kinsmen.
(Gen.24:4). He was specifically forbidden to take a wife out of any other
people. (Gen. 24:3). A careful reading
of the entire episode as recorded in the 24th chapter of Genesis
will produce some great and striking truths. Please study this entire chapter
very prayerfully, paying particular attention to the portions concerning the
selection of the bride, and her responses. When the servant
came to the place of Abraham's kinsmen, he was led to speak to Rebekah (verse
17) so as to be assured that the one he would choose would be the one whom
the Lord had chosen. She responded in verses 18- Her desire to be
pleasing was immediately kindled toward this one who was in every way a total
stranger to her, as far as previous knowledge was concerned. But this servant
was made known to her as the servant of him to whom she was to be married, as
her word to him in verse 18 implies. More remarkable was the fact that the
bridegroom himself was later made known to her, and she responded favorably
to his approach as is recorded in verse 65. She took great delight in owning
him as her espoused one, and in being submissive to him, for she saw her duty
to him, never seeking her own, but the good pleasure of his will. She veiled
herself to reflect her position before him. Surely the God of
all providence was at work here. How anyone can deny the omniscient and
omnipotent hand of God is such a mystery to me. God was in the process of
working His will in this matter. He was doing so from all sides and among all
those who were involved, or who would become involved in this issue. He was
making Rebekah to be receptive to the coming espousal and ultimate marriage.
And she was being gently led to do so, and to desire to have it so. Her will
was to do His will, as surely the chosen members of the Lord's Bride will be
led to be faithful to Him. And Rebekah was
exceeding glad to be the chosen one, and her desire was only toward him who
had made the choice, and to whom she was soon to be wedded. Now, lest you
imagine that I have wandered far astray from the stated subject of Headship,
let me quickly bring you to the point of all this. God, seeing the
end from the beginning, and having in wisdom determined that His own Son
would have a suitable bride, set out to provide that bride. He set her apart
from the family from which she was to be taken. His church, in kind, is
therefore set apart from His family. Then from His kind of church, He further
sets apart a particular, chosen bride. Not those who may claim to be in His
church are chosen. But from those whom He has actually placed in His church
is the bride chosen. (I Cor. 12:18) He clearly
identifies her as the one of His choice. The one chosen is the Lord's own.
She is from the churches of the Lord Jesus Christ, and she will be conformed
to the Lord's standard of perfection. She will be chaste. She will be virgin.
She will be spotless. She will be properly clothed. And having been chosen as
His bride, she will be obedient to Him who chose her, and she will be
faithful, just as Rebekah was obedient and faithful. She will be chosen from
Baptist churches. Now, God, through
the apostle Paul, spoke of this in great detail. Specifically, He declared it
to be so, for in Ephesians 5:25-27, we read: "Husbands,
love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for
it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the
word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot,
or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." And then in
Ephesians 5:31,32 we read: "For this
cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his
wife, and they shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak
concerning Christ and the church." May we now hasten
backward in time to Eden? I urge you to keep clearly in mind the Bride of
Christ and the decrees of God relative to her as we go, so that you may see
that even then He was laying before His creatures His Divine Order. "And the
Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make an
help meet for him. And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of
the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what
he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that
was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of
the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an
help meet for him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and
he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead
thereof, And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman,
and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones,
and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out
of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave
unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. " (Gen. 2:18-24). In these
scriptures God is presenting His Divine Order relative to the positions that
He has ordained for the man and the woman. That positional order is never
changed. God does not slacken His demands, nor does He sanction the actions
of men who seek to abdicate (surrender a position), nor of women who seek to
usurp (assume a position). His order is fixed by immutable decree, and any
attempt by anyone to alter that which has gone out of His mouth marks that
one as a rebel against sovereignty. Adam was first
made, and he out of the dust of the earth. His being is at the good pleasure
of the Creator, and he stands subject to his Creator. Adam is not the master.
He is but the creature. Christ is his head, and he is under sovereign rule.
Now out of Adam was taken woman to be an help meet for him. That is, she was
brought forth as his help; his suitable (meet) help. She was not made of the
dust of the earth, directly. Instead, she was made of the man who had already
been made of the dust. Thus, from the same lump came all that followed Adam,
including Eve and all the children. The fact that she
was taken out of man is clear evidence that she had previously been in man.
She was taken out of him. She was not made directly from the earth as was
Adam, otherwise there would have been in one sense, two lumps from which we
all sprang instead of one lump as God has announced. Also, had she
been made a separate being from the dust of the earth, she would not be OF
Adam and not subject TO him. Instead, she would have been his equal and would
have been the federal, or representative head of some one, or some thing.
Thus, a two-headed monstrosity of humanity would have existed. However, this
could not be, for Infinite Wisdom would never imagine it, and Divine Order
would never establish it. Now when God took
woman from man, and then presented woman to man, there was the institution of
marriage as God established it. God is the one who ordained it and sanctioned
it. "What therefore, God has joined together, let not man put
asunder." (Matt. 19:6b). When Eve was
presented before Adam, he declared, "This is now bone of my bones,
and flesh of my flesh:". They were one in creation. But God took the
woman out of the man and they were two. He joined together the two who were
originally but one, and they became one again, never to be separated before
God. Isn't this a
beautiful picture? Doesn't God show infinite wisdom and demonstrate matchless
grace toward His creatures in designing and ordering marriage? And why? For
the God honoring, human good of mankind. But is the extent
of the teaching here just the act of God ordaining marriage? As honorable as
it is, and as marvelous as God's order in the matter is, there is still
deeper meaning. I do not seek to minimize the godliness of marriage and of
the family, but to show by the teaching of the scriptures that it is a
picture of a much more glorious event. It concerns the
marriage of God's own Son to the bride of His own choosing. It shows forth
that indeed a certain nobleman made a marriage for his son and took all steps
necessary to insure that it was completed exactly in the order of his, the
nobleman's design. (Matt. 22). Adam was first
made and Eve brought forth from him to be his wife. To be loved by him and
provided for by him. To honor him, and to be subject to him in all things,
and to be enabled, by faith, to find the greatest joy in doing so. That which is
here pictured speaks of the preeminence of Christ. It speaks of His Headship
over His bride. It speaks of His love for the church, and of His gracious
provisions, safeguards, and designs for her well being. It also speaks of the
desires of His church toward her Betrothed. It speaks of her willingness to
show forth to the other family members her joy and pleasure in Him. Again, the
Marriage of the Lamb is not to be patterned after the marriage of Adam and
Eve. Rather, the marriage of Adam and Eve, and the marriage of all human
couples whom God has joined together must be patterned after the soon coming
Marriage of the Lamb. How marvelous are
the types, and how beautiful the design of the God of all grace, who wisely
ordered all things. Do you enjoy His order? NEW TESTAMENT
ORDER "Be ye
followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Now I praise you, brethren,
that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered
then to you. But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ;
the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Every man
praying or prophesying, having his head covered dishonoreth his head. But
every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoreth
her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be
not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be
shorn or shaven, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his
head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the
glory of man. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For
this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without
the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also
by the woman; but all things of God. Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a
woman pray unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you, that,
if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long
hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. But if
any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches
of God." (I Cor. 11:1-16). In this matter of
headship, the apostle Paul is coming directly to the problem that had arisen
in the early churches, as God's order concerning headship was being violated.
The church at Corinth had lapsed into looseness of order and decorum in the
worship services. There were those
who appeared in the assembly in disregard of God's instructions. Women were
in rebellion against God. They displayed this rebellion by refusing to
acknowledge their God ordained position of subjection to their own husbands
in particular, and to the male members in general. Men were also in
rebellion against God. They tolerated, yea, even promoted positively and
negatively this wanton behavior. Their refusal to face up to the
responsibilities that God had wisely placed upon them as the head of the
woman encouraged their women to continue this shameful conduct. The result of
this attempted overthrow of God's order hindered the church in her
effectiveness. Disorder in one matter led to disorder in other matters, as a
study of this epistle will confirm. Grave moral
offenses that are committed by members of one of the Lord's churches today
can usually be traced to a lack of doctrinal soundness. The commission of
serious crimes is usually the result of a disregard for orderly
government. God's word is the
only source of instruction for our faith and practice. It is the safeguard
that God has given us against our tendency toward a disorderly walk. If no
attention is paid to the sound doctrine of the Bible, then the safeguard has
been removed, and lawlessness becomes the order of the day. It behooves us,
then, to be diligent in our study of the Bible in order that we may know what
God would have us to know. We must be governed by the Bible in all matters
for our lives to be properly regulated and for our walk to be pleasing to
God. As Paul begins
this discourse, he first reminds these saints that it is God who has ordained
headship. It is not left to the discretion of any one member, or of any
church to determine the proper path to follow. Man is not permitted to pick
and choose which instructions he will follow. He must give ear to the whole
counsel of God. He must observe to do all that God has commanded him, knowing
that the commandments of God are not grievous. First of all,
headship begins with God. He, then, in sovereign prerogative, assigns the
positional headship of all others, as seemeth Him good. He has that right.
Any effort to overthrow His assignment is an attempt to overthrow Him who
made the assignment. "But I
would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of
the woman is man; and the head of Christ is God." God is supreme
over all. Christ acknowledges and submits to the will of the Father in all
things. He was never rebellious. He was always submissive. He said, "I
come to do thy will, O God." Christ is the
Head of every man. Every man, especially those in His church, must likewise
acknowledge the Headship of Christ over him, and submit to Him in all things.
He must, or else he is a traitor and a rebel. The man is the
head of the woman. Every woman, especially those in the Lord's church, must
likewise acknowledge the headship of the man over her, and submit to that
headship in all things, as verse 3 declares. In doing so, she is submitting
to Christ. This does not
seem to me to be difficult to understand. It is clearly stated, and leaves no
room for debate. But, upon this verse hangs all the good and wholesome
instruction that Paul then presents to the church. He speaks under
inspiration to people who have professed to be followers of Christ, and
therefore should be able to be taught God's word. We also, having professed
to be His own, should be teachable. Are we? "Every
man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoreth his
head." (verse 4). Who exercises God
ordained headship over every man? Christ is the Head of (over) every man. It
is clear then that Christ is to be honored and not to be dishonored. Did He
not demonstrate His own submission to God the Father, His own Head? How does
man honor his Head when the church, the body of Christ is assembled? Remember
now that Paul is writing to the church at Corinth. The church is assembled
when this letter to them is read, and the subject matter involves them and
all other churches when they are assembled. (Met together). Man, in the
Lord's assembly, honors his Head (Christ) when he prays or prophesies having
his own head uncovered. He must not cover his head with a hat, cap, or any
other external covering, for to do so would dishonor his Head (Christ). Come
now, dear reader. You know this is correct; it is in order. Would not the
whole assembly be offended if the preacher, or any other male member were to
appear in the assembly wearing a hat, and proceeded to take part in the
worship so clothed? You know that would be offensive, because you know that
it would dishonor Christ. To settle the
matter as to whether the covering in the case of a man is an external
covering, or hair, look again at verse 4. If hair is meant as the covering
here referred to, then only men who are bald can pray or prophesy in the
public assembly. Since hair is obviously not the covering that is appropriate
for men, then why would men imagine that hair would be the appropriate
covering for women, when their case is considered? Woman, in the
Lord's assembly, honors her head (man) when she prays or prophesies having
her own head covered. She must cover her head with a hat or veil, for to do
otherwise would dishonor her head (man) and mark her as one who walks apart
from the headship under which God has placed her. It would be as if she had
been marked as an unfaithful wife. The praying or prophesying
of women in the Lord's assembly will always be done in silence, and never,
under any circumstances be otherwise. Scripture demands it. (I Cor. 14:34,35;
I Tim. 2:11). The fact that women must be silent in the church does not mean
that they are taking no part in the worship, and are therefore relieved of
the requirement of having their own head covered. They are participating in
the worship, in the role that God has assigned them. They are praying
(silently, to be sure), and they are prophesying in that they are telling
forth the word of God by their submission to the teachings of the word. They
are testifying by example and by practice. They are learning, in order that
they may the more perfectly fill the role that God has assigned them. When woman meets
in the assembly having her own head covered with an external covering (hat or
veil), she honors her head. To do otherwise would mean that she must also
have her hair clipped (shorn), or even have her head shaved. This was an
identifying mark placed upon wayward women who had brought dishonor to their
husbands. If woman is
uncovered in the assembly, it is as if she were shaven. If she will not be
covered, then let her ALSO be shorn. Read verse 6 again. If she will not
submit to God ordained headship, then let her be marked so as to identify her
as a rebellious and wanton one. If the Lord's churches are not in subjection
to Christ, then they are unfaithful to Him, and this is represented by the
women of the church as they appear uncovered. When the Lord's churches are in
submission to Him, then it is represented by godly women having their heads
covered. If hair, in the
case of woman, is meant to be the covering Paul is talking about, then the
word "also" in verse 6 is meaningless. This word carries the
meaning, "in addition to." If she is properly showing forth God
ordained headship, she must not be shorn, AND she must also be covered.
"If she have short hair, then let her ALSO have short hair." That's
how the first part of verse 6 would literally read if her hair is meant to be
the covering referred to. Remember now, whatever covering the woman wears is
that which symbolizes the church in her appearance before Christ. Does she
honor, or does she dishonor? I'm speaking of the church as she is symbolized
by the woman. Woman is to be
covered (veiled) in the assembly to demonstrate that she is under the power
(authority) of her husband, in order that the angels who meet with the saints
may be taught that the church is subject to Christ in all things. The angels
are actually met in body with the saints. What kind of teaching does the
church provide for them? Do they see a submissive church? Do they see an
unfaithful, rebellious church? Now then, about
hair for a moment. What is meant when hair as a covering is discussed, both
as it applies to men and to women? It is apparent that hair does mean
something, for it is discussed as a covering, and cannot therefore be
ignored. But what does it mean? First of all,
hair as a covering, is given by God, and is to symbolize human headship. It
acknowledges positional standing of men and women in the natural realm. It is
therefore the natural symbol of headship, and not to be confused with
spiritual symbols at all. Long hair for
woman is a glory to her; "for her hair is given her for a
covering." (verse 15). Her hair, which is her glory, is the symbol
of headship in the natural realm. It symbolizes that there is glory to her
when she is fitted into the place of her assignment. She wears it proudly
(not self-pride), desiring always to be identified as a woman; as one who has
been brought forth, out of man, to be his help meet, and to honor God in
doing that which He has assigned her to do. She knows that Eve, being
deceived had been led to sin. She knows that God decreed that her desire
shall be to her own husband, and he shall rule over her (Gen. 3:15). She
knows that Infinite Wisdom dictated that she be so placed, but that is for
her own protection. She delights in being so placed. Short hair for
man is the symbol for the position in which God has placed man, in relation
to the woman. He has been placed in subjection to Christ, and over the woman.
And for man to wear long hair is an attempt to change God's order and to
bring dishonor to Christ, and shame upon himself. Even nature
teaches that it is a shame for men to have long hair. Every man who has long
hair is shaming himself. Regardless of his efforts to justify himself as
being in keeping with the time, he is still shaming himself, and dishonoring
the position in which he has been placed. Because times change and styles
change, does this mean that God changes? Certainly not. It is not possible
for man to use such a flimsy excuse as this to gloss over his shameful
conduct. Godly men, get
that hair cut! Get in order with God's way, and then you may be able to
influence those over whom the Master has given you positional headship. You
may be able to teach by example what the Bible teaches concerning headship,
and then truly take the place that God has assigned you as the head of your
family. How can you expect your family to respect your position if you show
such contempt for it? God's word has
clearly established the order of things in the scriptures (I Cor. 11). Both
the natural symbols of headship (short hair for men; long hair for women) and
the spiritual symbols of headship (men uncovered; women covered) are set
forth. Paul, under
inspiration, has established that the apostolic teaching as well as the
acceptable manner of worship in the Lord's churches today are here
recognized. He further declares that he, and the other apostles have not
deviated from that order. Then, he drives the point home by emphasizing, "But
if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the
churches of God." (verse 16). He is saying that
neither he, nor the churches of God have ever taught, nor practiced any other
form for recognizing headship, nor have they advocated any other practice. It
has always been proper, Paul affirms, for these symbols (both natural and
spiritual) to be observed. Now, if any man
seem to be contentious, he is not doing so by following the teaching of God's
word. That is, if any man seem to contend for any other presentation of
headship, he is not doing so in accordance with the Bible way of representing
these great truths. Those who teach
and practice that long hair for godly women is the correct symbol for
representing the Lord's churches in subjection to Him are contending for
another way. The apostles taught no other way, and the early churches
practiced no other way. It was error that led the churches to substitute long
hair for the veil, or other external covering to be worn by woman as the
symbol of her subjection. It is error that leads men to teach, and churches
to practice another way now. PRACTICAL
THOUGHTS When godly women
enter into the assembly, being covered, they are teaching by example their
subjection to their husbands. They are teaching by example that the church is
in subjection to Christ. They do not speak a single word. They are not
permitted to speak. Neither need they speak a word, for their actions speak
and testify for them. They teach more by example than they could ever teach
by word, even were they desirous of speaking, or were allowed to do so.
In their private
teaching of the younger women, as commanded in Titus 3:3-5, they may teach
these truths of I Cor. 11:1-16, along with the other portions of God's word.
The young women, then being properly instructed by word and example, will
also desire to follow the teaching of the Bible. They will want to be in
subjection. When churches
insist on the members submitting themselves to God's word, and to His
established order, the churches will be blessed with spiritual strength. God
blesses greatly when His churches obey Him. He also withholds blessings when
they walk disorderly. Do we want to be blessed and used of God? Then let us
seek His way, and walk therein. Godly men should
submit themselves to their Lord and seek His guidance in fulfilling their
duties. Godly women also should submit themselves to their Lord and seek His
guidance in fulfilling their duties. To do less is careless, and reflects
unfavorably in every way upon the character of each of us who have professed
Christ. For men to fail
does not relieve them, or the women of their duties. Neither does an attempt
by women to lay aside their duties give them the right to do so, nor does it
relieve the men of their duties as heads of households to teach their women
folk, and to insist upon their obedience to God's commands. To be sure, many
women do not observe this headship because they have not been properly
taught. Men likewise, have not been taught, nor have they taught their
wives. That brings the
matter down to those who are charged before God to preach the word. To those
who have been commanded to teach all the counsel of God. It brings it
directly to the door of the preachers. The pulpits
across this land are generally silent upon this important subject. Little or
no teaching about headship can be found, even among Baptists. When have you
heard it taught, or have seen it practiced? It has been
primarily within the past two generations that the subject has been so
neglected. If we examine the teachings and the practices of those who have preceded
us, we will find that until recent years, it was unthinkable for a Baptist
woman to go into a Baptist assembly having her head uncovered. Men taught,
men and women believed, and churches practiced this submission to the
Headship of Christ. In reading the
writings of Baptists of the past, it becomes evident that almost all
practiced this order in their day. They had evidently been taught it by their
fathers, and it was practiced by the churches of the day. It seems that the
so-called "style" has not only changed among women outside the
Lord's churches, but this change has been brought over to those women in His
churches. Women, generally, just do not wear hats. But why would they? It is
evident that women, for the most part, are not in subjection. Every feminist
movement that has ever existed is the direct result of sin. The rebellion
that is among people today is directly attributable to sin and the awful
consequences that it has brought upon us. When women rebel,
they are rebelling against men. Right? Wrong. They are rebelling against God
and His order. ERA and all such movements are ungodly movements for they seek
to change God's order of things. Women are rebels against God when they
participate in, or show sympathy for such activities. Men are also
rebels, for they are active movers within such groups. They also countenance
such ungodliness in others. They are just as guilty, and maybe even more so
than the women, for they have gone directly to God and have said by their
actions that He erred in His purpose. They have abdicated the position that
God gave them. Should the
"style" that the world is so wrapped up in dictate to godly men and
women what they should wear? I believe the answer is evident. The world is
not to be brought over to the churches. Instead, the churches are to maintain
separation from the world. Separation is taught in the Bible. It is to be
practiced. Dear Sisters,
hear the words of your Lord. Follow His teaching, and seek by every
scriptural means to regulate your life by His word. Listen to your Lord. Give
no ear to the Devil, for he is out to do you harm. Submit yourself to the
position God gave you. Dear Brothers,
hear the words of your Lord. Follow His teaching, and seek by every
scriptural means to regulate your life, and the lives of those of your own
household by the word of God. Remember, you have been given directions by
God, and are responsible to Him for those under your headship. You will give
an account to God for your actions. Dear Churches,
seek the Lord's face and strive to walk in the Light. Insist upon God's word
being faithfully proclaimed and then to be followed. Being fully persuaded
that Go has ordered all things for His glory and for the good of His
churches, earnestly contend for the faith as once delivered to the
saints. As one,
individually, or as a church walks away from the source of light, his steps
take him into deeper darkness. He is moving in the wrong direction, and as he
proceeds in that direction, his steps become more and more uncertain. His
danger increases and the pitfalls less discernible. On the other
hand, when one is turned, he begins to catch a glimpse of light in the
distance. Moving forward toward that light, he is encouraged to go on for
every step now gets brighter. His confidence is increased and his welfare is
improved. CONCLUSION I do not suggest
that correction of our course in this one matter will cure all the ills that
have befallen God's people and His churches. But I do suggest that when the
headship that God has ordained is understood and practiced it will lead to
more light. I do suggest that God's people will be able to regulate their
lives more perfectly when God's order is maintained. When God ordained
headship is practiced, husbands and fathers will meet their responsibilities
to a greater degree. Families will again be set in order when the head of
each household fills the role to which he has been assigned. Wives and
mothers will be true help meets for their husbands and will superintend the
rearing of their children and the managing of the household affairs as they
should. Children will see these godly qualities displayed before them on a
daily basis and will be led to see their own place in the family structure
more correctly. When the family
is in order, the churches will also be in better order. Each member of one of
the Lord's churches is also a member of a family. And when the families are
in order, it will naturally carry over into the churches. May God grant
grace to all His people to seek His will. May He be pleased to enable each of
His blood bought saints to hear His word, believe His instructions, and obey
all the precious and wonderful commands that He has given. For it is to His
glory, and to our good that He has wisely ordained this headship. "...Teaching
them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am
with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matt. 28:20). |