1 Corinthians 11:2

Now, I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the ordinances as I delivered them unto you. But I would have you to know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of every woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

Every man praying and prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. But every woman that prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is even as if she were shaven. 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 the 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, the woman ought to have a covering or power on her head because of the angels.

Nevertheless, neither is the man without the woman, nor is 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 are of God.

Judge yourselves. Is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Does not even nature itself teach us that if a man has long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her, for her hair is given her for a covering.

But if any man seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. Well, we should pray. Amen. Lord, your word.

Is given by inspiration from You. It's breathed by You, and it's useful. It's useful for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, Lord. We want, as the people of God, to be those who walk and follow after You. We know that Your word is needful in our lives. So we ask that You would speak to us, God, and give us insight. Lord, help us to come with humility and openness when we approach a passage such as this, willing to receive from You, even if there are aspects of our flesh that have a problem with it. We want to submit ourselves to Your word now and ask that You, by Your Spirit, would speak to us. For we ask it in Jesus' name. And all God's people agreed, saying, Amen.

Ben, you can be seated. It's actually passages like these that sometimes make me question the wisdom of teaching chapter by chapter and verse by verse. There are times when I think, well, let's just skip to the next passage. But I have no doubt that I would hear it from a number of you: "Hey, wait, what about that passage there?" Dealing with head coverings is one of those passages that has caused a lot of problems within the church.

It's important, however, to recognize that the church at Corinth was a troubled church. It was dealing with all sorts of different issues and problems that Paul is addressing. Remember that beginning at chapter 7, Paul began answering specific questions. In chapter 7, verse 1, he says, "Now concerning the things whereof you wrote unto me."

It's important for us to understand that the context of 1 Corinthians 11, which deals with head coverings and submission to authority, is the result of a question that the church at Corinth had asked Paul. He is addressing a specific issue and a specific cultural context, but he is also giving a principle and teaching something that is important for us 1,900 years later.

Even though people will look at passages such as this and say that this isn't for us today, there is something here for us. It is the important theme of what is laid out, the principle given in verse 3. If you would direct your attention to verse 3, Paul says, "I would have you know then that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God." This is the principle.

There has been great discussion among commentators, well, ever since Paul wrote this, as to what Paul means when he says "head." Is he talking about the source from which something comes, or is he talking about the authority that is given to one in a position of headship? Clearly, we recognize and understand that Paul is not talking about the source from which something comes, saying that Christ is the source from which man comes. We could say that's true, and that man is the source from which woman comes. If we go back to Genesis chapters 1 and 2, we see that this is the case.

However, we cannot say that about the last statement where Paul says that the head of Christ is God. We cannot say that God the Father is the source of Christ because they are equal and coexistent; they always have been in eternity past. So, we are speaking about something dealing with headship here.

In the culture that we live in here in the United States in the 21st century, the issue of submission to authority is a problem. We don't like this in our flesh, but I would venture to guess that there is a certain part of even Christ's flesh that was troubled with this authority. We need to make sure that we understand when we look at the first thing that Paul says: the head of man is Christ, meaning that Christ is over man.

We also need to understand that there is a curse seen throughout Scripture when man rebels against that authority. Notice that Paul says the head of every man is Christ. Would you circle the word "every man"? The emphasis on the word "every" is important. This is not just that Christ is the head of those within the church, but that He is to be the head of all humanity, for He is the creator of all things.

All things are His. The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. However, man rebelled against the authority of God, which is very clearly seen going all the way back to the beginning. In Genesis chapter 3, God gave one command to man: "You shall not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for in the day that you eat of it, you shall surely die."

Well, man and his wife were tempted, and they ate of it. God directed His attention to Adam, the first man, in Genesis 3:17, and said, "Because you have hearkened unto the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree, which I commanded you, saying that you shall not eat of it, cursed is the ground for your sake, and sorrow you shall eat of it all the days of your life." The ground is cursed because of man's rebellion against the authority of God.

There is a curse in rebelling against this authority, and there was also a separation of fellowship between God and man because of this rebellion. So, there is a curse and a separation. Man's rebellion continued from that point on until we get to Genesis chapter 6, which is about 1,700 years after the fall. In chapter 6, verse 5, we read that God saw the wickedness of man, that it was great, and that every imagination of his thoughts was only evil continually.

That's phenomenal. Every imagination of the thoughts and heart of man was only evil continually at the time of Genesis chapter 6. It grieved the heart of God, as verse 6 states, and the Lord said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth." Man's wicked rebellion continued from the fall until it was very great, and every imagination of his thoughts was evil continually.

This rebellion kindled the wrath and judgment of God, and therefore, God destroyed man from the face of the earth because of rebellion against His authority. All of humanity was destroyed in a worldwide catastrophe, a worldwide flood, which science continually proves to be the case, even though they reject the idea. In fact, Mike Phillips was just pointing out a book to me a few days ago that we have in our bookstore. I didn't even know we had it in our bookstore. There are probably a lot of books in there that I don't know we have, and it's on the flood.

The Grand Canyon illustrates how its geology repeatedly supports the idea of a worldwide flood catastrophe. Only eight individuals survived this deluge: Noah, his wife, his three sons, and their wives. After emerging from the flood, God gave humanity a command: "Be fruitful and multiply. Subdue the earth and fill it."

However, did humanity obey the voice and command of God? No, they did not. Just a few chapters later, in Genesis chapter 11, we find that one man gathered a group of men. This man's name was Nimrod, a very fitting name. They came to the Valley of Shinar and declared that they would make a name for themselves. They intended to huddle together, build a city, and construct a tower that would reach the heavens—Babylon, the Tower of Babel.

You may know the story: God came down and confused their languages, which accomplished His purpose. As a result, they were dispersed from that area into the rest of the world. Humanity has consistently rejected God's leadership and authority since creation. In His grace, God looked down upon humanity and chose an individual—one man. In Genesis chapter 12, God called Abraham from among all the rebellious men of the world. Abraham was rebellious too, as evidenced in his life; he shared the same character. Yet, God, in His grace, called Abraham and his descendants, promising that He would be their God and they would be His people. He promised great blessings to them and called them to a certain manner of life.

Throughout their history, as recorded in the Old Testament, we see that they continually rejected God's authority and rebelled against Him. God was meant to be their ruler, their director, their king. A clear rejection of God's authority is evident in 1 Samuel chapter 8. The people came to Samuel, the prophet and leader at that time, and said, "We want a king like the rest of the nations. We don't want God to be our leader and king. We want a king like everybody else."

God granted their request, but Samuel was grieved. In 1 Samuel chapter 8, verse 7, God said to Samuel, "They have not rejected you; they have rejected Me, that I should reign over them. They don't want My reign over them."

They're rebelling against my authority. Humanity as a whole has rejected God's leadership since creation. Israel rejected His authority throughout their history, culminating in the rejection of the Messiah, as we see in the New Testament. John chapter 1, verse 11, says that Jesus came to His own. He came to the nation of Israel, and they received Him not. They said, "We will not have this man to rule over us. We don't want His authority."

The fact is that man's rejection of Christ's authority and His lordship does not diminish His lordship. He is still Lord of all, whether man submits to it or not. However, there is a curse and a separation that is inherent in rejecting the authority of God. When you reject His authority and His rule, you will be under the curse of God's judgment and wrath. If you die in that condition, you will be separated from Him for eternity.

Man rejects the rule of God, but that does not diminish God's rule. The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof; it still is His. He is still on the throne. Isaiah tells us in Isaiah 9:7 that of the increase of His government, there shall be no end. No one will dethrone God from that position, even though they try.

Psalm 2 gives us a great picture of the heathens, the nations of the world, banding together in war against God. Is God up in heaven afraid? Psalm 2 says He looks at them from heaven and laughs. To be quite honest with you, I kind of like that picture. Absolutely. Of the increase of His government, Christ's government and rule, there shall be no end.

The Father, God, has given all things into the hands of Jesus. Matthew 28, verse 18, the Great Commission, begins with Jesus saying, "All power, all authority, all jurisdiction is given unto me in heaven and in earth." He has all authority. Whether we yield to it or not, He still maintains all rule. John 3, verse 35, tells us that the Father has given all things.

into the hands of Jesus. John 3:35 states that the Father had given all things into His hands. He has all power, all dominion, and all authority. All things have been put under His feet. David, in Psalm 8:6, writes, "You have put all things under His feet." The author of the book of Hebrews notes in Hebrews 2:8 that God the Father left nothing that was not put under Him. All things are under Him.

Now, the writer of Hebrews goes on to say in verse 8, "But we now see not yet all things put under Him." We don't see it actually in place upon the earth right now, but we will. That is why Jesus told His church to pray, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." That prayer will be answered one day. We will see the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Prince of Peace, rule and reign here upon the earth.

When He does, Philippians 2, with Paul quoting Isaiah 45, states that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess. Everyone will recognize His lordship at that point. However, if you are forced to recognize it on that day, you are abiding under His wrath. Ephesians 2:9 tells us that God has also highly exalted Him, Jesus, and given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow—of things in heaven, of things on earth, and of things under the earth—and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father.

Confessing Christ Jesus as Lord glorifies God the Father. It is the right thing to do because He is Lord. Nothing can dethrone Him, and nothing diminishes His rule. His rule and reign will increase; it will never decrease. Therefore, there is a curse for those who refuse to yield to the Lordship of Christ. However, there is a blessing here and now for those who do yield and willingly submit themselves to the Lordship of Christ.

Turn in your Bibles to Romans chapter 10. If you are in 1 Corinthians, it is just one book to the right.

Left. Romans chapter 10 is a passage you no doubt have read before. Verse 9 states, "If you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and shall believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." If you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, the word "confess" there is the Greek word "homologeo," which means to say the same thing as, to agree with, or to profess and proclaim. You are Lord Jesus.

Now, "Lord" is not just his name or title; it's who he is. It's a confession of who he is. You are Lord Jesus. You are Master. You are the one who has authority, jurisdiction, and power. If you will confess with your mouth that he is your Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart, man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. The scripture says, "Whosoever believes shall not be ashamed."

Now notice verse 12: "For there is no difference between Jew or Greek or Gentile, for the same Lord over all is rich unto all who call upon him." He is the same Lord over all—Jews, Gentiles, all of humanity. The same Lord is over everything, and he is rich to those who call upon him. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

There is a curse and a separation that comes when we reject the authority, the rule, and the lordship of Christ over our lives. However, there is a blessing, a redemptive blessing, for those who will confess that he is Lord. Again, the psalmist in Psalm 86, verse 5 says, "For you, Lord, are good, you're ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy unto all that call upon you." To anybody who calls upon him, the Lord will be forgiving, he will be merciful, and he will be good. As Joel said in...

Joel 2:32 states, "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord will be delivered." Man's rebellion against the authority of Christ brought the fall; it brought a curse and a separation, a breaking of fellowship between God and man. However, that can be restored as we submit ourselves to the lordship of Christ. The willing submission of Christ to the headship of the Father is the very thing that brought about redemption for you and me. Let me say that again: the willing submission of Christ to the headship of the Father is what brought about that opportunity for redemption for you and me.

What does Paul say at the end of verse 3? The head of Christ is God. This causes a problem for some. We believe that there is one God existing in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are coexistent and co-equal. They are equal in power and authority, equal in all things. Yet, within the Godhead, there is a submission of the Son to the Father and, apparently, of the Spirit to the Son. Although they are completely equal, there is a willing submission in humility to the headship of the Father by the Son.

The Bible makes it very clear that they are equal. In John 10:30, Jesus Himself says, "I and my Father are one." In John 1:1, it states, "In the beginning was the Word," which is Jesus, "and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God." Jesus has always existed. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last, the one who was and is and is to come. He is involved in creation. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, omniscient, and He possesses all the omni characteristics of God the Father. Yet, He willingly submits Himself to the Father. Apart from that willing submission, there would be no redemption.

Now, the Jews understood that Jesus made Himself equal with God.

John chapter 5, verse 18, states that the Jews sought the more to kill Him because not only had He broken the Sabbath, but He said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. They knew exactly what He was saying.

In Philippians chapter 2, the Apostle Paul says, "Let this mind be in you," verse 5, "which was also in Christ Jesus." Jesus, being in the form of God, did not think it robbery to be equal with God. He is completely equal with God the Father. However, the Father's authority over the Son is clearly presented in the New Testament, especially in the Gospel of John, which presents Jesus as the Son of God. He willingly submitted Himself to the will of the Father.

God the Father is the one we are told in John 3, verse 16, that sent the Son. Jesus confessed in John 5, verse 19, that the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do, that He does. In John 5, verse 30, Jesus said, "I do not seek my own will, but the will of the Father which has sent me." So, Jesus says, "I have surrendered my will to the will of the Father." The will of Jesus in humanity was completely surrendered to the will of the Father, most beautifully pictured for us in the Garden of Gethsemane in Matthew chapter 26.

There in Matthew chapter 26, you know the story. Jesus brings His disciples into the Garden of Gethsemane just before His betrayal. He says to His disciples, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful," verse 38, "even unto death. Stay here with me and watch with me." He went a little further, fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "Oh, my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." He surrendered His will to the Father.

He expressed that in His humanity, He did not want to experience the cup of the wrath of God Almighty, but He said, "Not my will, Yours be done." He came to His disciples, found them asleep, and said unto Peter, "What, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." He went away again the second time, verse 42, and prayed, saying, "Oh, my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me except I drink it, Thy will be done."

Philippians chapter 2, Paul went on to say that Jesus...

He made himself of no reputation. He took upon him the form of a servant, was made in the likeness of man, and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. There is a curse and a separation between God and man because of man's rebellion against the authority of Almighty God. However, there is a redemptive blessing that is extended to man when he submits himself to the lordship of Almighty God in Christ Jesus.

This redemptive blessing is only available because Jesus Christ submitted himself to the will of the Father and went to the cross on behalf of you and me. Do you see how important authority and submission to authority are? If it weren't for it, none of us would have salvation.

Now, let's boil it down to the point: the headship of men over women. Oh, wait a minute. I don't think so. We live in 21st-century progressive Western America. How dare you even imply that such a thing ought to be the case? It’s interesting to me that this has become such an anathema in modern culture, even in the church.

You see, believers have no problem with Christ's submission to the Father. We say, "Yeah, that's right. That's good." They have no problem with man's submission to Christ, but they will fight tooth and nail against woman's submission to man. Why is that? The two can't go together. Either we believe the whole Scripture or we question every bit of the Scripture.

We are told that this teaching is barbaric, archaic, and obsolete. Do a search on Google sometime and search for the Apostle Paul and women. You will find loads of articles from very intellectually superior people who tell us that the Apostle Paul is the quintessential chauvinist. They claim that Paul was capricious and that he hated women. That is what is being said about this passage and other passages in the New Testament put forth by Paul, such as Ephesians chapter 5 and 2nd Timothy chapter 2. These passages clearly reveal that Paul had contempt for women.

I read one article where the author claimed that Paul hated women and suggested we can reject this teaching because it was merely his own self-imposed views upon the church. Is that right? Is that true?

We need to recognize that when it says that women are to submit to the authority that God has ordained and given to men, it is not saying that women are inferior. It is not saying that they are less than. It is not saying that they are not as spiritual, because many times they are more so. It is not saying that they are not as smart, because let's be honest, most of the time they are. My wife is clearly smarter than I am.

If we extrapolate this and say that a woman is under a man, therefore she is inferior, then we would have to conclude that Christ is inferior to God. But He is not. Paul was very, very smart in the way that he laid this out. Women in the first century had little or no rights whatsoever. However, the church, including Paul's teaching, has changed that for the better. All the rights that women enjoy in equality and liberty are ultimately tied to the gospel.

Notice down in verse 5 of 1 Corinthians chapter 11 that Paul says women pray and prophesy within the church. This is huge. That is a liberty that was not afforded to them in the synagogue of Judaism, nor was it afforded to them in the culture of Rome. Yet Paul says it is a normal thing, expected even, that a woman would pray and prophesy in the church.

However, there is an order that ought to be recognized. Women's rights, in fact, liberty for all races and genders, is ultimately the product not of the progressive era, but of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul states that the head of every man is Christ, the head of Christ is God, and if you will receive it, this is the truth: the head of the woman is the man.

Well, if there was a curse upon man for rebelling against the authority of God and a separation that came because of that rebellion, is there not also a curse for rebelling against this authority that women are called to in Christ under men? I would say that there is. In fact, I'm convinced that many of the problems we see in modern Western civilization today are a direct result of rebellion against authority.

This rebellion against authority is, in many ways, imparted to children in the earliest stages of their development as they witness it between their mother and their father. The late Guy Odom wrote a book called "Mother's Leadership and Success." I recommend it; it's a very interesting book. I don't believe he was a believer, but in his book, and in several other books like it, he shows that civilizations, on average, fail after ten generations or 250 years. He explains that civilizations progress through different stages, and ultimately, what leads to their downfall is the role of dominant women in society.

Now, I'm sure I'm making a lot of friends with this one. My email is miles at ccsco.com. You can let it fly, but it won't be anonymous; I'll know who you are.

In the second half of Odom's book, he traces this 250-year, ten-generation cycle, which he says began in America in the year 1763. Mind you, he wrote this at the end of the 1970s. He predicted it would close in America at the end of 2012. Interesting. His second book, which you can find online for free, is amazing. It's called "America's Man on Horseback." He stated that America's Man on Horseback, who would lead America from a democracy to a dictatorship, from a republic to an empire, would emerge around 2012. It's startling. Guy Odom, O-D-O-M.

I contacted his wife after I read "America's Man on Horseback" because it kind of freaked me out how close it is to what we're seeing in our nation today. I wanted to get a hold of him, and she told me that I missed him by a couple of years. He just died a few years ago, but his book is prophetic. The reason it's prophetic is that he studied history.

Have you heard of the book "The Rise and the Fall of the Roman Empire"? It was by Edward Gibbon. In his book, he charts how the Roman Empire rose to its height as a republic after about 200 years, 250 years, or ten generations. Then, in about 46 B.C., it was taken over by an emperor who basically destroyed the Senate of Rome for the next generations. It became a dictatorship. Time and time again, this happens.

In his book, Guy Audum shows an interesting reason for this. Remember the old saying, "The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world"? There is truth to it, isn't there? This saying comes from a poem written in 1865 by William Ross Wallace called "What Rules the World." I believe there is a curse in rebelling against this authority, and we're watching it unfold in our nation today. Do you see anywhere in our nation today an anti-authority kick? It's interesting.

However, there is a blessing, a redemptive blessing, in accepting God-ordained authority. Let me say that again: there is a blessing, a redemptive blessing, that comes when we accept God-ordained authority. The redemption came through Christ as a result of His willing submission to the will of the Father. Our experience of redemption comes as we, humanity, willingly submit ourselves to the Lordship of Christ.

There is also a redemptive blessing within the family, which is the foundation of civilization and ultimately for society, when women follow in line with what God has ordained. This is not because they are less than or inferior, but because they recognize that God has established an order, and that God doesn't do things capriciously; He does it purposefully.

And so the blessing of accepting this authority, number one, is that it is pleasing to God. It honors Him. Secondly, it promotes a blessing for your children. Third, it is right for society. If a redemptive blessing came through Christ's submission to the Father, and a redemptive blessing extends to man through our willing submission to Christ, then it follows that a redemptive blessing will also come upon the marriage, the family, and society when we follow God's order. If we reject it, then we see a curse in our society, a separation, and a breaking of fellowship.

Do we see that within families? Let God's word be true, and every man a liar. The key to the abundant life for humanity is the submission of Christ to the Father, and our submission to Christ's Lordship. I'm convinced that a key to an abundant marriage is a wife's loving submission to the God-ordained authority of the husband. I am convinced of it. You can see it in the scripture.

So, what is the way of promoting this sort of authority? Should the man say, "Listen here, submit, woman"? If you've ever said that to your wife, you've probably quickly hit the ground, either to duck what was coming at you or because you didn't duck fast enough. That approach doesn't work.

How do we promote the acceptance of such authority? I would suggest to you that central to the whole thing is the cross. The cross is central to the whole thing. You see, the cross reveals Christ's submission to the headship of the Father. The cross reestablishes our submission to the headship of Christ. The cross will rekindle a woman's submission to her husband.

How so? Turn in your Bibles to Ephesians chapter 5. Ephesians chapter 5, verse 22, is the second most hated passage by our modern culture.

Ephesians 5:22 states, "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands as unto the Lord." Would you underline that in your neighbor's Bible? As unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church, and He, Jesus, is the Savior of the body. There again is Paul's prime teaching that we just found in 1 Corinthians chapter 11. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church, and Jesus is the Savior of the body.

Therefore, as the church is subject unto Christ, so let wives be subject to their own husbands in everything. Hey, watch it, man. Your wife. You'll be coming for counseling. We'll send you to Eric, too.

Now, here's the cross. Verse 25: "Husbands, love your wives as Christ also loved the church." Your wife, whoever said that, can say amen here. And He gave Himself for it. Husbands, love your wives even as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it. Husbands, if you want your wife to submit to your headship that God has ordained, then love your wife in the same way that Christ loved the church—with a self-sacrificing love.

Now, wives, notice that Paul says to submit unto your husband as unto the Lord. Your submission to your husband is worship to God, and you should submit unto him in the same way that you would submit unto the Lord. It is impossible to both be submissive to God and unsubmissive to your husband. It can't go together. You cannot say, "Well, I'm submitted to the Lord," but "this guy, you don't understand, I can't submit to him." Well, then you're not submitting to God. They go hand in hand.

You might say, "Well, I'm not going to submit until he loves," or he might say, "I'm not going to love until she submits." One of you is going to have to stop. One of you is going to have to be Christ-like. Husbands, if your wife is not submissive, it may be because you're not loving her as Christ loved the church.

Wives, if your husband is not loving you as Christ loved the church, it may be because you're not submitting. You might wonder which one needs to go first. I think Emerson Egerich is right in his book, "Love and Respect": whichever one is more mature. Ouch. I'll be the first to confess that I am the immature one in my family, honestly.

Look at Ephesians 5:33. Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself, and the wife see that she respect her husband. Alan Redpath said that when you think of authority in the home, you should think of the cross, where Jesus has brought us into submission to Himself. That is where we learn how much He cares for us—at the cross—and where we are brought in humility before His feet. That is how He secures our love and surrender, even as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it.

A man who cannot exercise authority like that better remain unmarried. A man who thinks he rules by stomping his feet better remain single, says Redpath. But a man who knows how to govern his house by love—the love of the Lord through sacrificial submission to the Lord—is a man who is going to make a perfect husband. The woman who cannot submit to an authority like that had better remain single.

So, does this mean that we should order some head coverings? Maybe start our own line, "Body of Christ Bonnets" or something, and sell them in the bookstore? Is that what we should do? Because, I mean, in the passage here, 1 Corinthians chapter 11, Paul is saying that women should be covered and men should remain uncovered. It is a shame for men to have long hair. What is all this about?

I've been thinking a lot about this, and I'm convinced that this passage dealing with the head coverings issue is addressing a Corinthian-specific application and not a mandate for the body of Christ. There have been some within the church who have taken this as a mandate, claiming that women are to wear head coverings.

Or wear some sort of veil over their head. Whatever it may be, that's not what Paul is saying. It's not a mandate to the church as a whole; it had a Corinthian application, but not just for Corinth. Other places as well.

You see, in the city of Corinth, for a woman to walk around the city with an uncovered head and her hair down was to confess to everybody in the open marketplace that she was a prostitute from the temple and that she was for sale. This issue of liberty came into the church at Corinth. The women were saying, "Hey, in Christ there is no male and female. There's equal ground. We have equality." That's right, and we have liberty.

The teaching that dominated the mindset of the Corinthians was that all things are permissible. They believed they didn't have to wear these things anymore; they could let their hair down. Yes, you do have liberty, but for the sake of love, we lay aside our liberty. For the sake of love for God and love for others, we honor God and honor others. We lay aside certain liberties because we recognize that by doing this in the open square in Corinth, it was dishonoring to their husband, their head.

Paul says you ought not dishonor God and your husband in this manner, nor dishonor Christ and His church. There are times when we renounce our rights for the sake of our witness in the community and for the sake of honoring God. That's exactly what Paul is saying: you should maintain this cultural custom. Why? Because it's honoring to your husband, it's honoring to God, and it's a right witness in the community.

If you reject this and say, "Well, I'm not going to do it," then you might as well just have your head shaved, which was a sign of shame, openly testifying that you were an adulteress. Paul says shame on you if you refuse this authority that God has ordained.

The main point of this teaching is that Christ is the head of man. Man has a headship ordained by God over his wife, and Christ exemplified submission to authority in His submission to God the Father. The main teaching is not that we should all have head coverings for women; that's not it. Why can I say that emphatically? Nowhere else in the New Testament do we read anything about head coverings. Jesus didn't talk about it, and Paul says nothing about it in any of his other letters.

The Book of Acts did not reveal it as practiced by the rest of the church, and it is not mentioned by the Apostle Peter. So we can say this is a cultural application of this principle. The principle is submission to authority, which brings about a redemptive blessing for the family and for society. When we reject it, we see the curse that comes through it. Again, I ask you, do we see the result of that in Western civilization today? We do.

Can we just step back and say, perhaps the Lord is right? It is the mature Christian man who recognizes and observes the authority of Jesus and therefore submits himself to the Lordship of Christ. It is the mature Christian woman who recognizes the God-ordained authority granted to her husband and submits to that authority, not because she is inferior or less than anything, but because she recognizes this is honoring to God, honoring to her husband, and brings a blessing to her family and society. I believe that if we hold to God's Word, we will see a great blessing come about. Amen?

Let's stand and pray. Father, we thank you for the grace that you have given to us. We thank you for the liberty that we have in you. We thank you, Lord, that as worship, we can restrict that liberty for the sake of your honor and glory and the sake of the witness that you have given to us.

Father, would you plant these things in our hearts and minds this week? Cause us to meditate upon them and to think on them, to reason it out with your Word. Lord, we thank you that you have given us your Word to doctrinally instruct us, to rebuke us if there is an area that is out of order in our lives, to correct us, and to show us the right way that we can walk in righteousness. Equip us for these good works that we would shine brightly in this world.

Lord, if we live like this under your submission, it is a light, no doubt, to our culture that is totally opposite.

But so desperately needs to see what it means to live under authority. Teach us this, we pray, Lord. In Jesus' name, amen. Thank you.