Headcoverings - I Corinthians 11:5

"Every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying disgraces her head..."

There is a lot of buzz about headcoverings around me these days. So I thought I better discuss them. It doesn't fit with my sermon plans, but it is a topic worthy of addressing. So here I go.

Are headcoverings biblical? Yes. It is clear from I Corinthians chapter 11 that Christian women should wear headcoverings. But at what times or occasions? Some say that women should wear them at all times as a sign of submission to men. Some say that women should wear them in the worship services of the church. But Paul only specifies that women must wear headcoverings when "praying or prophesying". Why not when reading Scripture or singing psalms of praise? Why not when speaking in tongues or interpreting tongues?

It would have been extremely easy for Paul to simply say, "Women should wear headcoverings at all times" or "Women should wear headcoverings whenever they worship". But he didn't. He doesn't say either of these things in this passage. What he says is that men should not have their heads covered when praying or prophesying (v 7) and that women should have their heads covered when doing these things. Why just these two worship practices when there are other worship practices not mentioned and other spiritual gifts not referenced? There must be something very special about "praying and prophesying". Let's start with prophesy.

Paul emphasizes prophesy as one of the most important gifts (see I Corinthians 14:1-5). Prophesy is the spiritual gift of being used of God to speak His very words, that is, the communication of God's revelation to us (see 14:30). Obviously, this is very, very important. What could be more important than speaking the very words of God to the congregation?

Now I realize that some people, myself included, do not believe that the Holy Spirit is giving the gift of prophesy to His people today because the canon of Scripture is complete. I also recognize that some scholars do not view New Testament prophesy as the very words of God. But it makes the most sense to say that because prophesy was giving direct revelation from God to the congregation, if a woman is going to do it, she is required to put on a headcovering as a sign of submission to the Lord, her husband, and the male leadership.

This brings us to the matter of "praying". In the context, coupled with the act of "prophesying", it makes the most sense to me to see this as another very solemn act that is so significant that it requires a headcovering for women. This is not just a woman praying silently during the worship service. This, I believe, is referring to a woman leading the congregation in prayer. She is speaking to God for His people. Whether prophesying or praying, when a woman is leading the congregation by praying to God or speaking for God she has to have her head covered for these solemn acts.

Now you may not agree with my specific interpretation or explanations about prophecy and prayer, and that's all right. But this is why we don't require women to wear headcoverings at our church simply for worship. If as a father or husband your conviction is that you wife or daughter should wear one at all times or for worship...fine. But this passage cannot be used to dogmatically teach anything beyond the specifically stated requirement of head coverings for women who pray or prophesy. This is the only thing one can be certain about. If one takes the headcovering requirement further it lacks a clear scriptural basis.