Studying 1 Corinthians 11

Check the following blog articles:
Head Coverings through the ages, "from LIFE, Learning In a Family Environment". She posts the updated article on the history of head covering from Scroll Publishing. I haven't seen this one in a while, and it seems there have been several photo updates.

Speaking Against Myself, from "Driven to Wonder". She posts her thoughts as an "egalitarian" (one who sees no difference in men's and women's roles in the church family) who is studying in a seminary, but has some interesting tempering thoughts concerning submission to one another.


As always, I post merely to share others' thoughts on these things while they are studying, and posting here does not necessarily mean that I agree with or disagree with what is written. I don't wish that any merely take my word for it: Please be noble like the Bereans, and study for yourselves whether things are so. And be encouraged - you are not alone.

What if a head covering hurts?

Very interesting thoughts, experiences, and a variety of comments on the blog at: "Memoir of a Jewminicana": "Head Case: Update on My Head Covering Woes". The author writes of several styles of head covering (photos included), and how they can affect her personally, since she has much curly hair and is sensitive. The author is writing from the background of Jewish head covering, but because the focus is on what is worn, perhaps others can identify in some ways.

Men in Hats Worshiping God

A blogger posted a problem that has arisen in his church group, regarding the wearing of a head covering by a man during worship service. Found in "Brian Davis' Blog", Saturday, March 21, 2009: "On Guys Wearing Hats in Worship." He begins by explaining the situation:

Recently, I have had several people comment on one of our musicians wearing a hat in worship. Just so you know the context, The Vine is the name of the worship service and it is a contemporary worship service. The guy wearing a hat is not wearing a ball cap or a cowboy hat. It is one of those nice dress hats. He is a very eccentric person, but I believe him to be very committed to Jesus. In fact, he is so committed to our worship service that he has made other sacrifices just to play in the praise band. He is a very nice guy with a loving heart. I am sure that he in no way wants to hurt anyone by wearing a hat. He believes he is expressing his personality on stage.

It seems the two opinions are a follows. (1) Guys should not wear hats in worship because it is disrespectful. (2) There is nothing in the bible that says wearing a hat is wrong, so it should not matter what other people think. If this person wants to wear a hat, they can.

In trying to figure out the best way to approach this issue in a way that helps both this musician and the those with the complaints, and most importantly gives honor to God, which is what I believe worship is all about. In order to get some grounding for how to approach this issue and I believe this must begin with the Bible.

He goes on to offer a short study using 1 Corinthians 11 and his interpretation of the passage and the context of traditions for worship in that letter. His conclusion:

1. I don't believe God really cares if we wear a hat in worship or not. It should be a non issue.
2. In the south especially, cultural norms say that men should not wear hats in worship.
3. Our musician is free to wear a hat if he wants to,
4. However, Paul's advice would be to follow cultural norms so that the least amount of people are offended and distracted in worship.
5. Worship is about God and his saving work in Jesus. Everything that is done in worship should honor God. When we take away from others honoring God, we should think and pray about making a change.

I think my next step as the pastor in the worship service would be to express these five things to our musician and let him think and pray about wearing the hat in worship. I would love comments about this blog and reflections.

To date, this author has not received further comments. What do you think?

A Personal Conviction

Found online:

A few emails I’ve received lately prompted this post.

Why cover your head?

I can’t speak to why others choose to cover their heads. For some, it’s a religious mandate (Muslims, some Jews, Amish, some Mennonite, others?). For some, it’s less a religious mandate and more of a personal conviction.

I’m not really going to debate the Biblical aspect here. In my opinion, women covering their head is not mandated by the Bible, but neither is it forbidden. I believe it’s a practice that is smiled upon by God when done for the correct purpose.

I CAN speak to why I have chosen to cover during various phases of my life.

for the whole post, see "Headcovering", March 19, 2009 by sarahtar at wordpress

cute hats that cover

12 Fave Hats - by LisaMe on Polyvore.com

I put these together at Polyvore.com in answer to a challenge.

Hair Coverings - Free Ad

I've just become aware of another website selling reasonably priced hair coverings including pre-tied bandanas, head scarves, hair accessories and other things. I'm pretty sure that this is a new site, as some of the categories don't show any products, but this could be another good site to bookmark. I'd post a picture, but all of their pictures are copyrighted. Check out The Hair Coverings Store.

Men in Church Hats

Back in June of 2008, I posted a short article here on the "Dominican Use of Capuce" - a head covering worn by clergy of Dominican following. I just received a response to that, which I wanted to share with all who may be interested. When you click to the links, have your German translator handy, and look for the collections of photos of various headgear, along with a page of links to other sources concerning religious head coverings:

Dieter Philippi said...

By coincidence I visited your blog and it was very interesting for me to browse thru.

The cappello romano, called Saturno is becoming more and more popular again.

I have a lot of them in my collection.

My new book Kopfbedeckungen in Religion, Glaube und Spiritualität will be published in May 2009. There can be found over 450 high-quality pictures of the headcoverings worn by the dignitaries of the different churches and religions.

I changed the original link from Dieter Philippi to the collection, because the link did not work for me.

What is so scary about head coverings?

It's not just people who are afraid of extreme Islam, or of Jews, or legalism, or ultra modesty, or even old fashioned values, who just Don't Get It and need to be educated about these head coverings. I have seen numerous news articles, blog entries, links to video or TV reports explaining the reasons WHY people put something on their head, yet still there are bans, rants, rules and long winded and costly discussions on whether or not head coverings should be allowed. Is it because petty thieves wear a hoodie or a hat that we are ALL listed as trying to hide something that might hurt someone else? Is it because Some men - who are also uneducated fools, by the way - mistreat women? Is it because a big bad guy somewhere wears something on his head that means therefore everyone who wears something on their head must be a big bad guy too, or at least support big bad guys? Is this some kind of undeveloped elementary school logic?

This story just made me shake my head in unbelief:

I can't believe my new employer asked me to get a doctors' note by monday to allow me to wear headscarves. This is unfortunate for the following reasons...

a) My doctor's office apparently closes at 4:30pm on Fridays and is closed all weekend, so they were closed when I phoned to inquire, and won't be open until after my monday morning training starts.
b) Do they ask for a certificate of verification for any religious person who wants to wear a head covering to work?
c) Does a wig count as a head covering, or is 'head coverings' just limited to fabric?

This author has Trichotillomania - a rarely understood disorder also referred to as compulsive hair pulling.

People wear head coverings for so many different reasons that our "melting pot" society really needs to get to know some of these other reasons, and stop the silliness. Listen to this lady's conclusion, regarding how she plans to respond:

On the release form when you apply, you give them permission to research your online identities... so if they found me on facebook or livejoural, they'd already be well educated on the subject! Oh well - I shall think of this request as less of a personal attack and more of a chance to educate someone about the disorder.

Good attitude! Please take the opportunity to educate, and to be educated. I thank you all who read through these articles, and I do hope that as you learn and grow, you will be able to help others to understand as well.

Story here from "jumpinglegacy" at livejournal

Headscarves in the US ... again

"Credit Union Apologizes to Woman Over Head Scarf"

"A Maryland woman says her credit union discriminated against her for telling her to use the back room because she was wearing a religious scarf."

By Matt Zapotosky
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 11, 2009

This story is just so similar to stories that I've reported/posted here before, I wasn't going to post about it. So this is just to keep everyone updated on how much/little we understand about head coverings in the US. Still.

Not that some places in Europe understand too much differently, I just haven't had the time to sort through news articles lately. Please forgive. Sometimes you can keep up to date on these things with the Google news feed in my right column.

Also note this editorial comment, in the Religion section of the same Wash. Post: "Note to Credit Union: A Hijab is Not a Hat".

Learning to Cover

New to head covering: Ashley Wies

"Why I want to wear a headcovering..."

"Wow. After weeks of praying, reading, and more praying I am fully convinced that God is calling me to cover my head. Writing those words, making the statement fills me with joy I cannot even describe. I'm not exaggerating. You know that feeling you have when you are standing before your spouse, about to get married? Or about to have your first kiss? Or waiting for your newborn to finally arrive?

"That's how I feel right now. A mix of nervous and joyful energy swirling around me. I don't know if I can fully explain this feeling.

"This isn't an easy decision for me. It really is like a marriage. There are a lot of emotions involved in this decision, but also a lot of intellectual and spiritual tugs. I couldn't possible get into every little (and big) thing in this post, I just don't have the time right now (would be like a ten page post). But this is an important decision in my life, and I am not jumping into it for the sake of jumping into it."

Please read the rest of this lovely testimony of faith in obedience at the author's blog, linked in the title above.

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Also, for those of you studying on the various aspects of Christian headcovering and how it relates to the Jewish tradition and command, you may be interested in "Grace In Bloom"'s post of March 6, 2009: "Article Regarding Headcoverings"

Headscarves and Driver's Licences, and a Note from Me

"Dispute over hijabs on driver's licenses resolved"
March 6, 2009

A controversy over head scarves on Minnesota driver's license photos may have come to and end at the State Capitol, now that an exception has been carved out for religious head coverings.

Representative Steve Gottwalt, a Saint Cloud Republican, created a stir in Muslim communities with a bill that would mandate driver's license photos display the "full head and face" of the driver.

It was an effort, endorsed by the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, to rid such pictures of head gear that would obscure a person's identifying features. The group contends it's difficult to verify the true identity of people they encounter if their heads are partially hidden on those official photos.

The legislation immediately raised the spectre that the head scarves worn by Muslim women, known as hijabs, wouldn't be allowed on driver's license photos. They consider removing those scarves in public contrary to their faith, and a violation of their freedom of religion.

"The bill as written smacked of discrimination," area Muslim commentator Khalid Elmasry told KARE, "It allowed an exception for people who have medical reasons to cover their heads but not for those with religious reasons."

As he put it, "Is someone who covers their hair for religious reasons somehow a greater security risk than someone who covers it for medical reasons? I don't think so."

More of this story at "kare11.com" Twin Cities, MN (linked title above), and at CAIR news.

For more on the similar head covering bill in Oklahoma, see Tulsa World's article: "Anti-scarf bill draws concern" and the concern to Sikh men.

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Don't leave Canada out of this. A similar problem with head coverings in license photos occured in BC: "Muslim man told to remove religious head covering; ICBC cites misunderstanding". Story by Sheila Reynolds - Surrey North Delta Leader

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I, LisaM of ThoseHeadcoverings, am not Muslim nor Sikh, and I don't intend to preach that everyone is acceptable in God's eyes. Nor am I a "politically-correct" advocate. I myself believe in many things that are not mainstream American but are conservatively Christian, following the words of the Bible, the words of Christ; and I sympathize with these women and men who are ostracized, criticized and told what their attitudes and agendas "are", despite the fact that many of them are just trying to be what they believe God has asked them to be. People, and even other followers of Christ, have misjudged me and others like me too. I desire that all who are called to be different from the world be encouraged to continue on their walk of faith, continually learning and growing in their faith, which often means submitting to God and to others more and more, and less to their own likes, comforts, reasoning and tradition.

For the record, this story concerning headcovering in id photos does not closely concern Christian women, for even those who cover "24-7" can uncover their hair and not be "immodestly attired" as orthodox Muslim and Jewish women believe they would be - the Christian headcovering, though modest, is for praying and prophesying. But this is one of those areas of life where head coverings are misunderstood, and we can get "lumped into" the idea of head coverings as a mere "religious requirement" and a man-made oppression or political law.

Those who do not discern things spiritually see physical symbols like head coverings as oppressive, demeaning, or man-made and thus not spiritual. Instead of accepting the difference in opinion and behaviour, they often see this as a threat: is it because they think that since I believe that this physical symbol is good, then I am going to force them to do it too, even though they do not understand it? I can understand that fear, because it has been done before, in every religion. If the people of a nation so fear another religion, is it because they have no faith in their own religion? Perhaps that is the "secret" of true faith, which is spiritual. Even those who outwardly appear spiritual because they follow the same religious requirements, may not truly have faith in a Spirit, but in a list of religious actions. But there are those who are spiritual, who are led into or out of their previous merely religious behaviour into spiritual behaviour (which looks very similar), because they are led by the Spirit, and by spiritual examples. And I personally believe in the words that "those who seek, find."

If you are led to do something physical like put on a headcovering - a thing so small but so outwardly visible and so criticized in all religious and non-religious circles -, and by faith - and not mere rationalization or fear or pride or "religious requirement" (which may indeed have been your first reason) - you do it, then I think you are one step further along in your path of true spiritual faith. And I say, keep on walking.

Please write to me and let me know what you think about this or any other thing. - LisaM

Looking for headcoverings?

I just received this letter in the email, and want to pass the information on to my readers...

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Lisa,

I have found your blog and thought I would let you know that I also offer the lace mantilla type headcoverings through Etsy. Here's the link:

www.headcoverings.etsy.com

I would appreciate becoming one of your many providers listed. Thanks for your broad treatment of the subject. I'm sure many are finding their particular style via your blog.

God bless,
Angie

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Also please check this article by "Country Mom - Something to Share", regarding the etsy shop by HappyHomestead. I've a feeling there are more etsy headcovering shops out there...

"Greek and Headcoverings"

It seems that people of a great Book do have a tendency to dispute over what the words mean, or meant in their original context. These things are spiritually discerned, of course, but many wise and knowledgeable people have come to different understandings about the Word. Consider the numerous writings of teachers of the different "faiths" throughout the centuries. The apostle Paul wrote:

"If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome
words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine
which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is
obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come
envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men
of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that
godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself"
(1 Timothy 6:3-5).

I do not mean to stir up strife and disputes over words with this little blog, but I know that disputes happen. If you are interested in studying words concerning 1 Corinthians 11, please check out the apparently ongoing discussion at the Puritan Board: Greek and Head Coverings.

I would advise any who are searching the words of God to pray for His guidance to understanding.

Hijabi Blogging

"Global: Hijablogging In Vogue"
Sunday, March 1st, 2009
by Jillian York
A short review of the various bloggers who write about dressing hijabi modest, beginning:

Hijablogging: Just another global trend taking the blogosphere by storm. All around the world, women who opt to wear hijab (the Islamic head covering) are also opting to blog about their experiences, as well as veiled fashion, lifestyle, experience, and the political and religious issues surrounding it.

Also check my side bar, on the lower right, to find links to some of these modest dressing hijabi ladies' blogs. There are more than just these, as you can find in their own sidebars.

It would be neat to see more modest fashion blogs from all backgrounds, wouldn't it?