Page 5 - The Standard Volume 2

“So if women are thus permitted to have their heads uncovered and to show their hair, they will eventually be allowed to expose their entire breasts, and they will come to make their exhibitions as if it were a tavern show; they will become so brazen that modesty and shame will be no more; in short they will forget the duty of nature...Further, we know that the world takes everything to its own advantage. So, if one has liberty in lesser things, why not do the same with this the same way as with that? And in making such comparisons they will make such a mess that there will be utter chaos. So, when it is permissible for the women to uncover their heads, one will say, ‘Well, what harm in uncovering the stomach also?’ And then after that one will plead for something else; ‘Now if the women go bareheaded, why not also bare this and bare that?’ Then the men, for their part, will break loose too. In short, there will be no decency left, unless people contain themselves and respect what is proper and fitting, so as not to go headlong overboard.” (Source: Calvin, Sermon on 1 Cor. 11:2-3 in Men, Women and Order in the Church, trans Seth Skolnitsky, Presbyterian Heritage Publications, pp. 12-13)
Yet, Western Calvinists will deny that a head covering is necessary but at the same time say that John Calvin was, “One of the greatest theologians that ever lived.”
IS VEILING STILL RELEVANT?
Let’s read what the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth as recorded in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16:
“2Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you. 3But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ. 4Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying disgraces his head. 5But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying disgraces her head, for she is one and the same as the woman whose head is shaved. 6For if a woman does not cover her head, let her also have her hair cut off; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, let her cover her head. 7For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. 8For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; 9for indeed man was not created for the woman’s sake, but woman for the man’s sake. 10Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11However, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12For as the woman originates from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman; and all things originate from God. 13Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14Does not even nature itself teach you
that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, 15but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16But if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice,
nor have the churches of God."
What is written in 1 Corinthians 11 is not an ancient passage only to be observed in an ancient time period. It is the Word of God, a clear commandment as pertaining to how men and women should present themselves in worship (before God). A commandment is a rule or an authoritative order and in this sense, the Apostle Paul was teaching the Church at Corinth— which he established—something which must be observed and that it was being observed by all other Christian churches.
Although there are New Testament books named after cities in which Christian churches were established such as Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colosse, and Thessalonica, remember that most of these were established under the Apostleship of one leader—Paul. We find in the book of Revelation (as well as Acts), churches established by other Apostles and Evangelists in Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Yet all of them were united in the faith and practice of worship. Apostles did not have individual doctrines which were not observed in all of the churches.
In 1 Corinthians 11:2, the Apostle Paul says he delivered unto them decisions which the whole church agreed with. Pointedly, the Apostles would often write letters giving instructions on points of faith and worship. Here's an example in Acts 15:30-31 where the Apostles and Elders came together to decide how to deal with Gentile converts where some wanted them to be circumcised. After deciding by the Spirit what to do, they sent a letter to be given unto all of the Churches:
“30So when they were sent away, they went down to Antioch; and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31When they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement”.
Therefore, let us reverently look at the teachings of the Apostle Paul, not as self-made instructions isolated from what the other Apostles taught, but as a doctrine on which the WHOLE
January 2020 | THE STANDARD 5