There is a lot to read on this website, so to make it easier we've made this page with our four main reasons why Christian men and women should adopt head covering. The reasons are headed:
Nature and
plus a section about Childbirth on the side :).
But first, a quick note about terminology.
When I say, "head covering", I mean the tradition in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 that includes men uncovering their heads as well as women covering. Most people use "head covering" that way, possibly because in the passage and in the Western church it is the women's covering that receives the most attention - and the most rejection.
Here are the four reasons.
Christians should follow the head covering tradition because it honours Christ's headship of every man, and all mankind.
But I want you to realise that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
When we fail to follow the head covering tradition, we dishonour Christ, i.e. men who cover while praying or prophesying dishonour Christ and women who do not cover while praying or prophesying dishonour man, and ultimately the man Christ.
Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonours his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonours her head...
Christians should follow the head covering tradition because it displays God's purposes for man and woman in Creation.
God created man to front the human family as representative rulers of the earth, i.e. to be the image and glory of God. He created woman to help and back man in this task, i.e. to be the glory of man.
A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.
Christ has not changed this basic foundation. He has restored it.
Christians should follow the head covering tradition because nature confirms it.
It is clear from nature that covering is part of being a woman. Having long hair is a woman's glory - it is womanly - because they physically have something to cover. When a woman covers her head while praying or prophesying she continues this womanly distinction and reflects the behind-the-scenes part woman plays in the human family.
In the same way, a man's short hair is characteristic of masculinity and the requirement to uncover when praying and prophesying.
Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering.
Christians should follow the head covering tradition because the Church always has.
Not every church everywhere, the worldwide Church in general, today and throughout Church history.
Of course, there have always been people who disagree and who did not practice this tradition, but 1 Corinthians 11:16 is pretty clear:
If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice - nor do the churches of God.
Head covering emphasises the differences between men and women, but the passage that teaches the tradition also includes an important aside: man and woman are interdependent.
Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.
Neither man nor woman could fulfil the mission given to humanity without each other.
Your turn...
This is where you come in. As you read this website,
Search the Bible
Pray
Obey every command Jesus gave the apostles (Matthew 28:20)
And may God bless you as you seek to please him.