One of the major controversial discussion about religious practice is the issue on whether it is right or wrong for a woman to cover her hair to church or not.
These beliefs are premised on 1 Corinthians 11: 3-16, Apostle Paul's message to the Corinthians on propriety of worship.1 Corinthians is an epistle written because the Corinth Church was facing issues on spiritual freedom, sexual sin, lawsuits between believers, disorderly worship and spiritual immaturity.
The issue of Head covering arose due to the necessity to define the sequential relationship that exist between woman, man, Christ and God for orderly worship. Also,to sort out their faith from the social practices like the disgraceful conduct of the Corinthian women of cropping their hair and braiding their hair up and adorning it with gold which was the custom and culture of powerful women to dress as though higher than others (men).
1Cor 11:3, established the sequential relationship and the verses that followed extensively related the importance of 'head covering'. The most important question to ask is, 'What is head covering?'.
The only place Apostle Paul mentioned a type of covering is 1 Cor 11:15, "but if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her as a covering". In the vocabulary of the Old Testament to uncover the head is to shave the hair, when Nadab and Habihu sinned (Lev 10:1), Moses commanded Aaron not to 'uncover his head' in mourning at their death, and this meant not to cut off his hair (the customary sign of mourning). For example, Job shaved his head when he heard about his children's death (Job 1: 20). Therefore, the covering of a woman is her hair.
Head covering is related to angels (1 Cor 11:10) because the woman who prophesies must have a covering (hair) because she receives revelation from God through angels (Rev 1:1) and has her prayers delivered by angels (Rev 8:3-4). Therefore she must serve with respect and modesty. The woman is subordinating to the man through her modesty and covering.These is how the christian woman honors the headship of God, Christ and Man.
In conclusion, the essence of this topic is to remind christian women that it glorifies God for us to be submissive and to respect our men through our looks. It is no crime to look good, but be modest in looking good.Let every thing be done for the glorification of God. (1 Pet 3:1-6). Let us not be like the mad christian who work so hard to look holy on the outside but full of venom on the inside. Men look at the outward appearance but the most important to God is the content (1 Samuel 16:7).
Stay blessed.
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