Sometimes people are just "contentious" - 1 Corinthians 11

It is amazing what gets some people worked up. In our modern day church the style of music and/or worship cause different reactions. In some churches if you show up in jeans you could be ridiculed. In others if you show up in a suit you would be "out of place." We have such a variety of complex ways to value or undervalue behavior. The church in Corinth was not unlike our churches today. Their cause for "divisions" was well known. Paul addresses them by calling out some of the areas they "disagreed" over. In chapter eleven Paul address the "wearing of hats" by men and women. Think about this: In an epistle of the New Testament the greatest theologian known to man is discussing whether a women or a man should wear a hat in worship! There are plenty of principles to work through in this difficulty, however. Like all conflicts in life, Paul sees this as a chance to teach truth (we should see the value for teaching in all conflicts in the same manner). Paul uses the Godhead argument and the role of men and women explanation to work through the hat/no-hat conflict. However, after all the great truth taught and digested, Paul ends his argument at verse sixteen with this statement: But if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God. Paul, after unfolding doctrinal truth like a surgeon, comes to one simple and plain conclusion: Some people will simply be inclined to be contentious! Paul, lets the church see the truth to be learned in the discussion but then must, like us all, realize, some people, because of sin, will simply want to be contentious. Simply put, Paul says, "Here is my answer. If you don't like it the church in general has no other teaching. If you are going to be contentious over this issue you are going to be contentious!" Let's make sure we all understand that in conflict there is truth to be heard and taught. But, when truth is taught it doesn't mean that contention will end. Some people are just contentious.