Make a Decision - But Base it on Scripture - 1 Corinthians 11

Make a Decision - But Base it on Scripture

1 Corinthians 11:13 (ESV)
13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered?

Apparently, in the early church, there was a dispute about a man and a woman’s hair and the covering of their head, while in a church gatherings.   We have to realize, at first, the “church” did not meet like we meet today.   They meet in homes and in smaller groups.  They did not have buildings like we have today.   We are not exactly certain about the problem Paul is addressing.  That makes the interpretation of this section of Scripture.    

Isn't Paul telling right here to make the "judgement for yourself?"   He is not making it mandatory, whatever he is saying in the proceeding passages.  What we do know is the following:

1. Something was happening with dress in the early church that became disruptive to the church and to the pure worship of Christ.   Paul wants to correct that.  

2. Paul, in verses 2-12 gives us arguments to understand that, in his eyes and, more importantly, in God’s eyes, men and women are distinctively different and but mutually the same and co-equal before God. 

3. Paul azures from a theological argument, a natural argument, and philosophical argument that the truth of #2 should be considered when making the decision about dress and entire and appearance.  

4. When it comes down to making the decision, Paul is allowing the church to “judge for yourself.”   Although he begins by commending them for following his teachings  (vs. 2), he allows them to make the decision they need to make for their body of believers.   

However, Paul uses three compelling arguments to state his case that women, in the church, have different roles and thereby should be dressed appropriately to reflect those roles.  His arguments are:

1. God created a hierarchy:  1 Corinthians 11:3 (ESV) 3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.

2. God’s order of creation: 1 Corinthians 11:7-9 (ESV) 7 For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. 9 Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.

3. God’s way of procreation:  1 Corinthians 11:11-12 (ESV). 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; 12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.

Paul does not get into social norms, unless we understand this verse to be speaking about how men dressed and groomed in those days:

1 Corinthians 11:14-15 (ESV)
14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering.

Paul is first and foremost driven by arguments from Scripture and sound doctrine.   He wants them to make their own decision about this.  But, he wants them to follow strong, Biblical doctrine and teaching.   We are free to make decisions in our church about the “grey” areas of life.  But, we are not free to use our own logic to do so.  We are bond by the principles of Scripture.  Decide what we want, but don’t violate Scripture in the process.