Any man who speaks with God or about God in a way that shows a lack of respect for the authority of Christ, dishonors Christ. In the same way, a wife who speaks with God in a way that shows a lack of respect for the authority of her husband, dishonors her husband. Worse, she dishonors herself—an ugly sight, like a woman with her head shaved. This is basically the origin of these customs we have of women wearing head coverings in worship.
1 Corinthians 11:4-6 The Message
I just love how Eugene channels Paul right into the 21 century, and beyond. Would have been just easier to skip this segment of scripture at our Called Aside Women's Bible Study, but no! With our usual faith that Christ actually is among us and wants us to understand, we plowed on, rewarded by insight by all who came.
Christ loves us. He died so we could be free, saved, filled with the Spirit, prepared for every good work, and now, what? Shall we say we need to cover our heads and be silent? Not contribute our gifts? Not minister to the Body in need, to a lost world in need, because simply we are women?
Nope, not at all. But we do need to be redirected somewhat. Not rejected. Never rejected. Just redirected.
There is this issue of designated authority and submission at hand.
To promote unity, God created a hierarchy. But it is submissions among equals. We are one, in Christ, as Paul points out in Galatians 3:28. We can choose to submit.
Or not.
But, as Eugene so deftly puts it, a woman who does not submit, but instead lords it over her husband, dishonors her husband. When she shows disrespect for him or talks badly about him, she is an ugly sight, like a woman with her head shaved.
Beloved, You have blessed me with a wonderful husband in Al. Certainly there are women with real issues in their marriages, that need to be taken to a place of prayer and healing.
But it is for my blessing to honor my husband!! It makes for joy and peace and unity! It is for Your glory to honor him!
Let me choose to do so with joy and confidence in You!
