Glory and Coverings: A Study of 1 Corinthians 11:1-16

It brought tears to my eyes when I finally realized that I had unwittingly been teaching contrary to Paul’s mandates in 1 Corinthians 11:1-16. It struck me like a ton of bricks that I had been honoring what Paul calls a “dishonor” (vv. 4,5,14) and had been quite comfortable with a practice which Paul calls “shameful” (v. 6). We must tremble when we approach God’s awesome Word remembering Scripture’s warning: “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment” (James 3:1). I had not realized the degree to which my feminist culture had affected me, or the degree to which the fear of man had influenced my interpretation until a faithful brother persevered in showing me some blind spots that I had. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful” (Prov. 27:6).