This post is to and for my sisters in The Lord...

To be honest part of me would much rather not post this. I am sharing this because I feel like The Lord would have me to share it.

As one who the Spirit has led to wear a headcovering during church meetings, prayer, and often other times as well, and without ANY condemnation toward those who do not cover, I would like to submit a few verses and thoughts for your consideration in love.

But especially to those of my younger sisters who The Spirit is drawing to obey this teaching from the New Testament scriptures, I would now speak from the heart...

Firstly, many (most?) well meaning modern believers will tell you that this New Testament ordinance was merely cultural or that your hair itself is the only covering being spoken of in this passage. They are very right in saying that it is not a salvation issue, but there is a 'faith once delivered unto the saints'...and headcovering with some sort of physical covering, most especially during worship and prayer, has been part of the outward expression of that faith for almost 2,000 years.

For almost 2,000 years homosexuality was known to be is a sin that will keep you from inheriting the Kingdom of God...now it is widely being accepted IN MANY CHURCHES.

For the better part of 2,000 years for a Christian to divorce and then remarry another person was considered adultery, now it is accepted among true believers without thinking twice.

I bring these things to mind only as a reference point for my younger sisters who find yourselves growing up in these last days: In regard to the practice of headcoverings or any other New Testament teaching, you must prepare to be a fool for Christ's sake--not just before unbelievers--but a fool before your fellow blood bought brothers and sisters who will often see you as ridiculous, outdated and legalistic. (If in your heart you feel you are better than them because you cover your head, then the enemy will rejoice --for he would like you to join him in the condemnation that is a result of pride.)

But if in your heart of hearts you know that you know that you know that the Lord Himself has placed a pure and fervent desire to be wholly consecrated to Him before men and angels, I want to encourage you to be willing to set aside even the well meaning opinions of men in order to obey God. [Edit: for clarification, I want to encourage you to obey the word of God, even if you do not fully understand the purpose of a particular New Testament teaching.] If The Lord has given you light in this or any area that others perhaps do not have light on yet, may your love for them utterly eclipse the differences you may have with them in doctrine. [edit] If I cover my head and obey every outward instruction given in the New Testament, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Lastly, we do walk in the midst of an unseen world, surrounded by angels both good and evil, engaged in warfare against an unseen foe and all his hosts. I submit that the Church of Jesus Christ has not cast off the teaching on headcoverings because of new light but because the darkness of the world and its prince are increasigly creeping into the church. May we stand fast, and having done all, stand amidst the even greater falling away that is still to come.

"...we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men............the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head because of the angels." (1 Corinthians 4:9-10, 11:10)

May The Lord give us increasing understanding...but above all may He pour through us that love by which all men will know that we are His disciples.

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SI Moderator - Brandy Gordon

Can you share what kind of head covering you wear? Honest question.

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Todd

brandy

i appreciate your post but would sincerely like to ask you as one who does not cover but dearly loves my Lord could you fellowship with me? would you be able to look past the fact that I have shoulder length hair, wear loose fitting jeans(modest ones), and do not cover my head and still fellowship with me?? I love the Lord with all my heart, just as you do and sister if the two of us find ourselves together in these last days standing arm in arm against the darkness in this world I would pray with you, I would willingly fellowship with you and have no issue doing so.

thank you for your consideration
rdg

Brother,

As for church meetings and private prayer times I mostly use a scarf/ shawl that I already have around my neck. If you've ever seen the way our sisters in India often wear a headcovering, that is how I most often wear one.

RDG,

I most certainly would have fellowship with you -- and would consider it an honor and blessing! To put your mind at ease please know that of the sisters I am closest friends with and cherish deeply, some wear jeans, some wear dresses, some wear headcoverings all the time, and some do not wear them at all. :)

God bless you sweet sister!

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SI Moderator - Brandy Gordon

Thanks brandy!

Would it be appropriate for a young girl to pull a hood up- like on a hooded sweatshirt?

I remember back when I was a kid in the early 70s when I attended my grandmas Brethren church in Indiana that a lot of the ladies wore hats, generally some variation of the pillbox hat. I don't think my grandma wore one every Sunday. I got the impression that hats were worn more to look dressy or as a fashion accessory as opposed to being a sign of submission. To be honest though, I never actually asked her why she wore it.

It definitely would have been easier for a woman to cover in prior decades when hats on ladies were fashionable. I just watched an episode of Leave it to Beaver and the mom wore a hat when going to a meeting at the school.

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Todd

RDG,

I most certainly would have fellowship with you -- and would consider it an honor and blessing! To put your mind at ease please know that of the sisters I am closest friends with and cherish deeply, some wear jeans, some wear dresses, some wear headcoverings all the time, and some do not wear them at all. :)

God bless you sweet sister!
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thank you for responding appreciate that. i know of some who feel convicted to wear only dresses, wear no makeup or jewelry, who cover their heads, and do not cut their hair. some will only fellowship with those who are the exact same mind set as they are and i have no ill feelings towards them. others are willing to look at the fruit and heart of a person and fellowship can and does happen. i appreciate those who allow me to walk in the convictions the Lord has placed on my heart and do not judge me as rebellious or dis honoring my husband.

where two or more are gathered and Jesus is head, love can work in each persons life according to His good and perfect will i believe. submission begins in the heart in all matters and because of who He is in us a natural outpouring and desire to submit and obey happens as we grow in Him. i have learned its best to step back and allow the Lord to work in another persons life. sometimes when an issue is forced or pushed the work He wants done is actually hindered.

rdg

Brandy,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on head coverings. After being saved in 1988 I was filled with the Holy Spirit in 1997. The Lord then led me to a like minded fellowship.

The women there all did wear head coverings. It was never commanded by the men or leadership or a rule. I attend a different church today made up primarily of people from India and all the women also cover their heads. When new women come they do not cover their heads but if they continue to come and the Lord adds them to the church, they eventually cover their heads.

Again, it is not commanded or a rule. I suspect that the women who have their own meetings most likely discuss the topic and I believe that the women who do it are definitely doing it from the heart as a sign of submission to God and not man.

In my old fellowship husbands NEVER demanded that their wives wear head coverings.

Likewise, a woman should not DEMAND that her husband love her like Christ loves the church and gave Himself for it. But if he is obedient to God and he does love his wife that way he also is doing it from the heart.

As a man, I know women who wear head coverings and women who do not who both love God. The thought NEVER, EVER, EVER, crosses my mind as to which of the two are more spiritual.

When I am in a mens fellowship or breakfast or prayer meeting and there are men who come wearings hats such as baseball caps. When we pray, these men remove their caps.

I do not question why they remove their caps but I believe it is a sign of submission and honor to God.

Thanks for posting a separate thread on this topic as I wanted to share my experience with this issue without getting involved in debating the subject.

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David Fella

I have one question.

Verse 15 says "but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering.".

This headcovering, it could be that it is her long hair that covers, at least that's what this verse shows, right? How do you read/explain this verse, dear sister?

(I am not looking for a discussion, but to honestly know how people that are for headcovering explains this verse and to study it better together with my wife)

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Wijnand de Ridder

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Sreeram

Good morning everyone,

Have not forgotten about this thread....hope to reply during the children's nap time today. :)

Thank you for your patience.

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SI Moderator - Brandy Gordon