REGARDING THE COVERING OF A WOMAN’S HEAD
Sakkie Parsons
Translated from Afrikaans: “Oor Die Vrou se Hoofbedekking”
Right at the beginning of this writing, I want to mention again that the Lord laid it on my heart never to write what I think people want to hear, but always to write honestly what I believe according to the Bible – the Word of GOD.
So it happens that I am often strongly criticized and sometimes—fortunately not often—also harshly insulted.
Very well.
Someone asked me for my opinion about what my great hero Paul says about a woman’s head covering.
Here then is how I see this matter.
Let me start by stating very clearly:
I am not saved and going to Heaven because I carefully observe this or that.
I am saved and going to Heaven because I responded and took hold of the grace our Lord, in His great love, offered to me.
Yes, I am saved because I accepted Jesus Christ as my Redeemer and Savior.
Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God;
Ephesians 2:9 not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation].
I want to begin by saying this: Since 1973, when I came to repentance, I have discovered and experienced in my life that the closer I live to what is written in the Word, the better my relationship is with our Lord, and the more and better He could use me to the glory and honor of His Name.
I have also experienced that the more the church—or certain denominations—have yielded to the world under the pretense of: “Times have changed. We no longer live in those times,” the weaker their testimony has become.
And as with committing a crime—once you’ve given in to the temptation, in this case to accommodate people despite what is written in the Word—it only gets worse. Eventually, you arrive at the point, as we have seen in a certain denomination, where they decided to investigate whether cohabitation under certain circumstances is permissible.
No, I do not know if their investigation has been concluded or what their findings are—if there are any. In other words, it seems to me they are wondering whether sex outside of marriage might be allowed.
As for myself, I look at the Word this way—
We read:
Galatians 4:4 But when [in God’s plan] the proper time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,
Galatians 4:5 so that He might redeem and liberate those who were under the Law, that we [who believe] might be adopted as sons [as God’s children with all rights fully granted to them].
To me, the Word says here: When the time was exactly right, when everything was precisely in place, when all things were perfectly aligned for the proclamation of the Gospel—then God sent His Son.
I will share with you a few examples to explain what I mean:
First came Alexander (the Great), who conquered the entire world as it was then known and left the Greek alphabet everywhere. The entire civilized world, as people then understood it, could read and write—if they wanted to.
After Alexander, a small village developed into a powerful city, and the Romans—with their capital city Rome—conquered the entire civilized and semi-civilized world. They built excellent roads, but not only did they give people good roads, they also brought their culture, part of which was execution by crucifixion.
Now you have the Greek alphabet, Roman roads, and a crucifixion culture, combined with the Jewish culture and all its customs—and there you have it!
I understand what I read, when I read:
Galatians 4:4 But when [in God’s plan] the proper time had fully come, God sent His Son…
If our Lord uses something from the culture of that time, when the fullness of time had come, and tells me in His Word that I should live accordingly, then I say:
“Praise the Lord!”
Then I try, to the best of my ability, to live that way.
Speaking of cultures.
A culture has now emerged in the church—or rather, in many denominations within the church—that promotes something like this:
“Times have changed. Back then, when the fullness of time had come, they did things a certain way, but we don’t need to do that anymore—even if it is written in the Word that we must—because we live in a different time, and times have changed.”
In this regard, I want to begin by quoting the following from the Word:
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage];
2 Timothy 3:17 so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Romans 15:4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope and overflow with confidence in His promises.
Romans 15:5 Now may the God who gives endurance and who supplies encouragement grant that you be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,
Romans 15:6 so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify and praise and honor the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Listen, my friend—both sister and brother:
Hebrews 13:7 Remember your leaders [for it was they] who brought you the word of God; consider the result of their conduct [the outcome of their godly lives], and imitate their faith [their conviction that God exists and is the Creator and Ruler of all things, the Provider of eternal salvation through Christ].
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is [eternally changeless, always] the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:9 Do not be carried away by diverse and strange teachings;…
This Jesus, who never changes, who came when the time was in every respect exactly right—yes, when all the cultures were just right to teach us everything we need to know and do regarding the Gospel—from the crucifixion culture to the culture that Paul, using the Greek alphabet, wrote about.
Among other things, this Paul—to whom our Lord entrusted the greatest portion of His instructions to His followers—writes the following:
He makes a statement that many women, to put it mildly, do not believe in. And which many pastors and denominations, who once proclaimed it, no longer believe in either. Because:
“Yes, I know it’s written in the Word, but times have changed—we live in a different era now.”
Paul begins (1 Corinthians 11) with something many people today would have been glad if the Lord had not let him write the first part—but even though our Lord let Paul write it, many people no longer believe it applies to them today.
1 Corinthians 11:1 Imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.
Then—regarding people today, who supposedly live “in times where this no longer applies”—he drops this bombshell:
1 Corinthians 11:5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered disgraces her head…
Remember, Paul—the man to whom our Lord entrusted the greatest portion of the New Testament and who began 1 Corinthians 11 this way: “Imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.”
Paul then makes it very clear how he is a follower of Christ, against the background of the culture of his time (when the fullness of time had come).
What you are about to read, you must read while remembering that of this Christ, whom Paul followed, it is written:
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is [eternally changeless, always] the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:9 Do not be carried away by diverse and strange teachings;…
Just a little further, after Paul (as far as modern man is concerned) drops the 1 Corinthians 11:5 bombshell, he says:
1 Corinthians 11:10 Therefore the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head, for the sake of the angels.
Do you see?
Why must the woman’s head be covered?
1 Corinthians 11:10 Therefore the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head, for the sake of the angels.
So, I just ask everyone, but especially those who once lived this out but, in the meantime, received a “times have changed” revelation:
Have the angels changed since Jesus’ crucifixion?
Has Jesus changed since His ascension?
Has anything in Heaven changed since the fullness of time came?
I do not know why the Word says “for the sake of the angels,” but the Word tells me:
1 COR 11:10 Therefore the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head, for the sake of the angels.
And to me, that is good enough, that the Word says so. As far as I know, neither my Jesus nor anything in Heaven—including the angels—has changed.
There are two theories I know of as to why a woman’s head must be covered for the sake of the angels. But since there is no clear testimony in the Word saying that this is the reason, and because this writing is already quite long, I won’t even mention them.
In my opinion, the church has caused great harm to its testimony over the years with its theology of:
“Times have changed. They did things a certain way back then, but we now do things differently because times have changed.”
What legitimate defense does people have—who take this or that out of the Word because “times have changed”—if I, for example, would proclaim:
It is written:
Hebrews 10:25 not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another…
Times have changed. Today we are much busier than people back then, but now we have internet, radio, TV, and cell phones.
For example, I pay money into charity accounts over the phone and have never even been near them. I encourage people in Iran, China, Austria, and America—just to name a few countries because of how far apart they are. I preach more than once a week around the whole world. I give advice and pray with people in many, many countries.
People receive the Gospel of Jesus from me and from many, many others in their offices on a daily basis. So, you can sleep in a little on Sunday and take the day to rest to be ready for the busy week ahead? After all, you are going to receive the Gospel daily—and what’s more, by forwarding it, you have far more opportunity to evangelize than by just sitting in church on Sunday. So, you no longer need to attend meetings. Because you see:
“Times have changed. We now live in a different time.”
To my readers, I want to make this very clear: That is not what I proclaim.
How do I ultimately view all these things?
The closer I live to the Word, the better my relationship with our Lord is, and the more clearly, I hear His voice.
So, woman, I am not proclaiming that you will go to hell because you do not wear a head covering during the worship service.
So, man, I am not proclaiming that you will go to hell if you wear a “Stetson” on your head in church or behind the pulpit.
In this regard, I say—as my great hero Paul says about our relationship and walk with Jesus:
1 Corinthians 3:11–15
11 For no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, (That cannot burn because of fire) silver, (That cannot burn because of fire) precious stones, (That cannot burn because of fire) wood, (That can burn because of fire) hay, (That can burn because of fire) straw, (That can burn because of fire)
13 each one’s work will be clearly shown [for what it is]; for the day [of judgment] will disclose it, because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality and character and worth of each person’s work.
14 If any person’s work which he has built [on this foundation—that is, any outcome of his effort] remains and survives [this test], he will receive a reward.
15 But if any person’s work is burned up [by the test], he will suffer loss; yet he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has barely escaped] through fire.
As for myself:
If the Word uses something from the culture that was in place when “the fullness of time” came, to show me what our Lord expects of me—
Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].
—Then I do and proclaim it, even if I don’t always understand why many people’s crosses are what they are.
If the Word uses something from the culture that was in place when the fullness of time came, to show me what our Lord expects of me—
1 Corinthians 11:7 For a man ought not to have his head covered [during worship], since he is the image and glory of God…
—Then I do it, even if I don’t always understand the logic behind it. Especially when I sometimes look at myself and my own life.
As I said before, I say again:
The people whom our Lord used to establish the New Testament were the instruments in His hand—or if you prefer, the pens with which He wrote.
Anyone who claims: “Times have changed. We don’t do things the way they were done when the fullness of time came,” in my opinion places a limit on the omnipotence and omniscience of our Lord. And to me, that is just another way in which our Lord is blasphemed in these ‘changed times.’
In conclusion, just this –
Go think about this a bit:
Why this strange phenomenon?
Why are there women who have no problem wearing a head covering anywhere else—except, please, just not in a place where people worship our Lord together?
Greetings,
Sakkie