God's Glory–In Worship
Opening Prayer
God of glory, I desire to honor You in all that I do. Teach me, Lord.
Read 1 CORINTHIANS 11:2-16
[2] I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you. [3] But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. [4] Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. [5] But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head-it is the same as having her head shaved. [6] For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head. [7] 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 did not come from woman, but woman from man; [9] neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. [10] It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels. [11] Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. [12] For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. [13] Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? [14] Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, [15] but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. [16] If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice-nor do the churches of God. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How does this translate in modern culture?Paul is responding to questions the Corinthian Christians have raised as he praises them for their faithfulness to the traditions he has passed onto them (2). However, the challenge for subsequent readers is to work out what these questions might have been.Paul assumes his readers are familiar with the influence of Roman, Corinthian and Jewish practices in worship as well as customs relating to head-covering, the shaving of a woman’s head, and how men and women relate to each other in public. In addition, there is a common understanding of angels which we cannot be clear about (10). Three features of their worship meet his approval and transcend cultural practices. First, women and their gifts play a central part in the experience of the worshipping community (5,13). Second, men and women share in public praying and prophesying, even though at that time the way this was done varied between the genders (4,5). Third, Paul calls for the celebration of and respect for gender distinctions in worship, so that even the way we dress gives glory to God!
Apply
Consider how things which may be neutral to you may advance or hinder the Gospel in light of our culture.
Closing prayer
Lord, You are good and You are worthy of all my devotion. My life is Yours.
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