1 Corinthians 11 - What About Head Covers? When Are You Worthy To Receive Holy Communion?

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11 1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

Is this simple verse Paul says so much. It is pretty brave to ask someone to follow you. Some might even think it is prideful. But importantly Paul says "FOLLOW ME, AS I FOLLOW CHRIST!" Paul realizes that he falls far short of living up to Jesus' example, but yet that is his goal in life. The fact that he is doing his all to follow Christ is why he can make this statement.  

Could you say this to someone? 

On Covering the Head in Worship

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.

Paul continues to address some of the issues of the Jewish law that the Corinthians had questions about. This passage is about either covering or uncovering one's head in worship. His teaching for men is different from women. He teaches men should not wear a head covering when they are prophesying and praying. He teaches women NOT to pray or prophesy with their heads uncovered. 

Note, he acknowledges that women pray and prophesy in public worship. Paul is teaching on the authority structure of the church. The head represents "authority" in this case. The head of every man is Christ. The head of woman is man. And the head of Christ is God. 

This is a challenging teaching given our current cultural views on the role of men and women. Is this teaching that men and women are not equal, or that we have different roles? Since we didn't live in this culture before we interpret this teaching, we need to understand the historical context in Paul's day. This is probably written about 55 to 60 A.D. 

“It was a custom, both among the Greeks and Romans, and among the Jews an express law, that no woman should be seen abroad without a veil. This was, and is, a common custom through all the east, and none but public prostitutes go without veils.” (Clarke)

In some cultures today, wearing a hat or some other kind of head covering is a picture of humility and modesty. In the same way, the head covering had an important cultural meaning among the ancient Corinthians. - Guzik

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.

At first you might think Paul is being sexist until you get to verses 11-12. Paul states that the order of Creation was that God created Adam and Eve came from Adam. And it says but woman was created for man. You can see how this would go over in our PC society. 

But then Paul says, "A woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman." This means we are interdependent on each other. Indeed Genesis, "Male and female we are created in God's image." Further Paul says, "For as a woman came from man, so also man is born of women. But everything comes from God." 

So we see the interdependent nature of the relationship. Importantly we are all made in God's image, which makes us children of God. Paul says in Galatians 3:28, "Neither Jew or Gentile, male or female, slave or free, but we are all one in Christ!"

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.

Paul says "judge for yourselves", which almost gives room for them to make their own decision on this. Paul is arguing from nature, whereas women had longer hair and men wear shorter hair. As you know, this has changed dramatically today. 

Authority is an important concept in the bible. In our society the role and view of authority figures has been diminished. Because those in authority positions have misused authority, we have thrown the baby out with the bathwater. Whether it be in our government, schools, police, families, or in the church, a lot of our problems can be traced to a lack of the proper use and role of authority. 

The bible teaches that all authority comes from God, and therefore every person who has been given authority based on their role will be accountable to God. Therefore, if you have have authority remember it is not something to take lightly!

Correcting an Abuse of the Lord’s Supper

The next subject was the issue of the Lord's Supper, or what we call the observance of Holy Communion. 

17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!

It is important to note that the Lord's Supper in Paul's day, was not like in ours where it was a part of a formal worship service. When the early church met in homes, they shared a meal together called the "agape meal".  It was similar to a church potluck today, yet it was part of worship. 

Apparently instead of treating one another thoughtfully and politely people were prone to "cliques". They neglected the needy among them, and used the occasion to drink heavily. It sounds like it was more of a party than a gathering of God's people. 

"Because the risen Jesus so often ate with His disciples, it made sense to the early church that eating together went together with celebrating the Lord’s Supper." - Guzik

Sadly, the Corinthian Christians acted selfishly at their common meals. Their selfish conduct at the common meal disgraced their observance of the Lord’s Supper.

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

These words are commonly called the "Words of Institution" in traditional churches like the Lutheran church where I serve. It is amazing that these words are almost exactly what I say every Sunday before we observe communion as a church. That's 2,000 years of passing on these words. 

While there is nothing magical about the words per se, they perfectly reflect the purpose and benefit of this holy meal we participate in together. Whether it is grape juice or wine, wafers or pieces of bread, the most important thing is that in Holy Communion we remember the work of Jesus on the cross for us when his body was broken and his blood was poured out FOR US. 

For Luther, the most important words were, "Given and shed FOR YOU." The word for "remembrance" is not just intellectual or remembering mentally, but it is to experience again as if it were the first time. Communion is not just a ritual but an important part of worship where we personally remember what Jesus did for us and experience his power and presence. 

Martin Luther described the church as, "Where the gospel is preached clearly and the sacraments are administered rightly." When I was ordained, I was ordained to Word and Sacrament ministry. The basic nature of my calling as a pastor is to preach God's Word (the gospel) and conduct baptisms and oversee Holy Communion during the worship service. 

I love the end of this when Paul says, "When you eat this bread or drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." 

Communion is a foretaste of the feast to come, when we celebrate the marriage feast in heaven that will never end. 

27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.

Because of the holy nature of this holy meal we share together, Paul is adamant that they don't observe this together in an unworthy manner like he has already described. Since the bread and wine are the body and blood of Christ, we shouldn't receive Holy Communion in a cavalier manner or fashion. Paul goes as far as to say some who have observed Holy Communion in this way have eat and drink judgment upon themselves. 

He says some have grown weak, sick, and even died. This is another obscure passage so we need to be careful how to interpret it and apply it today. It is not like I would get up to conduct communion and say it you are not observing communion in the right way you might get sick and possibly die. So how do we interpret this challenging passage? 

In writing eats and drinks judgment, Paul does not refer to eternal judgment, but to corrective judgment. There is no article “the” before “judgment,” so it is not the judgment. This chastening is not a judge condemning a criminal; it is a father correcting disobedient children. - Guzik

In writing eats and drinks judgment, Paul does not refer to eternal judgment, but to corrective judgment. There is no article “the” before “judgment,” so it is not the judgment. This chastening is not a judge condemning a criminal; it is a father correcting disobedient children. - Guzik

Even with these explanations, we need to be careful about building a doctrine around. 99% of the bible is pretty clear, but the 1% which is confusing or obscure we need to "hold loosely". 

The most important thing is that as we observe Holy Communion in our churches it is a time to deeply and thoughtfully reflect on what Jesus did for us on the cross. It is appropriate to confess our sins together and hear the promise of forgiveness as we prepare our hearts to receive Christ's body and blood. But importantly, it is not like we have to be perfect to come to the table.

When Martin Luther was asked how can one be properly prepared for communion he said, When they believe the words given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins." 

Unlike the Catholic church, we don't need to go to the priest to make confession before we take communion. But we do need to be in a right relationship with God and not just casually receive Christ's body and blood. 

Personally I think we could do a lot better job in the church to better preserve Paul's teaching here and to continue to make Holy Communion both holy and special! Communion is a very important part of our worship life together as the bible teaches, so we need to observe it with integrity, reverence, and a expectation to meet Christ in a personal and powerful way!