1 Corinthians 11:1-16, Showing honor

It pleases me that you continue to remember and honor me by keeping up the traditions of the faith I taught you. All actual authority stems from Christ.

In a marriage relationship, there is authority from Christ to husband, and from husband to wife. The authority of Christ is the authority of God. Any man who speaks with God or about God in a way that shows a lack of respect for the authority of Christ, dishonors Christ. In the same way, a wife who speaks with God in a way that shows a lack of respect for the authority of her husband, dishonors her husband. Worse, she dishonors herself—an ugly sight, like a woman with her head shaved. This is basically the origin of these customs we have of women wearing head coverings in worship, while men take their hats off. By these symbolic acts, men and women, who far too often butt heads with each other, submit their “heads” to the Head: God.

Don’t, by the way, read too much into the differences here between men and women. Neither man nor woman can go it alone or claim priority. Man was created first, as a beautiful shining reflection of God—that is true. But the head on a woman’s body clearly outshines in beauty the head of her “head,” her husband. The first woman came from man, true—but ever since then, every man comes from a woman! And since virtually everything comes from God anyway, let’s quit going through these “who’s first” routines.

Don’t you agree there is something naturally powerful in the symbolism—a woman, her beautiful hair reminiscent of angels, praying in adoration; a man, his head bared in reverence, praying in submission? I hope you’re not going to be argumentative about this. All God’s churches see it this way; I don’t want you standing out as an exception. - The Message -

Last year a female Japanese pop star shaved her head in an act of contrition for spending the night with her boyfriend. She broke band rules. Minami Minegishi, a member of popular all-girl group AKB48, even appeared on a video to offer a tearful apology, begging to be brought back into the band.

She was observing a traditional Japanese practice of making amends for violating society’s rules and breaching honor.

Scripture says “give honor to whom honor is due…” (Romans 13:7). So, of course, Paul thanks the church for honoring him by maintaining the traditions he taught them. However…he reminds them these traditions came from Christ so the honor goes to Christ who has all authority to establish our standards.

And, there’s more…

We all live under some intermediate authority…that ultimately leads to God. So, when we honor that authority we honor God. Conversely, when we dishonor our intermediate authority we do a lot of damage. We dishonor that authority, we dishonor God and we dishonor ourselves.

It’s ugly…like a woman with her head shaven.

I wonder how many of us are overdue for a trip to the barber.

Live boldly out there today...