PART 2 CHRISTIAN APPAREL

A. Introduction Does God really care what we wear? “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (I Samuel 16:7). Context: choosing a king based on his spirit more than his physique. God knows the heart, but He teaches about appearance because people do look on the outward and express their values outwardly.

B. Distinction between Sexes “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the L ORD thy God” (Deuteronomy 22:5 KJV). “Abomination unto God”: Yahweh Hates it “Pertaineth” (KJV) “Clothing” (NIV): clear distinction in all cultures Our culture: pants versus dresses and skirts

Distinction between Sexes (cont.) Example of recognizing male and female from a distance: “Gen 24: Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel 65 and asked the servant, "Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?” (Genesis 24:64-65). If this principle does not apply, then we could not object to men wearing dresses

C. Biblical Teaching on Hair I Corinthians 11:1-16 supports the principle we have already discussed, namely the distinction between male and female in the outward appearance Thus the Old Testament agrees with the New Testament: Deuteronomy 22:5; I Corinthians 11:1- 16; I Timothy 2:9

1. Principle of Authority “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 2 I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings, just as I passed them on to you. 3 Now 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.” (I Corinthians 11:1-3).

2. Distinction between Sexes “Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head-it is just as though her head were shaved. 6 If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head.”(I Corinthians 11:4-6).

3. Mutual Dependence of Sexes “A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the 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 For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head. 11 In the Lord, however, 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.” (I Corinthians 11:7- 12).

4. Conclusion “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.” (I Corinthians 11:13-16).

5. What Is the Covering? Verses 4-13 use “covered” and “uncovered” (adjectives) and “cover” (verb), but they do not identify the “covering” (noun). Verses identify the “covering” as long hair. “For” in verse 15 is anti in Greek, which literally means “instead of.” Marshall’s Interlinear: “The long hair instead of a veil has been given to her.”

NIV Footnote “Every man who prays or prophesies with long hair dishonors his head. And every woman who prays or prophesies with no covering [of hair] on her head dishonors her head—she is just like one of the ‘shorn women.’ If a woman has no covering, let her be for now with short hair, but since it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair shorn or shaved, she should grow it again” (vv. 4-6).

Today’s English Version “And any woman who prays or speaks God’s message in public worship with nothing on her head disgraces her husband; there is no difference between her and a woman whose head has been shaved. If the woman does not cover her head, she might as well cut her hair. And since it is a shameful thing for a woman to shave her head or cut her hair, she should cover her head” (vv. 5-6).

Today’s English Version (cont.) “Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God in public worship with nothing on her head? Why, nature itself teaches you that long hair is a disgraceful thing for a man, but it is a woman’s pride. Her long hair has been given her to serve as a covering. But if anyone wants to argue about it, all I have to say is that neither we nor the churches of God have any other custom in worship” (vv ).

6. Summary of I Corinthians 11 “Shame” for a woman to cut her hair or shave her head (v. 6) “Glory” for her to have long hair (v. 15) “Shame” for a man to have long hair (v. 14) Teaching of nature (not just custom) (v. 14). Example: male pattern baldness—a man is 10 times more likely to grow bald.

Summary (cont.) Teaching of all the churches (not just in Corinth and not just in one culture) (v. 16). Even if one thinks the passage talks about a cloth veil, the teaching on hair still applies. Conclusion for women: let hair grow long, as long as nature allows. Conclusion for men: cut hair noticeably short in your culture.

7. Other Scriptural Support God’s judgment on the haughty women of Judah who wore ornaments: “Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion.... And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness...” (Isaiah 3:17, 24 KJV).

Other Scriptural Support (cont.) Description of demon army, showing that in ancient society there was a well-known distinction between hair of men and women, which could only relate to length, for there is no difference in composition: “And they had hair as the hair of women” (Revelation 9:8 KJV).

Other Scriptural Support (Cont.) Example: “Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair” (John 12:3).

Other Scriptural Support cont.) Scriptures assumes that Christian women will have long hair that needs to be arranged and thus tells them to arrange it moderately. See I Timothy 2:9; I Peter 3:3.

8. What about Dyeing the Hair? If we don’t use makeup, why use hair dye? “The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, if it is found in the way of righteousness” (Proverbs 16:31, NKJV). True or false? “The beauty of old men is the grey head” (Proverbs 20:29). True or false? “Thou canst not make one hair white or black” (Mt. 5:36). Is Jesus right or wrong?

D. Conclusion God still wants a witness in society for the distinction between male and female. If the church doesn’t provide it, who will? God always gives us a choice in serving Him. We didn’t choose our gender, but by our dress, our hair, and our actions we can either ratify or reject God’s will for us.