When I see the pictures or videos about the Church of God, there’s something interesting. How can they all look the same during services? Every female member wears a veil, whereas every male member wears nothing.
God set regulations for services. One of them is about the veil.
Is wearing a veil God’s regulation?
Sure!
“A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God …”
1 Corinthians 11:7
The Bible teaches us that men should not wear anything while praying or during the service. If they do not follow this, even if they want to worship God, they will only dishonor God.
Shall we see a woman’s case?
“And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is just as though her head were shaved. 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.”
1 Corinthians 11:5–6
As you read here, the Bible tells us that women must wear veils during services.
But, doesn’t it mean a woman with short hair doesn’t need to wear a veil?
Well, it’s not what it says. This is rather emphasizing the importance of women’s wearing veils through nature given to people by God. God has given people the eyes to regard a woman’s long hair as beautiful. It is a tacit teaching that covering a woman’s head looks beautiful to God. We can understand verse 15, “For long hair is given to her as a covering,” in the same sense.
Oh I get it. It doesn’t mean that it’s okay not to wear anything when a woman has long hair, but it means that God let women have long hair so that they may be willing to cover their heads during services.
That’s right. If wearing a veil was a matter subject to the length of hair, God must have given a clear standard of hair length. Moreover, Apostle Paul, who emphasized that women must wear veils in the beginning, wouldn’t say suddenly that it was okay not to wear veils after a few verses.
As you said, Apostle Paul wrote these words to teach God’s regulation about veil clearly. He firmly added that the Church of God practices women’s wearing veils.
“Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? … If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.”
1 Corinthians 11:13–16
Now I can certainly understand that female members should wear veils. But why did God give different regulations to men and women about veils?
It’s because there is order set up by God.
“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.”
1 Corinthians 11:3
When God created human beings, He made Adam, a man, first, with the dust of the ground and made Eve, a woman, from the rib He had taken out of Adam. God did not create these two the same way with the dust of the ground, but created a woman, using the man’s body. It was to demonstrate order set by God.
Then, does God value men more than women?
No, it doesn’t mean that. Let’s see the following verses.
“In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.”
1 Corinthians 11:11–12
Order was set just according to the position and the role. Men and women are all God’s dear children who are equal.
Wow, you know what? After learning this, I’m more moved to see all the members of the Church of God around the world keep services in the same manner. I feel we are one although we live far from each other.
You’re so right. We are one in God. As you’ve learned today, please make sure to remember that the Bible never taught men to cover their heads and women not to wear veils during services.
