Beyond the Gospels: Corinthians

Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:1-8
[Click the reference above to read on BibleGateway.com]

The point of this passage is not whether women should cover their heads when praying or prophesying or wear their hair short or long. And likewise, it's not about men's heads remaining uncovered. The covering and uncovering of heads in the eastern countries had cultural significance. Covered heads a sign of subjection to authority, and uncovered heads signified a rank of authority (Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible).

The heart of the passage centers on authority and God-ordained order. Men are men. Women are women. God created both with specific purposes.

So God created man in his own image,

in the image of God he created him;

male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:27 ESV

Paul was expressing the importance of maintaining God's order.

For man was not made from woman, but woman from man.

1 Corinthians 11:8 ESV

Our culture today is pushing to ignore gender altogether. Pushing the idea of gender neutral restrooms and locker rooms in schools and college campuses.

The blurring of gender is an affront and attack on God's order of creation and His authority as Creator. He created man as the head of the family, and woman came forth from him as a "helper." A word in the Hebrew, only used of woman and of God.

When God creates Eve, he calls her an ezer kenegdo. ...

The word ezer is used only twenty other places in the Old Testament. And in every other instance the person being described is God himself, when you need him to come through for you desperately. ...

Most of the contexts are life and death, by the way, and God is your only hope. Your ezer. If he is not there beside you... your are dead. A better translation therefore of ezer would be "lifesaver." Kenegdo means alongside, or opposite to, a counterpart.

---John & Stasi Eldredge, Captivating

God has a purpose in gender. Men are given the authority and responsibility in the church second only to Christ. Women have the awesome role of being the ones alongside, without whom they could not accomplish their call.

It takes both men and women, honoring God through their gender, to express the fullness of who God is: Created in His image, both male and female.

Honor God through the gender He created you, whether male or female. Through prayer and study of His Word, let Him define and reveal your role in glorifying Him.

Father God, thank You for making me who You created me to be.

Help me to glorify You through my gender. Teach me to honor Your order.