Even in a world characterized by constant change and cultural diversity, there are timeless principles of reverence and decency. Appearances such as head coverings can send signals and pave the way for the gospel. By Kai Mester

Reading time: 10 minutes

The veil has already made the headlines a few times. Especially the burqa, the full veiling of women in Muslim areas such as Pakistan and Afghanistan, and its ban in some European countries. Wearing headscarves in schools and church services in Europe has also been a concern for many people.

The Bible also speaks of the woman's veil: "But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered defiles her head... Therefore the woman shall have a sign of power on her head, for the sake of the angels... it [is] for one It is an honor for a woman to wear long hair; for long hair was given to her instead of a veil." (1 Corinthians 11,5.10:XNUMX, XNUMX).

First Letter to the Corinthians

First Letter to the Corinthians has given many a reader a headache. Doesn't it say that it is better for unmarried people and widows to remain single (1 Corinthians 7,8:7,50)? Doesn't Paul also say between the lines that it is best for slaves to remain slaves rather than fight for freedom (21:XNUMX-XNUMX)?

Then there is the eighth chapter about meat sacrificed to idols, which should not be eaten only because it could bring down those who are weak in faith. Doesn't this contradict the decision of the Apostolic Council (Acts 15)? Paul goes on to say that we can use the Lord's Supper as a judgment and therefore perhaps become weak or sick, or even die prematurely (1 Corinthians 11,27.30:14, 15,29). Added to this is chapter 14 on tongues, which has become the center of the charismatic movement, and the verse on which Mormons base their practice of baptism for the dead (14,34:35). Chapter XNUMX also contains the verse that says women should be silent in the church (XNUMX:XNUMX-XNUMX). Why are there so many statements in this letter that are strange to us?

The key to understanding: Jesus crucified

Paul's letters are not a new revelation of the law. Nor does he proclaim or establish any new doctrines with them. Paul himself describes in detail the role he sees himself in: as an apostle (sent) of Jesus who has decided not to proclaim anything other than Jesus Christ and him crucified (1 Corinthians 2,2:XNUMX). From this we must conclude that everything Paul writes is a development and a practical, partly situational application of what Jesus lived and proclaimed. Jesus, our Lord and Savior, in turn, is the incarnate Word, the Incarnate Torah of the five books of Moses that the prophets of the Old Testament unfolded and preached. So we cannot understand any of the above topics without reassuring ourselves in the Gospels and the Old Testament which principle Paul is applying in each case. What principle underlies his requirement to wear a veil for women?

Break with sin

In the first chapters of First Letter to the Corinthians, Paul speaks out extensively against sin: including jealousy (chapter 3), fornication (chapter 5) and litigation (chapter 6). How might the veil have something to do with sin? Did he protect against jealousy, fornication, and legal disputes between believers?

Towards the end of his letter, Paul also speaks out in favor of forsaking sin through the cross: "I die daily!" (15,31:1,18). The daily death of the apostle is the effect of the word about the cross (2,2:15,34) and the crucified Messiah (XNUMX:XNUMX) is the center of his life. This dying breaks with sin. He urges his readers to do the same: “Really get sober and don’t sin!” (XNUMX)

The veil in the Old Testament

The spirit of prophecy also speaks on the subject of head coverings. Through Ellen White, he writes very positively about the veil worn by Rebekah and other women in the Old Testament (Genesis 1:24,65; Song of Songs 4,1.3:5,7; 1860:XNUMX). She wrote around XNUMX: “I was pointed to God's people in ancient times. I should compare her clothing style with that of today. What a contrast! What a change! Back then, women didn't dress as daringly as they do today. In public they covered their faces with a veil. Of late, fashion has become shameful and indecent...If God's people had not strayed so far from Him, there would be a marked difference between their clothing and the clothing of the world. The small bonnets, where you can see the whole face and head, show a lack of decency.« (Testimonials 1, 188; see. testimonials 1, 208) Here Ellen White seems to have advocated for the larger, more conservative hoods of this period, which nevertheless did not have an oriental facial veil. Is it perhaps about decency or lack of decency? About seriousness and purity on the one hand and sinful generosity and lewdness on the other?

An expression of selflessness?

The middle part of First Corinthians deals with what selflessness looks like in practice. So we read twice: “Everything is allowed to me – but not everything is useful! Everything is permitted to me - but I don't want to let anything control me/it doesn't build everything!« (6,12:10,23; 8,13:XNUMX) Here the apostle seems to be concerned with things that may be good under certain circumstances, but are good under others not. At least that's what the context suggests, which speaks of meat sacrificed to idols. The impression is deepened by the following verses: "Therefore, if any food offends my brother, I would rather not eat meat forever, so that I may not offend my brother." (XNUMX:XNUMX)
But why does Paul not want to be a nuisance to anyone? He explains this in detail: “For although I am free from all, I have made myself a slave to all, in order to gain the more. To the Jews I became like a Jew, that I might win the Jews; To those who are under the law I became as if I were under the law, that I might gain those under the law; To those who are without law I have become as if I were without law - although I am not without law before God, but subject to the law under Christ - that I might gain those who are without law. To the weak have I become like one who is weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all, so that I may save some in every way." (9,19:22-XNUMX)

Since Paul died with Jesus and Jesus now lives in him, he wants to win as many people as possible to Jesus. For this he makes great sacrifices: "I subdue my body and control it so that I do not proclaim to others and become reprehensible myself." (9,27) So the veil is one of the accessories that should be used where it is so is understood to express decency and to attract others instead of repelling them? Can the veil be an expression of selflessness?

God's kingdom comes without violence

The following verses by Paul are particularly interesting: “If anyone has been called after circumcision, let him not try to undo it; If anyone was called uncircumcised, let him not be circumcised. Being circumcised is nothing and being uncircumcised is nothing either, but keeping God's commandments is. Let everyone remain in the state in which they were called. If you have been called as a slave, do not worry! But if you can also become free, then better use it... Brothers, let everyone remain before God in the [state] to which he was called." (1 Corinthians 7,18:21.24-7,8, XNUMX) Jews are allowed to remain Jews, Greeks Greeks , women women, men men etc. God can also achieve particularly great things through single people or widows (XNUMX:XNUMX).

Paul makes it clear that the Bible does not call for emancipation (slaves, women) or a revolution. She is not against positive changes. First and foremost, it is about reaching people for God, and this happens by letting our light shine in the place where God has placed us, instead of appearing as revolutionaries, militant human rights activists or avant-gardists.

Paul knows that the gospel is not of this world, otherwise true Christians would take up arms, use violence to achieve their goals, and start revolutions and wars. Jesus said: “My kingdom is not of this world; If my kingdom were from this world, my servants would have fought so that I would not be handed over to the Jews." (John 18,36:5,5) "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land!" (Matthew XNUMX:XNUMX)

Were the women in Corinth in danger of shedding the spirit of meekness by taking off the veil and putting the message of Jesus in a false light?

Speak my neighbor's language

“Let everything be done decently and orderly!” (14,40:14) This is very important to Paul. Because how else can we win people for Jesus? If we don't speak their cultural language, we won't reach them any more than if we don't speak their vernacular. This is exactly what Paul is talking about in the 14,9th chapter, where he explains the function of the gift of languages ​​and emphasizes that unfortunately it is of little use if it is not understood (13:1-11). The cultural language includes decency and order, including clothing, hairstyle, manners and customs, polite manners, manners, and also the characteristics that are considered particularly serious in a culture, i.e. inspiring trust, decent and God-fearing. This is precisely the context in which the veil in XNUMX Corinthians XNUMX stands.

Respect for my neighbor's culture

Paul moves from the topic of meat sacrificed to idols to the topic of the veil with the following words: “Do not offend the Jews, the Greeks, or the church of God, just as I live in all things to please everyone, not seeking my own benefit, but that of others many, that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, just as I am an imitator of Christ!” (10,32-11,1) He then condemns the revolutionary custom of women not wearing head coverings in church services. This was not a custom among either the Greeks or the Jews, as he emphasizes at the end of his remarks: "We do not have such a habit, neither do the churches of God." (11,16:11,10) It was considered indecent and dishonorable, so Even the angels were ashamed of it (5:22,5). Because the head covering was at the same time a sign of the different roles of men and women and served, so to speak, in many life situations to additionally differentiate the sexes in clothing, which is a biblical principle (Deuteronomy XNUMX:XNUMX).

Cultural differences

That this is a cultural issue is demonstrated by Paul's writing that any man who covers his head in prayer dishonors God (1 Corinthians 11,4:2). But that wasn't always the case. In Old Testament times, men also covered their heads in God's presence. This is reported to us by Moses, David and Elijah (Exodus 3,6:2; 15,30 Samuel 1:19,13; 6,2 Kings 11,13:15) and even by the angels at the throne of God (Isaiah 4:6,5). Paul also argues in this context: “Judge for yourselves whether it is appropriate for a woman to pray to God uncovered! Or doesn't nature already teach you that it is a dishonor for a man to wear long hair? On the other hand, it is an honor for a woman to wear long hair; for long hair was given to her instead of a veil." (XNUMX:XNUMX-XNUMX) In fact, in the Old Testament it was particularly honorable for a man to wear long hair. Because that showed him to be extremely consecrated to God (Numbers XNUMX:XNUMX).

What effect would it have today if our readers wore veils, hoods or hats? How would our society understand this? Maybe as a sign of decency and seriousness? Would this make God more trustworthy? Would we win more people to Jesus?

The veil in Islam

There are still cultures today in which the veil is considered particularly serious, decent and God-fearing for women, for example in Islam. If a woman lives in such a culture and/or wants to reach the people of that culture, she will conform in the spirit of the Apostle Paul. Even if in some countries (like Turkey) only a minority in this culture still wears the veil because many secular women have already taken it off due to Western influence, for the majority the veil remains a characteristic of a particularly God-fearing woman in the most positive sense is, wearing the veil is worth it. The veil has a positive meaning in the Bible and in the spirit of prophecy. It is recommended to be worn as a sign of decency and purity. However, in Western culture today it only has this meaning in select circles, for example among the Mennonites, who live in their own colonies in North and South America. Even in oriental culture, its biblical meaning has remained intact to this day.

Hat and bonnet in Adventism

Ellen White did not stop at her 1860 practice. Around 1901 she wrote about an Adventist service: “The listeners were a unique sight, because all the sisters had taken off their hats. That was good. This advantageous sight impressed me. Nobody had to crane their necks to look over a sea of ​​flowers and ribbons. I believe that it is worthwhile for other communities to follow this example.« (Manuscript release 20, 307) There is also a picture where Ellen White preaches without a head covering in 1906. Forty or fifty years can make a big difference when it comes to cultural practices.

True piety

Three further quotes are intended to show that it is not about the external form of decency, but about genuine piety, which is expressed unmistakably at different times and in different cultures. (God's moral law, of course, remains unaffected by this. We must never adopt evil elements from a culture or a language! God will give us the wisdom to use culture and language only under the guidance of his Spirit.)

The language of awe

Anyone who values ​​the Sabbath in any way should come to the service clean and dressed neatly and neatly. Because…uncleanliness and disorder hurt God. Some thought any other head covering other than a sun bonnet was objectionable. This is very exaggerated. There is nothing to do with pride in wearing a chic, simple straw or silk bonnet. Faith lived out allows us to dress so simply and do so many good works that we stand out as special. But if we lose our taste for order and aesthetics in clothing, we have actually already abandoned the truth. For the truth is never degrading, but always ennobling. Unbelievers view Sabbath keepers as undignified. If individuals then dress carelessly and have rough, uncouth manners, this impression is reinforced among the unbelievers." (Spiritual Gifts 4b [1864], 65)
»As you enter the house of worship, do not forget that this is God's house; Show your respect by taking off your hat! You are in the presence of God and the angels. Teach your children to be reverent too!” (Manuscript release 3 [1886], 234)

“Practice reverence until it becomes a part of you!” (Child Guidance, 546). In Eastern culture, reverence includes, for example, taking off your shoes (Exodus 2:3,5; Joshua 5,15:XNUMX). What is considered an expression of reverence and respect in our culture?

A final warning

“How much more one is concerned with questions of hats, of the house, of food and drink, than with things of eternal interest and with the salvation of souls! This will all soon be a thing of the past." (Sermons and Talks 2, [sermon from September 19.9.1886, 33], XNUMX)

So as soon as the veil distracts from the gospel, as soon as wearing or not wearing it becomes detached from reverence, decency and salvation of souls, as soon as it leads to classism and alienation, God is dishonored. The same applies to many cultural appearances and customs.