As sister, most of us have heard a lot about head coverings. We are given special classes, exhortations are devoted to the subject, and we often talk about the matter between ourselves on a personal level. There is beautiful symbology and meaning, and a constant reminder of submission but that’s not what this article is about. Rather, I would like to take the opportunity to speak to my brothers.
If you are a brother out there feeling mostly indifferent about head coverings, you are not alone. An informal survey of my relatives and close friends convinced me that brothers have a lot to learn from a symbol that might not mean much now. When asked in general about head coverings, I received responses from, “I really haven’t ever thought about it,” to “I think sisters who wear head coverings show a beautiful attitude.” The one thing they all had in common was a perspective that left head coverings completely in the sisters’ realm, while personally not attributing any significance. It is my hope that after having read this article you, as a brother, may find new inspiration, meaning, and beauty in a common symbol you see every Sunday.
We are familiar with the basic principle under which head coverings are mentioned in I Corinthians 11. The hierarchy of order starts at God, below whom is Christ, man is next, and woman is last. I heard it explained once that wearing head coverings “because of the angels,” recognizes the specific hierarchy that the angels, as God’s messengers, established — that there has to be a leader and a follower for order and analogy’s sake. We sisters do our part in coving our heads to remind ourselves of our place in that order, but since our place depends so much on yours (as the brethren), it should serve as a reminder for you, too.
Being leaders, or “heads,” is a great responsibility. My father, as a newly married man many years ago, asked Bro. Harry Tennant what was the biblical meaning of headship. He was surprised when Bro. Harry replied, “The meaning of biblical headship is that the husband is the greater servant.” The reason for that is, of course, because you are specifically called to “model” Christ to us! This is a goal that all of us should strive for, the image of the perfect man, but that is what God gave the brothers especially to remember. Ephesians 5 speaks at length about what it means to be the head. It means loving as Christ did, self-sacrificially, washing with the word, and being concerned about keeping his wife blameless and holy. For the married brothers the exhortation is literal, but even for the unmarried that principle holds true. As heads of the ecclesia, it is the brothers’ holy responsibility to be examples of self-sacrifice, love, overflowing with the word of God, attentive and concerned with the work of cleansing, healing, and “clothing” the ecclesia, the bride of Christ. They must be Christ-like in word and deed. It is a beautiful thing to strive for. Seeing the sisters with the symbol of our readiness to follow where you lead can inspire you all the more.
There is another principle involved with head coverings that is not stated in I Corinthians, but certainly can be derived from the word. The word “atonement” means simply, “covering.” Paul speaks of women being the “image of the glory of man,” which needs to be covered. We know that Christ died and rose again and has provided for us a covering. One reason that I personally wear a head covering is as a reminder of the covering placed over us, the church, and what that means in my life. Because we have been mercifully covered, our reaction should be one of humble thankfulness and a desire to live worthy of it, as much as we are able. We should all be living our lives, every day, with “covered heads,” always reminding ourselves of the covering Christ provides. The love of Christ compels us to judge that since Christ died for us, we also “died,” and that because He rose, we live no more for ourselves but for him.
You can see from this how broad and inclusive the symbol of a head covering really is. It has great meaning not for sisters alone, but for you brothers as well. Hopefully now each Sunday when the sisters cover their heads, you too can receive all the inspiration, encouragement, and the powerful reminder that this symbol brings.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One