Calvary Baptist Church, Knob Knoster, MO.

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Text: 1 Corinthians 11:1-16, 14:40

Introduction This church in the city of Corinth was a church in disorder.  Up unto this point we have seen the disorder in discipline, lawsuits, fornication, marriage, meats, and now worship.  Later on we will see disorder in the Lord's Supper and spiritual gifts.  Our God is a God of order and that also means order within the church.

Paul deals here with the problem of women who have decided to flaunt their Christian liberty by not covering their heads in public worship.  It must be remembered that in the eastern culture at this time all women wore long hair with a covering.  It was a symbol of submission and purity.  The exception: A Prostitute.

For a Christian woman to appear in public without covering for them was a shame, let alone come to church (a place of prayer and preaching) was a disgrace.

We must remember our Christian liberty is limited to edification, to do that which is good, Godly, and right, not a freedom to do our own thing.  The attitude of these women is what Paul is dealing with.

Paul  sought to restore order by reminding them that God made women and men different, and that both men and women have a proper role within God's economy.  They have a proper role within the home, the church, and within society.  May we not let the world dictate that role, but rather the Word of God.

Paul in no way suggested that this difference meant an inequality or that one was inferior to the other.  To have peace in the home, church, and society there must be an order and this necessitates rank.  Remember rank and equality are two different things.

i.e. rank within the military is necessary to carry out a mission. Does not mean the officer is more equal than an enlisted but rather a rank is necessary for proper order.

I. God's Order of Redemption  v.3-7

    1. God the Father sent His Son who was equal with Him,
        but He became obedient because of rank.

    2. There is order within the family.  Ephesians 5:22-24

    3. A wife is told by following the proper order in the family,
        that this is the way her lost husband can be saved.  I Peter 3:1, 2

    4. Key word: Head v.3 means authority or rank

    5. v. 4 a man who is covered dishonors his head-Christ.
        This is why it is a shame for a man to have long hair.
        Man is made in the image of God.

    6. v. 5 for a woman to be uncovered dishonors her head,
        her husband.  Her hair should be long.
        Her hair is her covering.  v. 15, 17 


    7. v.6 A woman uncovered brings shame to her husband.
        Their hairstyle and dress and manner announces to others
        what their attitude to her husband is, which is her authority
        in rank.  Not inequality. 


    8. The opposite of submission is rebellion and I Samuel 15:23
        says this is like the sin of witchcraft.

    1. I Timothy 2:13 There is an order in creation.
 

    2. There is priority but there but there is also partnership v. 11-12
 

    3. Man was formed by God v.8
 

    4. Woman was taken from man v.9
 

    5. Angels v.10
 

         a. Part of creation Is. 6:2
         b. They are in subjection in their creation
         c. For the woman to be covered (long hair) shows
                she knows her place in God's priority.
         d. Again there is partnership v. 11-12 but there is priority.

III. Order in Nature v.13-16

    1. It is natural for a man to have short hair v. 14
 

    2. It is natural for a woman to have long hair v. 15
 

    3. There should be a noticeable difference.
 

    4. It is natural that there should be no confusion of the sexes.

Conclusion:  When we begin to understand God's order in redemption, creation, and nature then we can begin to understand God's order within the worship service.  God is a God of order and things must be done decent and in order.  Paul will go on the speak to this matter more in Chapter 11 and beyond.

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