An FAQ on Veiling

 

Q1: Where does the Bible talk about head coverings?

A: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 says, "2 Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. 6 For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. 7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man. 9 Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. 10 For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. 12 For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.

13 Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? 15 But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God."

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Q2: What is a head covering?

A: Any clothing worn over the head. Veils, mantillas, scarves, hats, hoods, Easter bonnets, are the many types Christians have worn throughout history.

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Q3: Are head coverings a new fad?

A: Head coverings have been common practice in both the East and Western spheres of Christendom, including among Lutherans, until roughly the 1960’s. Afterwards the practice largely declined in America. In America, most head coverings were hats of some kind, as reflected commonly in pre-1970’s photographs of church members in worship.

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Q4: Why did head coverings decline?

A: One major reason is the call to protest from the National Organization for Women put out in December, 1968: "Because the wearing of a head covering by women at religious services is a symbol of subjection with many churches, NOW recommends that all chapters undertake an effort to have all women participate in a "national unveiling" by sending their head coverings to the task force chairman.  At the Spring meeting of the task force of women and religion, these veils will be publicly burned to protest the second class status of women in all churches.”

It was not because of God’s Word, nor Christian love from within the church, but because of a secular organization’s decree that led to protests and condemnations of head coverings across America, including acts of women leaving their head coverings at the communion rail.

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Q5: Is following 1 Cor 11:2-16 limited only to the church of Corinth?

A: 2 Timothy 3:16 states, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”. Likewise, verse 16 of 1 Corinthians 11 states, “But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.”

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Q6: Why wear a head covering? Is it because of the secular culture of Corinth?

First, verse 4 states that head coverings are done because of the nature of women, for "the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God". Verse 8 to 10 continue by speaking on the order of creation, “For man is not from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head.”

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Second, verse 5 states that head coverings are part of moral behavior in worship, "Every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head". 

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Third, verse 10 states one covers "because of the angels". 

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Fourth, verse 16 states that a woman covering her head is part of a unified practice: "But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God."

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To summarize, the biblical reasons for head coverings are not because of secular culture, but are ontological, moral, angelic, and part of good order within the church. 

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Q7: Why is verse 10’s “because of the angels” a reason to head cover?

A: 1 Corinthians 11 speaks on worship, glory, and covering oneself. Where angels would be engaged in these three things is found in Isaiah 6:2-3, with the seraphim praising God on his throne. “Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”” 

It is to God’s pleasure that the angels worship in such a way, thus when women worship angelically it is to God’s pleasure.

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Q8: Isn’t the hair a head covering according to verse 15?

A: If the hair covering the head is an entire head covering, verse 6 would not say a woman’s hair should be shorn if uncovered. Verse 6 is not saying women with already sheared or shaved hair get somehow sheared or shaved again, but for women with their entire heads, including hair, get sheared or shaved if uncovered.

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Q9: How much should a woman's head be covered?

A: There are no laws and measurements given. 1 Cor 11:2-16 gives grace in not giving requirements in measurements, material, or style, only “Let her be covered.”

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Q10: Does a woman go to hell if she does not have a head covering? Does wearing a head covering increase righteousness?

A: No, and no. Only the work of Christ saves, as Ephesians 2:8-9 states: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” A head covering is done not to save oneself, nor increase righteousness, but for the reasons given to Q6.

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Q11: Is it too late to restore such a practice? 

A: No. The head covering practice is found in God’s Word and has been a mark of the church by denominations across the world for all of history until the last 50 years. To practice head covering again would be a simple restoration, and part of the church’s confession of keeping what God has handed down in the scriptures.