CHRISTIAN APPAREL

PART 2

© 2003 David K. Bernard

A. Introduction

• Does God really care what we wear?

• “Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart” (I Samuel 16:7). Context: choosing a king based on his spirit more than his physique.

• God knows the heart, but He teaches about appearance because people do look on the outward and express their values outwardly.

B. Distinction between Sexes

• “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God” (Deuteronomy 22:5).

• “Abomination unto God”: moral teaching

• “Pertaineth”: clear distinction in all cultures

• Our culture: pants versus dresses and skirts

Distinction between Sexes (cont.)

• Example of recognizing male and female from a distance: “And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us?” (Genesis 24:64-65).

• If this principle does not apply, then we could not object to men wearing dresses

C. Biblical Teaching on Hair

• I Corinthians 11:1-16 supports the principle we have already discussed, namely the distinction between male and female in the outward appearance

• Thus the Old Testament agrees with the New Testament: Deuteronomy 22:5; I Corinthians 11:1-16; I Timothy 2:9

1. Principle of Authority

“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God” (I Corinthians 11:1-3).

2. Distinction between Sexes

“Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered” (I Corinthians 11:4-6).

3. Mutual Dependence of Sexes

“For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God” (I Corinthians 11:7-12).

4. Conclusion

“Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God” (I Corinthians 11:13-16).

5. What Is the Covering?

• Verses 4-13 use “covered” and “uncovered” (adjectives) and “cover” (verb), but they do not identify the “covering” (noun).

• Verses 14-15 identify the “covering” as long hair. “For” in verse 15 is anti in Greek, which literally means “instead of.” Marshall’s Interlinear: “The long hair instead of a veil has been given to her.”

NIV Footnote

“Every man who prays or prophesies with long hair dishonors his head. And every woman who prays or prophesies with no covering [of hair] on her head dishonors her head—she is just like one of the ‘shorn women.’ If a woman has no covering, let her be for now with short hair, but since it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair shorn or shaved, she should grow it again” (vv. 4-6).

Today’s English Version

“And any woman who prays or speaks God’s message in public worship with nothing on her head disgraces her husband; there is no difference between her and a woman whose head has been shaved. If the woman does not cover her head, she might as well cut her hair. And since it is a shameful thing for a woman to shave her head or cut her hair, she should cover her head” (vv. 5-6).

Today’s English Version (cont.)

“Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God in public worship with nothing on her head? Why, nature itself teaches you that long hair is a disgraceful thing for a man, but it is a woman’s pride. Her long hair has been given her to serve as a covering. But if anyone wants to argue about it, all I have to say is that neither we nor the churches of God have any other custom in worship” (vv. 13-16).

6. Summary of I Corinthians 11

• “Shame” for a woman to cut her hair or shave her head (v. 6)

• “Glory” for her to have long hair (v. 15)

• “Shame” for a man to have long hair (v. 14)

• Teaching of nature (not just custom) (v. 14). Example: male pattern baldness—a man is 10 times more likely to grow bald.

Summary (cont.)

• Teaching of all the churches (not just in Corinth and not just in one culture) (v. 16).

• Even if one thinks the passage talks about a cloth veil, the teaching on hair still applies.

• Conclusion for women: let hair grow long, as long as nature allows.

• Conclusion for men: cut hair noticeably short in your culture. Example: hairline.

7. Other Scriptural Support

• God’s judgment on the haughty women of Judah who wore ornaments:

“Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion.... And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness...” (Isaiah 3:17, 24).

Other Scriptural Support (cont.)

• Portrait of backslidden Jerusalem facing divine judgment:

“Cut off thine hair, O Jerusalem, and cast it away, and take up a lamentation on high places; for the LORD hath rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath” (Jeremiah 7:29).

Other Scriptural Support (cont.)

• Description of demon army, showing that in ancient society there was a well-known distinction between hair of men and women, which could only relate to length, for there is no difference in composition:

“And they had hair as the hair of women” (Revelation 9:8).

Other Scriptural Support (cont.)

• Example: “Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair” (John 12:3).

• Scriptures assumes that Christian women will have long hair that needs to be arranged and thus tells them to arrange it moderately. See I Timothy 2:9; I Peter 3:3.

8. What about Dyeing the Hair?

• If we don’t use makeup, why use hair dye?

• “The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, if it is found in the way of righteousness” (Proverbs 16:31, NKJV). True or false?

• “The beauty of old men is the grey head” (Proverbs 20:29). True or false?

• “Thou canst not make one hair white or black” (Mt. 5:36). Is Jesus right or wrong?

D. Conclusion

• God still wants a witness in society for the distinction between male and female.

• If the church doesn’t provide it, who will?

• God always gives us a choice in serving Him. We didn’t choose our gender, but by our dress, our hair, and our actions we can either ratify or reject God’s will for us.