After I began studying 1st Corinthians chapter 11 for my own personal Bible studies as well as for upcoming studies on my podcast and YouTube channel, I had a real change of heart regarding several topics. Including headship, (a woman's role not only at home but in the church and in society), headcoverings and regarding modesty.
I suddenly realized that I was giving too much attention to the fashions of this world. I also realized that I was making up my own modesty rules or comparing myself with current modesty standards in the world and even in Christendom instead of simply turning to God's word for answers to these issues. I began to read and study regarding this topic and was surprised to realize just how many people today go around practically naked in God's eyes.
Nakedness is not just being totally nude. It's revealing certain parts of the body that God wants us to cover. The Apostle Paul said that at certain times they had been naked because of the sufferings they were experiencing when sharing the Gospel. But, I don't believe that this meant that they walked around totally nude. I believe it meant that they didn't have enough layers of clothes and perhaps their outer garments were stripped off of them. They may not have had enough clothes to be warm in the winter etc too.
1Co 4:11 KJV - 11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
Paul of course also very specifically addresses the issue of modesty, teaching us that the most important thing is to not be drawing attention to ourselves but to the gospel. [Peter says a similar thing in 1 Peter 3]
1 Timothy 2:9-10
9In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
10But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
As a grace believer I had to ask myself. Is the way I dress just to attract attention to myself or is it to bring glory to God and put the focus more on Him and on His word? Do I look like a woman of God or do I just fit in with the unbelievers in this world? How are we going to dress in eternity? In Genesis after the fall, Adam and Eve tried to clothe themselves and it was pitiful. They used fig leaves and made aprons (think of a bathing suit or perhaps a crop top and mini skirt).
Genesis 3:7
7And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
But, God would clothe them in coats of skin. A coat covers much more of the body than a flimsy leaf apron! God today has FULLY CLOTHED believers in His righteousness. We are not naked spiritually speaking. Our outer appearance should be a reflection of that.
Genesis 3:21
21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
One day we will also be clothed with an entirely new body too, that no longer has the sin nature. Then, how will our outter garments be? I personally believe we will be clothed in long white robes like the saints in Revelation and like how Christ wears a long robe or garment of some kind as well. A robe covers most of the body.
2 Cor 5:1-3 KJB
1For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
3If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
Revelation 1:13
13And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
I'll be doing more detailed studies regarding modesty soon in a podcast series. I'm being very careful not to lean towards legalism ... in fact I'm also now privately studying the book of Galatians to make sure I'm not moving away from grace. But, studying Corinthians also makes me realize the ways in which I've been living worldly perhaps without even realizing it. Our flesh likes to either be very worldly or legalistic. It doesn't like us to live by the faith OF Christ!
I also now have a very different understanding regarding the Christian woman's headcovering. I just began a series of podcasts on this issue, you can listen to the first video study about it below. It will be a verse by verse study in 1st Corinthians chapter 11, and then also addressing additional questions people usually have about it and the various reasons why so many choose to not veil today.
I wanted to share a few before and after photos as examples of the outer change I've had as a result of an inner change from reading and studying God's Word rightly divided.
Here is a new dress I bought recently from Amazon. It fits well, is very soft and comfortable and is not a thin material like a lot of clothing today.
I also bought this very warm and soft lavender cardigan for autumn and winter weather from Amazon.
My headcovering I also purchased from Amazon. It's a soft lace stretchy headband and I just use a few snap clips to keep it in place. I have one in brown as well.
I usually wear a white or black Mennonite style headcovering (from Joyce's Coverings) with a low bun in the day or especially when I go out, but after I take a nap later in the afternoon I put my hair up in a higher bun and put one of these soft headbands on. I prefer both of these styles of headcoverings because they are soft, comfortable and light. Paul never says what type of headcovering we are to wear just that a woman should be wearing a covering on her head whenever she prays or prophesies (I believe prophesying here means teaching God's word with a clear understanding of it).
1 Corinthians 11:5-6
5 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.
6 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 usually take my headcovering off when I nap, and late at night before a bath in the evenings because I do most of my Bible studies early in the day as well as right before bed. It's important to remember that the headcovering is for multiple reasons, not just one, which I will discuss in my Bible study series on it. I'm still getting used to wearing a covering but so far I have not had any major issues with it - no headaches or anything like that. I also noticed a funny thing though ... even though I do my hair basically the same and wear the same kinds of headcoverings it doesn't always look the exact same lol! Sometimes it's a little crooked or my side twist might look a little different. I also bought some dry shampoo for my bangs area because I noticed I touch my hair more often in the front now and it gets a little greasy in the front but the dry shampoo helps a lot so I don't have to wash my hair every single day.
And regardless of wearing one, believers are COMPLETE in Christ.
Col 2:10 KJV - 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Headcoverings are not about salvation or trying to maintain our salvation. We are eternally secure in Christ.
Romans 5:1-2
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
They are symbols that are reminders for us regarding headship (Gods order of creation), an encouragement for fellow believers, a witness to unbelievers and it teaches the angels about God's order of creation. The headcovering also symbolizes a man and woman's oneness in Christ. Even though we are under the headship of our husband, the headcovering symbolizes that both men and women can come freely before God in prayer and supplication and we can both teach God's word although women are to teach other women and children only. In a way it also says to the angels, "I have power here to pray and preach the word of God!"
Men have an ordinance too, which is to not wear a headcovering when they pray and teach because they are under the headship of Christ. You'll learn more about this in my upcoming studies.
In His Grace,
Mrs. Adrienne Jason