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| Day 81 Part 4: Coverings, Spiritual Gifts, and Love |
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 Coverings
This is probably where I will lose some readers :-)
Let me start by saying that I don't believe that women must wear a literal head covering in church. If women in our churches did this we would probably be mistaken for muslims. This is probably an issue that we will never find a satisfactory conclusion to until Christ returns, but we can try right :-)?
Chapter 11 of 1Corinthians starts with God's ordained order of headship and then abruptly goes into misconduct in the Lord's Supper. I don't think that we should implement literal head coverings for women because I don't believe thats what this passage is aimed at. It seems to be more directed toward roles. 11:3 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.
This passage of scripture isn't about subjection, but submission. For women to think that being submissive is demeaning to them would be the same as me thinking that my submission to Christ demeans me. We know that submission to Christ results only in good things right? So...why wouldn't we trust God that when he says, through Paul, "man is the head of woman" that God knows what is best for us? If you are a married woman, you are to submit yourself to Christ by submitting to your husband. For husbands to love their wives properly, they must be living in submission to Christ. I guess this really isn't about head coverings anymore, but the issue is not about what you wear...its about who has the authority in your life. I welcome any and all comments on this as I'm not the final authority on this scripture :-)
Spiritual Gifts
I know this is a prickly subject for a lot of people but its here, its prominent, and I must address it :-)
There are some groups out there that will tell you, "unless you've spoken in tongues you don't have the Holy Spirit." Paul disagrees with them :-) 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 12:5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 12:6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another [divers] kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. In other words...not every one has the same gifts, but we all have the same Spirit of God. Pretty straight forward if you ask me. The rest of chapter 12 goes on to explain these thing in greater detail. To those who say that speaking in tongues is the only way to know if you have the Holy Spirit, I would say that they need to read chapter 12 :-) Paul actually ranks some of the gifts for us: 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
Do you se which gift he listed at the end? Thats right...tongues. So why would we want to speak in tongues so badly when Paul says, "But earnestly desire the greater gifts"? We need to get our priorities straight. Tongues edifies self, whereas teaching edifies the church. The Bible actually says these things...crazy isn't it? Check out chapter 14.
Love
13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 13:2 And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 13:4 Charity suffereth long, [and] is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall fail; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall vanish away. 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these [is] charity. We all need to be reminded what love really is. Can anyone honestly say that they realy love? The gifts and the deeds are meaningless unless they are done out of love. Chapter 14 verse 1 tells us to earnestly desire spiritual gifts, especially prophecy, but it tells us to pursue love. All of what love is in chapter 13 is what we are supposed to be chasing!!! Desire gifts, pursue love!!! God teach me to chase after You, the GIFT GIVER, and not just the gifts. |
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| Thanks for the star Rachael! |
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Hey dude, you completely skipped over ch 14! (I've been waiting for 84 days and you skipped it!!!!!)
hahaha, just kidding dude. On the head covering bit. I've read that the women of Corinth were in the practice of ornamenting their hair with gaudy, shiny gold jewelry. Very distracting during a church service, especially when sitting next to a poor person dressed modestly. Soooo, that would explain the desire to cover the head. (if true)
As for the husbands loving their wives properly, not only are they to submit to Christ but there is also the need to submit in certain respects to their wives (Eph. 5:21).
Do you want more action on this blog entry? Put the word "tongues" in the title. (lol) BTW, I agree wholeheartedly w/what you wrote. Many churches seem to proselytize more zealously for tongues than they do for simple surrender to Christ. :-( |
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Hey Mike...I always love your comments :-) You crack me up!
I'm not sure about the women gettin' dressed up...seems plausible to me.
I think that men actually have the tougher assignment in Ephesians. The wives are told to submit. The husbands are told to love their wives just like Christ loved the church and gave himself for her. Thats a huge responsibility.
Why don't people want the other gifts more than tongues? Thats what chapter 14 is all about. Tongues edifies self...prophecy edifies the church. Which one is better? Paul says prophecy. Why do we disagree with him?
Anyway...thanks for the comment Mike! |
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Hey Zach, I agree. 1Cor14 is pretty clear to me, as is your quote from ch12. Tongues is an extremely touchy subject for many. Why!? |
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I'm not quite sure how head coverings relate to the Lord's Supper. It doesn't really seem to except that Paul was getting onto them for having divisions among them. What did you think?
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| Honestly...I have no idea. If you have one I would be glad to hear/read it :-) |
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troy |
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January 31, 2008 at 9:01pm |
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| | Thanks for the star Rachael! |
| Hey dude, you completely skipped over ch 14! (I've been waiting for 84 days and you skipped it!!!!!)
hahaha, just kidding dude. On the head covering bit. I've read that the women of Corinth were in the practice of ornamenting their hair with gaudy, shiny gold jewelry. Very distracting during a church service, especially when sitting next to a poor person dressed modestly. Soooo, that would explain the desire to cover the head. (if true)
As for the husbands loving their wives properly, not only are they to submit to Christ but there is also the need to submit in certain respects to their wives (Eph. 5:21).
Do you want more action on this blog entry? Put the word "tongues" in the title. (lol) BTW, I agree wholeheartedly w/what you wrote. Many churches seem to proselytize more zealously for tongues than they do for simple surrender to Christ. :-( |
| Hey Mike...I always love your comments :-) You crack me up!
I'm not sure about the women gettin' dressed up...seems plausible to me.
I think that men actually have the tougher assignment in Ephesians. The wives are told to submit. The husbands are told to love their wives just like Christ loved the church and gave himself for her. Thats a huge responsibility.
Why don't people want the other gifts more than tongues? Thats what chapter 14 is all about. Tongues edifies self...prophecy edifies the church. Which one is better? Paul says prophecy. Why do we disagree with him?
Anyway...thanks for the comment Mike! |
| Hey Zach, I agree. 1Cor14 is pretty clear to me, as is your quote from ch12. Tongues is an extremely touchy subject for many. Why!? |
| I'm not quite sure how head coverings relate to the Lord's Supper. It doesn't really seem to except that Paul was getting onto them for having divisions among them. What did you think?
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| | Honestly...I have no idea. If you have one I would be glad to hear/read it :-) |
 | | troy |  | January 31, 2008 at 8:50pm | |
| Co 11:5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoreth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 1Co 11:6 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.
If the woman is not to cover her head or to shave it what does the above verses mean and when was it done away with? |
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