Why I Wear a Headcovering: A Christian Woman's Perspective
Biblical Command
The command to wear a headcovering while praying is found in the first book of Corinthians. Many modern Christians do not believe that this command is relevant today, which is why most Christian women do not cover their heads. It is not my intention to try to prove them wrong. Instead, I hope to help fellow Christians better understand the reasons that some Christian women do practice headcovering.
The fact that the Bible says: 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. (1 Cor. 11:5) is enough to convince many Christian ladies to cover their heads while in prayer. That we are told elsewhere in the scriptures to pray without ceasing seems to indicate that Christian women should cover their heads at all times.
I am well aware, having read extensively on the subject, of all of the arguments against covering. However, none of the arguments have convinced me otherwise. To myself and other headcovering Christian ladies, there are no ifs, ands or buts about it. God set it down in His word, and that is good enough for me.
Misconceptions
Some people may assume that Christian women who cover do so because they were raised that way. In fact, all of the Christian women I know who cover were led to do so as adults.
Another misconception about covered ladies (as well as those who dress modestly and/or plainly) is that their husbands, misogynists on a religious power trip, force them to do so. Again, all of the Christian ladies I know who cover, including myself, choose to wear a headcovering of their own free will.
Holier-than-thou?
What if you are a Christian woman who does not cover? You may feel that those of us who do cover think we are holier-than-thou. The opposite is actually true in many cases.
The wearing of a Christian headcovering is a very humbling experience. It was after I outgrew the, "Oh, look at that so-and-so...I would never do that!" phase and started looking closely at myself that I was led to cover my head during prayer.
Salvation Issue?
Most Christian ladies who practice headcovering do not believe it is essential to one's salvation. Salvation is a free gift of God and made possible through the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. To cover in obedience to scripture is not an attempt to earn one's way into Heaven; and to decide not to cover is not going to send any woman who has accepted God's free gift of salvation to Hell.
The decision to wear a headcovering was not an easy one for me. I always felt that my long blond hair was one of my best features and was reluctant to cover it up. I worried about what people would think. I was scared of being different from the world around me.
But God is faithful and true, and He has used the covering and the testimony it carries to change my life and the lives of people who I encounter in my daily walk through life.
Published by Myranda Morgan
freelance writer View profile
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61 Comments
Post a CommentI cover my head when I pray, preach, or teach in Bible Study, other services, and at home. I am Pentecostal and single. I began covering my head as an adult (yet single) when I understood the truth and the scriptures. I do not believe in dishonoring my head as I would not like to be dishonored, myself.
cont Many of your major cities in the U.S. are diverse and have a large number of women wearing hijabs. I think it's more confusing for some to understand why some Muslim women do and some don't. That's just because when you're on the outside looking in sometimes things don't make sense unless you're willing to research...or ask.
3. In regards to asking what sort of head dress.....similar to the hijab or other Muslim coverings, I have seen many different types of coverings for Christian women. I personally wear a bandanna (but not tied on the back, just laying over my head). I like this because they are easy to find in a non-diverse city, they are cheap, and you can find them in many colors and designs. Some sects of Christians have specific coverings...the amish for one.
I also began covering my head as an adult. To those who wish to attempt to quote to you reasons why you may be wrong, I say "so what". If you feel led to do so for whatever reason I applaud you for standing by your conviction. I'd like to address a couple of the Muslims comments also.
1. The hijab, for right or wrong, has become associated with oppression of women in this country because it is the outward notification that "i'm Muslim". There are indeed countries which have laws asserting women to be covered, countries which also have other harsh laws against women's rights. Also, in countries who do not have laws on the books, there are still women who are covered because their husbands or dad's have said so. I am not anti-Muslim in anyway and in fact lived in Pakistan for 2 years and would still be there today if I could....but these are just facts.
2. The hijab is not as scary in the West as people seem to think. Many of your major
It may be right for you but I feel this Bible passage is most misunderstood. Please consider several factors. After Ch.7:V.1,Paul responds to their questions with duel comments, divided here, at V.11 into the fallen creation versus those in the Lord. Also vs.8 & 9 define the "head" of v.3 as source, not as superior. Beware! some have changed v. 10 & 16 to oppose the original message. Paul concludes, "The churches of God have no such custom. Also, see Gal.3:28. If you wish to have more Bible input on this you may email your mailing address to benjaminweaver@frontier.com
I am a young soon-to-be teen and I'm considering head covering. I saw the Amish wearing it and didn't know why. But when I saw the Bible verses people refer to I feel I should wear a head covering or grow my hair long. I have not mentioned this idea to my parents yet. So maybe I should just grow my hair long?
(cont.) is that muslims kept updating their software (commandments)throughout history as God kept sending different versions (Torat/bible etc.)through thousands of his prophets right until the end (quran through Muhammad)while christians chose not to get the last update while jews chose not to accept the last two updates (bible through Jesus & quran)
(cont.)bling & glam of the west, they conceive all the rights & freedom given by Islam (which no culture & religion can match)as hindrance to thier utmost dream of so called freedom. They don't realize how ugly the face of that freedom is behind it's lovely veil. Look at the family values of the west. What is the value & respect of a woman as a woman? Anyways, just to reinforce ur belief, let me share this info. from FungShui (chinese system of directing energy correctly to improve life). When a man or woman prays withoud his/her head covered all the positive energy is lost through the head. So our belief in God should be so strong that even if some of his instructions doesn't make any sense to us, we should know that these are coming from the Creator. Our knowledge is extremely lim ited as compared to his. Just like we follow the instruction manual of a machinery because we know the engineer who made this, knows the best. The only difference b/w christians, jews & muslims
This is good. After all this proves that all the three main religions, Christianity, Islam & judism origin from the same source. I am a muslim & I have been covering my head since adulthood on my own choice & i am sick & tired of the western media projecting us as being oppressed. I have never met a single muslim woman in my entire life who covers herself because she is forced to, & I am 37 years old & was born & raised in a muslim country. I know there are some places in the muslim world where women are oppressed but it's because unfortunately there is so much illetracy & corruption & lawlessness in the muslim world & it's because of that. It has nothing to do with religion. Thousands of women are assaulted & battered in the west but no one blames christianity. They only blame that person but if same happens in muslim world, Islam is blamed right away. The western media always projects those few muslim women (who in no way represent the majority)who are so blindsighted by the
I have recently been convicted to cover my head. It was not an easy thing for me to swallow. I am so happy to know that I am not alone in the decision to cover. Thank you for the article.
Love the article!! There are so many misconceptions about women who cover, especially if you're young like me (I'm only fourteen, covering because I want to not because of my parents). So good that you could shed some light on why we do it!!! God bless you, from Rachel.