The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum first corinthians11: 1-16

Willemina,<br><br>I'm probably going to be in the very small minority here, but I do believe that 1Cor 11 does teach that a woman should have "long" hair AND cover her head when going to public worship. I wrestled with that passage for years and spent many hours in prayer and study of the text before arriving to my present view. Now, the issue for me, at least, having accepted that a woman should have "long hair", is what is "long"? It's easier for me to say what it isn't. [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/grin.gif" alt="grin" title="grin[/img] For example, a woman who cuts her hair so that it is similar to what a man's haircut looks like someone who is in the military, i.e., a "brush cut", very short. Of course, would this apply to a woman who has shoulder-length hair, but who prefers to wear it "up" on hot days? I think that this type of thinking is evasive and narrow-minded, however. My understanding of this issue is that in one respect, Paul is wanting men and women to have a clear distinction between their respective sexes. Women should not look like men, neither in regard to the length of their hair nor in their style/mode of dress; and vice versa. Perhaps in a practical sense, I might say that if I were to be walking behind an individual on the street and I am unable to discern whether the person in front of me is male or female.... well, something is definitely wrong. [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/laugh.gif" alt="laugh" title="laugh[/img]<br><br>However, aside from using a comparative analogy, it is my view, that women's hair should be "feminine".... yes, another relative term. If it seems that I am struggling to try and define what is "long", you are correct. It's difficult, at least for me, to be definitive. Those who are opposed to this entire matter will, of course, offer all kinds of "reasons" or examples to try and skirt around what I think is taught clearly enough in that passage. It is often pointed out that many of the Puritans (as if they are THE source of infallible truth) had long (shoulder-length) hair. Well, to be honest, I think they were violating what Paul taught in 1Cor 11. [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/yikes.gif" alt="yikes" title="yikes[/img]<br><br>In His Grace,