Conduct in public worship. 1Corinthians 11:1-16 The example of a mature, concerned, and caring Christian like Paul has great benefit to those who are in the generation or two behind them. It is important to seek the well-being and spiritual growth of believers and to have the kind of Christian testimony that unbelievers can see the reality that faith in Christ brings. Verse one of this chapter links the last verse of chapter ten of Paul’s personal motivation and testimony to the public testimony of an assembly of believers who are gathered together in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
He wasn’t arrogant when telling the believers to follow his example. The Gospels hadn’t been written, and all the Corinthians knew about the life and example of the Lord Jesus Christ was what they had heard from other people. As an apostle who had seen the Lord, and as a person they could trust who had lived among them for nearly two years, they could trust Paul, and it would be good for them to imitate him in their own life and conduct.
Both men and women in a local church visibly represent the unity and diversity in Christ's body. Appropriate conduct, practices, traditions, demeanor, and dress show the significance of what we do when we meet in unity with our Lord Jesus Christ at a public meeting. It is important to teach by example what it means to be new in Christ and why public worship and service must be done with the view of glorifying our Lord Jesus.
There will always be things in the life of an assembly, and an individual for that matter, that need instruction and correction. Paul gave us a good example of how we can introduce issues that need correcting by giving honest commendation and praise for what is right, to begin with. The Corinthian assembly knew Paul well, for he had been with them for nearly two years, and they appreciated his interest and remembered him and his teaching. They had also kept the ordinances (traditions) and the spiritual teaching he had given, passing them on from one to the other.
The traditions of men are not things to be passed on, but what was then, and today, traditions from the scriptures of truth - they are to be kept. Paul was the example they could follow. Without the written words of the New Testament, they had to rely on the oral testimony of those who spoke for God. False teachers often expose their false teachings through the lifestyle they have that is inconsistent with the teaching of the scriptures. A person's gift in teaching or public testimony of faith in Christ alone must be reinforced by the kind of person he is, his life, and the grace he shows.
There was disorder in the meetings of the assembly at Corinth. In this part of the epistle, Paul seeks to correct these disorders by carefully going over these issues and giving, calmly and clearly, the spiritual principles that apply to those issues. Irreverence apparently was a problem when they came together, as it is in some places now. The believers were coming to worship God in the same manner as they would when visiting someone's house. The assemblies that began worldwide, beginning at Jerusalem, welcomed those who were saved as equals: males and females, rich and poor, slave and free, regardless of nationality, to the fellowship of believers.
Today, as it was then, perhaps to a lesser degree, that irreverent freedom is carried to excess. An irreverent attitude leads to casual prayers. Inappropriate music opens the opportunity for the fleshly attraction to worldly music to assert itself. Divisions and disorder are usually not very far apart. Respect, integrity, and reverence are also not very far apart. A New Testament church needs to have these characteristics to be appropriate for the worship of God and service for God.
The careful explanation regarding the visible evidence of spiritual worship in the assembly indicates the importance the Spirit of God, through His servant Paul, thinks this matter to be. Some have the opinion today that it doesn't make any difference what a person wears and how they act when they come to worship God. They think the important thing is that they are there at all. The Lord Jesus clarified the principles of worship when He said, "They that worship the Father must worship Him in spirit and in truth." The right attitude (spirit) and the right words (truth) are expected of those who come into the presence of God as a gathered-out company of saints.
Some will say the uncovered heads of the men and the covered heads of the women are only cultural practices of ancient times and are neither relevant nor expected of us today. Even if it was cultural then, which it was, the principles behind the specific instructions the apostle Paul gave regarding headship are timeless. Respect for our spouse, reverence for God, and what is acceptable in worship is to focus our attention on God whom we worship, not on ourselves.
The women were to wear head coverings so attention was not directed to them, and men were to be uncovered so attention was directed to the Head, which is Christ. There are a number of reasons why the visible distinction among those who come to worship and serve God together as an assembly is important. Submission of those who represent Christ and His bride, the Church, is a fundamental part of Christian unity in the local assembly.
There is also a spiritual reason for this order. The Father is head over Christ, yet they are equal in value and importance. Their roles are different in the kingdom of God. The different roles men and women fill do not have to do with worth. In the assembly, the women are subject to male leadership even though they are equals. This has to do with order being maintained under the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ. The men honor the Lord Jesus Christ, the Head, by not being covered. The women honor the leadership of men and the authority of God by covering their heads so attention is not specifically directed to them. In this way, submission to the authority of the Sovereign Lord is shown by both sexes.
“The head” in this context does not mean the controlling power but rather the source of existence. The man was created from dust by God, and the woman was created from man by God. God made us who we are, but the source is what determines the order and role we fill in the local church. Christ is not inferior to God the Father in any way, but His role in coming to earth to redeem and save us followed a divine order. “The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.”
The point to be made is that submission to each other is a key element in the public functions of assembly life. All are equal in value, but submission to each other in the fear of God indicates mutual cooperation, each to the other, and a commitment to fulfill the public role God has given me. Contention over things that are actually written in the word of God by the direction and inspiration of the Holy Spirit is unacceptable. The “custom” among the early churches was to simply follow the teaching they received, which hasn’t changed. When a doctrine, principle, or practice has been placed on the pages of the Bible, those scriptures are there for a purpose. We should not ignore or try to explain away what God has stated to be appropriate beliefs and practices.
There is also the fact that a woman's long hair reflects her personal submission to the leadership of her husband and her respect for herself. The men show this through the short hair that nature teaches. The sisters are able to glorify God with head covering and honor male leadership by her long hair - and not to be a disgrace to herself by appearing manly. In the opposite way, men glorify God with uncovered heads and short hair, identify their role in the assembly, and keep themselves from disgrace by appearing feminine.
Another reason for this public representation of saints submitting to this divine order is in the order of creation. The man was created first. He is the responsible one in the public domain. Women are not inferior to men because there is unity in the equality of both persons. However, men are considered (at least until recently) by the government of the country to be the head of the household. As such, men have delegated authority in the home to rule with compassion, humility, responsibility, and unbiased recognition of each member of that household.
This is also true in an assembly of saints. Angels look on and observe the divine order of headship restored in the assembly that they lost in rebellion and the first couple lost in disobedience. It has now become visibly evident to angels and men that the headship of Christ is honored and hopefully maintained in local assemblies that follow the scriptural pattern of gathering.
The interdependence of men and women, as taught in verses eleven and twelve, reveals the partnership aspect of both in the assembly. We need each other to carry out the Word of God. An assembly is not made up of women only or of men only. Both are essential to declare the testimony of Christ and His love for the church. To worship God in the way He intends is serious and not in any way to be taken carelessly or lightly.
Angels look on, those in the observers' seats are learning, and the participants, both audible and inaudible, are made conscious of God's presence when worshipping in "the beauty of holiness." Dignity and propriety are reasons imposed on us by nature so that we can testify to divine order by the distinction of the sexes. Believers should behave in honorable ways and look modest and respectful in ways that suit the culture in which they live. We are not to adopt all the practices of local culture just to make ourselves appealing. But we are to conduct ourselves wherever we are in ways that demonstrate our faith in Christ and honor Him consistently in behavior and appearance. Modesty and respect are found in every culture and should be seen in those who gather in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to worship, honor, and serve God.
Observers should be able to say they are different in this place. It is very easy to observe that the men and women here are following those who clearly taught them the ways of the Lord. It is not just in what they say, but the dignity they preserve that impresses angels and men who don't read the Word of God. When they come together, there is dignity and obvious respect for God and His Word. They obviously know whom they are called to represent. From within their hearts and souls come evidence outwardly that they do not forget it is to the Lord Jesus Christ they consent. Their testimony of yielding to the headship of Christ is seen outwardly in their dress and demeanor.
There is an obvious difference between the sexes when they meet. Each person is equal as a worshipper, but their roles are different. The honor they deserve and awareness of their differences should be obvious as they treat one another with dignity and respect. With delight, they come together as one body to worship the Father and honor the Son in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all led by the Spirit. Each believer is as different from the others as the members of a body are unique but joined as one. Each worshipper knows that God Himself hears it, whether audible or silent, in their worship.
It is not right for men to take the place of women or for women to take the place of men. He has designated the order God has established. Each one in the assembly should fill their role as best they can, knowing God expects each individual to do what He intends of them. It is no light matter to be called by Christ's name and gathered to Him in faith and personal consecration. He never intended for us to be all exactly the same, but in the role He has given us, He has the right to expect our full dedication from us.
Men and women are distinctly different by nature and practice, but we are one in unity. The gifts given are to fill the need we have for each other. Men speak out publicly, and the women in silence show holy piety. In the local body of saints, there is a role for each sister and brother to fill. By faith, each needs to understand and help each other fulfill our God-given role. So that the unity of the saints in worship and service completes our public testimony, the men speak audibly like the mouthpiece, and the women are like the soul of the assembly. Each one can be content in who we are, doing what God wants, without any desire to compete.