1 Cor 11 gives some instruction on order in the church. It deals with the subject of women and men covering their heads to pray, conduct at the Lord's Supper and so forth.
Let me say at the outset, I do not believe the instruction for a woman to wear a head covering is a perpetual one. It was based on a cultural practice of that day. In that day, all women except prostitutes wore long hair and head coverings in public. The nature of the acceptance and equality within the Christian assembly was one that received people equally...regardless of social status or gender (Gal 3:28). Yet, this truth and exercising of liberty in Christ was not intended to be a stumbling block to the culture (which did not understand it) or to usurp creative order (create a circumstance where a woman would become the head of a man).
Paul instructs the church (1 Cor 11:3-10) that they are to conduct themselves in a culturally and biblically relevant way. [This is consistent with every other time that Paul has spoken of our liberty and responsibility as Christians.]
In 1 Cor 11:17-22, he points out that the church was exercising the same self-interest and selfishness in asserting their rights at the meals. Each person served himself first and served himself well...even if it meant that the guy at the end of the line got nothing.Paul said, "I don't know what you think you are doing...but when you act like this...it is not the Lord's Supper you are observing. You are not honoring Christ in your conduct." (1 Cor 11:20-21).
In 1 Cor 11:23-34, Paul reaffirms what the purpose of the Lord's Supper is and how a person is to approach it. Not to satisfy their own appetites...but to remember what Christ has done for them and to act consistently with that gift.
Proverbs 26:1 is the takeaway today. No more than snow goes with summer or rain goes with the harvest...is honor due to a foolish man who is unwise.
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Whew... while reading this chapter I was beginning to worry, trying to figure out what scraf I was going to use this Sunday as my head covering (j/k). I so completely agree with the sumbling block, so often we get caught up in us and what I want that we forget that we are the light of Christ. People are looking to us to see how we will act.
The Lord's Supper is one of my most favorite acts of worship to Christ. I love the closeness I feel when I take the body and the blood. I am thankful that Jesus gave us this example and we are able to demonstrate our love for Him by showing obedience in the Lord's Supper.
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