Keep track of how Paul’s teachings lead naturally from one thing to another. The previous chapter was about self-restraint for the sake of the gospel. We are feudal servants of Christ by covenant; His reputation is our first consideration in all things. The Covenant of Christ has boundaries, the same as any other covenant. But this New Covenant is different from the Old, in that it is not a covenant that creates a national identity.
Paul refers to feudal headship as an ancient tradition essential to Christians. The symbolism of headgear has not changed much, even in the post-modern West. Men under military orders today wear headgear to symbolize this headship, a national military authority. Whereas the Hebrew national covenant required men to wear headgear during worship, as if under a mobilization for war, the follower of Christ recognizes no human national authority. It disgraces Christ’s feudal claims for men to wear a head covering indoors, particularly during worship.
For women, a covering was never a matter of national identity; it has always been about how women are under the feudal moral covering of either father or husband. Equality of the sexes is anathema in Christ; male and female are not interchangeable. Just about the only females who were uncovered in public were either minors or prostitutes who had no moral covering. Paul uses ritual terminology to ensure there is no mistaking this. The human fact of birth through mothers does not change it. In Christian worship, women cover their heads and men do not, in order to portray the divine order of things.
That Paul also mentions hair has caused a lot of debate over the past two millennia. His point is that the two are related, at least in the context of what would be proper in his world. Not only did prostitutes avoid headgear, but they wore their hair short like men. In Corinth this saved time and confusion when sailors visiting town didn’t speak Greek or Latin; a woman with short hair was for rent. Women with long hair or coverings were off-limits. Men with long hair were gay prostitutes. Sailors passing a large building with people gathered in worship should not confuse a Christian church meeting with a pagan temple hosting sacred prostitutes of either flavor.
Christians who wanted to protest about these boundaries on the basis of “freedom in Christ” were out of bounds. Their self-indulgent streak made them a threat to the gospel witness. It’s that self-restraint principle again. The Corinthians struggled with that concept in everything.
The next example of that was in celebrating the Lord’s Supper, the Christian version of the Seder. It celebrates our deliverance from slavery. Instead of making us a human nation, we are part of an eternal family. How did the Corinthians manage to turn it into an individualized thing? What happened to being one in Christ?
Granted, there should be some degree of distinction. Some in the body are quite mature in their faith. The rest of the church needs to see their witness. But that’s not what happened in the Lord’s Supper there. They would gather together, but it was like little family picnics. Some families brought a large pile of food, and some brought enough wine to get themselves drunk, but nobody shared with anybody else. Some church members were compelled to watch others eat and drink but had nothing themselves. That might be a supper, but it was not the Christ’s Supper.
Eat your meals at home. This is a ritual celebration in which everyone shares as one, and it’s just a token amount of food and drink. Everyone gets an equal share or no one gets any at all. Pass around the bread and the cup to everyone. Christ implemented this ritual after the main meal was already consumed. The Bread of Promise became His Body, and the Kiddush Cup became His blood. It is a memorial of His sacrifice for us all. It’s as somber as a funeral until He returns, when it will become a wedding feast.
If you don’t get this right, you defile yourselves. Humility before the Lord is the best way to avoid His wrath. Too many Corinthian Christians suffered to the point their lives countered the testimony of Christ — weak, sickly and some died because the defilement kept them from the miracles of Christ. Do you not understand that if you embarrass Him, He will remove you from His Body, one way or another?
Flaunting your wealth during a church meeting is obscene. Serving each other is glorious. Other ritual matters they had asked about could wait until Paul showed up in person.
