What's love got to do with it?

Head coverings and communion – what’s love got to do with it?

Let’s pick up back in chapter 10 where Paul verbalizes how he conducts himself: “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or 1) whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 2) Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also 3) please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.”

He goes on to remind the Corinthians in chapter 10 that his intentions are to imitate Christ, the epitome of love.

This letter was written to the church in Corinth some 25 years after Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven. They did not walk with Him (neither did Paul, not as a follower), but at least Paul knew about Him and was there for His trial, so Paul knew how to imitate Him, and he invited the church to do the same through his own example.

He goes on to talk about head coverings and why they are necessary or not. Essentially, men are “covered” by God, and for a man to cover his head would be to deny God’s power and authority, saying instead that he is his own governor and protection and source. For women, the covering symbolized covering by God and then by her husband once she became married. Removal of her covering would come across as a display her availability to other gods or to other men, especially at the temple (which is why Paul talks about coverings during prayer and prophecy).

The concept of head coverings was highly cultural, similar to our wedding bands. Since the temples were often used for Pagan worship, which included sexually immoral acts, it was imperative that a woman keep her head covered, lest a man perceive her as open for business or even another new believer perceive her as engaging in the worship of false gods. Out of thoughtful love for others, we ought to make our decisions on how we will dress, conduct ourselves, and live in general.

Ultimately, Paul encourages the church to judge among themselves what is proper. They had consciences just like we do. While God may not require a head covering for women, in that day and location, it would be prudent to have one, and for men to not. We should ask ourselves, "What is the most loving thing I can do in this situation?" And do just that.

These topics, like head coverings and other subjective ideas, should not become a wedge between believers, nor should any other thing. Those with the most power ought to choose to step down in order to bridge any gaps between believers, including socioeconomic statuses, as we read about in the rest of the chapter.

In that time, churches were still just gatherings with no special meeting places, so many meetings were held in homes. The situation that began to occur before communion was the richer would eat and drink beyond satiation while the poorer were disregarded. The members of the church were self-indulging when the whole purpose of communion was love – those two (self and love) are quite the opposite. They were missing the mark and creating the very division that Jesus demonstrated a desire to eliminate (particularly in His careful choosing of disciples), so Paul corrected them.

Furthermore, if they had been self-examining rather than self-indulging, they would not have needed this correction from Paul because they would have self-corrected already. We can take this into play today as we commune with the Lord. When we ask Him to search our hearts and reveal any wrongdoings, He certainly will before we become our own demise. He is kind like that. And His kindness leads to repentance, and repentance to inheritance. That’s love.