Why do women in churches not wear veils? I mean, in some churches they do, but mostly not. Is this an instance where the Word of God is being ignored? Well if anyone thinks that, as a matter of conscience she should wear a veil and no one would think anything different. And if a man really believes it is a requirement of God, he would at least ask his wife and daughter if they shouldn't wear the veil.
Most of the time this is an issue of debate for some rather than a sincere desire to observe the practice if the Scriptures say to. I have never personally encountered a single person who was seriously studying the issue. I know some have and concluded that women should wear some kind of covering. When it has come up to me, it's not been for any reason but to score a point that we in the church don't agree on or follow everything in the Scriptures. The person doing the arguing isn't of the mind to introduce veils, only to argue. But regardless of the motive of these people, it is still worthy of being studied.
So why does the church not have the women wearing veils? Why do I not as a preacher call for the women to wear veils? That's really the question, isn't it? Some people say it is not practiced today because that was just a cultural practice of the day. And Paul was having the church observe the culture so as not to offend. There may have been some of that, but I don't think that is the explanation for our women not observing it. Paul says,
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"But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying disgraces her head, for she is one and the same as the woman whose head is shaved." - 1 Cor. 11:5
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It does seems that the burden is upon the church today to explain why Christian women are not wearing veils. This verse in the Corinthian letter says they are to, right?
Notice the context. The instruction to "every woman" does not pertain to every woman, but to a particular group of woman who are "praying and prophesying". So if "every woman" was engaged in praying and prophesying,
not "praying and prophesying", then every single woman would need to follow the practice of wearing the veil. But those women who are not praying and prophesying, there veil is not required.
But every Christian woman is praying in the assembly, right? Doesn't that fact alone mean that the women today should be wearing veils? Notice that "praying and prophesying" is mentioned in a section of 1 Corinthians that is talking about regulations in the church (11:16,17). This section continues through chapter fourteen. At the end of chapter 14 the women are told they are not to speak/teach in the church. In the assembly, the women would not be praying and prophesying, things which required the veil.
The only setting where the prophetess would be teaching and prophesying was outside of the assembly of the church. The "praying and prophesying" by the women, i.e. leading others in these supernatural gifts, was forbidden in the assembly because women were to be silent. While the the Prophetess pray and prophesy with her head covered, but she must limit her activity to those teaching situations outside of the general assembly of the church just as is described in 1 Corinthians 14. Strictly following what Paul says in our passage above, the women who were not "praying and prophesying" were not enjoined to wear the veil.
Please notice also that "praying and prophesying" are activities of Prophets and Prophetesses. In other words, they are acting in a leading and teaching capacity. In chapter 14, praying, singing, and speaking in tongues were supernaturally inspired. Paul says,
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"13 Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. 16 Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified. ." - 1 Cor. 14:13-17
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The "praying in the spirit" and "praying with the mind" are showing that this is not the same praying that most of us think of when we say "let's pray". There is "praying" generally, and then there "praying" supernaturally by the Holy Spirit. In 1 Corinthians, the context of chapter 11-14 is related to the supernatural gift of "praying" in the spirit and in the mind. Paul's reference to "praying" in the 1 Corinthians 11 passage above is not the general prayer that all Christians engage in. It is the supernaturally inspired gift of the Prophet or Prophetess. This was supernaturally inspired and guided so that the foreigners could also be led in spiritual activities. "Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad" (1 Cor. 14:23)? These regulations concerning tongues, singing, and praying are related to the "praying and prophesying" in 1 Corinthians 11 when the veil was to be worn. A Prophetess who is spreading the truth through "praying and prophesying" had to wear the veil, A woman not acting in a teaching/leading capacity would therefore not be required to.
I understand the veil was not a small veil. It was a full head covering.
Here is where I believe we are. If a case could be made for the veil regulation still being in place, it would most surely be a requirement for women in churches where they lead prayers and preach. Certainly if there were, but there are not, any Prophetesses today, then they would be required according to the teaching in the Corinthian letter to wear the veil when "praying and prophesying", but they would still not be doing this in the "church" setting. Not in the first century and not in the 21st century would this require the women in the church to wear a veil.
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Value of the Woman