Missionaries and Head Coverings in Muslim Countries

[Newman]

Originally Posted by Felicity

Yeah, but you'd be surprised how many aren't willing to do that. And the nationals ..... i.e. the people you are trying to reach .... pick up on it real quick. I know because they've shared with us that they can see the difference in the attitude and spirit of missionaries. They know when they're truly loved, and part of that is willingness to identify with the parts of their culture that are not anti-God or ungodly.

However, I'm sure this isn't exactly what Newman was desiring discussion to be centered around.

Well, actually it was... 1 Corinthians is a powerful book about influencing the world and various cultures for the Kingdom of Christ. The missionaries response to culture and the cultures response to the missionaries is very interesting on many levels.

[Michael The Disciple]

Actually Christian Women should wear the head covering when praying or prophesying because God wills it. Not at all that the Corinthian culture practiced it.

Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. 11:5 But every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonors her head. For it is one and the same thing as if she were shaved.

Islamic women are not ashamed to wear a veil. Why should Christian women be?

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Newman

Well, actually it was... 1 Corinthians is a powerful book about influencing the world and various cultures for the Kingdom of Christ. The missionaries response to culture and the cultures response to the missionaries is very interesting on many levels.

If this is just about culture why say "her hair is given to her for a covering"? Who gave it? The Mayer of Corinth?

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by Newman

Well, actually it was... 1 Corinthians is a powerful book about influencing the world and various cultures for the Kingdom of Christ. The missionaries response to culture and the cultures response to the missionaries is very interesting on many levels.

Yes, I agree.

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Actually Christian Women should wear the head covering when praying or prophesying because God wills it. Not at all that the Corinthian culture practiced it.

Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. 11:5 But every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonors her head. For it is one and the same thing as if she were shaved.

Islamic women are not ashamed to wear a veil. Why should Christian women be?

[Thad]

The Head covering issue is very interesting to me because our church is right next store to an Apostolic church that REQUIRES their women to wear head coverings.
we sung on Program at a local college here last sunday and their choir sung to. there they marched up, all the women in their white lacey head coverings.

you would think they would not want to have ANY association with muslim beliefs ! ! I'd be embarrassed if I was them ! and I go out of my way to explain to outsiders that we are NOT with that church!!!!!

[JN Anderson]

Originally Posted by Newman

I had the opportunity to speak to two different missionaries to two different Muslim areas of the world this past month.

I asked them both similar questions and got different perspectives and noticed different results....

1. What does it mean to the Muslim people for a woman to be uncovered?
Same answer. It says that she is immoral and it brings dishonor to her family... (No equation with submission).

2. Do the missionary women wear head coverings?
Missionary A. NO- People understand that she is a Christian rather than a Muslim.

Missionary B. YES- It is considered immoral not to wear a head covering.

3. Who have you been reaching?

Missionary A. Interestingly enough, the church is made up of foreigners in the area....

Missionary B. The Muslim people

See 1 Corinthians 9:19-22. Food for thought.

Newman:

I believe that it can be understood that Muslims, while clearly having long veil usages, are set apart from a Jewish culture because, for them, the veil was not a long used custom. It was rarely, if ever, used. As you know I can provide some references if you need. Therefore, I think you have a comparison flaw here, if you are wanting to work this, in some sense, into our paradigm of 1 Corinthians 11. Good to see you posting here though.

[JN Anderson]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Actually Christian Women should wear the head covering when praying or prophesying because God wills it. Not at all that the Corinthian culture practiced it.

Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. 11:5 But every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonors her head. For it is one and the same thing as if she were shaved.

Islamic women are not ashamed to wear a veil. Why should Christian women be?

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[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Thad

The Head covering issue is very interesting to me because our church is right next store to an Apostolic church that REQUIRES their women to wear head coverings.
we sung on Program at a local college here last sunday and their choir sung to. there they marched up, all the women in their white lacey head coverings.

you would think they would not want to have ANY association with muslim beliefs ! ! I'd be embarrassed if I was them ! and I go out of my way to explain to outsiders that we are NOT with that church!!!!!

Thad....you know Christians were wearing head coverings before there was a Muslim....Head coverings actually have been worn by Christian women for centuries even until recent times..

[Newman]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

If this is just about culture why say "her hair is given to her for a covering"? Who gave it? The Mayer of Corinth?

I believe Paul was speaking of 2 issues pertaining to women directly tied to being an effective witness in Corinth.

Moral women would have long hair and a head covering in contrast to temple prostitutes with shaved heads and high class prostitutes with uncovered heads.

It was a glory to her to have long hair in the same vein as a white wedding gown traditionally carried symbolic meaning.