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SUBJECT: Spiritual Covering
QUESTION: Does the Bible
support the doctrine of Spiritual Covering?
ANSWER: No, it does not
Following is an edited
article we found on the Internet that explains this false
doctrine. This will be followed by addition Internet links
and finally a recent Intercontinental Church of God sermon
speaking on the related subject of Ephesians 5.
The Shepherding Movement's Influence---(spiritual
covering)
In the '70's and '80's numbers of teachings on this subject
were brought into the Body, popularizing the concept that
every Christian leader and church had to be "covered", under
someone's authority and accountability. Accountability
obviously is needed in the church, as well as the Godly
exercising of spiritual authority, especially among leaders.
The exposure of sin in prominent ministries in the '80's
made that evident. The question is not only what is needed,
but the how and the way it's implemented. The Shepherding
and Discipleship streams, and their offshoots, did much to
spread this false teaching. Unfortunately, after years have
passed, it's become obvious that many of these teachings
were used to be "proof-texts" to back up the authoritarian
structures that these movements propagated.
Just as God speaks to each generation, the church heard the
beginning of a word concerning spiritual authority, and
accountability and "covering" in its infancy and then
attempted to package it. The generation reacting to the
excessive permissiveness of the '60's saw much danger in the
people moving ahead without authority or structure. However,
many "blew it" as they attempted to define it before God
had! Dozens of teachings on authority and covering were
disseminated in the churches in the '70's and '80's and very
few even questioned them. The result to this reaction was
either anarchy, but mostly totalitarian church structures
and governments. Very few were able to achieve the liberty
in the Spirit the Lord desired and is clear in and through
God’s Word
TRUE or THE TRUTH
Arthur Burt shares a story of a man, who after going on a
trip comes home and admits to his wife of finding a rope and
bringing it home with him . . . He omits to tell her,
however, there was a cow on the end of the rope! What he
said was true, but not the truth.
The devil is the father of lies and is masterful at crafting
spiritual deceptions based on incomplete TRUTH - TRUE, but
not the whole truth. Whether disputing with Eve in the
Garden or Jesus in the wilderness, the devil told the truth
- mostly. However, the 5% he twisted, omitted or altered was
the one part that was crucial in order to get the whole
story.
Paul Cain said, "Heresy is taking to logical conclusions
that which God hasn't fully revealed." Simply because we
hear "true" spiritual statements doesn't mean we have
discovered a right theology. It's important to remember that
the scripture confirms itself, and to pull a passage or
concept "out of the air" without a basis in either proven
practice or confirming principles in scripture can lead to
deception. Because of this, thousands have been left
spiritually bankrupt because of the misuse of the "truth"
such as the one on "covering". "Running ahead" without "the
rest of the story", as Paul Harvey says, can cause us to get
into dangerous and even erroneous territory. If our focus is
on the Son of God who is Truth personified rather than a
"proof-text", the Spirit of Truth will guide us into all the
truth we need to know at the time.
The Teaching
Here is a brief, but definitely not exhaustive, summation of
the teaching on "covering". The gist of this teaching was
that every Christian, leader or church must be "under" the
covering of another's ministry, authority, etc. Some key
aspects to this teaching are:
1. All authority belongs to God.
2. To have authority, you must be under authority.
3. God delegates all authority to man, through leaders, the
ministry gifts to the Body and civil and judicial leaders.
4. To be "safe", one must be under subjection of another
man's authority.
5. If you disagree with or don't obey your spiritual
authority or "covering" you're Sinning against God and
disobeying the Word of God Rebellious and out from under
God's "umbrella" or "covering".
6. If you disagree with your covering, but obey, you'll be
"safe", "covered" and obedient to God.
Again, the motive propelling most of this teaching was to
bring order out of the "chaos" and the "out of control"
masses that swept into the Charismatic Renewal and bring
them in line with God's "order". However, too many times
the world’s churches have had a predisposition toward
structure, order and business. The truth is, when God comes
on the scene, it's messy, looks disorderly, chaotic and
usually offends the mind.
Let me correct some erroneous aspects of
the teaching on "covering".
1. All authority on heaven and earth has been given to
Jesus, from the Father and administrated through the Spirit.
God reserves the right at any time to give or take away that
authority. Saul did not recognize this when he lost his
authority and continued on to his folly.
2. Spiritual authority in the church is not the same as
authority in the home, political or civil authority, even
though it all ultimately proceeds from God.
3. No one man, movement, denomination, or council can
contain all authority that comes from Christ.
4. True Spiritual authority is of the "Kingdom of Heaven"
and doesn't mix well with church politics. It's "not of this
world".
5. True authority is recognized by the flock below, not just
the hierarchy above. True spiritual authorities are aware
they are sheep too!
6. True Spiritual authority is to bring healing,
deliverance, setting the captives free, binding up the
wounded, preaching good news, and brings freedom, not
bondage, fear, control, manipulation or witchcraft. (Luke
4:18-19)
7. No one pope, pastor, apostle, prophet or council can
"cover" or shelter the people of a church, denomination or a
movement. However, true Spiritual authority will direct the
sheep to the Great Shepherd who "stands at the door", and
true leaders are able to protect the sheep by directing them
to Him and His Word and away from the pits of life.
8. No where in my study of Scripture is there any reference
to a man, apostle, pastor, elder, prophet or council who
"covered" anyone spiritually by act or principle. To find
one is to severely "stretch" the Word of God to fit a
predetermined conclusion.
Here are some "proof-texts" this
teaching uses:
1. Exodus 18:21 - Where Moses was encouraged by his
father-in-law to delegate authority to judge the
people to leaders of 10's, 100's, and 1000's. Instead
of applauding this idea and blessing it, look at the
context. Jethro was the priest of Midian, a pagan
people. "Midian" mean "division, strife". This "plan" was
never approved or blessed by God. In fact, shortly
after, God met with Moses (Exodus 19:6) and declared
the nation to be a "kingdom of priests", not a pyramid
- marketing plan! It doesn't appear that God ordained
or approved the plan but only allowed it. God blesses
and even allows things He doesn't approve of many
times.
2. Matthew 8:5-10 - Is the story of the centurion
soldier who came to Jesus concerning his sick servant.
When Jesus offered to come to his house and heal him,
the Centurion told Jesus, "Just say the word and he'd
be healed", then mentioned the principle of being
"under authority". Teachers of this erroneous doctrine use
this as confirmation that we all must be "under
authority". Authority is discussed, but the main emphasis of
this story is not the Centurion's "submission to
authority" but the applause Jesus gives him is for his great
faith
that Jesus need only "say the word" and his servant
would be healed.
3. Hebrews 13:17 and Romans 13:1-7 - The passage in
Hebrews adjures us to obey leaders (spiritual)
and Romans tells us to honor and submit to civil
authorities. These are two entirely different passages, one
concerning spiritual leadership and the other obeying
the civil law.
4. Ephesians 5:21-25 - Many "covering" teachings
attempt to "blur" the command to submit to "one
another" found in verse 21 and submission in the
covenant of marriage in verses 22-25. In marriage, the
husband is the head of the wife and the wife is to
submit to her husband. But by merging these 2 passages,
these teachings imply there is a yoke between a
Christian and their pastor, bishop or "covering" equivalent
to
Christ and the Church. Therefore, if the authority or
"covering" is not submitted to, it is akin to a spiritual
divorce! To equate the covenant of marriage and a
believer's relationship to spiritual authority is to twist
the
context of these passages. This borders on heresy and
perverts the truth of the Gospel. At one time in the
'70's thousands of men looked to the Shepherding
movements for leadership where this type of teaching was
propagated. Is it any wonder so many still have a
warped view of this subject today?
Note: See my sermon on Ephesians 5 below.
Trusting In Man
Conversely, the Scripture clearly teaches the danger of
entrusting certain areas of our lives to fallible, mortal,
fleshly men, even Godly men:
"Cursed is the one who trusts in man and makes flesh his
strength." (Jeremiah 17:5-6)
"But Jesus on His part was not entrusting Himself to them,
for He knew all men and what was in man..." (John 2:24-25)
"Do not trust in princes, in mortal man, in whom there's no
salvation." (Psalm 146:3)
"It's better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in
man, it's better to take refuge in the Lord, than to trust
in princes..." (Psalm 118:8-9)
Jesus commanded, "Do not be called Rabbi, for One's your
teacher and you're all brothers, and don't call anyone on
earth your father, for One is your father, He who is in
heaven. And do not be called leaders for One is your leader,
that is Christ." (Matthew 23:8-10)
Covering
What does the Bible teach about "covering"? Not much.
Isaiah 30:1 says " "Woe to the rebellious children," says
the Lord, "that take counsel but not of Me, that cover with
a covering but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to
sin." Isaiah 4:4-5 states "The glory of the Lord will be
your covering". 1 Peter 4:8 says "Love (God)
covers a multitude of sins." Hebrews 3:3 says "His splendor
covers the heavens and the earth."
The issue is further complicated when "covering" is confused
and mixed with submission in the home, ordained authority in
the church and God-ordained civil authorities. Spiritual
authority is far greater than civil authority. Mary, Queen
of Scots said that she "feared the prayers of John Knox more
than the armies of England." To somehow mix and muddle civil
obedience, authority in the church and submission in the
home is like comparing apples, oranges and bananas and
saying they're all the same! This is wrong exegesis of
Scripture and oversimplifies under the banner of "authority"
3 difficult and distinct concepts.
*****
There is a very good article
on this subject posted on the Internet. The title of the
article is:
“THE MYTH OF "SPIRITUAL
COVERING"
By Steven Lambert
Go to this link:
http://www.slm.org/trtdigst/articles/covering.html
Here is an excerpt:
“Let me begin by speaking plainly and directly: "spiritual
covering" as theorized by the Discipleship theosophy is an
absolute myth. No semblance of the Discipleship teaching
version of "spiritual covering" exists anywhere within the
pages
of Scripture. "Spiritual covering," in the vein it is
presented by proponents of these hyper-authoritarian
teachings, is an
outright deception! It is a complete fabrication concocted
by the originators of these fallacious doctrines as a
supposed
pretext for facilitation of purely self-aggrandizing
objectives of subjugation, domination, and control.”
---end of excerpt---
Following this article are
two accompanying articles:
THE FALLACY OF "PERSONAL
SHEPHERDSHIP" ©
By Steven Lambert
Go to this link:
http://www.slm.org/trtdigst/articles/ppastors.html
Here is an excerpt:
The adulterated concept of "spiritual covering" itself is
problematic enough. Yet, its negative effect is increased by
the fact
that it is the predicate for several other, related elements
of error comprising the heretical Discipleship/Shepherdship
doctrines and practices, one of which is the matter of
"personal shepherdship." Indeed, this element has been the
basis for
at least as much excess, errancy, and authoritarian abuse as
the others already discussed. To those who employ these
practices for sordid purposes or with less than pure
motives, the perverted concept of "spiritual covering" is
sanction for a
most insidious kind of unauthorized personal domination and
control of their subjects under the auspices of this very
delusive and destructive version of "personal shepherding."
As with most other elements of error with these and other
false doctrines, this particular component is the result of
perversion and adulterization of a valid Truth. The essence
of the erroneous concept of "personal shepherding" is that
because the spiritual leader, along with the entire chain of
leaders emanating from him, provides and in effect IS the
"spiritual covering" for his followers (which
we have already shown to be a false hypothesis),
the leader has not only the
right, but also the duty to interlope into the private and
personal affairs of the lives of the members of the group.
In
essence, the leader becomes the equivalent of tribal chief
to the group, whose final approval members of the tribe must
have for most every important transaction and decision in
their lives, with some variability depending on the
particular
group and leader. In many cases, members must receive
authorization from the leadership for the most mundane
matters
in their lives, including financial matters and purchasing
decisions, matters of career and employment, housing,
family,
friends, social and educational matters, and just about
every segment of the members' lives.
---end of excerpt---
THE DANGER OF ZEAL WITHOUT
KNOWLEDGE
By Steven Lambert
Go to this link:
http://www.slm.org/trtdigst/articles/zeal.html
Here is an excerpt:
A rather ironic and curious characteristic of the idolatry
of false teaching is that essentially it is "zeal without
knowledge."
It is quite common for those caught in the throes of
deception and false doctrine to be quite zealous and ardent
in their
spiritual pursuits. Wherever false teaching is being
promulgated, the perpetrators and adherents commonly are
fervently
dedicated to their church-group and its purposes, beliefs,
and goals. In fact, it is this zealousness by participants
in
aberrant and cult-like religious groups that makes it
extremely difficult for concerned observers to: one, fully
recognize and
realize the existence of error and errancy; two, to take
serious the potential for spiritual and psychological injury
and ruin;
and, three, to recognize the need for and actually effect
appropriate remedial action.
Certainly, this is the case with those who are being duped
by these fallacious Discipleship/Shepherd- ship doctrines.
They
are often very zealous and even marginally fanatical in
their spiritual pursuits. And, in a day when there is far
too little
fervency for the things of God, most any of us are
understandably reluctant to do anything that might douse the
fire of
someone who is on fire, ostensibly, for God.
---end of excerpt---
*****
Following is the text of a
recent sermon I gave regarding Eph. 5 and the mystery spoken
of in Eph. 5:32
Today we are going to solve a mystery!
It is a mystery that was written almost 2000 years ago in
one of the books of your Bible.
There are many elements and individuals involved in this
mystery. It involves God, Jesus Christ, the Church and the
institution of marriage.
This mystery is about how these elements…
1. Relate to each other.
2. How they complement one another.
3. How they, each, work to describe the
other.
Does Christ reveal something about the church?
Does the God Family reveal something about the human family
and marriage?
Does the institution of marriage reveal something about the
church or the God Family?
Finally, does the church reveal anything about God, Christ
or marriage?
My purpose today will be to answer these questions; to…
Solve the mystery.
Now before we can solve the mystery, we must read that
mysterious book I have been speaking of.
What could that book be?
Is it the book of Revelation?
Is it the book of Daniel?
Well, it is neither of these.
It is the book of Ephesians.
The main part of my sermon is going to focus on just 13
verses of this book but we must get an overview first of the
whole book.
In my Bible, the introduction to this books states:
Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is truly profound,
transcending the pettiness of some of the other churches.
The major theme of Ephesians is: the church is the
mystical body of Christ. God’s great master plan is to
bring everything together under Christ as head.
Let us look at some of the verses of Ephesians showing this.
Turn to Ephesians 1 and beginning in verse 3
Ephesians 1:3-5
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly
places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the
foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without
blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by
Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of
his will.
(answers a question about
why God called us—“according to the good pleasure of his
will.”)
Ephesians 1:10-11
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might
gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are
in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being
predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh
all things after the counsel of his own will:
Continuing in my Bible’s introduction to Ephesians:
We, as the body of Christ on earth, have a part in this plan
and the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of God’s promise.
(look at Ephesians 1 and verse 13)
Ephesians 1:13-14
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of
truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that
ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of
promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the
redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of
his glory.
Now I want to look at what another commentator, Frank Viola
says about Ephesians:
The epistle to the Ephesians contains the highest theme
concerning God’s thought regarding His Church. The book
opens with the heavenly and eternal scope of the Church and
ends with its practical expression. Throughout Ephesians,
Paul exhausts human language to get us to see the central
place the Church has in God’s heart from eternity to
eternity.
In Chap. 1, Paul introduces us to the glorious truth that
God has eternally chosen the church in Christ before the
foundation of the world.
Ephesians
1:22 says…
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to
be the head over all things to the church.
In chapter 2, we discover that the Church is the Lord’s
eternal building wherein ever member is built together into
the Head to become the habitation of God.
Look at Ephesians 2: 19-22
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners,
but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of
God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and
prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth
unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of
God through the Spirit.
In chapter 3, the mystery of the Church is unfolded before
our eyes. Here we discover that the church is the
centerpiece of God’s eternal purpose…
Turn over a page to
Ephesians 3 and beginning in verse 4
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in
the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of
men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and
prophets by the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same
body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of
the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of
his power.
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this
grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the
unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the
mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid
in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers
in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold
wisdom of God,
11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in
Christ Jesus our Lord:
In chapter 4, stress is laid upon the eternal oneness of the
church and its enlargement through the supply of every
member by the eternal principle of Love.
Look at Ephesians 4 and
verse 15
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in
all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and
compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to
the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh
increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
In chapter 5, it is the Church as the eternal Bride of
Christ that is in view.
As stated in Frank Viola’s commentary, Paul exhausts human
language to get us to see the central place the church has
in God’s heart.
He uses metaphor after metaphor to try to express this great
mystery. He finds that words almost cannot capture this
holy, eternal, and spiritual truth.
In Chapter 1, Paul uses the metaphor of the Body.
Ephesians
1:22-23 says…
22 And (God) hath
put all things under his feet, and gave him (Christ)
to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in
all.
With respect to Christ, the Church is HIS BODY. The purpose
of a body is to express one’s personality and life.
As the Body of Christ, the Church displays Christ on the
earth. The Church is actually a Person; it is Christ in
corporate expression.
Without the Church, Christ has no means of expression in the
earth.
1 Corinthians 12 details many of the principles that govern
the operation of the Body of Christ.
One of the most important principles illustrated in 1
Corinthians 12 is that of dependence.
In a word, Christ cannot be fully expressed through one
member—it requires all the members together to manifest Him.
(remember the lesson of
Lachish) Lachish was a city south that protected
Jerusalem from any invading hordes approaching from the
south. There were similar fortified cities to the north,
east and west. If one of these cities fell, Jerusalem was
in peril. At one point in history, Lachish turned to
idolatry and God did not bless them anymore. When the
invading hordes of Sennacherib came, Lachish fell.
Jerusalem was now in peril and would have fallen had God not
intervened and killed Sennacherib and all his army. (2
Chronicles 32; 2 Kings 18 and Isaiah 36)
1 Corinthians 12: 17-19 talks about, “If the whole body were
an eye, where were the hearing…etc.
In Chapter 2, the metaphor is the House of God. With
respect to God the Father, the church is His Household.
In the Old Testament, God dwelt in both the tabernacle and
the temple. Now, however, God through the Holy Spirit
dwells in His corporate Man---The Church.
Comment:
Remember when I talked about the temple and tabernacle being
a pattern in the Old Testament for the human body of the New
Testament?
We are the temple now. God’s Spirit is now in us and we are
one with Christ and God the Father.
Now I want to go to the 3rd metaphor of Ephesians
and the main focus of my message today.
It is the centerpiece of this mystery that includes God the
Father, Jesus Christ, the church and the institution of
marriage.
It is found in Eph. 5 and beginning in verse 21
Now, the key to this whole mystery is this:
For decades in the church, the ministry has gone to these
scriptures when the message they were giving was about
marriage.
Actually, the focus of these verses are not about marriage
but about God and Christ and the church.
If you can understand what the marriage metaphor is saying
about God, Christ and the church…you find out what the
secret is to a happy marriage.
In other words, if all we do is talk about the metaphor, and
not look at and solve the mystery of verse 32, we will not
truly understand how to have the best marriage in all of God
universe!
Let us do that now.
Begin with Ephesians 5 and
verse 21…
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God
Question 1–What
do you think it means to submit yourselves to one another?
When we submit to one another, it means we consider the
other persons feelings as important as our own.
This is the foundation of any Christian relationship, but it
is especially important for husbands and wives to submit
themselves one to another.
When we care about the other person and put their feelings
first, we will be fulfilling the love of God
Now let us read the next 3 verses…
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto
the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ
is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the
body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let
the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Question 2–Do
these verses mean wives should be in complete subservience
to their husbands?
These verses do not mean that a wife is supposed to be a
slave to her husband. But the wife needs to submit herself
to her husband as a partner in marriage. The husband and
wife must be in agreement in order for a marriage to work,
and they must learn how to communicate their feelings to
each other. A wife should not make an important family
decision without submitting it to her husband just as a
husband should not make an important decision without
considering his wife’s feelings and concerns.
Another commentary says…
This statement may come as a surprise to those who have been
used to place undue stress on a husband’s authority over his
wife. To be sure, he has that authority and should exercise
it, but never in a domineering manner.
The comparison with Christ as head of the church reveals in
what sense the husband is the wife’s head. He is her head as
being vitally interested in her welfare. He is her
protector. His pattern is Christ who, as head of the church,
is its Savior!"
Now verse 25
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the
church, and gave himself for it;
Question 3–How
much did Christ love the church? What do you think this
verse is teaching husbands about how to treat their wives?
How much should husbands love their wives? As much as Christ
loved us by dying for us. Husbands need to be willing to
make sacrifices for their family. They must be willing to
sacrifice their own wants and ambitions for the good of the
marriage. If husbands would concentrate on the teaching in
this verse, we would have fewer marital problems.
Now verses 26 and 27
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of
water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church,
not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it
should be holy and without blemish.
Question 4–How
does Christ cleanse his church? How can we apply this to the
marriage relationship?
Just as Christ cleanses his church, we can have a positive
influence on our spouse. It is easier to follow the
Christian walk when those around us are also setting a good
Christian example.
Remember 1 Corinthians
7:13-14…
And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is
willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. For the
unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the
unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband....
Now verses 28 and 29
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He
that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth
and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church.
Question 5–What do these verses teach husbands about how
they are to treat their wives?
Notice this verse tells us that men nourish and cherish
their own flesh. This is given as an example of how husbands
are to treat their wives.
Cherish – Husbands must cherish their wives. They must be
concerned for their welfare, and they must not be afraid to
express their love. If we cherish someone, we want only the
best for them.
Nurture – Husbands need to nurture their wives. I think this
means help them to reach their full potential –encourage
them and assist them in their endeavors. There’s an old
saying "Behind every successful man is a woman." But I think
it’s equally important that behind every successful woman is
her husband helping, nurturing, and encouraging her.
Let us read verse 30
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his
bones.
Question 6–Who
should be in control of our marriage relationship?
If we are members of Christ’s body, we need to allow him to
control our actions. Demanding to have
our own way is not Christ-like. We must learn to submit our
marriage to God and act according to
what he wants in our life.
Another commentary says
"...since Christ as our head, so devotedly cares for us,
members of his body, let husbands take this to heart and let
them strive to emulate Christ in the loving attention which
they focus upon their...wives."
Now the last 3 verses—31
through 33…
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother,
and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one
flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ
and the church.
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love
his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she
reverence her husband.
Question 7–According
to verse 33, what is the most important thing that a husband
should do and what is the most important thing that a wife
should do?
Why do you think these two things are emphasized?
In this verse is an amazing synopsis of how husbands and
wives need to treat each other. In my experience the biggest
problems in marriages revolve around different perceptions
by husbands and wives. Men and women are different, and
husbands and wives have different needs. Two thousand years
ago the Holy Spirit gave Paul insight that can be applied
today.
Wives need to feel loved. The fact that the husband does
things for his wife – earns money, helps around the house,
spends time with the children – is not enough. Wives want to
know that they are loved.
Men naturally will care for their wives but some have a
problem showing their love. So Paul writes here in a
nutshell the most important thing for a husband to do – love
his wife. Husbands need to learn how to show their feelings
to their spouse and to say the words often, "I love you."
But my experience has been that for the husband, the need is
different. Even more than knowing that their wives love
them, husbands want most that their wives respect them. It
is necessary for a wife to not humiliate her husband or put
him down, especially in public, but also in private. Wives
will naturally love their husbands, but what their spouses
want most is respect. So Paul writes that a wife should
"respect her husband."
This mystery is a great one but maybe we can solve it with
just one more key.
It is found in the Song of Solomon and you do not have to
turn there but it says in chapter 2 and verse 16…
My beloved is mine, and I am his…
In the Song of Solomon we see the love of Christ and his
church running towards each other in a full torrent.
Our physical marriage is the same. We fashion everything we
say and do to our husbands and wives as we would to Christ.
He is the standard by how we form each word and execute each
deed.
The mystery is that the best marriage in the universe is one
in which each partner IS Christ (i.e.
like Him) in everything they do together.
---END---
****
I found many web sites showing this idea of “Spiritual
Covering” to be a false doctrine. There is no support for
it in the Bible. The Intercontinental Church of God does
not support nor teach this doctrine or belief.
Finally I want to leave you
with our answer to those who ask questions about women
wearing a covering on her head in church (1 Corinthians 11):
SUBJECT: Women and Head
Coverings
QUESTION: Should a woman
wear a covering on her head in church?”
ANSWER:
We continually receive
letters asking: “Should a woman wear a covering on her head
in church?”
Some churches require women
to wear veils or hats in church. They claim 1 Corinthians
11:1-16 as supposed scriptural proof. They quote verse 6
specifically: “For if the woman be not covered, let her
also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn
or shaven, let her be covered.”
Other churches use this same
scripture as support for their doctrine that women should
never cut their hair.
Modernists contend that
whatever Paul taught the Corinthian Church is not for us
today anyway – and they proceed to do as they please.
What is the truth?
Some contend Paul required
women to wear veils because it was the custom of the day for
women to wear veils in public places of worship. This is
NOT true! Let’s get our facts straight.
Smith’s Dictionary of the
Bible article “Veil” gives us the answer. “In ancient
times, the veil was adopted only in exceptional cases,
either as an article of ornamental dress…or by betrothed
maidens in the presence of their husbands, especially at the
time of the wedding…or by women of loose character for
purposes of concealment (Genesis 38:14). But generally
speaking, women both married and unmarried appeared in
public with their faces exposed, both among the Jews…and
among the Egyptians and Assyrians, as proved by the
invariable absence of the veil in the sculpture and
paintings of these peoples.”
It was not customary for
women to wear veils in Paul’s day. It is interesting to
note that the fallen church pictured in Revelation 17, the
fountain-head of harlotry, commands its women to wear
coverings over shaven heads in their religious orders.
What Paul taught is this: as
man is the head of woman, it is improper for men to have a
covering in a religious service as a symbol of subjection (1
Corinthians 11:4). The only exception was long hair in the
Nazarite vow, a token of subjection to God for a special
time (Numbers 6:5). Men are otherwise commanded: “Doth not
even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair,
it is a shame unto him?” (verse 14). Men wearing long hair,
a fad with the younger generation, are effeminate and no
effeminate man shall inherit God’s Kingdom! But what about
a woman? “But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to
her: for her HAIR is given her for a covering” (verse 15).
Notice! Paul, under
inspiration, speaks of LONG HAIR as the “covering,” or
veil. The Greek word for “covering” in verse 15 means
“veil.” See the margin of the King James Version. So the
covering is not some hat, or piece of cloth.
Paul does not say that women
must wear something over their hair. Instead, he says:
“Doth not even nature itself teach you, that… if a woman
have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given
her for a covering.”
Because “long hair” is
mentioned, some are afraid to cut their hair at all. The
text doesn’t read uncut hair; it reads only “long hair.”
Long hair is an indication that a woman is willing to be in
subjection to a man, and that she acknowledges the special
need for protection by angels – beyond the ordinary
protection which angels give to men (verse 10). Hair, cut
long enough to look feminine and honorable, is appropriate.
About shoulder length, or longer, is a satisfactory
standard. If a woman wears her hair so short that it looks
like a man’s, then she ought to be shorn or shaven – they
symbol of a fallen woman.
To be “shorn” (verse 6)
means to be closely clipped. Some small sects contend that
any cutting of hair means to be shorn. This is untrue.
Properly cut long hair is not shorn hair. There is no Bible
command anywhere against cutting hair within the length
which looks feminine and honorable.
Many women today are,
however, wearing their hair too short. They are not
allowing their hair to be “a covering” (verse 15). It is a
woman’s long hair that is her covering – not some piece of
cloth to hide a mannish, modern hair-do!
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