Does even nature itself not teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her as a covering. But if anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor have the churches of God. Now in giving this next instruction I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better, but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it. For there also have to be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you. (vv. 14-19)

Some may interpret this chapter as a set of new church rules, but it is evident that Paul was primarily concerned with factions and divisions within the church. The early churches faced many challenges and confusions, including disagreements over how the Lord’s Supper should be observed and whether women should cover their heads. Paul’s instructions are grounded in Christian wisdom and pastoral common sense. He was offering guidance to the Corinthian church in order to reduce conflict and restore order. Today, hardly any women cover their heads, and this is not regarded as sinful or unlawful. However, in the early church context, the practice of head covering was necessary for the sake of order and propriety.

God created some as women and others as men, and different responsibilities and expectations are given according to our earthly distinctions. Yet in the end, before God, there is neither male nor female, for all are one in Christ.

For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. (Mark 12:25)

In the kingdom of God, we are given different tasks and work harmoniously. We taste the kingdom while on earth through the visible church. We are trained on earth for the coming kingdom. All hardships and sufferings are for our training.

Paul’s instructions are to help a church to grow to do the function of training Christians. A church needs rules and guidelines. And he still speaks to us. The most important thing is understanding God and His plan. All instructions and rules are not outside of Christian common sense.

Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy way, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a person must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For the one who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not properly recognize the body. For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number are asleep. But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world. So then, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. If anyone is hungry, have him eat at home, so that you do not come together for judgment. As to the remaining matters, I will give instructions when I come. (vv. 27-34)

The visible church must focus on teaching God’s Word and His plan of salvation. Reading Scripture, teaching God’s Word, practicing it in daily life, and observing the church ordinances must all be grounded in the true knowledge of God. Everyone who has the Holy Spirit is given a Christian conscience that guards them against temptation. Therefore, all church rules should be applied with spiritual discernment, not merely by rigid, word-for-word enforcement.

For example, God does not permit adultery and does not delight in divorce. The only exception given in Scripture is when a spouse commits sexual immorality.

And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery. (Matthew 19:9)

Yet I have seen churches create their own interpretations of God’s Word and establish their own rules. This is what the leaders of Israel did as well. They claimed to be keeping the law, but in reality they were hypocrites.

Therefore, Paul’s instructions are grounded in the true knowledge of God. Keeping or not keeping them does not bring condemnation as it did under the law in the Old Testament era. However, their proper interpretation requires the guidance of the Holy Spirit. If the issue of women not covering their heads causes division, the women in the church may be encouraged to cover their heads for the sake of peace. Yet it is better that church leaders teach clearly that covering or not covering the head is not against Christian morals. It is vital that we do not become like the scribes and Pharisees, who kept the law outwardly without truly knowing God.

“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut the kingdom of heaven in front of people; for you do not enter it yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple is obligated.’ You fools and blind men! Which is more important, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold? And you say, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the offering that is on it is obligated.’ You blind men, which is more important, the offering or the altar that sanctifies the offering? Therefore, the one who swears by the altar, swears both by the altar and by everything on it. And the one who swears by the temple, swears both by the temple and by Him who dwells in it. And the one who swears by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may also become clean. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you too, outwardly appear righteous to people, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, and you say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ So you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers. You snakes, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell? (Matthew 23:13-33)