I've been reading some in Matthew / Romans : Expository Bible Surveys with 1 John, 1 Cor 11, Ezek 40-48 on Justification, Sanctification, Glorification, the Messianic Kingdom, Headcovering, Role of Women, and Ezekiel's Temple, and the author mentioned how the biblical term glory, up until recently, was understood as "brightness."
This really caught my attention, because in my headcovering article, I said the following:
"1 Corinthians 11:15 tells us that a woman's hair is a glory to her, and we see elsewhere in Scripture that Christians are to let their lights shine. I can see a parallel here, but not a spiritual or salvation one. If my hair is my glory, why would I cover it?"
I said this, just having a "hunch," (for lack of a better word), possibly from the Spirit, I'm not sure.
1 Corinthians 11:15 tells us that hair is the woman's headcovering in the natural. That chapter tells us of two coverings - the natural, hair, and the spiritual, the covering women are to put on top of their heads, such as a hat, bandanna, etc.
It says a woman's hair is her glory. If glory is brightness, and brightness is light, then a woman's long hair helps let her light shine, because it shows her femininity, and femininity is to submit to masculinity in the marriage realm. Long hair shows submission to one's husband, in this sense, and this is the woman's glory/brightness.
I looked up what glory in 1 Corinthians 11:15 means, on BlueLetterBible.org, and it indeed had brightness as part of the definition:
"3) splendour, brightness"
For kicks, I then looked up the word light, from Matthew 5:14, and part of that definition was:
"c) light, i.e brightness."
In the Bible, we have natural and spiritual. Let us use the Lord's Supper as an example, since that is one of the church ordinances taught in 1 Corinthians 11 (the two ordinances taught in 1 Cor. 11, are headcovering, and the Lord's Supper/Communion).
In the natural, one is eating a piece of bread, and drinking some lightly fermented wine, or grape juice. However, it has a spiritual meaning. Although the bread and wine are not Jesus, they represent him. Communion is to remind us of how Christ's body was broken, and His blood shed, for the remission of our sins.
There is also a physical and spiritual in the realm of headcovering. 1 Corinthians 11 is clear that women are to cover their heads. Verse 13 says to judge in ourselves about this, and then verses 14 and 15 give us an example in nature. The lesson there, is that just as it is appropriate in the natural for the woman to have long hair - her natural covering, so is it also judged appropriate for the woman to put a headcovering on top of her head - a hat, cloth, etc.
The headcovering is a physical reminder of something very spiritual. The husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the church.
Did you know that the above example could be used to debate against homosexual marriages? The Bible tells us that marriage and the family unit are natural things, with a spiritual lesson.
In the natural, we have the husband, wife, and children. In the spiritual, the Scriptures teach us that the husband is symbolic of Christ, the wife is symbolic of the church, and from that we can determine that children are symbolic of Christian fruits.
In a homosexual union, if there are two men, then we have no church communing with Christ in the example. In a lesbian relationship, we have church with church, and none to symbolize Christ in the picture. Of course, neither ungodly union can bring about fruit - at least, not naturally.
Now, back to glory, brightness, and letting our light shine...
Christians are called to let their light shine. They are called to be the salt of the earth. Salt has a distinct taste, and is no good, if it loses its saltiness. Light is only useful if it shines. If it is hid under a bowl, then it cannot shine.
CHRISTIANS: NOTIFY YOUR FACES
I saw the above on a billboard once, and I loved it. It's so true! A Christian lets their light shine by walking in the Spirit (Romans 8, and Galatians 5). They also must do it in their outward appearance and way of life, as well. This is why the Scriptures tell us not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. This doesn't mean just in marriage, but in all relationships where people need to be dependant on one another. Further, women are commanded to dress and behave modestly. Obeying this is part of letting our light shine.
Christian women are commanded to wear a headcovering, as an outward showing of their Christian submission to their husbands and Christ (1 Cor. 11 and Eph. 5).
When a woman dons a headcovering, she
1) Is wearing it in the physical - it is a sign of
2) the spiritual significance. This shows that she is in submission to her husband, which reminds us of
3) how the church is to be submissive to Christ.
4) This headcovering therefore helps the Christian woman to let her light shine, but only
5) if she is saved, and covering for the right reasons. If she is doing it to appear pious, to show off, or play religion, then it is all in vain.
6) In the natural, the woman's long hair is her glory - her brightness. It is a symbol of her femininity, and helps to let her light shine, when her hair is done/styled in a modest fashion (see 1 Tim. 2).
7) Therefore, the woman's long hair is her natural covering, showing her femininity. Her headcovering is a physical showing of the spiritual significance of her submission to her husband and Christ.
Long hair and headcovering are two of the many ways that a Christian woman who walks in the Spirit can let her light shine. These are not the only ways, but I believe they should not be neglected.
When a woman says that she wants to cover her head, but is afraid of what others would think, she is hiding her light under a bowl. Similarly is a new Christian who is afraid to let his friends know he is a Christian. His brightness has been severely dimmed.
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One of the places I looked up, was the commentary on 1 Corinthians 11. Here is an excerpt:
"We should, even in our dress and habit, avoid every thing that may dishonour Christ. The woman was made subject to man, because made for his help and comfort. And she should do nothing, in Christian assemblies, which looks like a claim of being equal. She ought to have "power," that is, a veil, on her head, because of the angels. Their presence should keep Christians from all that is wrong while in the worship of God."
Eyes are upon us: God's eyes, the eyes of the unsaved, and even angels. Sisters, may we walk in the Spirit, and may we let our lights shine brightly.
