Radiant Church

• Order of headship/authority: Father God > Christ > Man > Wife
• Inequality?: Women are no less valuable nor inferior to men, but throughout Scripture, FOR MARRIED BELIEVERS, the responsibility of final authority is reserved for the husband
• God’s original/current intent: Anytime, either by choice or circumstance, this principle is violated, the family suffers or is limited

• It was common in Greco-Roman culture for men to cover their heads while worshipping pagan gods

• In public/worship gatherings, unveiled women were either slaves, single (sexually available), or married, looking to have an affair
• A head covering was the symbol a wife chose (shouldn’t be forced), signifying her honor, commitment, and submission to her husband
• Wedding veil tradition = modesty, purity, and transition into marriage
• Long hair symbolized a woman’s glory and dignity, whereas a shaved head was shameful and often linked to punishment or mourning
Paul’s rhetorical language emphasizes how disgraceful an uncovered wife was to her husband

• Adam was formed by God in His image out of the dirt; later, Eve was taken out from Adam as a helpmate and is his glory (Genesis 2)
• Angels (celestial beings) are observing mankind as their example, including if/how we submit to our established authority (1 Peter 1:12)

• Two millennia later, our culture both embraces and rejects these gender standards
• Women, God created you to be cherished, dignified, and radiant; this is not a punishment or oppression but a heavenly gift to celebrate!

• Don’t reject God’s blessing of spiritual authority because of bad teaching, past abuses, or twisted culture
• Be mindful not to fight the wrong battles with the wrong weapons
• We should be raising a generation of young men who love/honor/serve God and daily sacrificially lead by laying their lives down for their wives