1 Corinthians 11

Today's reading is from 1 Corinthians 11 and it has two major sections -- one dealing with the expectation that women would wear head coverings when praying or prophesying in the church, and the other dealing with the abuse of the Lord's Supper.

Women, Headcoverings, Authority, and Prayer

The passage from verse 1 to 16 is among the most difficult interpretive challenges in the New Testament.

Some of the difficulties found here include:

• The words for "man" and "women" were also used for "husband" and "wife". Which use is intended? This can change our understanding of Paul's meaning: Was he saying that a husband is given "headship" over his wife? Or that men are given headship over women?

• Is the "head-covering" a hat or veil, or hair?

• Is this an instruction given that is relative to local cultural practices, or universally applicable to all congregations, in all cultures, in all times?

Others have thoroughly examined this question, so for further investigation let me just point you towards some of the resources I found:

Two discussions of the article that seem largely correct to me:

https://bible.org/article/what-head-covering-1-cor-112-16-and-does-it-apply-us-today

http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/sdg/Headcoverings%20by%20Wayne%20Grudem.html

A thoughtful presentation of another view:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/women/2013/september/uncovering-head-covering-debate.html?paging=off

The Lord's Supper

In this section Paul's meaning is very straightforward -- in the way the Corinthians were treating each other, and observing the Lord's Supper, they were showing contempt for the church, and for Christ's sacrifice for His Bride.

He has several indictments of their behavior:

Prideful divisions

They were dividing into factions. Paul points out that they were using them as a way to elevate their own status above others.

Selfishness

They had turned their observance of the Lord's Supper into something akin to a "Fellowship Dinner" or potluck. This may not have been intrinsically a bad thing... but they were being selfish with it. Some had abundance and indulged to excess while others were going hungry.

Disregard for Jesus' death and His body (the church)

When they came to the Lord's Supper in this way, it was a discredit to Jesus’ sacrifice and to the church.

**This was a Big Deal!**

Paul says that when we take the Lord's Supper lightly ("without careful regard for the body"), we eat and drink *judgment* against ourselves. He even says, with a certainty that only inspiration provides, that some in their midst were suffering weakness, sickness, and even death *because of this matter!*

So How Should We Partake?

Examine yourself first (v. 27,31). In my view, this means at least the following:

• We remember the intent and origin of this memorial meal and where we would stand with regard to God's judgment if not for Christ.

• We remember that the church, collectively, is the body of Christ and examine our actions with regard to other members of the church.

• We partake in a mindset that gives due honor to Jesus' death and to the unity of the church.

My Prayer today,

Father, Your love for us is astonishing. It astonishes me that you would permit your Son to die as He did in order that we could be reconciled to you. It astonishes me further that you use us as your "body", your instruments for accomplishing your will in the world.

Thank you for those you placed in the church with me. Help me never to esteem them too slightly but to love and serve them so that our love and unity becomes a testimony to the world around us of *your* love.

Amen

 SCOTT PURCELL | Elder

Scott committed his life to Christ as a child under the teaching of his parents and church. He graduated from Ozark Christian College in 1989 with bachelors degree in Biblical Literature and served 8 years as Minister of two churches in Missouri and then 3 years as a Church Planter in San Marcos. Since then, he has worked as a technical trainer at Dell and Rackspace. In 2008 Scott and Nan joined HCBC-NW and then Hutto Bible in 2011. Scott serves in Small Group leadership, as secretary to the Elder board, and as the elder over IT and Discipleship. Scott and Nan have been married since 1985 and have three children (Mindy Schultea (married), Kate, and Matthew) and two grandchildren.