Because of the Angels

Once again I find myself drawn to a portion of Scripture that has caused various men of God, theologians throughout the ages to attempt to explain this difficult verse. After all of the explanations I have read of this verse, I confess, I do not fully understand in depth, it's meaning.

Actually, it's not the whole verse I have difficulty with … it's just the last four words, the ending phrase … "because of the angels."

Here is the setting this phrase is in, which I would like to give in context so we can get a better grasp of Paul's instruction to this church.

1st Corinthians 11:1-13 ... "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered , dishonoureth his head (his authority ... Christ).
But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head : (her authority … man) for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
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.
For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
For this cause ought the woman to have power (ability, capacity, competency, freedom and mastery) on her head because of the angels.
Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
Judge (distinguish) in yourselves: is it comely (proper) that a woman pray unto God uncovered?"

It is not too difficult to see what the overall instruction the Apostle Paul is trying to make in this chapter. It is that there is a proper way to observe or conduct prayer and worship as well as the partaking of the Lords Supper, commonly called Communion.

Addressing Communion, Paul writes later in this same chapter, (1st Corinthians 11:28-29) ... "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body."

He is not saying that some are more worthy to take Communion than others, but rather that some take Communion … in an unworthy manner. This is the same point he is making concerning women praying openly or teaching in a public church service without their head being covered.

Let me say right here and now … I have nothing against women praying, teaching or preaching in churches. Thank God many are being called by God to do so. But in Paul's day it wasn't the proper thing do do. Right or wrong, tradition usually dictates. Could it be that Paul, like James and Peter, had some difficulty leaving behind the old Jewish traditions they were used to? I'm just asking.

In some Christian faiths yet today, women wear what is called "a prayer covering" or prayer caps, bonnets on their heads when they go out in public. These traditions bring a constant reminder of the presence of God in their lives … and I commend them for it.

The normal interpretation of this passage of scripture is ... that a woman should have a veil or covering on her head "because of the angels" who were supposed to be present with them, observing them in public worship.

Now why would it matter to the angels, who are always surrounding God's children, whether or not women had a prayer covering over their hair?

Some commentators in the past have stated that the angels must be "evil angels" who lust after unveiled or uncovered women, the veil or covering, being the usual symbol of modesty in Paul's day and time. I do not concur with this observation. Why would these evil beings only lust after women during worship … when they can watch and observe them bathing or in other times of nakedness elsewhere. It just doesn't sound probable to my simple mind.

But what does sound reasonable to me is that the angels of God, the ministering spirits , (Hebrews 1:14) sent out in the service of God for the assistance of those believers who are to inherit salvation, believers who pray and worship together in church … are being observed by these ministering angels which day and night show reverence and submission to God themselves in their service to Him.

So, as not to displease them, (the ministering angels) for whatever reason God has chosen, of which I still do not understand; (unless it is for women to show submission to man from which she was created) the Apostle Paul instructs women to cover their heads with a prayer covering … "because of the angels."

Earlier in this letter to the Corinthians, Paul makes this statement … "I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men." (Chapter 4, verse 9.)

The Amplified says it this way... "We have become a spectacle to the world, a show in the world's amphitheater with both men and angels as spectators."

I have used this statement by John Wesley before; let me quote him again because it fits our subject … "The affairs of earth are much the subject of the counsels of the unseen world. That world is dark to us, but we lie open to it."

Without getting all spooky … we really don't know exactly what is happening around us in the spiritual world … even while we sit in a worship service in church.

The Amplified version of our subject verse, 1st Corinthians 11:10 reads this way ... "Therefore she should [be subject to his authority and should] have a covering on her head [as a token, a symbol, of her submission to authority, that she may show reverence as do] the angels [and not displease them]."

You can decide if you like the Amplified translation for yourself.

Let us consider one other possibility of just who these angels are that Paul is speaking of.

In John's book of the Revelation, the word "angel" is also used. In Revelation, John writes to the angel of each of the seven churches. In both, Paul's writings and John's Revelation, the word "angel" … in the Greek is "ang'-el-os" ... which means a messenger; and by implication it means a pastor; although it's usually translated angel or messenger.

We know that John directed these seven physical letters to the "angels" of each church, meaning the pastors of these seven churches. So, would it be too unreasonable to suggest that Paul, speaking about women being modest by keeping the glory of their hair under a covering when they pray or teach, did so ... because pastors are mere weak men?

Only two of these three possibilities I have mentioned, in my opinion have any merit. Again, it is up to you to make up your own mind. Does it really matter … other than we should desire to please God in all things, including worship and prayer.

One last note ...

After Paul has just said that women should cover their head when they pray or prophesy in a public gathering like church, we have this in verse 15 … "But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory (brings honor) to her: for her hair is given her for a covering."

I confess I don't understand everything I know. So I ask … if God gave women the apparent glory of long hair for a natural covering … why did Paul say they needed something else to cover the covering God gave them?

Considering the number of pastors that have fallen because of moral failures … I am of the opinion that when Paul said "because of the angels," he was speaking about real men, pastors who still live in the same bodies of flesh like we dwell in. But what do I know?



Comments welcome.

Few Are Chosen

Jesus makes this statement in John 6:44 … "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him ..."

I like the way the Amplified puts it … "No one is able to come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me attracts and draws him and gives him the desire to come to Me …"

Jesus said, "no man can come to me" … meaning, on their own ... because in and of themselves they see no need of coming to Christ or anything in Him that is worth coming for. Their hearts are set on the things of the world, and without knowing it they are prejudiced against Him.

If coming to Christ and believing in Christ takes faith, and they do, the faith needed does not come from within man, it is a gift of God.

Ephesians 2:8 … "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God …"

Grace and faith must be given and set in motion to enable the human soul to come and believe in Christ.

Adam Clarke says … "The grace or power to believe, and the act of believing, are two different things. Without the grace or power to believe no man ever did or can believe; but with that power the act of faith is a man’s own. God never believes for any man, no more than he repents for him: the penitent, through this grace enabling him, believes for himself … the power to believe may be present long before it is exercised."

But how is a man drawn?

Augustine answers this question with three simple words … "thru the gospel."

So God, by the Holy Spirit draws a man lost in sin and thru the gospel, shows him the Savior provided for him, and through the desire to escape hell, and get to heaven, he comes to Jesus … because none could, without this drawing, ever feel the need of a Savior.

Although this act of drawing is an act of power, it is not by force; God in drawing the unwilling, makes them willing. He enlightens the understanding, and gives them a heart of flesh for one of stone, drawing them by His grace and mercy, which causes the soul to give itself up to him.

Matthew 22:14 … "For many are called, but few are chosen." This is the final summation of the parable in Matthew 22:1-14, where Jesus tells of the invitations given by the king to attend his sons' marriage feast. Many are called, (invited and summoned) but ... few are chosen? Here the "called" are being emphatically distinguished from the "chosen." The word "called" as it is used here, can only mean those who are "invited."

Honestly … I have never been able to rap my mind around the true meaning of this verse. The sense is, a large portion of those who have been called, those who receive the invitation of the Gospel … God never "chooses" for salvation.

How or why this happens, (if this is the right understanding of this scripture) I do not know. I can only speculate. God has commanded that the gospel should be preached to all men, to allow them the choice to either accept or reject the invitation for salvation given them. If it is their choice … who does the choosing?

With respect to the invitations given in this parable, the purpose of God is to honor His Son by celebrating His marriage. First, the Jews were invited to the marriage feast during Christ's lifetime. They would not come. Afterwards, all things now ready for the marriage feast, the Father sends the messengers again to invite them to come. This was the mission of the apostles to the Jewish nation, after the price of their redemption had been paid for by Jesus. They again reject the message for a second time and kill the messengers. The destruction of Jerusalem is the end result.

With the Jews rejection of the invitation, the lowly, the destitute, the Gentiles, those who were outside all along, are brought in and the wedding feast is now ready with the "chosen" guests.

Another thing is now presented. For this occasion one must also put on a wedding garment if Christ is to be glorified. There may be some that appear ready to enter into the kingdom with … a profession of Christianity … but he who is not clothed with the right garment for the wedding feast will be cast out. We must be clothed in Christ Himself.

On the other hand, nothing is required. The guests are not required to bring anything … all is provided. All you need is the invitation and the proper garment.

Just saying you are invited … a profession of salvation … without being clothed in your wedding garment, the robe of righteousness, will not allow you entrance into the Kingdom of God, which is what this parable is all about.

Matthew 9:13 … "I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to
repentance."

This scripture shows who God is now calling to the marriage feast, who the Father is now giving His invitations to. Sinners … that's all of us.

The following scripture, suggests or strongly hints at the thought that not all that hear the invitation of the gospel … not all shall be saved, not all shall find the way, not all shall enter in.

Matthew 7:14 … "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

Of course, here Jesus was speaking to Jewish Israel and history has proven that few followed up on their invitations to the wedding feast.

But ... few are chosen? That sounds a lot like "predestination" doesn't it. That's a whole different subject. I'll leave that for some other time.



Comments welcome.

Covered in Blood

Why did the Apostle John live longer than all the other disciples? I believe it had to do with … the Blood of Jesus. Let me try to explain.

In the following setting, Jesus has been talking to Peter about how Peter would die.

John 21:19-23 … “This spake he, signifying by what death he (Peter) should glorify God ... Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper ... Peter seeing him (John) saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple (John) should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?”

John often described himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved, and in his writings identified himself as the other disciple. John had a connection that seemed closer than what the others had with Jesus. I don't know what it was, personality, chemistry, whatever it was, something just clicked between them. I'm speaking as man to man, friend to friend … not as the Son of God to man.

A couple of times in John's writing, he mentions the fact that Jesus allowed John to get close enough to Jesus that he actually was leaning on the Lord. That's because Jesus was leanable, approachable. I'm sure they talked and shared many things with each other. I suspect that John and Jesus, if I may use this term … horsed around physically with each other. Friends do that you know. Both of them were strong, healthy young men. If they would have had a basketball, they would have shot hoops together. Okay … I just imagine they would have.

I am of the opinion … I have no scriptural proof … but I would like to believe that John saw Jesus in a different way then the other disciples viewed Him. Maybe John understood the heart of Jesus better. I don't know what was different, but something was because Jesus left His mother in John's care just before He died on the cross.

I believe John stayed as close to Jesus as he was allowed during the trial and followed close behind Him as He made His way to the cross. John is found standing with Mary, the mother of Jesus as they watched Jesus being nailed to the cross. As far as is recorded, John was the only disciple that watched Jesus endure the agonizing pain and suffering for 3 hours bleeding out His life giving blood as He died. All the other disciples fled out of fear or disbelief and shock from what was happening.

John recorded that Joseph of Arimathaea, a member of the Jewish sanhedrim along with Nicodemus, the Pharisee who came to Jesus at night ... took the body of Jesus down from the cross. These two men, middle aged or perhaps even older considering their positions in the Jewish hierarchy would need help removing the body of a dead man from a cross.

They would need a least one ladder or most likely two, one in front and perhaps one on the backside of the cross, some rope to keep the body of Jesus from tearing loose from the remaining nails during the slow gruesome task of pulling only one nail at a time from His body. How could these two men handle all the weight by themselves? I don't believe they could.

John writes about this as though he was not only still at the Crucifixion site, but I believe because he also took part in removing his friend and Lord from the bloody cross.

I believe John was still watching over Mary. He had been with her the whole day. They had never lost sight of Jesus during the whole terrible ordeal. Why would they leave now? A mother's care doesn't end with death … there was more to do. It was Passover, He had to come down.

The Bible is silent about how Jesus was taken down from the cross. Since the Gospel writers were not led to describe the events as they happened … that leaves me with only my imagination to fill in the blanks as I see them unfold in my minds eye.

Events as I see them ...

Mary watched intently as Joseph and Nicodemus struggled with the dead weight of Jesus … “Careful with Him” she thought to herself … her mothers heart couldn't take any more pain as she waited for them to put her son once again into her arms. I can see and hear Mary, with one small push of her hand on John's back, say to him … “Go help them John, carry His weight.”

So John, young and strong, runs and goes up one of the ladders and catches the full weight of Jesus as the two men place Jesus over John's right shoulder and back. Now this time Jesus is leaning on John. Carefully he carries Jesus down the ladder and over a few feet to the waiting arms of Mary … the Mother of God.

As John weeps while watching Mary holding her dead son, he becomes aware of the fact that he is now covered in blood. The blood of Jesus is on the side of his face. It's on his neck and right shoulder as well as running down his back. John's arm and hands are covered in blood. John had rubbed shoulders with Jesus many times before … but this time … touching Jesus had left something powerful and Holy upon him.

The Blood of Jesus.

Today we sing about that blood, the saving, cleansing blood, and the fact that the blood will never lose that power, etc.

John experienced the power of the blood himself that Passover, as the Lamb of God was sacrificed for sin.

I presented this question to you at the beginning of this posting … “Why did John live longer than all the other disciples?”

And my answer was … “I believe it had to do with … the Blood of Jesus.”

Do you understand now, why I say that?

I have no proof that events happened as I have written. All I know is that I saw all this unfold in my heart one morning during our prayer time that my wife Peggy and I have each day. It takes just a moment of time for God to open your heart and drop a word or picture into it.

Many people pray … “the Blood of Jesus” … over situations just like they pray … “the Name of Jesus” … over things.

John didn't have to pray for the power of the blood that day … he was covered in the power of that blood. He was the only disciple that lived past 90 years of age to die a natural death. Could it be … it was because he was … covered in blood?

Covered in the blood of Jesus … literally.


Comments welcome.

He Stayed Nearby

Today I'm going to do something I rarely do; share something that isn't mine. I hope you don't mind.

Some time ago, I received a page and a half from a book about the Disciple John and his relationship with Jesus. The person who sent it to me said … well, I'll let her tell it in her own words, for I have found from experience, her words are usually far better than mine.

She wrote ...

I read a passage last night that really grabbed me, and I thought you might appreciate it as well. This book has been having us, the reader, look at the story of Jesus thru the eyes of John.  She's been describing how he is the youngest and is hungry to take in all Jesus has.  As with a lot of her writing, she lets her imagination bring more color to the story …

“I also love imagining that the youngest among them might have had the least protocol and acted as he felt and not just according to what was proper.  Hence his leaning on Jesus (John 13:25).  Glory!  You see, there's just nothing doctrinal about John's leaning on Jesus.  It wasn't the law.  It wasn't in the proverbial Passover book of rules.  John didn't have to lean on Jesus to talk to Him.  Christ could hear him just fine.  John leaned on Him because he wanted to.  Because he loved Him.  Because He was . . . leanable.  Approachable.  Downright lovable.  Very likely, John was the baby of this family.  And his affection for Jesus wasn't encumbered by silly things like protocol.  I love that about him.”

So, that's a backdrop of the way the author has been taking us thru the book so far.  This next part is the part I wanted to share with you … it was very profound to me.  She's now walking us thru the events leading up to the crucifixion and the crucifixion itself, again from John's perspective.

“You and I have arrived at a red-letter moment on which much of the remainder of our journey hinges.  I am convinced we've stumbled on the thing that set John apart and made him the fertile soil into which God could sow the seeds of such a Gospel . . . such epistles . . . and such a revelation.  John remained nearby Jesus whether his leader was on the Mount of Transfiguration or in the deep of Gethsemane's suffering.  John leaned affectionately upon Him during the feast but also followed Him into the courts for the trials.  John clung to Jesus when He raised the dead, and he clung to Jesus when He became the dead.

John was found nearby when human reasoning implied his faithful Leader's mission had failed.  He could not have comprehended that the plan of the ages was going perfectly.  Yet he remained.  He who looked upon a face that had shone like the sun, (Matthew 17:2) was willing to look upon a face bloody and spit upon.  He stayed nearby during both Christ's brightest and darkest hours.  The young disciple knew Jesus in the extremities.  John was willing to look when others would have covered their eyes, and he beheld Him.  How can we behold what we are unwilling to see?

We cannot claim to know anyone intimately whom we've not known in the intensity of both agony and elation.  Anyone with eyes willing to truly behold Jesus will at times be confused and shocked by what he sees.  You see, if we're willing to be taken to the extremes of His glory where intimate knowledge is gained, we will undoubtedly see things of Him we cannot explain and that sometimes disturb.

Then comes the question:  Will we walk away from Jesus when from human understanding He looks weak and defeated?  Do you know what I mean by that question?

What do we do when we can't explain what Jesus is doing?
Will we remain nearby when He hasn't stopped a tragedy?

When based on earthly evidence, human reasoning is left to one of two harrowing conclusions:  He is either mean or weak.  Think, beloved, about what I'm saying.  Will we cling when our human reasoning implies evil has defeated Him?  Or that evil seems to be found in Him?  Will we stand by faith when human logic says to run? That's what will make us different.”

Wow ...

So … in just a page and a half, torn from a book about the disciple whom Jesus loved; because John wasn't afraid to love Jesus openly, totally, unconditionally … we see the type of heart it takes to remain close to Jesus … no matter what. And that includes the question the author posed about whether we will walk away from Jesus when we can't explain what He is doing in our lives.

Do we know Jesus as well as John did? If He dwells within us … we can.



Comments welcome.