1 Corinthians 11. When you come together as a church, I hear there are divisions among you (11:18). In chapters 11-14 the Apostle Paul tackles several issues related to order and unity in a worship setting. In this new congregation full of people from various cultural and religious backgrounds, Paul’s desire is that there be no distractions when the church gathers to worship.

The first big distraction that Paul addresses is what women are wearing for a worship service. Shocking? Not really. As a woman (especially as female clergy who is frequently on stage before the congregation) I can tell you that the question of what is appropriate attire for a woman in church is still a hot topic today!

In the Corinthian congregation, the question was about women’s hair (tied up and tidy or down and loose?) and head coverings (to hide the hair). The hair-issue is not what modern churches find challenging (ours is more about tight clothing or a lack of clothing in general), but we can still learn a few things from this discussion.

Did you notice that Paul expects women to be praying and prophesying in church? A woman who prays or prophesies… (11:5) The early church accepted the teachings that there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus(Galatians 3:28). Paul endorses the freedom of women to speak, pray, and prophesy in a worship service – in Christ there is no distinction between genders regarding spiritual gifts or participation in worship.

Paul’s desire is simply that woman in worship not cause a distraction by how they are dressed. In that era, for a woman to have loose or untidy hair was perceived as shameful. Can you imagine a man today showing up for a formal dinner or to church with no shirt on? To be shirtless would be a breach of conventional etiquette – he would be inappropriately dressed for the situation, and it would be a distraction to everyone. (Even my mother-in-law had a “men must wear shirts to the dinner table” rule! And I got in trouble for showing up to Clemons family dinner in cut-off shorts one time…) Paul addresses head coverings on women, not to restrict their participation in worship, but to enable them to do these activities with dignity and honor so that they are not a distraction to others.

In the end, Paul says please do not be contentious but judge for yourselves what is proper (10:13-16). Appropriate attire for worship varies in different eras and cultures, but the goal is to have unity in worship without distractions. Women, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do (including when you pick out your clothes) do all to the glory of God (10:31).

What do you find distracting in worship? Have you ever thought about the fact that what you are wearing might be causing a distraction for others? Is it refreshing to know that Paul supported women participating in worship, but that he simply wanted them to dress appropriately?

How can we lay aside our own preferences and selfishness to promote unity within the body of Christ?