Be Imitators Of Christ

Imitators of Christ

This picture of Charlie and Erika Kirk illustrates how a married couple properly represents that Christ is over a man, just as a man is over his wife, and God is over Christ.

Be Imitators Of Christ, Like Paul

Beginning in 1 Corinthians 11:1, 2, we are taught to imitate those who imitate Christ according to the scriptures. "Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ. 2 Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you." However, there are good and evil traditions, which Jesus made clear in Mark 7:7, 8, "But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men. 8 Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men."

Once we understand that "Church traditions are not automatically correct just because a church says so, but only when they correctly understand God's Word as Paul continues in 1 Corinthians 11:3, "But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ." The most crucial principle set forth by the Apostle is where men, women, Christ, and God stand in relationship to one another. The best understanding from scripture comes from taking what is said literally. To impose meaning on scripture that is not there is never a good thing. We cannot change the meaning of Christ is the head of every man, also that man is the head of a woman, that is, a woman and not all women. Lastly, God is the head of Christ, as Christ became a man to save men from their sins, and as a man, He made Himself subject to God.

The Apostle Paul then moves us from the principle to the image. Verse 4, "Every man who has [something] on his head while praying or prophesying disgraces his head." Some will say, What does a head covering have to do with disgrace? Answer: a covering of any kind displays the one covered as having something over or controlling them. On the other hand, the woman who is uncovered displays nothing over them or controlling them. The disgrace lies in how we perceive ourselves before God, who places men and women in their God-given roles before Him.

Be Imitators Of Christ According To Nature

Paul then moves to nature, or how God created men and women, as to their hair covering. 5 But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying disgraces her head, for she is one and the same as the woman whose head is shaved. 6 For if a woman does not cover her head, let her also have her hair cut off; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, let her cover her head. 7 For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man." Long hair for women is naturally becoming, and short hair for men is natural and is also a proper reflection of God's authority. Argue with God's design if you wish, but know that only people who subject themselves to God willingly, with no contention or rebellion, are pleasing to Him. In the 1950s, there was no contention over head coverings. People, to one degree or another, understood submitting to God, and neither were they contentious, because before the 1960s, they understood the proper roles of men and women.

Be Imitators of Christ And Image Divine Equality

Paul moves from the image-bearing of headship and submission to the image-bearing of equality, in their proper order. 8 "For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; 9 for indeed man was not created for the woman's sake, but woman for the man's sake. 10 Therefore, the woman ought to have [a symbol of] authority on her head, because of the angels. 11 However, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For as the woman originates from the man, so also the man [has his birth] through the woman; and all things originate from God." In other words, know your place and assume your proper place in God's order, and do this even by head covering as a woman should or a man. God died for those saved by Him; is it too hard to submit to such a trivial matter? How about forgiveness?

Be Imitators of Christ Without Contention And By Practice

13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God [with her head] uncovered? 14 Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 But if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God." (1 Corinthians 11:16)

It is not my intention to make idols of Erika and Charlie Kirk, but to use two people as a picture of those who joyfully made themselves to look like an image of godliness. There is much more to imitating Jesus than a picture with long and short hair; there is what the hair represents, and that is a correct picture of covering and equality. The test before us is a difficult passage, first because of cultural norms, and also because many people try to dodge anything that even resembles something as seemingly insignificant as a person's hair length.