By Hazel Holland
The teaching in the church at large today that every believer and every local church needs a “covering” continues to be raised. The notion that we must come under so and so's “covering” alarms me greatly for several reasons.
The obvious reason is that the leadership in a particular church is not the “church.” The whole body of believers in a given fellowship or congregation, including leadership make up the local church. Furthermore, if a particular church's beliefs have not been clearly defined from God’s Word, how can that body of believers come into agreement with it unless leadership first ‘proves their point’ from the Scriptures. We must know for ourselves what God's heart is on this matter and it must be clearly taught from the Bible.
The second reason this alarms me is that over the past five years I have searched the Scriptures and can find absolutely no biblical support for this notion that every believer and every local church needs a “covering.” I believe the current usage of the church phrase “covering” is a misnomer. It is one of the church’s most “sacred cows.”
The whole idea in the new covenant gospel is for people to become uncovered—unveiled! Listen to these words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 3:15-18. “Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers (kaluma) their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil (kaluma, covering) is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (legitimate liberty, no longer a slave. Hence no need for a covering). And we, who with unveiled (anaklupto, uncovered) faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
Yes, there is governmental authority in the church. But accurate governmental authority doesn’t mean to “cover.” It is not a “covering” from the top. It is an upholding—an under-girding of support from beneath. It is our safety net built on the foundation of the apostles…and particularly the chief Cornerstone, Jesus Christ (See 2 Timothy 2:9; 1 Corinthians 3:10).
The governmental authority structure in the New Testament church should not represent another hierarchical “covering.” It should not be another multi-level marketing plan where “I’m under your covering and “I’m the covering for these people over there...”
In the church we have the freedom to yield by preference to those who are veterans in the truth. We see this demonstrated in the New Testament by the apostles who didn’t isolate themselves or consider themselves as spiritual coverings “over” the churches. They had no secret need to control or dominate the churches they supported. Instead they passionately cared for their disciples and considered them as their sons. They served, they helped and they lifted them up. Among many other things, the apostles rightfully set things in order, corrected doctrine, recognized incorrect behavior and called for accountability in the body they served.
From this example in Scripture we have a clear picture of the leadership of the early church being the “support”—not the “covering.” That is righteous governing—not exploitation. Just as Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve, so the Apostles who were part of the five-fold ministry of the early church were not chosen to lord it over fellow believers, but to nurture them and lend assistance to them in order to help them mature in their Christian walk.
Unfortunately, over the years we have seen excessive abuse in the misunderstanding of the position of leadership in the church. Instead of trying to control, dominate, and intimidate the body into submission, true five-fold ministry today should be the battle-axe that exposes the traditions of men, and frees people’s minds that have been held captive by unscriptural teachings.
The third reason the practice of “covering” is promoted in many churches stems from the belief that women need a male covering. However, Paul quickly clarifies the whole veil/covering debate concerning women when he tells the Corinthian church not to be contentious about this matter (1 Corinthians 11:6). In essence, 1 Corinthians 11 concerns cultural issues. Jewish women had no such practice as covering veils, but veiling was a significant ethnic social problem to the Greeks in Corinth to whom this Scripture is addressed.
In summary, the cultural practice of Greek women covering their faces with veils was not a universal edict about women needing to be covered by men! Paul’s concern was that everything in the church be done decently and in order. In fact Paul recognized that in the Lord woman is not independent of man, neither is man independent of woman (see 1 Corinthians 11:11-12). He recognized the equality of believers (male and female) as part of the body that comprises the whole (1 Corinthians 12:26).
Essentially, Paul envisioned the personhood and interdependence of men and women existing together in Christ when he said, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). The church is being called into the emancipation of God’s liberty as we humble ourselves before one another and consider the interests of others before ourselves.
The teaching in the church at large today that every believer and every local church needs a “covering” continues to be raised. The notion that we must come under so and so's “covering” alarms me greatly for several reasons.
The obvious reason is that the leadership in a particular church is not the “church.” The whole body of believers in a given fellowship or congregation, including leadership make up the local church. Furthermore, if a particular church's beliefs have not been clearly defined from God’s Word, how can that body of believers come into agreement with it unless leadership first ‘proves their point’ from the Scriptures. We must know for ourselves what God's heart is on this matter and it must be clearly taught from the Bible.
The second reason this alarms me is that over the past five years I have searched the Scriptures and can find absolutely no biblical support for this notion that every believer and every local church needs a “covering.” I believe the current usage of the church phrase “covering” is a misnomer. It is one of the church’s most “sacred cows.”
The whole idea in the new covenant gospel is for people to become uncovered—unveiled! Listen to these words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 3:15-18. “Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers (kaluma) their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil (kaluma, covering) is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (legitimate liberty, no longer a slave. Hence no need for a covering). And we, who with unveiled (anaklupto, uncovered) faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
Yes, there is governmental authority in the church. But accurate governmental authority doesn’t mean to “cover.” It is not a “covering” from the top. It is an upholding—an under-girding of support from beneath. It is our safety net built on the foundation of the apostles…and particularly the chief Cornerstone, Jesus Christ (See 2 Timothy 2:9; 1 Corinthians 3:10).
The governmental authority structure in the New Testament church should not represent another hierarchical “covering.” It should not be another multi-level marketing plan where “I’m under your covering and “I’m the covering for these people over there...”
In the church we have the freedom to yield by preference to those who are veterans in the truth. We see this demonstrated in the New Testament by the apostles who didn’t isolate themselves or consider themselves as spiritual coverings “over” the churches. They had no secret need to control or dominate the churches they supported. Instead they passionately cared for their disciples and considered them as their sons. They served, they helped and they lifted them up. Among many other things, the apostles rightfully set things in order, corrected doctrine, recognized incorrect behavior and called for accountability in the body they served.
From this example in Scripture we have a clear picture of the leadership of the early church being the “support”—not the “covering.” That is righteous governing—not exploitation. Just as Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve, so the Apostles who were part of the five-fold ministry of the early church were not chosen to lord it over fellow believers, but to nurture them and lend assistance to them in order to help them mature in their Christian walk.
Unfortunately, over the years we have seen excessive abuse in the misunderstanding of the position of leadership in the church. Instead of trying to control, dominate, and intimidate the body into submission, true five-fold ministry today should be the battle-axe that exposes the traditions of men, and frees people’s minds that have been held captive by unscriptural teachings.
The third reason the practice of “covering” is promoted in many churches stems from the belief that women need a male covering. However, Paul quickly clarifies the whole veil/covering debate concerning women when he tells the Corinthian church not to be contentious about this matter (1 Corinthians 11:6). In essence, 1 Corinthians 11 concerns cultural issues. Jewish women had no such practice as covering veils, but veiling was a significant ethnic social problem to the Greeks in Corinth to whom this Scripture is addressed.
In summary, the cultural practice of Greek women covering their faces with veils was not a universal edict about women needing to be covered by men! Paul’s concern was that everything in the church be done decently and in order. In fact Paul recognized that in the Lord woman is not independent of man, neither is man independent of woman (see 1 Corinthians 11:11-12). He recognized the equality of believers (male and female) as part of the body that comprises the whole (1 Corinthians 12:26).
Essentially, Paul envisioned the personhood and interdependence of men and women existing together in Christ when he said, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). The church is being called into the emancipation of God’s liberty as we humble ourselves before one another and consider the interests of others before ourselves.
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I tried explaining the "covering" teaching to a friend once, but he just looked at me blankly. Why? Because he was not "charismatic" (although the Holy Spirit did speak to him often in his heart, and he was full of faith). My friend was based on the Bible alone, and such a thing as "covering" was so completely foreign that he couldn't begin to understand it.
ReplyDeleteThe "covering" teaching is something that is very strong in charismatic and sometimes pentecostal churches, though moreso in charismatic, I think. The reason is likely a conscious or unconscious association of "authority" with "power". The people who demonstrate more spiritual power tend to seem more correct and spiritual, and we feel we must get close to them and learn from them, even be "covered" by them. But just because someone demonstrates spiritual power does not mean that God has put them "in authority over us". We tend to look at such peoples' statements as if they are more correct (authoritative) than our own. It's basically a kind of idolization of the demonstration of power.
Someone will say, "But Jesus' miracles proved that He was correct!" Yes, that is true. But our miracles do not prove that we are correct. Rather, God does miracles and signs and wonders through us to witness of His Son! That is why miracles are done "in Jesus' name" and not in our own name! They testify to Christ! Jesus said that we could do miracles and yet not know Him or be known by Him! Doing miracles does not mean that we are more "right" or that we are more "authoritative" than any other Christian. Rather, the miracles and demonstrations of power are to testify to Jesus Christ.
That is what this picture is about: "Miracles"
We may steal some glory for ourselves today, but in the end every knee will bow and say it was Jesus, not me. We may think we "cover" people today and they may agree with us, but in the end everything that is hidden will be uncovered, and the secrets of mens' hearts will be laid bare, and many motivations of control and pride will be exposed. Even today they are being exposed by His Word.
Expose everything, Lord! Uncover and lay our hearts bare -- for You have laid Yours bare for us! Bring us into Your searching light and piercing word, Lord, for it is only as we choose to let our dark spots be seen by You that You can cleanse us of our stains! It is only as we walk in the light that Your blood cleans us from all our deep, hidden sins! Break through our "coverings" and shine on us, Jesus!
I hadn't noticed that you left this comment until right now. It's right on target and I especially appreciate the picture you shared! To me the word "Jesus" looks like a trumpet that is being blown, announcing to those who are watching, "Look this miracle is all about Him! Worship Him! Follow Him... not us!"
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