WOMEN’S WORSHIP VEIL,

FASHION AND THE SCRIPTURE?

By Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme
Websites: http://www.scribd.com/ifeogo
http://priscaquila.6te.net ; http://priscaquila.blogspot.com

Comment on The Chapel of Grace Web Blog:

http://thechapelofgrace.wordpress.com

What should we follow as authentic guide for the Church’s standards in such
matters as fashion, worship veil, marriage and sexual morality, women ordination
to the Episcopal Presbyterate, etc? Should we follow the canon of Apostolic and
Prophetic revelation in the Scripture? Or follow modern culture and conjectures,
and today’s ecclesiastical innovations, media bandwagon statistics and aggressive
existential licentiousness?

God’s Word (inscripturated and Incarnated) is our light in darkness, our

navigation compass, our annotated map, our standard unit of measure – there is no
vision without the light of God’s Word, no direction without the compass of God’s
Word, no location without the map of God’s Word, no value, virtue or venture
without the standard of God’s Word. Outside the guidance of the Scripture and the
salvation in Christ, it is all aimless groping and hopeless choices. Thank God for
His Word.

PREAMBLE
LONG HAIR versus WORSHIP VEIL
This is for our beloved Sisters, WHEN in Church.

The Ancient Church had an Apostolic Custom or Tradition such that women veiled their head and men kept
their head open during public worship (11:16). This was based on the LITURGICAL protocol that covers all
symbols of human glory while uncovering symbols of divine glory during corporate worship because of the
angels. Culturally, we know that Jews and Romans worshipped with head covering for both men and
women, while Greeks worshipped without head covering for both men and women. So, this was neither
Jewish nor Roman, nor even Greek culture. Rather it was peculiar apostolic custom in the Church (11:2,16)
meant to CONCEAL human glory and EXHIBIT Divine Glory for authority and dignity before the Angels
during Church’s messianic worship gatherings. It has nothing to do with submission to husbands or
submission to slave masters or distinction between adults and minors or any other conjectures that are not
found in the text and do not fit the context of this passage of Scripture.

Apostolic teaching of divinely instituted ordinance in the ancient Church was that human heads and long hair
have spiritual protocol significance in New Testament Church worship meetings because of the Angels. This is
such that a woman in Church without veil covering on her head has no respectable authority before angels (in
the spiritual realm) – this should also apply to demons who are fallen angels! Her long hair covering makes
her beautiful and honourable before men (in the physical realm), but not sufficiently appropriate before
Angels.
1 Corinthians 11:10
(10) for this cause ought the woman to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels.
1 Corinthians 11:14-15
(14) Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a dishonor to him?
(15) But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

WOMEN’S WORSHIP VEIL, FASHION AND THE CHURCH by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme 1

 From Apostolic times before 1Corinthians was written to give this explanatory teaching (1Cor 11:1-2 and 16)
until the 1960s women had known they should cover their head with veil, scarf, or hat when in Church but
since the hippie countercultural movement in the 1970s revisionist agents of the spirits of error and women
"liberationists" began to reinterpret God's Word to mean otherwise.

Long Hair covering (Grk= peribolaion) for Social Beauty before humans (1Cor 11:15) at all times is not the
same as Worship Veil covering (Grk= katakalupto) for Spiritual Authority and Liturgical Dignity before
Angels (1Cor 11:10) during worship occasions. Unfortunately, despite the fact that the Church has always
know this truth for 2000 years, many sisters have recently been deceived by hippie countercultural spirits and
confused by modern subjectivist agents of error to abandon their prophetic mantle and liturgical token of
angelic authority during worship. They have been cajoled to think that their aesthetic token of human beauty is
enough while the liturgical and prophetic token of authority is an unnecessary protocol that does not matter!

1Cor 11:15 does not mean that a woman's long hair stands for or substitutes her worship veil but that it points
to her need for a veil during worship, because while the long hair is her social covering of glory before
humans, the veil is her spiritual covering of authority before Angels. The word “ALSO” in 1Cor 11:6 (Grk=
“kai”) shows that THE VEIL COVERING IS NOT SUBSTITUTE FOR BUT AN ADDITION ON THE HAIR
COVERING.
1 Corinthians 11:5-6
(5) But every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonoreth her head; for it is
one and the same thing as if she were shaven.
(6) For if a woman is not veiled, let her ALSO be shorn: but if it is a shame to a woman to be shorn or
shaven, let her be veiled.

Let no modern countercultural revisionist deceive you.

When the Church gathers, the Godhead is present in “company of His innumerable Angels” (Heb 12:22-
24). This retinue of Angels who are God’s “ministering spirits, sent to minister to heirs of salvation” in
Church (Heb 1:14), perceive our physical heads, hairs and veils as symbolic tokens of spiritual significance
(1Cor 11:10).

Just as the LONG HAIR is given to a woman as NATURAL COVERING (Grk= peribolaiou 1Cor 11:15) for
SOCIAL BEAUTY, so also is the VEIL TOKEN provided her as LITURGICAL COVERING (Grk= katakalupto
1Cor 11:5-10) for ANGELIC AUTHORITY. This is contrary to the Gentile women who left their head
uncovered in temple worship frenzy.

In the same way, men are not only to have short hair but to also avoid copying Jewish men who cover their
head in their Synagogue worship.

Beware of dogs!
Grace to you.

TEXT: 1CORINTHIANS 11:1-16 (ASV)

(1) Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ.
(2) Now I praise you that ye remember me in all things, and hold fast the traditions, even as I
delivered them to you.
(3) 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.
(4) Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoreth his head.
(5) But every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonoreth her head; for it
is one and the same thing as if she were shaven.
(6) For if a woman is not veiled, let her also be shorn: but if it is a shame to a woman to be shorn
or shaven, let her be veiled.
(7) For a man indeed ought not to have his head veiled, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of
God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
(8) For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man:
(9) for neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man:
(10) for this cause ought the woman to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels.
(11) Nevertheless, neither is the woman without the man, nor the man without the woman, in the
Lord.
(12) For as the woman is of the man, so is the man also by the woman; but all things are of God.
(13) Judge ye in yourselves: is it seemly that a woman pray unto God unveiled?
WOMEN’S WORSHIP VEIL, FASHION AND THE CHURCH by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme 2
 (14) Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a dishonor to him?
(15) But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
(16) But if any man seemeth to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of
God.

INTRODUCTION:
This portion of Scripture (as any other) must be approached with devotion in
order to have insight into its true and plain meaning. True apostolic Christians must
imitate: not only spiritual precepts expounded for us, or the informal purposes and
manners exemplified for us by the Apostles, but also the formal traditions or
customs and ordinances delivered or handed down to us by them. Apostolic
ordinances, customs and traditions are about physical things or ordinary protocols
and patterns of doing things which are revealed to have mystical or spiritual
significance when the Church gathers in one place for worship. This applies to
Water of Baptism, Bread and Wine of Holy Communion, Anointing Oil,
Adornment and Head Symbols of males and females. THE APOSTLES HANDED
DOWN THE DIVINELY INSTITUTED CUSTOM OR DOCTRINE THAT
DURING NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH WORSHIP, DUE SPIRITUAL
RELATIONAL PROTOCOL DEMANDS THAT TOKENS OF HUMAN GLORY
(FEMALE HUMAN HEAD AND LONG HAIR) SHOULD BE COVERED, WHILE
TOKENS OF DIVINE GLORY (MALE HUMAN HEAD) SHOULD BE
UNCOVERED. IT MUST BE NOTICED THAT THIS WHOLE SEGMENT ON
APOSTOLIC TRADITION AND ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH IS
MEANT TO BE IMITATED AND KEPT (11:1-2) BECAUSE THERE IS NO
OTHER ALTERNATIVE (11:16) AND SO ARE COMMANDMENT OF THE
LORD (14:36-38) FOR ALL THE CHURCHES (11:16; 14:33, 36).
1Cor 11:1-16 was about a divine mystery previously UNKNOWN (1Cor 11:3)
revealed for the New Tetament Church concerning spiritual tokens and norms of
Angelic liturgical order (or “culture”) which was already in practice by the
Apostolic Church. This has nothing to do with the cultural tokens of Jewish, Greek
or Roman cultures though these also have their well-known aesthetic tokens and
forms, as all other cultures also have today (1Cor 11:13-15).
The unmistakable point the Apostle is making here is simply this: that in any
WORSHIP GATHERING of Christ’s New Covenant Church (at which God,
Christ, the Saints and the Angels share communion Heb 12:22-24) the believer’s
HEAD scalp, the believer’s short or long HAIR, and the believer’s headgear or veil
COVERING, have spiritual significances that matter (as signs of our spiritual
dignity and authority, honour and dishonour) before the Angels (and demons?) in
conformity to the exclusive tradition/custom (1Cor 11:16). The Apostles learned
this mystery from Christ for the Church to imitate (1Cor 11:1-2). Dress matters has
spiritual significance, not only in the Church but even in heaven! (Rev 3:4-5; 19:8;
21:2).
The secularists and postmodernists of our time have erred and are
deceived to misconstrue the veil as having no worship significance for Christian
women. They opine that the veil is mere cultural token of subjugation and
retrogression, though they know that the diadem or crown is always a token of
WOMEN’S WORSHIP VEIL, FASHION AND THE CHURCH by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme 3
authority and excellency among humans. Our prophesying and praying sisters
have been dishonoured and despoiled through this error and deception. True
Christianity imitates apostolic practice and principles but to disregard tokens
which the Apostles regarded highly is to do violence to apostolic teaching which
is dangerous liberalism (Gal 1:6-9; Phil 3:17). The Scriptures clearly teach that
when Christian women pray and prophesy during New Covenant worship in
Christ, their worship veil has distinct spiritual significance as token of dignity
and authority BEFORE ANGELS, who are always numerously in attendance to
worship God and serve the Saints. (1Cor 11:10; Heb 1:14; 12:22-24).

THE MYSTERY OF DIVINE PROTOCOL IN THE N.T. CHURCH

Always REMEMBER, we are free to make our choices and have our
cultures, but we should not dare to prevent God form being free to have His own
choices and protocols nor can we alter and disregard Divine Truth and Order
without being spiritually short-changed.
From 1Corinthians 11:1-16, the Apostolic Scriptures reveal that there is a
great mystery about ORDER OF DIVINELY INSTITUTED PROTOCOL – in
accordance with the nature of the Godhead and because of circumstances at the
origins and creation of male and female humans – which has now been revealed
to the Apostles (1Cor 11:3). Every community or culture, parliament or
gathering has its symbols and protocols of honour, even the Church!
The Church is the gathering and guild for prophesying or praying Saints
where God is present with His Angels also in attendance to minister (worship the
exalted God and serve the ordered Saints) according to a protocol mystery;
therefore for maximum honourable benefits, Christian Saints should conduct
themselves according to this protocol mystery as divinely instituted and not be
ignorant of such spiritual order and decorum.
It is already common knowledge that God’s Spirit dwells in believers’
hearts and bears witness with the Saints at all times in relation with faith and
power, sin and sanctity. This Scripture wants us to know, not about faith and
power or sin and sanctity but further into the mystery of divinely instituted
protocol about ORDER OF DECORUM for dignity and disgrace or glory and
shame or honour and dishonour appointed by God (1Cor 11:1-3) and respected
by Angels (1Cor 11:10) who also minister among the Saints (Heb 1:13-14) in
Christian Church worship gatherings.
Whenever Christians gather in Christ’s Name, God has appointed that
His Angels do not regard or respect believers by their faces but BY THE
ORDER AND SYMBOLS OF DIGNITY ATTRIBUTED TO THEIR HEADS.
What then is this order and symbols of dignity which God and His Angels
regard on our heads whenever we gather as His Church to pray and prophesy
and He is in our midst? Does He follow our subjective preferences and cultural
protocol and order or DOES GOD HAVE HIS OWN DIVINELY INSTITUTED
ANGELIC PROTOCOL AND SPIRITUAL CULTURE for the New Testament
Church (1Cor 4:17; 11:1-16; 14:33; 2Thes 2:15; 3:6, 14)? Certainly He doe does,
even for the heavenly Throne Sanctuary (Rev 4:8-11; 5:6-14).
WOMEN’S WORSHIP VEIL, FASHION AND THE CHURCH by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme 4
 Whenever Angelic Beings (Angels and Demons) look at male Christians
prophesying or praying with unveiled heads (like Greek and Roman men did in
their culture) they see DIGNIFIED divine glory; but if those prophesying or
praying male humans cover their heads with veil (like Jewish men did in their
culture), such angelic beings see DISGRACEFUL human glory. Also, when
Angels (or demons?) look at female Christians prophesying or praying with
unveiled heads (like Greek women did in their culture) they see
DISGRACEFUL human glory; but if those prophesying or praying female
Christians cover their heads with veil (like Jewish and Roman women did in
their culture), such angelic beings see DIGNIFIED divine glory (1Cor 11:4-12)!
In the spirit or angelic realm therefore, the WORSHIP VEIL COVERING
of female humans becomes their powerful MANTLE OF DIGNITY and
authority before Angels (Angels are spiritual Church ushers 1Cor 11:10; Heb
1:13-14) NOT A SYMBOL OF SUBJUGATION to men as many assume.
Similarly, in the physical or social realm LONG HAIR COVERING of female
humans which is their natural glory usually serves as fashionable mantle of
aesthetics (1Cor 11:13-15).
We cannot alter Divine Truth except to our unavoidable detriment! Even
though we could choose to neglect or reject, ignore or abhor the Truth or even
attempt to modify and revise it to suit our cultures.

Some Churches who seek to be subjective and cultural rather than

scriptural neither mind having Christ outside the door (Rev 3:20) nor bother
about manipulations by seducing demons of error into all manner of dangerous
trendy teachings (1Tim 4:1; 2Pet 2:1; 1John 4:6). Others use their anointing
rather than Scripture to validate their revisionism, forgetting that King Saul
was divinely anointed (1Sam 10:1) and had the prophetic Spirit (1Sam 10:10),
but when he disregarded divine protocol (1Sam 13) and instruction (1Sam 15),
he additionally began to be troubled by a demon by divine disfavour, despite his
divine anointing (1Sam 16:14)!
Postmodern subjectivist Churches are playing dangerous games with
spiritual protocols of the Worship Veil divinely instituted for the New
Testament, which were customary order and decorum followed by early
Apostolic Churches without contention (1Cor 11:1-2, 16). Today, some
Christians presume they have subjective liberty or spiritual authority to
arrogantly disregard or discretionally revise customs taught and practiced by
the Apostles as Christ’s spiritual ordinances of decorum in Church (1Cor 11:3-
5) and dignity before His Angels (1Cor 11:10). Angels are God's liturgical
(worship ministering or homage service) spirits unto God as well as diaconal
(attendant serving) spirits unto the saints (Heb_1:14).
THE ONTOLOGICAL MYSTERY IN THIS DIVINE PROTOCOL OF
HEAD TOKENS FOR THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH, HAD NOTHING
TO DO WITH MARRIAGE TO HUSBANDS, NOR HAS IT ANYTHING TO
DO WITH JEWISH, GREEK AND ROMAN CULTURES as often insinuated.
Of course, it is also important to notice that this is about regard or disregard of
WOMEN’S WORSHIP VEIL, FASHION AND THE CHURCH by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme 5
divinely instituted protocol and liturgical tokens of dignity and indignity, glory
and inglory, honour and dishonour, but not about sanctity and defilement.
To deprive the Saints of the benefits of this truth and mystery, there are
multifaceted, frantic and futile efforts by secularist media and anti-Christian
postmodernists in collaboration with innovative and revisionist liberal Christians,
who give no damn about imitating any Apostolic tradition (Grk=paradosis),
ordinance (Grk=dikaioma) or moderation (Grk=epieikes) delivered and commanded
to the Church. They revise the text and twist the meaning of this and other Scriptures
to bring the Church into error and out of tandem with God (2Pet 3:16-17). Attempt
has been made to even completely retranslate this portion of the Scripture in the NIV
footnote! We are in the age of the Holy Spirit, but never forget, we are also in the
age of the antichrist spirits of error and deception who twist Scriptures to lead many
to destruction (2Thes 2:8-13; 2Pet 2:1-3; 1Jon 4:1; 2John 1:7-10).
The Nations have not agitated to revise or abandon their fixed canon of the
millimetre and kilometre, ounce and pound, the gram and kilogram, but measure all
distance and weight with these fixed measures and equivalents. Yet people are
querying why the Church still measures every doctrinal truth with the fixed canon of
the Scripture. Why would these people use the Mass Media and the Press to
pressurize the Church to revise or abandon the fixed canonical truth of the Holy
Scripture? They talk and write everywhere to argue that the eternal truth revealed in
the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures is no longer acceptable to their modern pagan
cultures, therefore the Holy Spirit should revise and reveal new “truth” for them in
more acceptable form or they would revise the Holy Spirit Himself. Unfortunately,
when the Scriptural truth is rejected, God does not reveal a new revision but sends a
strong delusion for easy deception and eventual destruction! (2Thes 2:9-12).
Frantic but contradictory approaches to mislead the Church are propagated
under all manner of liberal revisionist slogans such as:

(i) Textual Revisionist Slogan: “The woman needs no worship veil since her hair is
already her head covering”. This has been found to be erroneous absurdity,
mistaking NATURAL hair covering (περιβόλαιον) for SYMBOLIC veil covering
(κατακαλύπτω). If women’s hair replaces the veil gear then men must be totally shorn
for even short hair covers the head too! Besides, if the natural hair was the fabric
worship headgear, verse 6 would make no sense with the phrase, “let her ALSO
(Grk= kai) be shorn”, as additional action apart from not unveiling.

(ii) Unisex or Homo-sex Slogan: “There is no difference between male and female in
Christ”. This is the favourite error for proponents of solemnized homosexual union
and ordained women overseer ministry. This “genderless humanity” assumption that
ignores our real sexual differences (in physic, role and significance) runs contrary to
what the Apostles fully affirm unanimously even in this and every Scripture. Truly
there is no difference on HOW males and females are saved (but there is difference
WHO is male and female) for it is by the same blood and Spirit both are saved into
the same body of Christ (Gal 3:28-28). Yet, while in our present body IN THIS
WOMEN’S WORSHIP VEIL, FASHION AND THE CHURCH by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme 6
LIFE, our sexual natures and relational roles are different in Christ (Rom 1:24-
28; Eph 5:22-25), as reiterated here in verses 3-5. That is why Christian men don’t
get pregnant.
For the place of women ministry in the Church visit:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/30395601/Apostolic-Teaching-on-Women-Ministry-
Gifts-Order
or http://priscaquila.6te.net/seminars/women_veil.html

(iii) Historical Denial Slogan: “There was no custom of worship veil in the Apostolic
Church”. This has been shown to be total fallacy on the evidence of ancient coins,
murals, paintings, sculptures and writings of ancient Church Fathers. If “NO SUCH
custom” in verse 16 meant that there was NOT ANY (instead of NO OTHER)
custom of worship veil, which TRADITIONS then was St Paul referring to in verse
2, to have been held fast by the Corinthians as delivered to them by St Paul? And
what would really be the sense of wasting all the effort in writing the whole passage?

(iv) Cultural Revisionist Slogan: “Worship veil was a cultural prescription for
ancient Corinth but now overtaken in today’s modern culture”. This is an unfounded
and false supposition with neither historical nor Scriptural basis. The truth is that the
Apostles never taught doctrines that subjected the Church to Gentile cultural
rudiments or Jewish ritual laws (Gal 4:1-10; Col 2:8-19). AS JEWISH RITUALS
CANNOT DICTATE SAVING REQUIREMENTS SO ALSO GENTILE
CULTURES AND HEATHEN MODERNITY CANNOT DICTATE STANDARD
MORES TO THE CHURCH, ONLY APOSTOLIC SCRIPTURES WITH ITS
SPIRITUAL AND ETHICAL PRINCIPLES SHOULD. We are not freed from the
Old Testament Law only to be subjected to Off Testament lawlessness and trends.
The Scripture makes it clear that THROUGH CHRIST’S BLOOD, BELIEVERS
ARE OF THE NEW MESSIANIC TESTAMENT AND IN CHRIST’S CHURCH
OF THE FIRST BORN WITH THE GOD WHO IS STILL A CONSUMING FIRE
(Heb 1218-29).
Post-modern pagan culture no longer regards dressing and clothing as meant for
shamefaced decency to cover nakedness (Gen 3:7-10, 21) but for shameless fashion
to exhibit the body and nakedness especially for salacious seductiveness, rebellious
revelry and promiscuous lustfulness. This has happened before through Balaam’s
counsel and is designed to plague the Church and Society with iniquity and
immorality (Num 31:16; Josh 22:17; Jude 1:11) and kindle God’s wrath against the
Church (Num 25:1-5; Rev 2:17).
Women who pursue modern flirting fashion of salacious gentile cultures are fast
creeping into Churches half-naked. These follow the past counsel of Balaam (Num
31:16) and Jezebel (Rev 2:20) to dress moabitishly sexy or fashionably crazy with
no regard for respectable modesty or decency. In the recent decades, many
Christians had already been deceived to revise or reject or despise the age-old
apostolic teaching on the worship veil (1Cor 11:1-16), thereby dishonorably unveil
their head in Church with no reverence for apostolic ORDER of godly modesty

WOMEN’S WORSHIP VEIL, FASHION AND THE CHURCH by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme 7

(Rom 12:1-2; 1Tim 2:9-10; 1Pet 3:3-5) and apostolic ORDINANCE for angelic
dignity (1Cor 11:1-5, 10-13).
Though it is obvious from the context that this mystery of the Worship Veil
revealed through the Apostles in 1Cor 11:1-16 is clearly stated to have nothing
to do with any culture but of pure divine revelation, some modern revisionist
still want us to think that the apostolic doctrine in this Scripture (1Cor 11:1-16)
is derived from Jewish culture or be subjected to some other cultural
vicissitudes. Such implausible conjecture makes no sense and lacks any evidence.
For instance:
 St Paul as a JEWISH man, worshiped with veil on his head in the
Synagogue (same applied to BOTH Jewish men and women till this day,
due to some historical reasons different from Apostolic ecclesiology 2Cor
3:7-17). However, when IN CHURCH’s angelic counterculture, St Paul
removed his veil together with other Jewish Christian men.
 The ROMANS, like the Jews, worshipped in their heathen shrines with
head covering for BOTH men and women, based on their (humanist and
spiritist Col 2:8) philosophies; but when IN CHURCH’s angelic culture,
Roman men removed their hoods while their women retained theirs.
 Corinthian GREEK women adorned and flaunted their hair décor in the
streets and in their shrines, but when IN CHURCH’s messianic blood-
sprinkled culture, these Greeks veiled their heads contrary to their
heathen culture.

IF THE APOSTLES COUNTERED AND CORRECTED CULTURES OLDER THAN

THEM, WHY IS THE MODERN CHURCH COPYING AND CONFORMING TO
(INSTEAD OF COUNTERING AND CORRECTING) TODAY’S HIPPIE CULTURE
MUCH YOUNGER THAN US?

What we call MODERN fashion and culture is obviously not divine or holy culture
but heathenish and more likely to be DEMONIC DEBAUCHERY IN
OPPOSITION TO THE ANGELIC DECORUM than be a better alternative for the
Church to learn and follow. Angelic culture is agreeable to the Apostolic Church.
1Corinthians 11:10-11
(10) For this cause ought the woman to have authority on her head
because of the angels.
(11) Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the
woman without the man, in the Lord.

Hebrews 12:22-25
(22) But you are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living
God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of
angels,
(23) To the general assembly and church of the firstborn,
who are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the
spirits of just men made perfect,
WOMEN’S WORSHIP VEIL, FASHION AND THE CHURCH by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme 8
 (24) And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the
blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things than that of Abel.
(25) See that you refuse not him that speaks. For if they escaped not
who refused him that spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape,
if we turn away from him that speaks from heaven:

OCCULTISM OF THE HIPPIE COUNTERCULTURAL

MOVEMENT AND ALTERED PERCEPTION
Since the popular youth awakening of the "Woodstock Festival"
or "hippie movement" with its unrestrained “lust-rock-drug-sex”
and subjective “spirituality” of late 1960s and early 1970s, the
world has changed so fast and gone astray too far. Further, on
December 31, 1986 and August 16-17, 1987, the Luciferian
Illuminatti and New Agers united together in their worldwide
mass occultist meditation and geomantic divination across the
globe. At these global invocations and meditations, the focus was
that “THE WAY PEOPLE PERCEIVE REALITY BE ALTERED”. The
1986 invocation was led by 144,000 adept witches and shamans
that coordinated 50,000,000 occultists while the 1987 session
involved over 80,000,000 occultists. (The late Archbishop Benson
Idahosa publicly opposed and hindered the December 1986 Benin City
geomantic coven in Nigeria). These occultists and New Agers saw
these times as times of cosmic “Instant of Cooperation” (1986) or
"Harmonic Convergence" (1987) and the meditations/invocations
were meant to release "spiritual forces" for "Planetary
Surrender” to the demons!
See http://herescope.blogspot.com/2011/06/new-age-date-
setting.html

Even though the expected technological regression and utopian

peace and their date-setting did not seem to follow, it seems that
since then, there is more united effort (through the power of
Music, the Mass Media and the Internet) to ensure that people’s
perception of reality and of Christianity began to be altered as
envisaged by Harmonic Convergence geomancy of Planetary
Surrender occultism in the 1980s; even the Church has not been
spared apparently because we now see that:
 Truth and light are replaced with lie and darkness,
 Scripture has been overtaken by culture,
 Sermon is replaced with motivational speech,
 Pentecostal Christianity is replaced with pente-rascal
heathenism,
 Living by Grace has become living licentiously,
 shamefaced clothing is replaced with heathenish seductive
fashion designs,
WOMEN’S WORSHIP VEIL, FASHION AND THE CHURCH by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme 9
  worship-veil to cover human shame is replaced with long-
hair to depict human glory,
 Christian modesty and dignity is replaced with pagan
nudity and vanity,
 Prayer warriors have become geomancers and kabbalists,
 adoration praise-worship music is replaced with gyration
“praise-cotech” music,
 paganism and subjectivism have become repackaged and
updated spirituality,
 sin and licentiousness have become style and liberty,
 being under grace has become being above the moral law of
the Spirit,
 madman’s demeanour has become model and decorum
show-business, ...

And people unaware of their ALTERED PERCEPTION invoked on

them and impressed on them through psychological pressures
and the mass media, think they are enjoying life or getting things
right while Christians who SYNCRETISE CHRISTIANITY WITH
HEATHENISM in their ALTERED PERCEPTION think they are
“repackaging” and “updating” the Gospel, not knowing what is
happening to them! This was the case in syncretistic Israel when
Jeremiah prophesied:
Jeremiah 5:29-31
(29) Shall I not punish for these things? says the LORD: shall not my soul be
avenged on such a nation as this?
(30) An appalling and horrible thing is committed in the land;
(31) The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their own power;
and my people love to have it so: and what will you do in the end?

Apostle Paul also warned against such syncretistic Christianity which was to
become prevalent before the coming of the Antichrist:
2 Thessalonians 2:10-15
(10) And with all deception of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they
received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
(11) And for this cause God shall send them a strong delusion, that they should
believe a lie:
(12) That they all might be condemned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure
in unrighteousness.
(13) But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the
Lord, because God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through
sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
(14) To which he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
WOMEN’S WORSHIP VEIL, FASHION AND THE CHURCH by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme 10
(15) Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which you have been
taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

In Rev 3:18 Christ counselled and warned the syncretistic Church to SALVE
THEIR EYES SO THEY COULD SEE. This is the warning for us today.

Ah! May God open our eyes and deliver His elect Saints.

EXPOSITION:
1. There was an Apostolic praxis (tradition or ordinance) which the Corinthian
Church had kept as delivered by St Paul contrary to their conventional street
culture. But having obeyed first, they now wanted to know why (1Cor 11:2).
So Paul gives an intelligible explanation to make them understand the mystery
behind the praxis (1Cor 11:3a). As mentioned earlier, the unmistakable point
being made here by the Apostle is simply this: that in any worship gathering
of Christ’s Church, the believer’s HEAD scalp, the believer’s short or long
HAIR, and the believer’s headgear COVERING, have spiritual significances
that matter to Angels and conform to Apostolic liturgical tradition . Dress
matters and has spiritual significance, not only in the Church but even in
heaven! (Rev 3:4-5; 19:8; 21:2).
2. In accordance with God’s divine nature, the nature of His creation and the
Angelic presence in the New Testament Church gathering, God has instituted a
protocol mystery for LITURGICAL ORDER OF HEAD TOKENS (or
ontological covenant inter-relation of beings) IN THE CHURCH’s praying
and prophesying assemblies, for both divinity and humanity as follows: –
First: IN THE CHURCH’s praying and prophesying assemblies, God is
represented by the head of Christ (begotten of the Father, but non-proceeding),

NOTE: The Father and the Holy Spirit have no physical heads. The Holy Spirit proceeds
from both the Father and the Son alike (Joh 14:23-26; 15:26), and is given unto both men
and women alike (Rom 8:11-17), to regenerate them equally as co-sons irrespective of sex or
gender (Joh 1:12-14; Gal 3:26-29), and to authorise them equally for kingdom co-heritage
with Christ (Rom 8:14-17).

Next: IN THE CHURCH’s praying and prophesying assemblies , Christ is

represented by the head of the Man (created in the image of God and redeemed in
Christ),
Also: IN THE CHURCH’s praying and prophesying assemblies , Humanity
is represented by the head and long hair of the Woman (created in the image of
God and redeemed in Christ, though also made after and from the man but gives
birth to man) (1Cor 11:3, 7-9; 1Tim 2:13-15).

WOMEN’S WORSHIP VEIL, FASHION AND THE CHURCH by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme 11

 2. The sublime wisdom behind this orderly ontological inter-relation of beings –
the DIVINE, the MALE and the FEMALE – is to avoid confusion and
dishonour, strife and evil work (Jas. 3:16), and rather maintain order and
decorum IN THE CHURCH’s praying and prophesying assemblies (1Cor
11:4-6; 14:33) – “because of the Angels” (1Cor 11:10; Heb 1:14; 12:22-24).
3. No Church, whatever their prideful culture or importance (1Cor 14:36), has the
authority to disobey and differ, or could claim better insight to disdain this
revealed pattern of apostolic tradition to suit their modern pagan customs,
conveniences and preferences (1Cor 11:16). COPYING WORLDLY
PATTERN WHILE REJECTING OR CONTRADICTING APOSTOLIC
PATTERN IS SYNCRETISM AND SPIRITUAL WHOREDOM. Divine and
Apostolic liturgical wisdom and order must overrule in the Church (1Cor
14:33, 27, 40) as the canon or standard measure of truth, because such
apostolic ordinances are the Lord’s commandments (1Cor 11:1-2; 14:37).
Whatever cannot be “tekeled” by Scriptural truth is doctrinally valueless and
should be “upharsined”. Just as whatever is not measurable by the gram
value is said to be massless.
4. At every New Covenant gathering of the saints in the name of Christ (i.e.
IN THE CHURCH), God is present with covenant blessings and His
ministering (liturgical homage service) fiery (Seraphic) Angels are in
attendance to minister (diaconal dispensary service) to the saints (Is 6:1-4;
Heb 1:7,14; 12:12-14). This New Covenant presence confers certain
symbolic spiritual significance on some physical things in the assembly.
For instance, each spirit-indwelled worshipper (1Cor 6:19) becomes a lively
stone (1Pet 2:5) and together they all become a dwelling place for God (1Cor
3:16-17; 2Cor 6:16; Eph 2:20-22). THIS IS APOSTOLIC
ECCLESIOLOGY! In accordance with this divine order of the New
Covenant worship assembly, God has set signs and symbols such that in every
Church assembly:
EQUISEXUAL IS HETEROSEXUAL BUT NOT ASEXUAL,
UNISEXUAL, HOMOSEXUAL OR TRANSSEXUAL. The Man and the
Woman, though they are both equal as “the Image of God” (Gen 1:27),
interdependent on each other (1Co 11:11-12), equally indwelled and inspired
by the Holy Spirit for worship and SONSHIP and heritage, (Rom 8:14-17; Gal
4:5-7), yet both still retain their physical male/female sexes and husband/wife
roles IN THE CHURCH MILITANT until after the resurrection (Mark 12:25).
Since we yet have our maleness/femaleness for now IN THE MILITANT
CHURCH, our sexually distinguishable heads still carry certain

WOMEN’S WORSHIP VEIL, FASHION AND THE CHURCH by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme 12

 distinguishable worship or liturgical symbols BEFORE GOD AND HIS
ANGELS:
♦ The Man’s head symbolizes Christ’s Glory (1Cor 11:3, 7), so should
be left unveiled;
♦ The Woman’s bald head symbolizes Man’s glory (1Cor 11:7), so
should be veiled;
♦ The Woman’s long hair symbolizes Woman’s glory (1Cor 11:15), so
should be veiled;
♦ The Woman’s Worship Veil in Church has nothing to do with
marriage as veils may have in some cultures. Rather, Christian Worship
Veil does not only symbolize prophetic mantle but also serves as mantle
of dignity which covers the indignity of all that symbolize human glories
(i.e. Woman’s head and long hair) and also serves as token of dignity or
symbol of authority before the Angels (1Cor 11:10; Heb 1:14).

Notice that the veil is a mystery token which does not subject her under
the authority of her husband as many hastily assume without the context
saying so. Otherwise, her long hair should also symbolise subjection to her
husband rather than social aesthetics. The veil dignifies her head in a way
that God accepts and authorises her head in a way that Angels respect IN
THE CHURCH.
Often, there is the tendency to abandon the liturgical context (i.e.,
IN THE CHURCH’s praying and prophesying 1Cor 11:4-5) of this
passage and slip into cultural but out-of-context interpretation, as if it was
a teaching on head-SHIP and AUTHORITY for social superiority instead
of a revelation on head-SYMBOLS and PROPRIETY for Church
worship. Forcing such interpretation into this portion does havoc to the
context. Every conjecture to bring inferiority of women/wives to
men/husbands into this matter fails to grammatically and reasonably fit the
WOMEN’S WORSHIP VEIL, FASHION AND THE CHURCH by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme 13
 context here in its entirety. Such husband-wife relations are handled in
other portions of Scripture not necessarily having to do with liturgical
symbolisms for the sake of the Angels.
Why “because of the Angels” in verse 10? Because even the four-
faced, many-eyed, fiery seraphic Angels cover their glory when they
worship God (Isa 6:1-4; Heb 1:7; Rev 4:6-8). Again, liturgical myriads of
Angels who accompany God’s Presence at Church gatherings, minister to
assembled believers during worship on earth while they also burn incenses
with believers’ prayers in heavenly censers (Heb 1:14; 12:22-24; Rev 5:8;
8:3).
The New Covenant worship gathering of the Apostolic Church is
meant to be agreeable to Angelic culture not street or party culture. In such
Church worship (1Cor 11:4; 1Cor 14:23, 26), which evokes God’s covenant
presence also attended by His Angels (1Cor 11:10; 1Tim 5:21; Heb 1:13-14;
Heb 12:22) – though unbelievers may also attend (1Cor 14:23) – believers
should all endeavour to conform to the symbolic protocol of this divine order
and New Covenant ontological inter-relation. This is one of the WAYS we
“OUGHT to conduct ourselves in the Church of God” everywhere (1Tim
3:15); NOT as we please but as God pleases (1Cor 4:14-17; Col 1:10).

WORSHIP VEIL IS A VESTMENT WITH SPIRITUAL SYMBOLISM OF AUTHORITY

AND DIGNITY NOT INFERIORITY AND SUBORDINATION
Token/symbol of authority and dignity has never meant token/symbol of submission, as
many have erroneously postulated. When a royalty puts on his/her paraphernalia of authority, it
does not symbolize submission to the people but exhibition of dignity to command respect from
the people. If the veil symbolized subjection, then the men would also have needed to wear it
in submission to Christ. The veil is a covering of the inglory of human ‘glory’ (represented by
the woman’s head and long hair during Church worship meetings) in order to commend and
communicate our spiritual dignity to the Angels (who also cover their inglorious glory in
worship Job 4:18; Isa 6:2) and other spiritual principalities. Apparently, the man’s head is
unveiled only because of the claim of Christ’s glory on it. Otherwise men should cover their
head also.

The way we keep our heads in Church worship gatherings is symbolic language ordained by
God, and respectable to the Angels sent by God to minister to us who are the heirs of His
salvation (Heb 1:13-14), and to other Spiritual Principalities who desirously and keenly peep
(1Pet 1:12) to possibly learn the manifold mystery of our salvation (Eph 3:9-10).
It is Divine mystery that head covering dignifies women before men and angels:
LONG HAIR is natural glorious covering for any woman anywhere, anytime;
WORSHIP VEIL is Angelic Authority covering for believing women during worship.
My beloved Sisters, let no one or any pagan cultural arguments deceive you; put on
your worship veil: it is your prophetic mantle of dignity and authority before God, Angels
and principalities.

To be sure, spiritually speaking, veiling of the head could NOT have been for submission to
the Angels (as some may insinuate), BUT for respect from the Angels (Col 2:18; Heb 1:14).
Many Christians quickly conclude that worship veil symbolizes woman’s submission to
men/husbands but neither this portion nor any other Scripture EVER said so. For the issue here

WOMEN’S WORSHIP VEIL, FASHION AND THE CHURCH by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme 14

 is the woman’s authority before Angels (1Cor 11:10) and honour and dignity before God and
men (1Cor 11:5-6).
Shaved or bald woman’s head does NOT mean insubordination to men/husbands but
social disgrace before all people. Similarly unveiled woman’s head does NOT mean
insubordination to any Angel but spiritual disgrace before all Angels and even demons by
extension. The mystery which St Paul is making known here is this: THE VEIL IS
DIVINELY ORDAINED SPIRITUAL SYMBOL OF FEMALE DIGNITY BEFORE
ANGELS (1COR 11:7-10); JUST AS THE LONG HAIR IS SOCIAL SYMBOL OF
FEMALE BEAUTY BEFORE HUMANS (1COR 11:13-15). The female aesthetic need of
long hair for VISUAL BEAUTY before humans, points to her symbolic need of the veil for
SPIRITUAL DIGNITY before Angels. Her need for long hair does NOT point to her lack of
need for veil covering NOR does the hair beauty substitute for the veil dignity (1Cor 11:5-6).
Just as the male shone or short hair points to his lack of need for covering, not its substitute.
You must be diligent in what you do or say because it may matter, either to you and to
others or to God and His Angels. Certain physical actions and visible behaviours within
certain contexts often convey mental impressions, carry moral implications
communicate motives or symbolise meanings.

Women submission to their own husbands in family relations, which has biblically nothing
to do with liturgical veiling, is dealt with in other Scriptures (Eph 5:22-24; 1Pet 3:1-6), but not
here. Also women’s limited spiritual authority to oversee in Church and unlimited authority to
judge in society are not the issues here. A woman who veils her head in Church recognizes and
properly covers off the inglorious human male and female glories (symbolised by her head and
long hair) which she carries along naturally.

Socially speaking clothing oneself in public is NOT for submission to the public BUT for
respect from them (Gen 3:7-11; Gen 9:20-23), because nakedness is social (and even spiritual)
disgrace (Ezek 16:37; Nah 3:5). Dressing up recognizes and covers off the carnal shame of our
naked bodies which we carry along naturally. Today however, dresses are no longer decently
tailored to cover naked shame (Gen 3:7, 21) but fashionably designed to obscenely and crazily
show off the carnal shame of exposed bodies and figures.

5. For this reason Men should leave their heads unveiled IN CHURCH (so that
the glory of God and Christ which lays claim on their heads shall be kept
open). On the other hand, women should veil their heads and long hair IN
CHURCH, to cover the symbol of fallen human glory with the appropriate
symbol of authority and dignity (i.e. the head veil or head fabric) revealed to
the Apostles as acceptable to God and duly respected by the Angels in the
Church (1Cor 11:1-2, 4-7, 10).
6. Notice that the face is not spoken of in this whole passage but the hair or
scalp portion of the head.

WORSHIP VEIL IS NOT SPECIFIC FOR ANY AGE OR CULTURE, BUT IS AN APOSTOLIC
SPIRITUAL TRADITION AND ORDINANCE FOR THE CHURCH OF ALL CULTURES
AND ALL AGES
The ancient Church (including the then “modern” Corinthian Church), had some uniform
Apostolic Customs or Traditions which were received from Christ by the Apostles and delivered to
the Church (1Cor 11:2, 16, 22-23; 1Cor 15:3; 2Thes 2:15; 2Thes 3:6; 2Pet 3:2). These traditions
and ordinances superseded all cultures and preferences during Church worship. One of such was
that women put veil (as token of spiritual dignity and authority) on their heads during public

WOMEN’S WORSHIP VEIL, FASHION AND THE CHURCH by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme 15

worship as SPIRITUALLY conducive to Angelic presence and in consonance with the divine
order of messianic inter-relation of beings (1Cor 11:10; 1Tim 5:21; Heb 1:13-14; Heb 12:22; 1Pet
1:12). On the other hand, men kept their heads open in consonance with Christ’s covenant
presence, divine order and inter-relation of beings (1Cor 11:3-4; 1Tim 5:21; Heb 1:13-14; Heb
12:22-24; 1Pet 1:12). Also in the society, Christian women maintained long hair as SOCIALLY
glorious covering over inglorious baldness (1Cor 11:3-7, 15); while men maintained short hair or
baldness as honourable exposure of divine glory (1Cor 11:3-7, 14). This apostolic ordinance to
cover every symbol of human glory (long-haired women’s heads) and uncover only the symbols of
divine glory (short-haired men’s heads) when in the Church’s messianic Assembly for authority
before God’s attendant liturgical Angels was already practiced since by the Corinthian Church
(1Cor 11:2). This exposition of angelic mystery was not just written by Paul and mailed as a text
left to casuistry but was also personally explained by Timothy who went ahead and Stephanas who
came with the epistle to put the Corinthians through (1Cor 4:14-17; 16:15-17).

Certainly, these Christian standards of:

a). unveiled head demanded of men in Church worship and short hair or baldhead permitted
for men in society, as well as
b). worship veil demanded of women in Church worship and long-hair permitted for women in
the society,
were already in practice at Corinthian Church and all the Apostolic Churches of God (1Cor
11:2 and 16). The spiritual tokens were neither to conform to Jewish, Roman nor even Greek
culture; nor were they meant to prevent distraction by women’s braids; nor were they for women to
show their subjection to men. Rather, they were peculiar Apostolic Ecclesiological Custom
integrating the recognition of Angelic participation in Church’s messianic worship assembly (1Cor
11:10).

Today some manipulate this portion of the Scripture in order to violate it to their own
detriment and to the deception of those under delusion (2Thes 2:9-17; 2Pet 3:16-17). These
presumptuous textual revisionists and cultural speculators must be ignored (1Cor 14:36-38) and
countered with sound biblical truth (Tit 1:9-11). The Church of today no longer cares about
imitating and perpetrating the Angelic heavenly counter-culture of Christ and His Apostles (1Cor
11:1-2); they now succumb to preferences, pressures and anti-authority patterns of modern
rebellious heathenism and so called “civilization”. Technologically, modernity may claim temporal
civilization but NOT eternal salvation. Morally and spiritually speaking, modernity has nothing to
offer because it is demonized, lost, dead, pagan and godless such that it needs salvation even for
itself (Eph 2:1-3).

It is important to note that the Church’s SOCIETAL RULE in any community is to follow
that respectable moderation, morality and modesty of communities which befits godliness (1Tim
2:9-10; Tit 2:3). The Church’s MISSIONARY STRATEGY is to constrain to be all things to all
people when expedient, in order to reach out to gain some to Christ (1Cor 9:19-22). Yet for those
already won into the Church, our FELLOWSHIP STANDARD is to insist on preserving the
tokens, manners, ordinances, traditions and customs ordained by Christ through the Apostles (1Cor
11:2, 16; 14:33-40; 2Thes 2:15; 3:6, 14). Many are mixed up about these three rules.

7. The worship veil had nothing to do with husbands and wives, adults and
minors, slaves and masters; nothing to do with Greek, Roman or Jewish
cultures (as some try to conjecture). It rather had to do ONLY with
spiritually respectable symbolism or liturgical tokenism ordained by the
Apostles (as revealed to them by God) with regard to Angels, Women,
Men, Christ and God in the Church Assembly (Heb 12:22-24). WOMEN’S
WOMEN’S WORSHIP VEIL, FASHION AND THE CHURCH by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme 16
 WORSHIP VEIL COMMANDS RESPECT FROM ANGELS AND HARMONIZES
WITH DIVINE PRESENCE AND THE MINISTRY OF ANGELS IN THE
CHURCH (1Cor 11:10; Heb 1:6-7, 13-14). IT IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE
THAT DEMONS MANIPULATE TODAY’S UNVEILED WOMEN AND
CHURCHES EASIER THAN THE VEILED WOMEN AND CHURCHES OF
YESTERYEARS, DESPITE THE MUCH CLAIMED MOVE OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT TODAY. THIS DIVINELY INSTITUTED SPIRITUAL PROTOCOL MUST
BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. An unveiled woman in Church disgracefully
degrades and disregards herself and subjugates herself under Angels and
even demons too. A Church that teaches such is discordant with God’s
spiritual symbolic order of heads and spiritual dignity in the Church; such
women and Churches are responsible for their fate (Col 2:8, 18, 19; Heb
1:13-14).
“Woe unto the world because of occasions of stumbling! for it must needs be that the occasions come; but
woe to that man through whom the occasion cometh!” (Mat 18:7 ASV)

8. As long hair does not make a woman inferior in the society (1Cor 11:15) so
Veiling does NOT make a woman inferior in the Church, it only serves as a
spiritual RESPECTABLE TOKEN or symbol to communicate her Authority or
Power amongst Angels AS SET BY GOD (1Cor 11:10). FOR IT SIMPLY
SHOWS THAT SHE RECOGNIZES WHAT SYMBOLIC TOKENS HER
HEAD AND HAIR STAND FOR. The woman is not really inferior to the
man: after all, though the woman was MADE FROM the man, yet the
man is BORN OF the woman (1Cor 11:11-12).
9. God had already instilled aesthetic instincts in the society, which appreciates
dignity in women when the fallen glory of the man (which is the woman’s
shameful baldhead) is covered with the symbol of woman’s fallen glory (which
is her long hair) 1Cor 11:13-14. The point here is this: As the glory of the man
(i.e. the woman’s baldhead) is socially shameful in the physical nature of
street aesthetics, so is the glory of the woman (i.e. her long hair) also
spiritually shameful in the angelic realm of ecclesiological “aesthetics” and
so, should be veiled (1Cor 11:5-6).
10.The woman is OF and FOR the man (1Cor 11:8-9).
The man is BY the woman (1Cor 11:12).
The long hair is TO and FOR the woman (1Cor 11:15).
All things are FOR, OF, TO and BY God (1Cor 8:6).
11.Women are given long hair as their comely covering for aesthetic glory (1Cor
11:13-15) IN ADDITION TO, BUT NOT INSTEAD OF the worship veil
which is their token of spiritual dignity for angelic authority (1Cor 11:5-6, 10).
12.Whoever thinks or judges otherwise than here set forth by the inspired Apostle
should know that the Churches would not contemplate any other custom,
ordinances or decorum contrary to this divinely instituted protocol as
apostolically laid out here (1Cor 11:2, 16; 14:36-38).

WOMEN’S WORSHIP VEIL, FASHION AND THE CHURCH by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme 17

 CHRISTIANS MUST SHUN VOGUE AND VANITY TO UPHOLD
MODESTY AND DIGNITY IN THEIR ATTIRE
It has become TRENDY to pursue WANTON PASSION for the
erotic/exotic, and to chase after OSTENTATIOUS FASHION for vogue/vanity.
These are twin propellants for all forms of evil against ourselves and sin against
God (Eph 2:2-3; 1John 2:15-16). The godless are helplessly consumed by their
LUSTFUL desire to get what will SATISFY their depraved erotic/exotic
appetites and their PRIDEFUL desire to display what will IMPRESS the
vogue/vanity of their pagan public.
The world tries to deceive the Church by saying crazy fashion or no crazy
fashion should not matter to be discussed by Christians, yet it matters so much to the
world that they would spend any amount of money to go for it and to push it into the
Church! Don't be fooled by their "it shouldn't matter" diversionary slogan. This pagan
logic that such things should be left on their own is a satanic ploy no sensitive believe
should give even the least heed to. This trick has got the Church soaked with and
sucked into all the pagan fads and views of hippie-rave counterculture
Today’s trendy skimpy bizarre fashion began in the 1960s as a modern anti-
moral paganist protest by beatnik and rave and hippie counterculture rebels against
SHAMEFACED temperance of the preceding generation, and a rascally pursuit for
SHAMELESS exhibitionism and sexual libertinism. It is part of the militant anti-
Christian and New Age countercultural movement that is fraught with activist
godlessness, shamelessness and lawlessness. The Bible refers to this as “the
COURSE of this world” (Eph 2:1-3) and “the CARES of this world” (Mark
4:18-19) and the “MYSTERY OF LAWLESSNESS” of perilous end times (2Thes
2:3-12; 2Tim 3:1-5). This futile, filthy, darkened, licentious and self-willed and
irreverent culture is what paganism or heathenism is all about (Eph 4:17-20).
So, what is the motive of your attire? Is it to look respectable and reverent or
to look seductive and decadent?

FASHION is a CULTURALLY preferred trend or popular bandwagon

with the MOTIVES of either rejection of certain detested values or pursuit of
certain desired values (Rom 1:20-25). Today’s New Age, “hippie” culture of
fashionable nudeness is resurgent heathenism and must never be brought into the
Church’s Angelic fellowship or saintly worship and heavenly lifestyle. Even the
society knows that their fashionable nudity, salacity and decadence do not depict the
shamefaced modesty, sobriety and reverence that Christians should be known for
(1Tim 2:9-10; Tit 2:11-13; 1Pet 3:3-4). From Eden when God made a leather coat
and clothed Adam and Eve (Gen 3:21) to replace their skimpy shameful leafy aprons
(Gen 3:7), He showed them that THE GODLY PURPOSE OF DRESSING IS TO
COVER NAKEDNESS FOR DIGNITY AND DECENCY, NOT FOR
HEATHENISH EXHIBITION OF NAKEDNESS AND OBSCENE NUDITY (Exod
28:24; Ezek 16:8; Hos 2:9; Rev 3:18).

WOMEN’S WORSHIP VEIL, FASHION AND THE CHURCH by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme 18

 Adornment is meant for godly beauty and dignity (Exo 28:40-43; Job 40:10)
not for worldly decadence and dishonour. Over the years adornment has degraded
from REVEALED dignifying decorousness to REINVENTED elegant stylishness
and now debased to REBELLIOUS fashionable salaciousness. Beauty and
adornment are of two types:
a) inward moral and spiritual beauty of virtue and holiness (2Chr 20:21; Isa
61:10; 1Pet 3:4), ADORNED WITH SUPERNATURAL GRACE, GLORY
AND CHARACTER (1Tim 2:10; 1Pet 3:5; Rev 19:8 and 21:2) and
b) outward physical and material beauty of figures and aesthetics (Gen 6:1-4;
29:17), ADORNED WITH SUPERFICIAL/SYNTHETIC CLOTHING,
COSMETICS AND ORNAMENTS (Gen 3:7,21; Exo 28:2; 2Kin 9:30; Isa
3:16-24; 1Tim 2:9; 1Pet 3:3).

While MAXIMIZING THE INWARD adornment, Christians should purpose in

their hearts to agree with the Apostles (1Tim 2:9-10; 1Pet 3:3-5) and insist on
MODERATING THEIR OUTWARD adornment to be done:
i) soberly not seductively,
ii) for respectable decency and dignity not for fashionable nudity and
obscenity,
iii) with shamefaced modesty WHICH COVERS NAKEDNESS not with
shameless madness WHICH FLAUNTS NAKEDNESS.
Our outward beautification must be guided by our inward motives. THE CHURCH
SHOULD REGULATE AND PUBLICISE ITS TOLERABLE MODERATION (Php
4:5). Whatever you wear matters always: it is either a manifestation or a
manifesto, a portrayal or a proposal. What is the motive of your attire? Is it for
sobriety and moderation or for salacity and ostentation?

Superficial and synthetic cosmetics or outward decoration with costly

ornaments should be essentially MODERATED BY INWARD MOTIVES because
its excess neither saves nor commends us to God (Rev 17:4; Rev 18:16); it could
produce either temporal decency or degeneracy and may lead to eternal damnation
(Eze 16:8-19). On the other hand spiritual, moral and inward transformation with
holy ornaments should be excessively MAXIMIZED because it regenerates,
redeems and commends us to God (Rev 21:2); it always prepares for eternal
blessedness in God's presence (Rev 21:9-24).

Today’s couture is fast getting dominated by crazy (indecent) fashion

designers and sexy (seductive) fashion models, through ready-made junks,
aggressive marketing and militant licentiousness of modern heathenism. The modest
clients and their seasoned tailors are getting compelled to join the wanton trend of
crazy disarray rather than the modest pattern of godly array, while intemperate
fashion designers/models are fast overriding decent dressing. The mass media hypes
the notion that costly and crazy fashion is trendy and cool, while decency and
dignity is mocked and jettisoned.

WOMEN’S WORSHIP VEIL, FASHION AND THE CHURCH by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme 19

 Christians must not allow themselves to be pressured into copying the modern
LUSTFUL AND OSTENTATIOUS WANTONNESS (1Joh 2:16) of sexy fashion
craze and extravagant glamour vogue from the pagan world, but boldly insist on
showing godly pattern of decency and moderation to the world. Our calling in Christ
is to do God’s will to be done on earth as it is done in heaven and so bring His
Kingdom’s counter-culture to bear on earth.
(For more on biblical principles of Decent Dressing, see
https://www.scribd.com/document/316704673/DRESSING-and-DECENCY).

CULTURE AND CONJECTURE MUST BOW TO THE

SCRIPTURE IN ALL THINGS; THE SCRIPTURE DOES NOT
BOW TO CULTURE.
Human culture and human wisdom will pass away and are often faulty and futile or godless
and evil (Rom 1:20-25; 1Cor 1:19-21; 3:19; Rom 1:22; Eph 2:1-2; 1Pe t 1:16-19) but the
Scripture cannot be broken and will not pass away (Mat 24:35; John 10:34-36). Cultural and
opinion surrender to God’s Word is Christian, but cultural pride and insistence or our
opinions are unchristian (Mar 7:8-9; Gal 2:11-14; Phil 3:7-8). Christ was ready to part ways
with the Jewish culture of His day in order to keep faith with God’s Word (Mar 7:8-9; Luk
13:10-17; 14:1-6; John 9:13-16). Paul was ready to resist, oppose and even anathematise any
cultural compliance that was contrary to God’s Word (Gal 1:6-17; 2:1-14). This particular
portion of the Scripture was actually commanded in contravention to the Jewish and
Gentile cultures of Paul’s day (2Cor 3:12-18; (see (iii) above). The rebellious arrogance
that rejects Apostolic Scriptural tradition and custom in preference to modern popular
culture and preferences is totally incongruous with Biblical Christianity. Our concept of
spirituality, manhood and womanhood today falls short of insights taught by Christ and
His Apostles.
Teaching, preaching and prophecy should not claim to be by the Holy Spirit when they
contravene God’s Word or subject it to private opinions and cultural misinterpretations (2Pet
1:20-21). Christ severely condemned rationalising and overriding God’s commandment
with human culture and tradition (Mat 15:2-3; Mar 7:8-9). TRUE SCRIPTURAL
CHRISTIANITY HAS ROOM ONLY FOR FAITHFUL TRANSMISSION OF
APOSTOLIC TRADITION AND NOT CONFORMISM TO POPULAR CULTURAL
PATTERNS OR PRIVATE INNOVATIONS AND SPECULATIONS (1Cor 14:36-38; Col
2:6-8, 18-23; 2Tim 2:2).

“TAKE HEED TO THYSELF…” (1Tim 4:16).

Updated December 3, 2011
by Ven. Dr. I. U. Ibeme
Copyright  © PriscAquila Publishing, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
Click here for
PriscAquila Christian Resource Centre
http://priscaquila.6te.net ; http://www.scribd.com/ifeogo

WOMEN’S WORSHIP VEIL, FASHION AND THE CHURCH by Ven Dr I. U. Ibeme 20