Does nonessential practice mean the same thing as nonessential doctrine? Or maybe they meant nonessential practice all along?
Like for the example that Paul teaches that a man should pray with his head uncovered; and when he is ministering the word, whereas a woman is to have her head covered when she prays and when she is doing outreach ministry, to have her head covered at that time too? Would that be considered as nonessential practice rather than an essential doctrine?
Paul starts out bold as if saying it was of the ordinances he had given to churches, but the way that ended in verse 16, makes me wonder if that was not an ordinance but a different topic regarding a custom not to make a big deal out of it?
1 Corinthians 11:[SUP]2 [/SUP]Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.[SUP]3 [/SUP]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.[SUP]4 [/SUP]Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.[SUP] 5 [/SUP]But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.[SUP] 6 [/SUP]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.[SUP] 7 [/SUP]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.[SUP] 8 [/SUP]For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man.[SUP]9 [/SUP]Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.[SUP] 10 [/SUP]For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.[SUP] 11 [/SUP]Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.[SUP]12 [/SUP]For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.[SUP] 13 [/SUP]Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?[SUP]14 [/SUP]Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?[SUP] 15 [/SUP]But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.[SUP] 16 [/SUP]But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
Or was that Paul's way of saying that if any one opposes this, there is no other such custom, neither in the churches of God otherwise to reprove those that are contentious? I reckon we should all ask Jesus Christ for wisdom on this example as well as the OP.
