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Submission Is the Internal Decision to Yield
By its very definition, “submission” is a heartfelt decision or choice to comply.
No amount of compulsion will result in genuine “submission” as “submission” comes from an internal decision to voluntarily yield.
The man or woman must decide if he/she is willing to humble himself/herself.
No man can force a humble heart upon another. Each person must individually decide between pride and humility.
Even our Creator does not compel a humble heart. He allows us to decide if we want to surrender our pride and self-importance in proper reverence for Him.
Submission Is Not The Same As Obedience
The distinction between “submission” and “obedience” is often overlooked.
Obedience can be brought about by force. You can beat me until I obey. I will do what you want because I want to avoid the pain of the beating. But, I will not be submitting because I am not choosing to do so.
It bears repeating that “submission” is a heartfelt decision to voluntarily comply. The action results from the heart.
A Man Sends a Message By Removing His Hat
When a man removes his hat for prayer (or removes his hat before he steps inside the church building), he communicates a message to everyone who sees him.
The message is that the man honors Christ. The gesture is symbolic. But, it communicates the willingness of the man to humble himself by the act of taking off his hat. He through his heart is showing his honor to God by his actions. He demonstrates submission to God by symbolism.
Some other men may remove their hats due to peer pressure, societal influence, or just because. The societal pressure is in reality a nonphysical beating to enforce obedience.
If this second type of man is firmly convicted in his mind that he rejects Christ (and wants nothing to do with Him), the man’s heart convicts him. Even though he takes off his hat, this man dishonors Christ by his rebellious refusal to accept Jesus as both his Savior and his Head. He may be obeying, but he is not submitting.
The decision to remove the hat must come from inside the heart with a genuine desire to reverence God and show Him proper respect.
In much the same way, a woman who covers her head for the wrong motive appears remarkably like the second man who took off his hat for the wrong reason.
She may have a covering over her head and hair, but in my opinion, she is no more honoring Christ than the second man. If she has not determined in her own heart to wear a covering because it demonstrates her willingness to humble herself, then the gesture is not acceptable to God.
Men Have a Responsibility
Christian men, both husbands as the head of the wives and the male leadership of the eldership, have a definite responsibility to teach the whole counsel of God to the female gender. No buts, no excuses. This includes teaching the need for the woman to cover herself in prayer (and when she is teaching children and other females).
The question of whether a husband should compel his wife to wear a head covering during prayer and prophesy is beyond the scope of this blog. Some suggest this should occur and argue that over time the practice will become heartfelt. Others disagree and contend that involuntary compliance will not be satisfactory to God, the Father.
Undoubtedly fathers must teach their daughters proper head covering and to train up their daughters in God’s ways. This may start at an early age when young boys are also taught to remove their caps (by compulsion if necessary) and young girls are required to wear a covering during prayer and worship services.
This may pose family disagreement and significant strife if the mother (or other family) voices disapproval. The man will have to choose if he loves God more than any other. All decisions concerning the daughters should be made in sincere prayer for guidance from above.
We Must Guard Against Deceitful Hearts
In examining our hearts, we should remember that God tells us our hearts are deceitful and wicked above all things. Jeremiah 17:9
Our obedience is therefore a reflection of our heart. Similarly, our disobedience reveals the wickedness of our hearts.
The Question Becomes, What Should You Do?
Should a man remove his hat or cap?
Should a woman put on a scarf or covering for her head?
As a man or a woman will you submit to God regarding the head covering that He has instituted?
The key is your heart. True submission to God comes from a heart-felt decision to serve Him as the result of a free and voluntary action.
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