Hats in Church- Bible based or not?

[NaturallyGone]

Hey. Just have a question, and am looking for Biblical answers. Does it say anywhere in the Bible that guys shouldn't wear hats church? I went to a Christian university for a year a few years back, and some of the worship leaders there wore hats while leading worship. So, naturally, once I get a hat I like and become part of the worship team at my church, I start to wear my hat. Not too long afterwards, an elderly gentleman came in and told me to take my hat off (he told me I look better without it on, which I kinda don't mind, but I like wearing my hat). So, trying to find out if the Bible says anything for or against wearing a hat in church.

 

[Incariol]

Hey. Just have a question, and am looking for Biblical answers. Does it say anywhere in the Bible that guys shouldn't wear hats church? I went to a Christian university for a year a few years back, and some of the worship leaders there wore hats while leading worship. So, naturally, once I get a hat I like and become part of the worship team at my church, I start to wear my hat. Not too long afterwards, an elderly gentleman came in and told me to take my hat off (he told me I look better without it on, which I kinda don't mind, but I like wearing my hat). So, trying to find out if the Bible says anything for or against wearing a hat in church.

Yeah, beyond the fact that men removing their hats is a sin of respect, 1 Corinthians 11.

 

[J.B.]

It's interesting that you bring up hats. I occasionally wear a fedora with my nice clothes or suit to church, but I always take it off my head while in the actual sanctuary where the service is held. I observe hat etiquette whenever possible, so I don't think it is a problem if one does this. If this is a problem, you can just wear your hat after the service?

 

[Standing_Ultraviolet]

It depends more on context than anything. If it's not seen by others as a sign of disrespect wherever you are, then it's fine. There's nothing wrong with hats in and of themselves. However, it can be considered inappropriate to wear a hat inside of a building at all, much less in a church (particularly by older generations). In short, read the situation. If you're not sure, then it's best not to.

 

[OceanPoet87]

I think also when you are praying, you should take the hat off. I usually take my hat off during service or at bare minimum, during worship. When I was at a Spanish mega church in Nicaragua, a woman considerably older than I told me to take the hat off, which I promptly did.

 

[Mela Monkey]

what GlobalWolf said

 

[bhillyard]

I wonder if it originated in fashion. In Tudor times I understand that men would wear their hats at all times - even in the presence of their sovereign, doffing it on first meeting and then putting it back on. They would even wear it in bed (sleeping sitting up). Perhaps at a later time the fashion of removing in church developed.
A Jew would always cover his head.

 

[sean michael]

Actually, the question had nothing to do with ones (flawed) perception of disrespect. Disrespect is asking me to do something with the implication of godly instruction with complete disregard to whether or not the instruction is in fact godly. If were going to use the biblical verses about men wearing hats in church, we must use the ENTIRE verse and not cherry pick a few words which appear to support our position. Those verses also clearly state that a woman not warning a hat under the same circumstances has brought shame into herself. Unless a church enforces the full doctrine and requires all women to wear hats during prayer and prophecy, they can not proclaim a biblical mandate for men removing their hats during these times.

If respect and disrespect have anything to do with salvation, then they have nothing to do with ones choice to wear a hat, or not wear a hat. The false issue of respect has turned the church into a gallery for the eyes without regard for the spirit.

 

[sean michael]

And, I might add, Jesus Christ might not be allowed in your church, because He, did in fact, wear a hat to church.

 

[Maryland Girl]

Actually, the question had nothing to do with ones (flawed) perception of disrespect. Disrespect is asking me to do something with the implication of godly instruction with complete disregard to whether or not the instruction is in fact godly. If were going to use the biblical verses about men wearing hats in church, we must use the ENTIRE verse and not cherry pick a few words which appear to support our position. Those verses also clearly state that a woman not warning a hat under the same circumstances has brought shame into herself. Unless a church enforces the full doctrine and requires all women to wear hats during prayer and prophecy, they can not proclaim a biblical mandate for men removing their hats during these times.

If respect and disrespect have anything to do with salvation, then they have nothing to do with ones choice to wear a hat, or not wear a hat. The false issue of respect has turned the church into a gallery for the eyes without regard for the spirit.

Agreed. This custom comes from the teaching that men shouldn't cover their head while praying, but that women must do so. This teaching has fallen away, but it has left the imprint on our culture in the form of the tradition of men removing their hats in church, at the dinner table, or in buildings in general. Also, there is a tradition of women wearing hats in church. This is still very much alive in black churches among older women. But it's not a requirement.

The tradition has created this sense that it is disrespectful for men to wear hats in church. Since that's what's expected, it does become disrespectful to go against it. But, if we look to the root of the tradition, we find a biblical teaching that we are selectively following. Either we have to obey it or not. Even if you think the church is wrong in allowing women to pray without some kind of covering, your ultimate authority would still be God, and he would still hold you accountable to scripture. Whatever we do, we should do it unto God, regardless of man's expectations, shortcomings, and inconsistencies.

 

[sean michael]

Very nicely and thoughtfully conveyed. Luckily for me, I suffer not a woman to speak. kidding!!!!! [Ducking]

 

[Maryland Girl]

Very nicely and thoughtfully conveyed. Luckily for me, I suffer not a woman to speak. kidding!!!!! [Ducking]

**PUNCH** jk.

 

[sean michael]

Its interesting, if you read 1 chorinth 11:2-16, he makes this big to-do about men not covering their heads, and women covering their heads, and then he concludes in verse 16 that if anybody contends this, there really is no such custom with Paul's church or any of gods churches, so I have to qualify all of his ramblings to be reflections of his personal feelings on the matter before he admits, its really a non issue.

 

[Andres88]

Out of respect, I would not wear a hat for those occasions.

 

[Maryland Girl]

Its interesting, if you read 1 chorinth 11:2-16, he makes this big to-do about men not covering their heads, and women covering their heads, and then he concludes in verse 16 that if anybody contends this, there really is no such custom with Paul's church or any of gods churches, so I have to qualify all of his ramblings to be reflections of his personal feelings on the matter before he admits, its really a non issue.

If that's what he meant, it would have been a waste of writing. Why would he give the reason for women covering their hair, and then say but none of us practice it, so don't worry about it? Doesn't make sense. I think "we have no such custom", means we have no such custom of allowing women to pray/prophecy without covering their hair. Given all that he said before, that meaning seems more appropriate.

 

[sean michael]

I would agree with you, but that isn't any fun. I would say he began his rambling intending to convey christ as mans head, and therefore covering christ in prayer as the act of reprobation. Why would he specifically say christ is the head of man, before saying don't cover your head, if he were talking about, say, a really kool Detroit Redwings hat?

 

[sean michael]

Of course a Washington Capitol hat would not be appropriate

 

[Maryland Girl]

I would agree with you, but that isn't any fun. I would say he began his rambling intending to convey christ as mans head, and therefore covering christ in prayer as the act of reprobation. Why would he specifically say christ is the head of man, before saying don't cover your head, if he were talking about, say, a really kool Detroit Redwings hat?

But if Christ is man's head, and he's referring to Christ as the covering, he would be saying don't cover yourself with Christ.

 

[sean michael]

I think were crossing the three parts. There is 1) me, the man, 2) christ, the head, and 3, peanutbutter?

 

[Maryland Girl]