It brought tears to my eyes when I finally realized that I had unwittingly been teaching contrary to PaulÕs mandates in 1 Corinthians 11:1-16. It struck me like a ton of bricks that I had been honoring what Paul calls a ÒdishonorÓ (vv. 4,5,14) and had been quite comfortable with a practice which Paul calls ÒshamefulÓ (v. 6). We must tremble when we approach GodÕs awesome Word remembering ScriptureÕs warning: ÒMy brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgmentÓ (James 3:1). I had not
realized the degree to which my feminist culture had affected me, or the degree to which the fear of man had influenced my interpretation until a faithful brother persevered in showing me some blind spots that I had. ÒFaithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitfulÓ (Prov. 27:6).