Church in the Wild
Week 9: Hairy Stuff
Pastor Rick Henderson February 28-March 1, 2026
Note: This manuscript isn’t a transcript of the sermon, but a planning guide showing what the speaker intends to say.
QUESTION: Who are the people who come to mind when you hear the word fundamentalism?
Some people immediately think of an aggressive political pundit. Some people immediately think of religious fundamentalists. Maybe a pastor comes to mind who always sounds like he’s angry. Maybe you imagine a Taliban type figure, carrying an AK-47.
Of all the different types of people we might imagine, who exactly are the fundamentalists? Is it possible that whoever comes to mind for each of us—is it possible that you’re all correct, even if your answers are wildly different from each other?
Richard Land is a theologian and an ethicist. If you’ve ever heard of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, he was the president of that. He’s a sharp guy, educated at Princeton and Oxford. For what it’s worth, this is his take on fundamentalism.
Fundamentalism is far more a psychology than a theology. –Dr. Richard Land
According to Dr. Land, there is no such thing as a fundamentalist ideology, theology, or belief system. Rather, it’s a way of holding onto political beliefs, religious beliefs, social beliefs—whatever. There are progressive fundamentalists and conservative fundamentalists. There are fundamentalists in every religious group you can think of: Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and on the list goes. Believe it or not, there are fundamentalist atheists.
If I introduced a random dude to you and told you he’s a fundamentalist, I haven’t yet told you anything about what he believes. All you know is that whatever he believes, he holds those beliefs in a certain way. What I want to suggest to you is that it is both untrue and unkind to label someone’s beliefs as fundamentalism. How they hold those beliefs, that could be fundamentalism. Here are some markers or traits of fundamentalism.
FUNDAMENTALISM:
- Dogmatism: Rigid adherence to beliefs with little openness to questioning or alternative perspectives, often forcing simplistic answers onto complex matters.
- Ferocity: Aggressive opposition against perceived enemies of their thinking, intolerance of dissent.
- Dead-hearted Allegiance: Loyalty that is maintained at the expense of integrity and accountability.
Fundamentalist mindsets appear to be on the rise globally. What is the appeal? When the world feels chaotic, when the future feels uncertain, and when people feel afraid and or hopeless, the allure of fundamentalism becomes powerful, maybe intoxicating. This is important. When the world feels chaotic, when the future feels uncertain, and when people feel afraid and or hopeless, the allure of fundamentalism becomes powerful, maybe intoxicating.
I don’t think that people become fundamentalists because they are fundamentally bad or dumb. I think people become fundamentalists because they are starving for belonging, safety, and hope.
I’m a Bear Grylls fan. I loved his show about surviving in the wild. In one episode, he demonstrated a way to find drinkable water in the desert.
VIDEO: Bear Grylls
You’d have to be desperate; you’d have to think there was no other way to get to the point that you’re squeezing water from elephant dung. Hang with me, I promise this is going somewhere. I want you to think about something Jesus said to a woman who was likely feeling isolated, uncertain, and hopeless.
JOHN 4:13-14 “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Fundamentalism is like drinking water from a turd when you have access to a living spring.
What does this have to do with our series on 1 Corinthians? I think what we’re discovering in this letter gives us the antidote to fundamentalism. It gives us the guardrails we need to keep from falling into the ditch of fundamentalism.
1 CORINTHIANS 16:13-14 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.
Following the way of Jesus is a million miles from fundamentalism and offers something far better.
- Be on your guard: We should be honest about problems and dangers so that we can take appropriate action.
- Stand firm: We are grounded in and confident in the truth.
- Be courageous: We have no reason to be afraid. And we certainly aren’t going to be afraid of questions. We’re not going to be afraid of learning and discovering that we are wrong about something. We are not going to be afraid of saying, “I don’t know.”
- Be strong: This will take effort, and don’t expect it to be easy. This will require developing endurance and resilience.
- Do everything in love: There’s never going to be a time when we use difficult circumstances or difficult people as a license to stop being kind, patient, gentle, forgiving, and gracious.
If we remember the FUNDAMENTALS of our faith in Jesus, we will never be FUNDAMENTALISTS.
I wanted to set the table with that brief discussion because we are going to read a passage that can trigger some fundamentalist tendencies or anxieties. Because we’re human, we are vulnerable to approaching confusing Bible passages with that same fundamentalist mindset: grabbing for certainty, reacting with fear or anger, especially around topics like gender. We are going to walk through a passage today that’s led to women feeling like second-class citizens in the church.
With your phone or a physical Bible, find 1 Corinthians 11. For right now, we are skipping chapters 6-10. Obviously, we’re breaking up the order a little bit. We’ll come back to those chapters after Easter. Today, turn to 1 Corinthians 11.
As you're finding it, I want to introduce what I’m calling Fundamentalism Light. It’s not full-blown fundamentalism yet. I call it Fundamentalism Light because it sounds spiritual but can shut down our spiritual growth.
FUNDAMENTALISM LIGHT:
- The plain meaning of Scripture is obvious.
There is a lot in the Bible that is straightforward and even children understand. And there is plenty that is not at all obvious. Sometimes we assume the plain meaning is obvious when in truth it’s culturally distant and linguistically complex.
- God said it. I believe it. That settles it.
Yes, God is the authority. Full stop. We should believe what he says. 100% And yet, this slogan can sometimes be used as an excuse to stop thinking. The problem isn’t affirming God’s authority. The problem is confusing, “God said it,” with “I already understand what God meant.”
I think we’re ready to read.
1 CORINTHIANS 11:1-16 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you. But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head. A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.
If you’re feeling confused, even uncomfortable—there’s nothing wrong with that. There’s nothing wrong with you. This passage is mindboggling. But it’s more than an abstract, intellectual puzzle. Whatever your interpretation is of this passage, it will have an impact on women that it doesn’t have on men. We owe it to ourselves and to each other to be honest about that.
Preston Sprinkle is a Biblical scholar I appreciate. I’ve talked to him. He’s a good dude who has a high view of Scripture. I want you to hear what he wrote this.
Hands down, 1 Corinthians 11:3–12 is the most difficult passage I’ve ever studied in my twenty years as a Pauline scholar. And this isn’t simply because of Paul’s seemingly odd statements about women...the difficulties in the passage aren’t just about political correctness. They include the syntax, logical connections, apparent contradictions, and Greek phrases that can be translated in very different ways. We’re not even sure Paul is talking about head coverings. And what’s with the angels? They fly in unannounced, then flutter away before Paul can tell us why they’re there. If you meet someone who claims to have this passage all figured out, I suggest you run the other way. –Preston Sprinkle
Let’s run down as much as we can what is unclear, and making this passage feel impossible.
UNCLEAR:
- What does head of mean?
- Source
- Authority
- Preeminence
- Used to convey unity
The word can mean source, authority, and preeminence. There are times that Apostle uses all three and times when he uses it to convey unity. What is his intent here? Good-hearted, Jesus-loving, competent scholars disagree.
- Is this about head coverings or long hair?
- It’s not clear in the original language whether this is about covering the hair or about hair serving as a covering for the head.
- Exodus 28-29: God instructed the priest to wear a turban (a head covering).
- Acts 18: It’s possible, perhaps likely, that Paul had long hair when he planted the church in Corinth.
- How much of this is cultural?
- Head coverings for women commonly signified marital status.
- Unbound, long hair on women was associated with sexual availability, including prostitution.
- Some scholars suggest that unbound, long hair on men was associated with homosexuality.
- Pagan priests pulled their togas over their heads when leading sacrifices.
- How do we reconcile 1 Corinthians 11:7 with Genesis 1:27?
1 CORINTHIANS 11:7 A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.
GENESIS 1:27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Doesn’t it seem like Paul is contradicting Genesis 1:27? A straightforward reading of the text seems to be a contradiction. I don’t believe the Bible contradicts itself. So, how do we reconcile this? Can you see why almost every Biblical scholar says this is the single most difficult passage in the New Testament?
It’s OK to look at all of this and feel confounded. And yet, there’s no reason to feel disheartened or too afraid to really dig into this passage.
- We take truth seriously, which means we’ll follow it wherever it leads.
- If we learn new stuff along the way—awesome.
- If we had to admit that we don’t know something—no problem.
- If we discover that we were wrong—that’s a good thing because we get the privilege of learning and aligning with the truth.
One of the reasons I want us to reject fundamentalism is that it masquerades as bravery when it’s actually cowardice. It’s afraid to walk the long, sometimes slow road of discovery. It can be too anxious to rest in mystery or to trust God when we don’t have everything figured out. There is a lot in this passage that is unclear, and that’s okay—we don’t need to ignore it or pretend it isn’t there. Leaning in, asking questions, and wholeheartedly pursuing understanding are acts of worship.
Some good news is that there are things in this passage that are clear-ish, and some things are very clear. Let’s start with the clear-ish and work our way to what is clear.
CLEAR-ISH:
By clear-ish, I mean something that is true, and it seems like Paul might be saying it—but I’m not certain. I don’t know if this is a point Paul is trying to make, but I know this is true.
- Our physical presentation is communication.
The culturally defined symbolism that was attached to clothing and hair for 1st century Corinthians is different from the cultural symbolism that is attached to how we present ourselves in 21st century America. We can try to fight against it, but we can’t beat it. Let me give you an example.
If a friend of mine has a kid named Brandon, who plays on a local team. And I show up to the game wearing a Let’s Go Brandon t-shirt, that t-shirt and that slogan mean something. It’s a euphemism for a profane chant about a former president.
It doesn’t matter if my intent is to cheer for a kid named Brandon. Everyone around is going to interpret it and tell their friends that the pastor of Autumn Ridge has gone public with a specific and profane political message.
Because this is true [Pointing to screen] it’s possible that the Apostle Paul is telling them to understand cultural messaging and take care to not be associated with anything that would communicate a message that brings dishonor to Jesus or the church. Definitely, that is wise. Maybe that’s a point that Paul wanted to make.
Let’s move on to what is clear.
CLEAR:
- It’s biblical for women to lead both women and men in worship.
1 CORINTHIANS 11:4-5 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved.
Whatever the issue is that Paul is trying to correct, it’s not women exercising leadership. Paul assumes that women are speaking God’s word and leading in prayer when the church gathers. If he’s offering any boundaries, it is exclusively about how men and women present themselves. There is nothing, I mean absolutely nothing, in this passage that limits, marginalizes, or excludes women from leading.
What else is clear?
- Men and women are interdependent on each other.
- Men and women are dependent on God.
1 CORINTHIANS 11:11-12 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.
I think these are the most important sentences in the chapter. Men and women are not independent of each other. We are interdependent. We need each other. We rely on each other. We mutually submit to each other. We consider the other as more important than ourselves. We are better with each other. And in all things, we are totally dependent on God. Are you with me?
However you read this chapter, whatever interpretation you come to, read it through the lens of these two verses. [Pointing to the screen] That is what this word is telling us. This word means that we should take all the information that came before, all the stuff we think we’re clear on, all the stuff we’re unclear on—all of it, and come to this conclusion. We are interdependent on each other and totally dependent on God.
We could stop there. But I don’t want to. I want us to love God with our minds. I want to try to understand this passage, even if it’s tough. If you’re up for it, I’m going to offer an interpretation of this passage.
An interpretation FAILS where any FACT won’t fit.
As I offer this interpretation of the most difficult passage in the New Testament, your job is not to vibe check it. It doesn’t matter how it makes you feel. Your job is to scrutinize it and evaluate it for how well it accommodates all the facts. Not most of the facts, a trustworthy interpretation must accommodate all the facts.
What we call 1 Corinthians is at least the third letter in this series. We know that people from Chloe’s household sent a letter to Paul. Paul refers to a previous letter he sent to them. We’re starting the show on season 3.
We only get one half of the conversation. But throughout the letter Paul quotes things they’ve said to him or written to him, and then he gives a response and sometimes a correction. Here are some examples of Paul quoting the Corinthians back to them.
QUOTATIONS IN 1 CORINTHIANS:
- 1:12 “I follow Paul … I follow Apollos … I follow Cephas … I follow Christ.”
- 3:4 “I follow Paul” / “I follow Apollos.”
- 6:12 “I have the right to do anything…”
- 6:13 “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both…”
- 7:1 “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman…”
- 8:1 “We all possess knowledge…”
- 8:4 “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and “There is no God but one,” in quotation marks after “We know that…”
- 10:23 “I have the right to do anything…”
Scholars disagree about what is and isn’t a quotation. This was originally written in Koine Greek, which didn’t have quotation marks. Scholars don’t always agree about what is a quotation, but all scholars agree that Paul quotes the Corinthians back to themselves in order to correct them.
Is it possible that one of the reasons that 1 Corinthains 11 is so confusing is that we think Paul is included some of these statements as his own, when he is actually quoting them, disagreeing with them and correcting them? It’s at least possible.
What I’m about to share I learned from a Biblical Scholar named Lucy Peppiatt. She is the President of the Westminster Theological Centre in England. You can take a class with her on the Bible Project website.
Paul (his own voice) 11:2–3
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“I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions/teachings, just as I passed them on to you. But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of every woman is man, but the head of Christ is God.”
Corinthian quotation 11:4–5
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“Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is just as though her head were shaved.”
Paul (reductio ad absurdum of their view) 11:6
He’s taking their argument to it’s logical end to help them see it leads to an absurd outcome.
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“So if a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head!”
Corinthian quotation 11:7–10
Paul doesn’t contradict Genesis 1:27. It’s the Corinthians and their misguided thinking that contradicts Genesis 1:27.
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“A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head.”
Paul (correction and positive theology) 11:11–12
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“Nevertheless [the point is], in the Lord, woman is not independent of/separated from man, nor is man independent of/separated from woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.”
Paul (continuing his corrective argument) 11:13–16
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“Judge for yourselves: Is it fitting for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her in place of a head covering. If anyone wants to be dangerously divisive about this, we have no such custom—nor do the churches of God.”
Everything that I’ve shared is in the online notes. Take some time to work through it. Whether you choose to do that or not, this is my goal today. I want followers of Jesus to…
- Be confident in Scripture without being combative.
- Be curious without being cynical.
- Be courageous without being contemptuous.
NEXT STEPS:
- When you hit a confusing passage, resist slogans. Instead, sit with it, pray, and study.
- Refuse to weaponize this passage against women. Instead, honor them and encourage them to use their gifts.
- Prayerfully ask, “Where am I tempted toward dogmatism, ferocity, or dead-hearted allegiance rather than love?”
Do you know why we can trust the Bible? It’s because we can trust the God of the Bible. He’s not far off and he’s not aloof and he’s not out of touch. And as good as it is to know his word, the whole point is to know him. That’s why Jesus came. He is God in the flesh, who came to close the gap so that we could know him. SEGUE TO SALVATION