Question:
Since in 1 Corinthians 11:5, 6 women are told to cover their heads when they pray or prophesy, then why don’t they cover their heads at mealtimes or when they pray before they go to bed?
Answer:
Because it is the property in worship, what is supposed to be done while in God’s house/church. It does not say that it must be done all the time but it is how it should be done during worship.
The following has been added by Editor:
The Spirit of God gives instruction about head covering in 1 Corinthians 11:1-16. In verse 3 we are told what man’s place is in creation apart from the effects of sin:
“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.” This verse declares the headship God has set up, of God to Christ, Christ to man, and man to woman.
The following verses tell us how God desires that this headship is shown:
“Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. But every woman that prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven” (1 Corinthians 11:4 & 5). Man is not to cover his head when praying or when the Word of God presented, and the woman is to cover her head when praying or when the Word of God is presented.
This portion also mentions that angels are watching in verse 10 (because they are learning God’s truth through God’s people). The reason they are watching is: “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God” (Ephesians 3:10).
Some Christian men seeking to please the Lord do not cover their heads when prayer or prophesying is made, and some Christian women do cover their heads when prayer is given before eating and before going to bed, etc. The above Scriptures direct to do this.
However, we also know that this order is especially desired by God of His people when they are gathered unto Christ, when “two or three are gathered unto His Name” to represent the truth of the “one body” of all believers. When they “are” gathered by the Spirit of God which He does through the Word of God, Christ promises: “there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). The reason we know that God wants the instruction about showing the truth He has set up about headship when praying or prophesying especially in the assembly, is because at the close of the instruction in 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 we are told: “But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God” (verse 16).
Therefore for the man to not cover his head and the woman to cover her head when there is praying or prophesying, especially in the gathering of the assembly is very important to Christ and also to God, because this is the way God desires His people to proclaim glory to Christ as being their Head!