What are head coverings for and why would a Christian woman wear one?

When I began asking Jesus to help me make Him my Pearl; my treasure I'd be willing to leave everything behind for (Matthew 13:45 & 46), I asked Him open my eyes to hidden sins, worldly thinking & lies that had taken residence in my heart and mind that I might be unaware of.

Not long after that when I felt a sense of grief and a desire to repent over my short hair (see "Why I'm growing my Hair long") and was looking into the scripture as to why my spirit was grieved, I read the following:

1 Corinthians 11:4-10 (KJV)
"Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels."

When I read those verses it seemed very clear in my mind that a woman's head being covered was of significance. It did not read to me to be a simple custom but a command to obey; that it was important for women to remember and be marked as being under the authority of God and man. It seemed to me to be an issue of serious weight so I was a little dumbfounded as to why I'd NEVER heard any pastor ever preach on this subject or any Christian I knew talk about it.

In the past 2 weeks I have prayed about this & read that passage of scripture different times. I've also spent a lot of time reading articles on the subject of head coverings and what the original Greek words used were.

I have come away from it all with a strong desire to honor the command to cover my head. I've talked to my husband about it. He was more than a little taken a back by the idea. I've asked him to pray about it, to look at the scripture & read some of the following articles. I understand why it took him by surprise; he, like myself, has never heard anyone preach on it being something of validity for today. I'm continuing to pray about it.

The following articles are some of MANY that I've read. If this topic is of interest to you click on any of the links to read the articles.

"THE VALIDITY AND VALUE OF WOMAN'S HEADCOVERING" By Daniel Botkin
Biblical Research "Headcovering Myths"
"Why Headcoverings are for Today"
"The Christian Woman's headcovering through the Centuries" (photos too)
"Headcovering, the glory of man or the glory of God"
The Truth about the Woman's Head Covering"
The Veiling, A Symbol of Divine Order The owner of the site this is posted on makes and sells headcoverings too.

The following quote was written by John Calvin and it really says a lot.
It seems to me he knew what he was talking about!

“So if women are thus permitted to have their heads uncovered and to show their hair, they will eventually be allowed to expose their entire breasts, and they will come to make their exhibitions as if it were a tavern show; they will become so brazen that modesty and shame will be no more; in short they will forget the duty of nature…Further, we know that the world takes everything to its own advantage. So, if one has liberty in lesser things, why not do the same with this the same way as with that? And in making such comparisons they will make such a mess that there will be utter chaos. So, when it is permissible for the women to uncover their heads, one will say, ‘Well, what harm in uncovering the stomach also?’ And then after that one will plead for something else; ‘Now if the women go bareheaded, why not also bare this and bare that?’ Then the men, for their part, will break loose too. In short, there will be no decency left, unless people contain themselves and respect what is proper and fitting, so as not to go headlong overboard” (John Calvin - 1509-1564)

For an update on this post: Headcovering... putting feet to my convictions