Category: Christian Case-Making

‘God won’t give you more than you can handle.’ 

We hear this all the time, often placed against a beautiful background and posted on social media. This statement is constantly expressed by and to those who are suffering great difficulties or loss. I’d even used it and thought it myself without really thinking about what it means or where it came from. I had always assumed it was from the Bible, as do many other people. But it only takes a few minutes of reflection to realize that God DOES give us more than we can handle on our own. He gives us more than we can handle, and then He gives us comfort and support if we rely on Him.

The sentiment expressed above is taken, out of context, from 1 Corinthians 10.13, which actually says:

This verse specifically talks about temptation. It doesn’t say anything about difficult circumstances, trials, or trouble. As nice as this sentiment is, it’s taking Scripture out of context and it’s wrong. 

I urge followers of Jesus to take care and think before you use, or misuse, Scripture as trite platitudes.

This one’s personal, y’all, and it’s long. A year ago, on Good Friday, I decided to start wearing a head covering every day. I’d like to share what led me to this decision and what I’ve learned.

You may not be aware, as I was only peripherally, that there are a number of Christian denominations and sects in which the women wear some form of head covering—Amish, Mennonite, Catholic, even some Reformed, to name a few.

I’ve always enjoyed wearing scarves and bandanas in my hair, but what brought head covering as a Christian woman to my attention was this episode of Sheologians. Now, head covering wasn’t the topic of the entire show, but it piqued my interest, so I decided to start researching. I read 1 Corinthians 11 a number of times and Googled ‘head covering Christian women,’ trying to find a wide variety of results because, to my surprise, there’s a lot of contention and disagreement about the subject. I’m not going to go into all of the arguments. If you’re interested in head covering, look at 1 Corinthians 11.1-16 and the articles linked and do some research of your own.

 1 Corinthians 11.1-16:

Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ. Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you. But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ. Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying disgraces his head. But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying disgraces her head, for she is one and the same as the woman whose head is shaved. For if a woman does not cover her head, let her also have her hair cut off; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, let her cover her head. For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; for indeed man was not created for the woman’s sake, but woman for the man’s sake. Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. However, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as the woman originates from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman; and all things originate from God. Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her for a covering. But if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God. – NASB 

This is the one passage in Scripture that speaks of head covering. I know it’s a big chunk of text, but it’s important we not rip a passage out of context and say, ‘This is how it should be,’ because this is the only passage in the New Testament where head covering is mentioned as a practice in the church. Jewish women covered their heads, as do and have many cultures throughout history, including American women. In fact, up until the 1960s, most women in the United States wore hats of some kind any time they were in public. It was with the feminist movement that many stopped the practice.

I found a number of articles and websites regarding head covering. The Head Covering Movement is a group that is trying to bring head covering back as a regular practice in the Christian church. Some articles gave reasons why we need not wear head coverings today, while others presented myths about Christian head covering. This article concludes that head covering should be done only if one feels the personal conviction to do so. And this one, which I found particularly helpful, breaks down many of the different views on head covering–views both for and against. This article had the greatest impact on me, though. Because I wasn’t one hundred percent certain about head covering, an experiment seemed like the best way to approach it.

So, on Good Friday 2017, I donned a scarf as a deliberate head cover for the first time, for the entire day, work and all. I was in the process of growing out my hair from a pixie cut (separate decision), so I didn’t have a lot of hair to attach the scarf to and I had a lot of struggle keeping them in place. You can buy velvet headbands and shapers to wear under your cover, but I wasn’t sure enough to spend the money. I still haven’t bought any and I often have to fix my head cover partway through the day.


This was Easter Sunday, the first Sunday I wore a cover. I used a scarf I’d gotten in Latvia on the Singing ChurchWomen mission trip the previous year.

I have acquired a number of tube scarves and more regular scarves and have experimented with them. I also wear bandanas and small chiffon scarves. 

 From church: (This scarf was given to me by a friend. She got it in Israel.)

 To dog bathing:

Fun scarves:

When I’d been covering for a few weeks, a lady at my church approached me and asked about it. It turned out that she’d been covering for years. I had noticed her scarves, but hadn’t worked myself up to approach her. It’s been a blessing knowing I’m not the only one in the church who chooses to cover.


I joined a couple of Christian head covering groups on Facebook to learn more and fellowship with like-minded women. I left one of those groups, though, because I found some of the views overly dogmatic and legalistic, as well as some of the ladies were being pushy and contentious about her view of things. The possibility of becoming legalistic about head covering was one of my greatest concerns. Not being able to say a quick prayer because you don’t have a cover on was frequently mentioned. What about all of the women who choose not to cover? Does God just not hear or ignore their prayers? It made me wary and I’ve tried to be careful of allowing legalism to influence my faith and practice.

I found I really enjoyed wearing a covering every day. The only days I don’t are usually when I’m staying home alone all day. More than the enjoyment though, I did learn some things. Many women say they feel a particular calling from God to cover their heads, some full-time and others only in corporate worship or prayer time. I can’t say I experienced such a calling, other than just the desire to do so. Could that be God’s calling? I guess, maybe.

I found myself praying more. I’ve never been good at setting aside a particular prayer time, and I still don’t, but as I scroll through Facebook, or text with friends, I pray for people who express concerns or praises. Especially my non-Christian friends and in non-Christian groups.

I’ve become more aware of my thoughts and how I think of others. I can be a critical person. I usually don’t express criticisms aloud, but I definitely think them, and it’s still wrong and very much hypocritical.

I’m also better about reading my Bible every day. 

To base a doctrine on a single passage of Scripture, one that is not essential to salvation, is a dangerous road to tread and one reason that I will not say that a Christian woman is required to wear a head covering. There are many good arguments on both sides of the debate, and at this point I’m not prepared to come down hard on one side or the other. 

What I will do is continue to wear head covers for the foreseeable future until, or if, I ever believe I need to stop. I will support other women who choose to cover and I will support those who don’t.

Nonbelievers often complain about Christianity’s claims of exclusivity, that there is only one God and the Christian way is the only way to God. They want to use their definition of tolerance to say that all religions are valid and teach essentially the same things.

I wrote a post about tolerance some time ago, but I believe it’s important to revisit in the current climate of calling everything hate-speech which does not agree with one’s own views.

McDowell and McDowell address the idea of tolerance in the prologue of their book. I think that speaks to its importance. We can’t have a discussion of differing views if we’re working with different definitions of tolerance. One person will get to do all the talking because they see everything the other person has to say as being intolerant while plainly showing their own intolerance. At least as they themselves define it.

What tolerance actually is: ‘Rather than accepting all views as equally valid, true tolerance involves recognizing and respecting others when we don’t approve of their values, beliefs, and practices.’ (xliii)

That’s the entire reason we need tolerance. It wouldn’t be necessary if everyone agreed with one another.

The authors discuss a number of misconceptions in the prologue. One of them addresses that it’s seen as intolerant to believe that there is only one true religion and only one way to God. Jesus said it: ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.’ (John 14.6)

I’d say that’s pretty straightforward. McDowell and McDowell make the point, ‘While all religions could possibly be wrong, it is not logically possible for all of them to be right when their claims differ so radically. Either they are all wrong or only one is right.’ (xliv)

This is the only thing that makes sense. People want to say there are many paths to God or that all religious are valid, but when they make wildly contradictory claims, it’s just not possible. To claim otherwise is irrational.

McDowell, J., & McDowell, S. (2017). Evidence that Demands a Verdict: Life-Changing Truth for a Skeptical World. Thomas Nelson, Nashville.

It’s been a few years since I’ve posted, but I’d like to get back to it. A few weeks (or months) ago, I started reading an amazing and massive book called *Evidence that Demands a Verdict, by Josh McDowell and Sean McDowell. I’m not sure how long I’ve been reading it because it’s so incredibly dense with information, so I’m reading it in small chunks—sometimes only one small section at a time—interspersed with my other reading. Rather than going back and discussing everything from what I’ve already read, I’m going to pick some of the topics I was most interested in to share here. Many of them will relate to common objections to Christianity and questions about the veracity of the Biblical accounts.

In the first chapter, the authors discuss how the Bible has survived through massive attempts to eradicate it through persecution and criticism.

Several Roman emperors attempted to stamp out Christianity by persecuting its adherents and burning Christian writings. Yet the Bible persisted and Christianity continued to expand. In the Soviet Union, in the 20th century, another attempt was made to eradicate Christianity by persecuting and killing Christians and confiscating and destroying Bibles. Yet it is still the most printed and distributed book in the world, especially in nations where reading or possessing it is banned. Why would that be? Obviously, It is important enough to its believers to risk their lives to have a copy.

The Bible is criticized in many ways by those who hate its message. I’ll discuss specific criticisms another time. Despite continued attacks, the Bible and its worldview still influences millions and spreads further year by year.

No other book is so attacked as the Bible, so it is important for those who believe the events recorded in this book, namely followers of Jesus, to be knowledgeable and prepared to explain, defend or answer objections and criticisms.

1 Peter 3.14-17: ‘But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than doing what is wrong.’ (NASB)

*All quotations and citations will come from McDowell’s book unless otherwise stated. I want to engage in good scholarship, but this is a blog, not an essay for college, so I will not be as strict with formatting citations, etc.

McDowell, J., & McDowell, S. (2017). Evidence that Demands a Verdict: Life-Changing Truth for a Skeptical World. Thomas Nelson, Nashville.

Jesus was quoted in John 14.6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”*  This is possibly the most important statement in the entire Bible; but it is also one of the most frequently ignored and twisted.  People who want everyone to go to heaven say that Jesus couldn’t possibly have meant this statement in that way. Or they say that Christians made it up or are too narrow-minded.  Even well-known “Christian” leaders have gone wishy-washy on national television about this question.  The truth is that not everyone will go to heaven.  The ONLY way to enter heaven is by trusting in Jesus, accepting the gift of salvation.

The above statement opposes our culture’s belief that truth is relative.  That there is not ONE ultimate truth.  Many believe that people should be allowed to decide what is true for them and that we should be tolerant of other peoples’ “truths”.  They cite examples such as the blind men and the elephant, that each of them had their own truth because they felt different parts of the animal.  Or, when witnesses tell police what they saw during a crime, they frequently give completely different descriptions of what they saw.  But neither of these preclude the fact that there is an absolute truth about what the elephant or the perpetrator of the crime looked like.  Just because we can’t see the whole picture, doesn’t mean it’s not there. 

I know that people don’t want there to be absolute truth.  If there’s absolute truth, they can’t do whatever they want without consequences.  If there’s absolute truth, some people are wrong.  If there’s absolute truth, there IS only one way.  We are seeing the consequences of belief in relative truth every day and it’s not leading anywhere good. Far too many Christians are afraid to speak out with the truth.  I have been afraid to do so.  But we had a guest preacher at church this morning whose sermon convicted me.  Once we have accepted Christ as our savior, what is our purpose? Many think they have a free ticket into heaven, so they don’t have to do anything else.  Jesus told us what to do, though. Acts 1.8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”*  That’s our job – witnessing. But witnessing what?  The same thing the disciples witnessed.  They spread throughout the world and told people what they had seen and heard of Jesus, what He had done for them.  We are to do the same.  Tell people what Jesus has done for us.

Jesus has saved me.  He forgives me when I still sin (because believers are not perfect).  I am blessed and thankful that God loved the world He created so much that He arranged for His Son to suffer for our sins.  I pray that the Holy Spirit will work through me to touch someone who reads this.

My beliefs may make me unpopular.  I hope that my friends will understand that I love them and want to be part of their lives, but I can’t hide the Truth.


*HCSB

Soli Deo Gloria is a Latin phrase that means “Glory to God alone” or “God’s glory alone.”  This should be every Christian’s motto or creed.  Our purpose on this earth is to glorify God.  It is why He created us.  I believe it’s something many of us frequently forget.  We go about our lives as nominal Christians with our own agenda.  This is one reason I decided to get it tattooed on my arm where I can see it every day.  I’m a visual person, so it is a constant reminder of why I’m here and what I should be focusing on in my life.  It’s a reminder that I belong to God.  I’m not a perfect Christian.  Who is?  But it’s there as a reminder when I forget. 

Another good thing about having it is that it’s an opener to share my faith when people notice it.  They usually say: “Oh! That’s pretty.  What’s it say?  What’s that mean?”  Then I get to explain.  If you know me, you may know that’s I have a hard time just walking up to people and talking to them.  That’s one reason I write this blog, but the tattoo is kind of an on-the-spot witnessing tool. Our actions are an important indicator of our faith, but let’s face it – even non-Christians sometimes do ‘good’ things.  And many Christians aren’t living out their faith as they should.  We should always live out our faith.  It should always show in our actions whether anyone is watching or not.  But in the same way, having a cross, or even Soli Deo Gloria, as a tattoo doesn’t automatically mean a person is a Jesus-follower.

No believer is perfect.  We strive to become more like Christ, but often fail.  I thank God for His forgiveness because I know I could never get through life on my own.  I’m here to give God glory, even if I forget it sometimes.

Soli Deo Gloria