The Problem: We've Lost Our Common Sense
Have you ever found yourself overthinking something so simple that you missed the obvious answer right in front of you? There's a reason we say "common sense isn't so common anymore." We live in a world where people walk around with their heads buried in their phones, disconnected from reality and each other.
Let me tell you about a young lady who worked late one night. She got off around 9:00 PM in the city and walked to the subway, phone in hand, scrolling through messages. She sensed someone watching her but brushed it off – there were lots of people around. On the subway, she grabbed a window seat, still focused on her phone, barely noticing the figure who sat beside her.
When her stop came, that person had already gotten up and headed for the exit. She followed, still on her phone, walking toward home. Then she sensed it – someone was following her. She walked faster, but the feeling persisted. Finally, she stopped, turned around, and discovered... it was her husband! He'd been trying to show her how oblivious she'd become to her surroundings.
This story perfectly illustrates our problem today. We're more connected to our devices than to each other, more tuned into the digital world than the spiritual one.
The Solution: Judge in Yourselves
In 1 Corinthians 11:13, the Apostle Paul makes what I believe is an appeal to common sense:
"Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?"
Paul is saying, "Lay aside everything else for a minute and just think about this. Use some common sense." He's making an appeal to something so clear that if we just stop, think, and pray for a minute, we'll figure it out.
Here's a riddle for you: What goes up and down but never travels anywhere? Stairs! When someone tells you that riddle and gives you the answer, you think, "Why didn't I think of that?" That's common sense.
Or try this one: You've got five apples in a basket and five people to distribute them to. How can you give one apple to each person yet still keep one apple in the basket? Simple – you hand the fifth person the basket with the apple still in it!
Why We Lose Common Sense
The problem with common sense is that people can't remove themselves from the situation to get a broad view. They're too personally and emotionally attached to whatever they're dealing with. We tend to over-complicate things.
You know the acronym KISS – Keep It Simple, Stupid. Sometimes we spend too much time overthinking, too much time trying to make something more theological than it actually is. We need to be willing to step back, give up what we think, and admit when we might be wrong.
What 1 Corinthians 11:15 Actually Says
Let's apply common sense to the passage Paul is addressing. Here's what 1 Corinthians 11:15 actually says: "But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering."
If we just read that verse and put our preconceived notions aside, we can see that Paul is addressing hair as the covering. But people complicate it by jumping to verse 6, trying to argue that if the covering is long hair, then why would God say, "If the woman won't have long hair, let her cut her hair"?
Using common sense, let's look at what Paul is really saying. There are different lengths of hair being discussed:
Long hair (a woman's glory)
Short hair
Shorn hair (crew cut)
Shaved head (completely bald)
Paul is giving a word picture to show how ridiculous it would be for a woman to have short hair. He's saying if she's not going to have long hair as her glory, she might as well just shave her head bald – that's how extreme the contrast should be.
The Most Important Part: Prayer
But here's what we often miss while debating externals – the most important part of this passage is that a woman should pray. Sometimes we get so tied up with appearances that we forget what matters most.
You know who beats everyone when it comes to having the right attitude before God? The woman with short hair who prays with the spirit and with understanding. The man who prays always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, even if his hair isn't perfectly styled.
The Bible says:
"I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also" (1 Corinthians 14:15)
"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:18)
"Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
What About Those Who Are Afflicted?
James 5:13-16 gives us more common sense about prayer:
"Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord... Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
How can anyone who claims to be a Christian not pray for someone who's afflicted? You can have every external appearance right, but if you brush off someone who needs prayer, you're completely out of God's will.
The Danger of Pharisaical Attitudes
The Pharisees were experts at focusing on externals while missing the heart of God's law. When Jesus healed on the Sabbath, they couldn't stand it. But Jesus pointed out their hypocrisy: "Doth not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?" (Luke 13:15)
You can help your livestock on the Sabbath, but I can't help a woman who's been bound by Satan for 18 years? That's not common sense – that's religious pride.
The Sabbath was made for man's benefit, not as a burden. It's a day of rest, and when you rest, your body heals. Jesus didn't break the law by healing on the Sabbath – He fulfilled its true purpose.
Farmer Sense
Common sense is sometimes called "farmer sense." When a farmer wakes up to dark, cloudy, wet weather and can't sow his planned seed, does he pace around all day scratching his head? No! He's got farmer sense. He knows there are sheep to tend, fences to repair, and other farm duties to handle.
Christians today need more of this farmer sense. A lot of times, we don't need to call for help or run frantically to the library for a book to figure out what to do. We need to judge in ourselves and use the wisdom God has given us in His Book.
Focus on What Matters Most
Instead of having our heads buried in our phones, maybe we should have our heads buried in the Book. Instead of burying ourselves in computers, maybe we should be on our knees beside our beds praying to God. Instead of posting on Facebook about the Christian brother or sister we don't like, maybe we should be praying for them.
"Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God?"
The answer is yes – and the same goes for men. Let's focus on prayer this week. Let's use some common sense and remember what truly matters in our relationship with God.
🎧 📖 Want to dive deeper into this biblical truth? This blog post only scratches the surface of this powerful message about using common sense in our spiritual lives. I humbly encourage you to listen to the entire sermon for the complete expository preaching and verse-by-verse bible teaching that will strengthen your understanding of God's Word.
[Listen to the full sermon here] - you'll be blessed by the thorough biblical exposition and practical application that only comes through careful verse-by-verse bible teaching.