There are no Jews, Greeks, etc Part 31

The main issue here is what is in the heart of a woman. Does she mean to do and does she do good, like Hannah in I Samuel? Or is she a Jezebel? Does she actually sing praise along with the men in Ezra 2:6, praising and honoring God? Or is she involved with sin, as the women involved with Eli’s sons (I Samuel 2:22) and as Bathsheba with David (II Samuel 11:4).

A big issue where God talks about women is women as mothers. Women as mothers are presented in Scripture as being as important as men being fathers, exhibiting care, love and joy with their children. Exemplified is this in Hannah (I Samuel 2: 19) who made Samuel a coat whenever she visited him at the temple. And women are resourceful. Look at the woman that is described in Proverbs 31. They know how to provide for their home, not only by way of cooking, cleaning, and chores, but providing an income for the family. Also women are seen grieving in times of mourning. (Acts 9:39) God cares for women in various circumstances, as seen in Ruth 2:8, even if women have been made servants (Song of Solomon 1:6). And He favors those who stay pure. (Esther 2:9,11). In fact, the marriage bed and the entire concept of marriage itself is favorable and pleasing to God. Surely marriage is something that everyone seeks at one time in their life or another, because we are all seeking a mate. But when this is not pleasing is when we seek a mate without involving God in the equation. For only then will He provides women with good men to take care of them. Only if they will stay pure and patient with God, and their relationship with God is such that they know that He will provide for them, will God be pleased with their marriage. What some women don’t realize or don’t want to admit is that many times they are anxious about becoming married because they are afraid of being along. But, women can take care of themselves, as demonstrated in Gen 22:9, and worked hard as servants in Exodus 2:16 and laborers in Isaiah 27:11. What women forget is that God indeed does know the depths of a woman’s heart, and what loneliness is like. God hears women, and does provide.

There are no Jews, no Greeks, etc. Part 30

A point about women. Does Paul's not allowing women to speak in church mean women don’t have the strength or purpose in character of a man? Hardly. Look at Esther in Esther 2:9 regarding her beauty and her strength of character. Then when one examines the women in Exodus 15:20 and Genesis 24:65 –67 and how those women were a great comfort to men. Ezra 2:65 as well shows women side by side with men, singing God’s praises. God even commands women to be part of the worship in Deuteronomy 31:12. That is so logical, after all, all of us were made in His image, and are to be involved in the purification and presentation rights (Luke 2:22) and in praying (Acts 1:14, Acts 12:12,13). There is no Jew, no Greek, no male…This brings up another issue. If Paul is convinced that our souls are great equalizers, as the previous sentence would imply, why then does Paul make such a big deal over women’s heads being uncovered? (I Corinthians 11:5) I truly believe that it dates back to Eve, who without a head (or one to which she would submit) was deceived. (II Corinthian 11:3) This is why women are lead by men. Does that mean that women are incapable of leading? No, and I certainly don’t believe Paul believed that. What I do believe is that Paul understood that a woman had to take advice from a man and be lead by a man. (I Corinthians 14:34, I Timothy 2:11) and listen to a man by keeping silent. Does that mean keep her opinions locked up? Not necessarily. But there is a time and a place for everything. As well, how women were to follow men was similar to how Christians are to follow God, in submission and humility, keeping silent and listening before speaking. (Genesis 18:26, Exodus 35:25,26) One’s own opinions are much less important than God’s truths and certainties. And the will of God remains supreme forever, and something to pay attention to.

There are No Jews, no Greeks, etc... Part 29

Remember, above all, God is in control of us, as says in Psalms 22:27-31. God loves us and has provided a way for us to be in His body. And there is only one body, one Lord, one faith, one baptism. (Eph 4:5-6) Only in God can we be sure whether or not we are following His precious will. Only in Him will we all be able to exist in peace. This according to Isaiah 4:1-6 does not exclude the Jews because there is a remnant that will believe in Christ. And this is not just in the 1st century but a promise for all time. God is God forever.

Then of course there is the focus that God places on women, because after all without women there would not be men or vice versa. God created two of a kind so that we know our limitations, so that we know we depend on each other and need each other even if we are merely friends, simply because of the different ways we react, think, emote all because of the variation in hormones that run through our bodies. The focus that God places on women is never more clear than in Genesis 1:27, in which the scope of freedoms afforded the human race are shown. He considers both sexes equally important in creation, because of the viewpoints and individuality each of us has parts of male and female in us, and depending upon which happens to be stronger, that is the one in which will dominate and God makes us male or female. Both are equally important in creation (Genesis 2:21-23) and throughout life. I could not survive without my male friends, and they say they have a tough time surviving without me. Like recombinant DNA, femaleness is a part of man and maleness is a part of woman. Both come from each other (I Corinthians:11:3-16) and because genes that God uses to create living things, He was able to fashion woman by changing sequences, adding here, subtracting there to get female from male rib bone. Man and woman are not so different, only by blueprint, as a whole, yet immensely different individually as men differ from men individually. And in the hierarchy of earth yes women are indeed different from men, as men are different from other men and women are different from other women. Women are so different in that they approach things more emotionally than men. Paul uses the example of Eve being easily deceived (II Corinthians 11:3) by the serpent, that is by the serpent playing on the emotion of the situation, the high she got from thinking that yes indeed there was a way to be God, not just like Him but Him and have knowledge of the entire universe. And the passage goes on to explain that Adam was not deceived like Eve into transgression, although he certainly followed suit, perhaps out of avoidance of being alone. That is to be in sin and happy meant more than being right and lonely.

There are no Jews, no Greeks, etc Part 28

What of the second nature? I am His, but how do I function with respect to my brethren? Does this mean I can be separate and do things that would be a wall between us? No. If the right hand goes, the left must follow if it is part of the same body, or else something may happen to the left hand, it will get stretched or be cut off or hurt. Suppose the foot decides to hold on to something that the rest of the body cannot support. The body will fall. All bets are off and the body will ultimately move together. Accordingly is our worship of God. How can the same body accept some things and say that according to the scriptures that thing is not really wrong when other parts of the same body disagree? I realize we are all diverse, with our own thoughts and impressions and we all have different ways of expressing ourselves. That is why God made us, so that we can function in His body in various ways. But that doesn’t mean that we should go off in different directions just because we feel this is the right way. And this doesn't mean we can use scripture to back doing what we choose to do. People can use scripture to back up anything they want, and most of the time it is not the way God wants them to use scripture. It is true that there is freedom in Christ, and many things in the bible demonstrate that freedom. Is it not also true that if we leave nothing except to the interpretation of God then we will be in His Will? The whole body of Christ is called Christians. It is confusing to those outside especially to those who call themselves Christians but really don't follow God's Word but only a vestige of what people call God's Word after much watering down. Inside the body some say this is OK as long as you accept Jesus is Lord you are Christian and some say it isn’t, that accepting Jesus is Lord is much more than saying it. Especially when we are exposed to those that say that times are changing, and we need to change with it to meet the needs of those who we want to come to Church. We should want all to come. We don’t serve ice cream, but I am sure there are those who would serve it in the sanctuary during service to get them to come into a service because there is nothing wrong in the scriptures with it. Why don’t we serve wine, then at communion, when there is a scriptural basis for this? Some do, some don’t, because they believe the serving of wine promotes a sin. We have become splintered in our desire to make the body more appealing, so that we look like a club, we look like something good to join for the kids, and the spiritual uplifting comes as a fringe benefit, like the boy scouts or girl scouts. Why do we not want to commune with God? God brought me where He wanted me to go to Church, He called me, and He will call others. He is more interested in our unity of purpose, which is His purpose. True, there is autonomy in various Churches, and I believe that has more to do with the cultural surroundings than in following the scripture. A person in Haiti for instance would worship in different clothes than say someone from Finland. Or a person from Haiti may baptize in different waters than a person from England. But the point remains that there are things that God wants in His worship, and to add or subtract would be to embellish and improve on Him. And that’s not what it is all about. Are we of one body? We need to get to that point where we all admit that Paul was right, only worship Jesus Christ. No man can lead us, not like Christ and God can. Are we in His Church? Are we following His Will? How can we be sure? Only through examination of His Word.