Women
in the Church of the Living God
Part
1
Preface
Who have bewitched the so-called professing Christian ‘mainstream’ community? That they have turned to other gospels, departing "from the simplicity that is in Christ". Falling prey to that which are not gospels at all, but gospels of feminism, prosperity, and this so-called equality in ‘authority’ of men and women in the churches of this world, and teaching other such gospels (Rev. 2:20 NIV where the Lord Jesus says, “You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants…”; Galatians 1:6-12; 2 Corinthians 11:3-4).
·
10 Do you think I
am trying to make people accept me? No, God is the One I am trying to please.
Am I trying to please people? If I still wanted to please people, I would not
be a servant of Christ.
Introduction – Order of
Authority in Congregations of the Lord’s People
·
2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised
you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to
him.
·
3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s
cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure
devotion to Christ.
·
4 For if someone
comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit
you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with
it easily enough.
Let me say before we began this study, that most of those asking questions concerning the role of women in the churches of the saints do not ask with a right heart. When most people question the Holy Scriptures concerning role of women in the congregations, they are really voicing their disagreement with the Scriptures rather than accepting what God say.
The feminist movement of this world, rather than the word of the Living God most likely have swayed these people. Yet, I pray to my Holy Father in heaven and His Christ Jesus that your questions concerning "ordination of women" and women "serving as church pastors and ministers" are from sincere hearts, and not from the cares of this evil and adulterous world (1 Timothy 1:3-5 NIV).
·
3 As I urged you when I went into
Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not
to teach false doctrines any longer 4 or
to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things
promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by
faith.
5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a
pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
However, I wish none of you
to be ignorant of the devices and schemes of the evil one, for the deceiver of
this evil and adulterous world, who have planted within the Christian
community those who claim to be Christians, yet they are not Christians but
as it is written:
·
Acts 20:29-30
“…savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even
from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away
disciples after them”.
As the Spirit says, “Satan himself masquerades as
an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness”
(2 Cor. 11:1-15).
For it is written, that the
true followers of Christ “have tested those who claim to be apostles
but are not, and have found them false” (Rev. 2:2 NIV, see also Rev. 2:9).
Yes, it has been my experience that most people when wishing to do something outside of God's word; they will find a way to do it. And justify it out of their own heart and their own understanding using the same Holy Bible which plainly states they cannot do such things, thereby falling into the sway of the evil one (2 Tim. 4:2-4).
Even as I write, and in time past there have been and are women who call themselves teachers and pastors in the congregation of believers. And there are other women and sadly to say men agreeing with these women who have “appointed themselves as ministers, elders, and pastors”, preaching, writing, and speaking with smooth words and persuasive speech (2 Cor. 4:1-2) to sway the flock of believers to permit women to have rulership over them (Isaiah 29:13-15).
Isaiah 29:13-15 NKJV
·
13 Therefore the
Lord said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed
their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the
commandment of men,
·
14 Therefore,
behold, I will again do a marvelous work Among this people, A marvelous work
and a wonder; For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, And the
understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.” 15 Woe to
those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the Lord, And their works are in the
dark; They say, “Who sees us?” and, “Who knows us?”
Presently, many
human organizations, called by or referred to as “churches of this world” are
allowing women to pray, read Scriptures, lead choir
worship service over men, teach children in their congregations, and even lead
the congregations as ministers or pastors (Prov.
21:16).
Yet, the Holy
Scriptures clearly state women are to be submissive to their husbands, man is
the head of his wife as Christ is Head of the Church, and men are the head of
women (Genesis
3:16; Eph. 5:22-24 and 1 Cor. 11:3, 7-9).
Many of these “human organizations” called churches explain away
the teachings of the Holy Spirit in 1
Corinthians 14:33-40 and 1 Timothy
2:12-15, by referring to these verses as “Paul’s teachings”. As if
to say, “Paul's teachings” are not Christ’s teachings and not inspired by
the Holy Spirit.
It is well said
that the Scriptures inspired by the Holy Spirit and written by the apostle Paul
are “hard
to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other
Scriptures, to their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16 NIV). (See also 2 Peter 3:14-16 and 2 Tim. 3:16-17).
They spew out all sorts of defensives to support their “own interpretation” of
these Scriptures; these are the women teachers who will not repent of this
doctrine of Satan. As Christ Himself says when speaking about “that
woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess”, saying, “I
gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent” (Rev.
2:20-21 NKJV). Yet, those who wish women to continue to teach and seduce
them spiritually willingly forget these very words of Christ Jesus.
Let us not spend
much debate on this subject (seeing that many have already
carried it about), always learning and never coming to knowledge and maturing
in the faith (2 Tim. 3:7-8 NKJV those
who “resist the truth”, Prov. 14:12 NKJV “a way that seems right
to” them; Jer. 17:9-10 NKJV “The
heart is deceitful above all things”).
Therefore,
seeing that the Holy Scriptures always interpret itself, and the experiences,
traditions, and commandments of men always change; yet God is always the
same, let us learn from Scripture and not from our own experiences or
understandings when dealing with Spiritual matters (Prov. 3:4-6, Mal. 3:6 and
Rom. 12:16).
As for women teaching
and having authority over men in the Churches,
the Holy Scriptures have in many places in the word of God answered these
questions. Giving us many examples and reasons why women are not allowed to
teach or have authority over men in the churches of the true believers of God
and the home: (Gen. 2:18,22-23, 3:16-17,
Ex. 4:25-26, Num. 12:1-10, Job 2:9-10, Isaiah 3:12, Rev. 2:20-23, 1 Cor. 14 and
1 Tim 2).
However, there are
some within these man-made human organizations referred to as churches of this
world that 'feel' and 'wish' to have these
women rule over them in the home and in their congregations.
So, today I say to
you, let us as Christians be transformed by God’s word and not conformed to this
world’s customs (Rom.
12:2 and 1 John 1:15), because friendship with this
world’s society makes us enemies of God (James 4:4).
Yet, for your conscience’s
sake, I will respond to these questions (2 Peter 2:20 having escaped the corruption
of this evil and adulterous world by knowing the Lord Jesus Christ – their end
is worse if you return to the rules of this world). As it is written,
·
25 Opponents must
be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading
them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and
that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who
has taken them captive to do his will.
Synopsis
In this study, I will
give many Biblical examples and passages from the Holy Scriptures to support
what God’s Word teach and show women are not allowed to teach or lead men in
the churches of the saints (Rom.
15:4). But, first, I thought it would be good to focus on the most quoted
verses in the Holy Scriptures concerning women in the churches of the saints,
and that is Galatians 3:28; 1 Corinthians 14, and 1 Timothy 2. Where the Holy Spirit through the apostle
Paul command the Churches not to allow women to prophesy and teach in the
Church of the Living God.
Also, I will answer
some of the questions and points of view of those who wish to have women rule
over them in the churches and their homes. I will
declare to you the whole counsel of God concerning women in the churches of the
true believers of God, as our Holy and Righteous Father in heaven and His
Christ Jesus have given me understanding.
Yes, there are many
books, papers, and articles arguing for women and against women holding offices
of leaderships, speaking, and teaching or preaching in the churches.
Most of these weighting in on this endless debate do not even mention other
Scriptures, which do not support their arguments. They mostly only mention
Scriptures they perceive to support their cause.
I will seek to use all
Scriptures they use and more so in this study.
Reading and gaining insight on the mindset of those with a different point of
view is good; but relying solely on man’s thoughts to solve a spiritual question
is not helpful nor is it wise. For the mind of God is higher than any mere
man’s mind, and who can know the mind of God except the Spirit of God which
those of you who have Christ’s Spirit in your mind can know God’s mind.
·
8 “For my
thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways.” This is the Lord’s declaration. 9 “For
as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my
thoughts than your thoughts.
Therefore, I
believe if a humble and teachable person with the Spirit of Christ cannot study
God’s word on this subject, as well as doing the same for other
subjects in the Holy Bible (1 Cor. 2:6-16),
and then conclude from that, there is overwhelming Scripture supporting the
writings of apostle Paul are Scripture (2 Peter 3:15-16). And with this
same Holy Spirit solve this endless debate of women in the churches. Then that
same person will always be swayed and tossed about whenever the trend of time
changes in this evil and adulterous world, having become quarrelsome, conceited
and puffed up in knowledge - not willing to accept sound doctrine (Ephesians 4:7-16 and Phil. 2:12-13).
Knowing this I will
only use the Holy Scriptures itself to help us understand why women are not
allowed, to lead or teach men in the Church of the Living God and His Christ.
Throughout this study, I will ask questions for your spiritual discernment and
for you to rightfully divide the word of God and His Christ Jesus (Col. 2:4, 8). Offering sound doctrine
and Scripture to help you see the Word of God as it is written for our reproof
and correction.
The two most common
parts of the Holy Scriptures used to show women are not permitted to prophesy,
pray, preach or teach in the churches of the Living God are
1 Corinthians 14:32-40 (the
exception to prophesying as prophetesses and speaking in tongues by true
believers are outside of the congregations not in the churches). And 1 Timothy 2:8, 11-15 (the exception to
praying, teaching and preaching in the Church of the Living God).
·
32 And the spirits
of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the
author of [a]confusion but of peace, as in all the churches
of the saints.
·
34 Let [b]your women keep silent in the churches, for
they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also
says. 35 And if they want to learn something,
let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to
speak in church.36 Or did the word of God come originally
from you? Or was it you only that it reached? 37 If anyone
thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the
things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But
[c]if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do
not forbid to speak with tongues. 40 Let all things be done
decently and in order.
a. 1 Corinthians 14:33 disorder
b. 1 Corinthians 14:34 NU omits your
c. 1 Corinthians 14:38 NU if anyone does not recognize this, he is not
recognized.
·
8 I desire
therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath
and doubting; 9 in like manner also, that the women
adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and [a]moderation, not with braided hair or gold or
pearls or costly clothing, 10 but, which is proper for women
professing godliness, with good works.
·
11 Let a woman
learn in silence with all submission. 12 And I do not permit a
woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. 13 For
Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived,
but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
·
15 Nevertheless
she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and
holiness, with self-control.
a. 1 Timothy 2:9 discretion
These verses above which
most Christians debate endlessly because they wish to view these verses as a social
rule or ordinance, meaning they apply to the time in history in which they were
written only and possible certain situations today.
And that these verses are not the commandments of Christ to all Christians in
every age of this present evil world (1 Cor.
14:37 clearly states “If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge
that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord”). Or
these verses were instructions for disruptive women who set in separate areas
than the men in the congregations, and these women would
disrupt services by talking and asking questions across the congregation.
Thereby, this brings
us to these main two questions today are these verses
spiritual laws and commands (laws of God and Christ) as the law says (Gen. 2:18-23; Gen. 3:16, 20 and 31 Tim.
2:13-15)? Or are these verses written
only as social concessions by a “mere man” for that time in history
only, and not meant for women in the churches today (1 Cor. 9:1-9)?
Premises used in
the Argument for Women Teachers (Preachers)
There are some
among the Christian so-called ‘mainstream’ community who even refuses to refer
to God as Father in this endless debate. Some of these
women and men claim this reference to God as a Father, and in the masculine only
throughout the Holy Bible have hinder their faith in accepting God’s word and the
gospel of Christ. They prefer to use more neutral terms or add ‘mother -
father’ in their addressing God the Holy and Righteous Father in heaven.
These people also
called by this world as ‘feminists’, whatever that mean in the Christian community
and faith of Christ, I don’t know. But they believe
that referring to God as Father is more of a male chauvinist thing rather than
God Himself referring to Himself as Father, as the law of Christ says.
Yes, I agree not
all of us may have had ‘great’ fathers in our past lives.
Yet, if one has God’s Holy Spirit and His Christ living in them (John 14:23) then this should not be a
stumbling block to salvation by the glorious grace given to us in the Son of
our Holy Father in heaven.
For those who profess
and teach others the same such blasphemy words and thoughts that God is not a
Father, I ask these questions, why did Jesus
say, “no one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6)? Or why did Jesus say,
“Father, the hour has come, Glorify your Son” (John 17:1)?
Please note that
the Lord Jesus Christ has no problem referring to the Holy and Righteous Father
in heaven as Father and God Himself says He is a Father.
Hebrews
5:4-6 New International Version (NIV)
·
4 And no one takes this
honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 In
the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high
priest.
·
But God said to him, “You are my
Son; today I have become your Father.” 6 And he says in
another place, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”
1
Corinthians 11:1-3 New King James Version (NKJV)
·
1 Imitate me,
just as I also imitate Christ. 2 Now I praise you,
brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I
delivered them to you.
·
3 But I want you
to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the
head of Christ is God.
Are we as Christians
going to promote and put forward this ‘feminists’ gospel notion, that the writers
of the Bible were male chauvinists? Who concealed women
leadership and discriminated against them in the Holy Bible ahead of the sound,
faithful and true word of Christ Jesus our Master (even though some translators
did leave some words un-translate for other reasons)?
I ask, what is the
meaning of this verse? “…
Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and He said, “O Father, Lord
of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think
themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes,
Father, it pleased you to do it this way” (Luke 10:21 NLT).
Are not these
‘feminists’ and ‘students of the Bible and scholars of this present age’ who
cannot believe God would deny women leadership in the churches and homes, the “wise
and clever” in this present age? For the “wise
and clever” of this world will say it is best to allow women equality
in the churches of true followers of Christ Jesus meaning let them rule in the
Churches like the men. Saying it is a sign of wisdom and more with the times
of this present age than being old-fashion and of the past.
These “who
think themselves wise and clever” of this present evil age will exclaim
that it is only right to treat women as equals to men in the congregations of
believers, reasoning women cannot be treated equal with men in the churches until
after they are allowed to teach, as men do in the churches.
Now, this logic is
man’s logic from the one below, and not the wisdom from the Holy Father above
in heaven. Because the Holy and Righteous Father in
heaven declares man the head of woman as Christ is the Head of man and His
Church (1 Cor. 11:3 see also Gen. 3:16). Now, if man
has authority given to him in the churches by our Holy and Righteous Father in
heaven, then how is it said that the Churches discriminate against women? Or we
not saying God is discriminating against women because He have in this age
place men over women in the home and the churches? Does not the Scripture
say God shows no partiality?
·
3 I will proclaim
the name of the Lord; how glorious
is our God! 4 He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything
he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and
upright he is!
·
5 “But they have
acted corruptly toward him; when they act so perversely, are they
really his children?[a] They are a deceitful and twisted generation.
a.
32:5 The meaning
of the Hebrew is uncertain.
·
17 For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the
Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who does not show
partiality, nor take a bribe.
·
18 He executes
justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the stranger by
giving him food and clothing.
·
Now, there are some who say nowhere in
the Holy Bible does it say women are subjected to men or that men have
authority over women.
·
And again, they say women were only
put under men because of the sin of Eve, but God forgave women in the New
Testament.
There
are some who claim God forgave women for this deception
of Eve by Satan, the evil one in the New Testament,
and making this premise on a regular basis when trying to defend their ‘gospel
of feminism’. Then they ask wouldn’t God redeem women from this sin?
Now, I answer this question with a “yes”; but women are still under this
transgression of Eve (see 1 Tim. 2:15
and Genesis 3:16 God said to the woman your husband/man “shall rule over you”).
Also, please
understand these same Scriptures that we have this endless debate over support
this answer. These same promoters of this gospel of
feminism taunt that there is no Scripture that give men authority over women,
nor subjecting them to men. So, I ask these questions for your edification
(as this ministry mission is to edifying your mind and feeding your spirit).
How is it that
those who claims this gospel of feminism cannot see Genesis 3:16, where it
plainly says, “he shall rule over you”? Who then are the “he” and “she”
in this verse God is referring to?
Therefore, I ask
these feminists gospel teachers; where in the Holy Bible does God remove the
Woman Eve’s punishment (consequence) for her deception?
Again, understanding spiritual things require the Spirit of Christ and the
person hearing the Word must be spiritual having the Spirit of God. For it
is written,
1 Corinthians 2:12-14 New International
Version (NIV):
·
12 What we have
received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may
understand what God has freely given us. 13 This
is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by
the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.[a]
14 The person without the Spirit does not
accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them
foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through
the Spirit.
a. 1 Corinthians 2:13 Or Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are
spiritual
There are Scripture
supporting the content of Genesis 3:16 that it should be read as
Genesis 4:7 meaning just as women desire to teach and preach (sin wants/desires
to control you) in the congregations of the Saints; the woman “will
desire to control your husband” (Gen. 3:16 New Living Translation (NLT)):
·
16 Then God said
to the woman, “I will ·cause you to have much trouble [or increase
your pain] when you are pregnant [in
childbearing],
and when you give birth to children, you will have great pain.
·
You will greatly desire [C the
word implies a desire to control; 4:7] your husband, but
he will rule over you.”
·
7 If you do
things ·well [correctly; appropriately], ·I will [L will
I not…?]
accept you, but if you do not do them ·well [correctly;
appropriately], sin is ·ready to attack you [L crouching
at the door].
Sin ·wants [desires to control; 3:16] you, but you
must rule over it.”
I ask you to think about the implications of
these types of reasoning concerning women teaching in the Church of the Living
God, are we not declaring that all Holy Scriptures
were written by “mere men” when we say such things?
For when you say such things you disqualify
yourselves, and bring into question all Holy Scriptures
because of your unbelief. For it is written, “they were not able to enter,
because of their unbelief” (Hebrews 3:19 NIV).
Yes, no Holy Scripture have its beginning by
the will of man but “men spoke from God as they were carried
along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21 NIV).
Therefore, I exhort you to stop twisting the
Holy Scriptures to suit your own beliefs and private interpretations by
accepting the viewpoint of this present evil age rather than the plain Word of
God on this subject. Repent therefore of your wrongful
thinking, and submit your life to following the things of God rather than the
things of this world.
However, the Holy Scriptures tells us that there
are “many” in this present age; just as the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the
Living God says, “many” who will not repent of their unbelief and endless myths.
·
21 “Not everyone
who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of
My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to
Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied
in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your
name?’ 23 And then I will declare
to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me,
you who practice lawlessness!’
As it is written concerning the woman Jezebel,
Christ Jesus our Great High Priest and Master (Hebrews 4:14 and John 15:14-16)
says:
Revelation
2:20-21 King
James Version (KJV)
Christ Jesus, the Son
of God is our example:
2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV
·
“All Scripture is
given by inspiration of God…”
John
1:1-14 KJV
·
“1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God…14 And
the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…”
·
5 Let this mind be
in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form
of God, did not consider it [a]robbery to be equal with God, 7 but
[b]made Himself of no reputation, taking the
form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
·
8 And being found
in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of
death, even the death of the cross.
·
9 Therefore God
also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that
at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on
earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue
should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
a.
Philippians 2:6 Or something
to be held onto to be equal
b. Philippians 2:7 emptied Himself of His privileges
Evangelist (Minister)
Ron Davis, a servant of Christ Jesus, of the Kush Edifying Ministries proclaims
the whole counsel of God. This ministry believes in the command of Jesus to His
disciples in Matthew 10:7-8 “As you go, preach this message: 'The
kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who
have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give” (NIV). Jesus
commands us to “freely” preach the
word without demanding those preached to give us ten (10%) of their income or
earnings.
Please
send your comments to Evangelist Ron
Davis, of the Kush Edifying
Ministries.
OR
if you want to debate my conclusion of in this matter; if you want to argue
your own “private interpretation”, then
please send it to the below listed email address with your Scripture backing up
what you wish to debate. Thanks, and may God bless you in understanding His Holy
and righteous word.
Now,
let us move to Women
in the churches of the saints of God, Part II, where we will examine and
discuss the Word of God spoken by the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul and other
parts of the Holy Scriptures. Amen. Praise God.