So I decided to post this on my Blog, as it is something that we discussed on Sunday in Berean Bible College Intro to New Testament. My friend Skyler asked this question:
Skyler Martin Someone tell me what you think of 1 Corinthians 14:34-35. Im really asking for opinions
34 Women should be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them to speak. They should be submissive, just as the law says. 35 If they have any questions, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings.[h]
First of all....its SO important not to take a VERSE out of the bible and just read it and say..."it is so". Read the whole chapter, letter or thought. Know why it was written, to whom, and the culture time and place it was written. UNDERSTAND the real teaching of the passage in the bible, and do not take it out of context. Its like saying....I will withhold xyz, when you really mean the whole alphabet! Or perhaps making a pie without crust and trying to figure out why you cannot cut it into equal pieces.
The word of God never changes, but culture does. The word of God is the same today as it was then, and God knew we would be reading it in THIS day and time....and that all the messages and teachings would apply to the changing world as it becomes more wicked and the Christian grows in maturity. A woman's place in ministry has been a long sought after discussion, and Im so glad that GRACE has covered many of the beginnings of the understanding of Salvation in any person's life. We are all loved EQUALLY by God. We are ALL told to go and seek the lost and speak the Word of God to the people.
So this was my answer to my dear friend Skyler. I would love comments. It is so pertinent how God works because just the other day this whole idea was on my heart...but I had to think about how to say it. I said "no words of wisdom today....but let me get back to you on this..." This is what I was creating on my heart that day. Wow! God is good all the time...
Wow Skyler....I just got hit with this question SUNDAY in Berean Bible College...so here you go. I agree with Isaac Skyler. Jesus loved women in ministry and showed them many times how they pleased him. Saul also knew the depth of a woman's gift in ministry because he even put them in Jail when he persecuted believers before he became a follower! Women were not usually put in Jail! Saul KNEW that women were a powerful mouthpiece for Christianity in that day in time and tried to shut them up. In the feeding of the 5000, it states that there were 5000 MEN, not including women and children. Being in a Jewish or Gentile culture at that time, women were substandard to men. Women were considered property at that time of culture, not people or even counted. Women sat on one side of the room, men on the other, as respect to this gender discrimination. Its important as you study the bible, to also study the culture that was in place at the time of the writings, even though we do understand that the Word is living today, just as it did then. God knew YOU would be reading His word Skyler, and that you would ask this question today. Culture changes, but the Word of God does not.
This is not saying that women should not be accountable to their husbands and allow their husbands to be the "head" of them, meaning to respect them--in ministry this is a huge thing. It is so important as a Christian to be equally yoked because of this. When Jesus died on the cross....many things changed. The new testament was written between 20 - 90 A.D. That was a long time ago, and the culture of people has definitely changed. The Church Body of Christ has grown to understand GRACE in a much fuller manner, I believe. I agree with Isaac, that this verse deals with instruction that we must have order in our services, so that people may benefit from the service. All things are important, the hymns, the prophecy, Tounges and revelation of the word spoken by the spirit...when its done all at once, it is sometimes so chaotic that people mistake Christians as crazy. That is an issue now AND then.
Now......taking that thought, you also have to realize that Christians SHOULD appear different. Sometimes in worship, all of those things do happen, music, tongues, crying out in praise, but its done during a period of time to draw the Holy Spirit into the service more deeply, and then listen to the Word God has put upon the heart of the one speaking or ministering. When Jesus spoke, people listened.
So to end this long thought.....women and men should respect an ordered worship service, not taking out anything. If you have questions during a service, write them down and ask afterward. If Jesus comes to take you home during the service, ask Him when you are in his presence...Im sure he would love to talk with you!
Its amazing how God works Skyler...as I JUST had this teaching Sunday. God is Good all the time.
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