CHURCH TRUTHS QUESTION 2:

QUESTION 2:
What role do women have in the Church of God, locally?

ANSWER:
This is a question that has cause much discussion among Christians. It seems that tradition has such an influence on most that we interpret Scriptures according to tradition.

The Book of 1 Corinthians is the charter of a New Testament church or assembly. Paul states in 1 Corinthians 3:10 that God gave him the master plan of a local church. He warns others to be careful about building on it's foundation, which is Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11)

When he gets to the question of the sister's place in 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 we read, "Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church."

The traditional arguments are plentiful, from Paul being unmarried and prejudice toward women, to it being a local problem at Corinth only. Both of these are fallacies and contradictory to the verses above. Paul is merely stating what Scriptures taught from creation that a woman was to be in subjection to her head, the man. (Genesis 3:16) This is confirmed in 1 Timothy 2:11-14.

1 Corinthians 14:34 distinctly eliminates it being confined to the church at Corinth because "churches" is in the plural. He says the same about this Epistle in 1 Corinthians 7:17, "But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches."

Dear Reader, the more important truth is that we are all sinners and need a Saviour. Christ alone is able to save us. Are you saved? Have you repented of your sins and trusted Him? Or do you want to spend eternity in hell?

All comments and questions to: Harold Smith

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Updated July 2009, by Shelly Allen