What is the structure of the assembly?

[aron]

Originally Posted by aron

Taking something that happened at one point and making it a requirement for all assemblies at all times, seems to be leading us the wrong way.

Let me give another example, of the peril of trying to re-create, wholecloth, the "normal church life" of the first century.

Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2:12 "I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent." (NIV) That was written in the day when women did not have equal rights in society, and Paul was wary that the freedom in Christ might be used to upset the social order, and cause confusion and accusations against the faithful. Paul actually did let a woman teach: he let Prisca and Aquila straighten out Apollos.

For another example, Paul told slaves to obey their masters; again, that doesn't mean Paul was "pro-slavery", but was respecting the standing social order. So using Paul's words 2,000 years later to tell women to be "silent in the church" is about as anachronistic as drinking a little wine if you have a tummy ache (1 Timothy 5:23) or anointing the sick with oil (James 5:14). It may have been the rule at one time, but that does not make it the norm, or standard, for all times.