A Woman of Chayil: Far Above Rubies by Jane Carole Anderson

[Evangelical]

Originally Posted by Igzy

Evangelical,

If women are to "keep silent" and that is a universal principle, how do you explain the LCM allowing women to testify in meetings? That's hardly keeping silent.

I can tell you the story Witness Lee told us. Nee was torn about this issue and finally decreed that there were too many riches in the sisters that were being denied the church by making them remain silent. He said they'd cut off 50% of the church from sharing. So they decided to allow them to speak.

My point is that there are several lenses to look at this thing through. Jesus himself never seemed to have a problem with women just for being women. I think there are some strengths and weaknesses of the genders we should be aware of, and that generally men should lead and set direction in the church and family. Women generally should support. But there are just too many blessed and helpful women's ministries which testify against your extreme interpretation.

As I said, in Paul's day teaching was not bible interpretation, it was saying you had a direct line from God. Teaching is different today. We don't have apostles. We have the word, and anyone can read it and interpret it.

Igzy, I am talking about women holding authority over men in authoritative teaching or leadership roles - not prophesying, of which there are a number of biblical examples.

I mean it is universal in the sense of applying to all women for all time (i.e. since the creation of woman in Genesis). When Paul says "keep quiet because you were created after the man", that says to me it is a universal principle applied to all women of all cultures and all time, just like pain in childbirth.

There is also another general principle that women should learn from their husbands at home:

1 Cor 14:35 "If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. "

How many husbands today are teaching their wives at home? How many expect the pastor to do it for them?

I disagree that we don't have apostles today. An apostle is simply a messenger or one sent on a mission from God. Today we would call them missionaries. In the Bible there is no one called a "missionary". I believe this word has been invented to satisfy those who get edgy when anyone mentions the word apostle. Because they don't understand that an apostle is not someone who does great miracles or writes books of the bible, they are simple messengers.