In last week’s class, we (tried to) discuss if a church should
even be structured, how it needs to be structured, and, most controversial, if
a woman should have a high position in the church.
I think a church should be structured with the more
traditional route, you know, with the pastor, the elders and such. Otherwise,
we might end up in an organization like the Quakers. Sitting in one place for
hours on end, waiting for someone to preach and finally dismiss us? No thanks!
But that answer doesn’t deal with things like Bible studies, small groups, and
even “house church.”
I guess that house church could and
would count as an actual church because there is someone in charge
and there is a message being brought to the people. However, a Bible study should
remain a Bible study, and it should not be considered “church”. What should count as a church is an
organization with strong leaders, strong members, and a healthy reputation.
And I honestly don’t see a problem
with women being at the head of the church. If you read just this verse, it
just sounds plain and simple:
“12 I do not
permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to
remain quiet.”
(1 Timothy 2:12)
But here’s the full passage:
“8 I desire
then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands
without anger or quarreling; 9 likewise also that
women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and
self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, 10 but
with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. 11 Let
a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. 12 I
do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she
is to remain quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then
Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the
woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 15 Yet
she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and
love and holiness, with self-control.”
He is telling them to “learn
quietly with all submissiveness”, meaning he is merely wishing them to learn
beside the men. And if you think the other passages are still directed towards all
women, in this letter Paul is writing to the church in Ephesus. The women in
Ephesus were used to being dominant over the men, so the “gold and pearls” were
disrupting the services and making them seem higher than everyone else. Paul is
putting this notion to rest and getting the equilibrium back in order.
That’s all I have for this blog.
Type down your comments before Freddy gets ya! Do it. Do it. Do it.
