"LIGHT FOR OUR AGE"

January, 2018

Volume 10

Issue #1

Feature One: Editorial

         

 

 

Women in Church Leadership

Recently there has been a movement in a local school that has a strong history of supporting Biblical concepts to allow women to pray publically. One of the congregations in our area studied the subject in what I believe to be a very slanted manner. The following is a quotation taken from their study.

Carroll D. OsburnProfessor - Abilene Christian University

"Men and women are equal in the sight of God. ... ... Women should be able to do anything of which they are capable and in which they are trained. ... Maintaining restrictions in the areas of church and home has no biblical basis. ... There is no validity to the "order of creation" argument. ... Scripture does not teach that it is sinful for a woman to preach or serve in a leadership capacity. ... The principle concern should be the recovery of the egalitarian view of women that God had in mind in the creation." Women in the Church, Reclaiming the Ideal, pp 265-267.

1.  "Men and women ARE equal in the sight of God."

 

Being "equal" does not always mean doing the same thing. If a company has two vice-presidents, one in sales and one in development; and both earn exactly the same in both salary and benefits, are they not equal in the eyes of the company? Consider, however, the confusion that would result if the vice-president of development began making sales deals without the authority of the vice-president of sales. Both are equal even though they have different jobs and responsibilities.

 

It is so with men and women in the church. God has given us different jobs and responsibilities, but the "reward" is the same. Therefore, men and women are equal in the sight of God.

 

2.    "Women should be able to do anything of which they are capable and in which they are trained."

 

There is no scripture that even comes close to proving this point. The author indicates this with the word "should". So that is "should" in whose eyes? The eyes of God, or the eyes of the author of this statement. Examine Numbers 16:1-3 "Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: [2] And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: [3] And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD? These men felt they could lead Israel. Yet, in that they went against God they paid a horrible price. Just because someone, in their own eyes, believes they are capable or trained in some area, does not mean God approves it.

 

3.    "Restrictions in the areas of church and home has no biblical basis."

 

This statement is only true if you have not read the scriptures. Ephesians 5:23-24 clearly reads as follows: [23] For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body. [24] Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. This passage is not difficult to understand. For what reason would it be written in 1^st Corinthians 11:3 "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God."? For what purpose would this passage serve if God did not emphasize a difference? Just as Jesus yielded to his Father in the garden when he said "Not my will, but thine be done." Men are to yield to Jesus in obeying his commands. It follows then, that women are to be obedient to their fathers, and husbands.

 

4.    "There is no validity to the "order of creation" argument. Much more is included in the text than the 'order of creation'."

 

It seems interesting to me that the author calls it the "order of creation" argument when so much more is covered in 1^st Timothy 2:11-15. Note the passage: [11] Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. [12] But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. [13] For Adam was first formed, then Eve. [14] And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. [15] Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

 

While it is true that Adam was "first formed, then Eve" the text follows with the fact that Eve was deceived. This is the reason given for the difference in leadership. But keep in mind, God doesn't need to explain himself. The passage is clear that a woman is not allowed to teach, nor may she usurp authority over men. Those are the inspired apostle's words. Unless someone wants to approach God as did Korah and claim to go against his inspired apostle, that should settle the question.

 

 5.    "Scripture does not teach that it is sinful for a woman to preach or serve in a leadership capacity."

 

 

Unless the author supports homosexual marriage, women cannot serve as elders or deacons due to the requirements of these positions. 1^st Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6 and 1^st Timothy 3:12. Each of these passages indicate that elders and deacons are to be the husbands of one wife. Women cannot scripturally have a wife. As to serving as a preacher, a woman cannot both satisfy 1^st Timothy 2:11-15 and 2^nd Timothy 4:2. We have seen that 1^st Timothy 2 instructs women to learn "in silence with all subjection: and 2^nd Timothy 4:2 instructs preachers to "reprove, rebuke, and exhort." That would force women to be in authority over men, and to be teachers of men.

 

6.    "The principle concern should be the recovery of the egalitarian view of women that God had in mind in the creation."

 

The principle concern should be to work together as God intended, so that we may reach heaven together. If women are faithful in their role, their reward is the same as that of men. It is heaven. It is that for which we work. Violating scripture is not the way to reach heaven.

 

          

Robert Oliver

Feature Two: an article by R. C. Oliver

R C Oliver

 

Salvation Is Possible

 

I realize that should I teach you error, and should you believe it, you will be lost for having believed the error, and I will be lost for having taught it to you. I am not unmindful or unconscious of my responsibility to you. Nevertheless, knowing the ease with which error might either be taught or believed, I appeal to you to always search the scriptures to see whether or not what I teach is so.

         At no time should you have such complete trust in any man that you will take his word without question. You should always take the time to search the scriptures to see whether or not he is teaching you what the Bible actually teaches. Even the apostle Paul did not expect those of his time to accept him without comparing what he said with what the word of the Lord says. Of certain ones Luke wrote: "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."  This is found in your Bible in Acts 17:11. I therefore ask that you listen to what I have to say, take notes as I speak to you, and then search the Bible to see if what I say is actually taught in your Bible. Should you discover that what I am teaching is actually what your Bible teaches, you should believe it and obey it. Not because I introduced it to you, but because you now know that this is what your Bible actually does teach, and because you now know that this is what your Lord wants you to believe and obey.

         Our purpose is to teach the Bible, the word of God. I want to impress upon your mind my willingness to teach any portion of the Bible in which you might have a personal interest. As a people, we in the churches of Christ firmly believe the Bible. We believe it because we believe it to be the word of God.

         One reason why I am determined to teach to you the Bible alone is because Jesus affirmed in John 8:32 "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Also in John 17:17 we are told that Jesus prayed to the Father and said: "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." We believe the word of God to be the truth and we believe this truth has the power to make men free. It has the power to sanctify us, that is, it has the power to "separate us" and to make us suitable for the Lord's service, "and prepared unto every good work."

         Again, about forty days following the resurrection of our Lord, just before he ascended back to the Father in heaven, he met with his eleven disciples, in a place that he had previously told them about. On this occasion, he gave them what is generally referred to as the "Great Commission." This omission is called great because it is universal in scope. It is also identified as great so as to distinguish it from a former commission where the disciples were sent out, but they were told to go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. This was limited to Israel. It was not to the entire world. You may read of this limited commission in Matthew 10.

         The universal commission is recorded in two or three places, and in Matthew's account, Matthew 28:18-20, we are told that the disciples were commissioned to "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

         Mark's account of the great commission is given in Mark 16:15-16, and here, according to Mark, the Lord said: "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." Then in Luke 24:47, Luke says, "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."

         So, from these references, along with related ones, we learn several things. First of all, Christ is the one who has issued the commission, It is world-wide in scope for it is to all nations, or as Mark said, to every creature.  And the message that was declared is the good news or gospel of Jesus Christ. This good news is that man can be saved through Christ, upon meeting his terms of forgiveness.

         Mark makes it clear that "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." He not only announces the possibility of man's salvation, but he states the terms or conditions on which this salvation is made possible, I wish to take the time to emphasize these conditions. It is my purpose on this program to bring to you the message of your salvation.

         Let us, therefore, observe that salvation is possible. We should also be aware of the fact that salvation is a free gift. We cannot merit our salvation. However, that is not to say that there are no conditions involved, for Mark affirms that Jesus said: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." Here salvation is predicated on faith and baptism and whenever salvation is predicated upon any condition, though other conditions may be implied, those specified can never be eliminated. Therefore, according to Mark's testimony, in order to be saved from our sins we must believe the gospel and be baptized. Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." In this sentence, "He...shall be saved" is the principal clause, and "that believeth and is baptized" is the subordinate clause. The purpose of the subordinate or dependent clause is to describe-it is an adjective as here used, and it described the kind of "He" the Lord promises to save is the kind that "believes and is baptized." Therefore, if one does not both believe and be baptized, the Lord does not promise to save him.

         To believe simply means to accept Christ and what he teaches in preference to any other man or group of men and what they might teach, and to be baptized simply means to have yourself immersed or buried in water.

         Now, you ought to know whether or not you know and believe the teachings of Jesus. You also know whether or not you have been baptized. Therefore, you can know whether or not you have been saved from your alien sins.

         If you believe that Jesus is the Christ, but if you have not been baptized as yet, you are yet in your sins, On the other hand, if you were baptized, but if you did not believe at the time you were baptized, you are also in your sins. For it is "He that believeth and is baptized that shall be saved." I trust you will both believe and be baptized as our Lord taught.

 

Feature Three: Sandy's Women's Corner

 

        

WHO ARE THE EPISTLES?

 

         During the summer we were privileged to have Caleb Colley, son of Glen and Cindy Colley, as a guest speaker one Sunday. Glen is the minister of the West Huntsville church of Christ in Huntsville, Alabama, and Caleb has just recently moved to Florida.

         The Sunday after Caleb preached for us, one of the boys in my 4^th and 5^th grade Bible class asked me an unusual question. He said, "Mrs. Sandy, who are the epistles?" He continued with, "That Mr. Colley that spoke to us last week talked about the epistles. Are they the wives of the apostles or can he just not say apostles?"

         It was all I could do not to laugh, but his question caused me to think about some things related to our children and the worship service.

         First, don't ever think our children don't know what goes on in worship. They are very aware of what we do and how we do it.

         At some time during the year, someone in every class asks me why we have the contribution right after the Lord's Supper if it isn't a part of the Lord's Supper.

         Second, they really do hear what the preacher says. I try to remember to tell our preacher when the children bring up in class something he has said in his sermon. The children love Brother Charlie, and they are very much aware of the things he says.

         We have outlines of his sermon every Sunday, and the children receive points in my class for filling in the outlines. This helps them listen and learn.

         Third, the children often ask me about things Brother Charlie or a visiting preacher says during the lesson. They will ask who certain people are, where they can find a certain story, or questions like, "Why did God want the Children of Israel to completely destroy nations with whom they fought?"

         The trick is not to put them off but to try to answer their questions as honestly as possible. Sometimes that isn't easy. In this case it was a great opportunity for me to talk about a part of the Bible I don't teach in my two years with these children.

         In case someone doesn't know about epistles, they are not the wives of the apostles. Neither is this a mispronunciation of the word apostles. Epistles are letters written by the apostle Paul to the churches. They also represent a great deal of teaching for our Christian lives today.

         "...How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel ofpeace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" (Romans 10:15).  

Feature Four: Our Communication

Feature Five:      Bible Question

       

Who killed Goliath?

 

         In 1^st Samuel 21:9 the text reads: "And the priest said, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it, for there is none but that here." And David said, "There is none like that; give it to me."

 

         Yet in 2^nd Samuel 21:19 the record says, "And there was again war with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, the Bethlehemite, struck down Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam."

 

        These passages were taken from the English Standard Version. Actually, the King James Version clarifies the 2^nd Samuel text by including the phrase "the brother of" Goliath. The Pulpit Commentary includes the following explanation: "The words "the brother of" are inserted by the Authorized Version in order to bring this place into verbal agreement with 1 Chronicles 20:5, where we read that "Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite." 

Humor