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Dear friends,
We are living in a time when male leadership and female subjection is not adhered to, even in the churches. Due to a lack of godly discipline, some homes are desolated even before the children grow up. It is difficult for people to survive without being duped or afflicted by treacherous, avaricious, wanton, materialistic, overrunning, mixed worldly cultures. The included sermon "Decency and Order" will help reveal God's plan how we Christians are to associate among ourselves and how we are to live in this world with respect to God's creative, functional and judicial attributes unto mankind.
(This is not a personal letter.)
DECENCY AND ORDER
Though I find the "charismatic faith" more acceptable than the some-gifts doctrine, there seems to be a dilemma concerning church order. God is a God of order; he is not the author of confusion (I Cor. 14:33).
The Lord set the earth, sun, and stars in their place--astronomical order. He placed the church to announce the manifold wisdom of God unto the civil authorities--prophetic order (Eph. 3:10). He placed men under civil authority--civil order. He placed the man to be the head of the wife--marital order. He placed the master above the servant--economico-social order. In all God's creation there is an order, and a divine plan for mankind to follow without disorder and confusion.
The inspired written word of God, the Holy Bible, is the authoritative source of becoming order within the church; in this instance particularly, the assembly. It seems to me that since the church is a collective witness for Jesus, that it should have beauty of concordant pattern sparkling as a diamond. To the contrary, as I have surveyed the churches through my pilgrimage, I have found them in a sad, and wanting condition so many times. I hope that I do not sound as a harsh critic--because I love my brethren, and I desire the best for our spiritual family.
Unfortunately, it is among the some-gifts people as though one might glorify God for his creative power, and yet not attribute him fully for healing power in sickness. God is the same today as yesterday, and tomorrow: He is the Almighty One in any particular instant of time.
God has good will toward man, desiring his creature to be in good health. How one shall consider God's emotional will has an effect on how one shall consider his predeterminate will. His emotional will is the desire he has for all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth (I Tim. 2:4). God desires all good things for man: health, peace, wealth, prosperity, goodness, and eternal salvation. The elder expresses his desire for the beloved, "I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth" (III Jn., v. 2 [INT]). If we believe God wishes mankind well--which he does--then we may pray in faith without wavering; whether we act in faith upon God's word or not, determines our destiny!
I believe God may heal the sick today miraculously in various manners: by the laying on of hands of believers (Mk. 16:18), the anointing of oil (James 5:14), and individual prayer. However, though I believe in miraculous healing, I do not say that God will heal every person in every situation, for even one among the apostles suffered illness implicitly for a period of time (II Tim. 4:20). Even though God does not heal miraculously in every situation, there should still be seeking of the Lord until he gives an answer. Divine healing should be encouraged and sought after unless God clearly denies the request as he said to the Apostle Paul, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness" (II Cor. 12:9 [KJV]). Hence, when God confirms to anyone that His grace is sufficient for him, and that His power is being perfected in his weakness, the matter is settled. I do not believe we can comprehend fully how great God's grace is; however, we may be certain that it is far greater than what we may imagine is good for us. Excellent physical health, wealth, education, and many good things may be enjoyed in life; but in a paradoxical manner, even when a Christian suffers the lack or loss of one or all these things, one may be used to demonstrate God's power being perfected in weakness. Whether health, or sickness, it is whether that we have been converted and saved eternally by God's grace that is most important, and his power rest upon us when we lack in this life.
Those who neglect God's emotional will for good unto mankind, and do not seek his blessing and gift of healing, and disallow those who would seek healing for the sick by the miraculous manners spoken of in the Scriptures err because healing is one of the ministries of the church (I Cor. 12:5).
Chapter 13 of I Corinthians depicts a time period from the dispensation of the gifts among the early church unto the transformation from the "body of our humiliation" unto the "body of his glory" (Phil. 3:21). Knowledge shall vanish away (I Cor. 13:8). There is a contrast between "partial" knowledge, which exists now; and with "full" knowledge, whereas one shall know even as he has been known (I Cor. 13:12). In order for the greater to become existent, the lesser must be annulled--that will happen when "that which is perfect" comes (I Cor. 13:10).
If the dispensation of the gifts, even though they be from "part" (I Cor. 13:9), existed from the early church era and will continue to exist until that which is perfect is come (an everlasting era in the future), how is it then, that people can say they believe in God and his power , and not believe that he is able to heal the sick through faith, and the gifts of his ministers when healing is mentioned as one of the gifts (I Cor. 12:28), and when they can see that the longevity of the dispensation of the gifts includes our contemporary era? When they speak of God's creative power, they seem to be so thrilled with wonder, and then when the applying of faith to God's healing power in sickness is mentioned, where is their zeal? If God can do miraculous and marvelous creative works, he also is able to do miraculous healing works. If God has the power to create this universe, which he did according to the written word, it is also logical that he can heal disease of any sort because he is almighty, and nothing is impossible with God.
Now, on the other hand, though I find faith in God's healing power in the charismatic churches, many times I've found disorder in the services. Women teach groups of men, women and children, which is contrary to the Scripture: "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence" (I Tim. 2:12). It is fine for a woman to teach other women or children, but in the assembly women need to realize that they are expected to be taught; hence, women should be willing to be subject to male authority and teaching, and they should be willing to listen quietly (I Tim. 2:11). If women have any questions concerning what is being taught, they should ask their husbands afterward at home (I Cor. 14:34, 35); see Eph. 5:22; Col. 3:18.
Retrospectively, in the churches where I have found a general regard for male leadership, which is God's will and commendable, I have generally found a deficiency as to a mature conception of the dimension of spiritual gifts: this should not be so. Yet, even so, that some of the more orderly--as to male teacher--churches are wanting in this spiritual area, allowing or condoning the usurping of authority of women as a replacement (because many women are bold or because of the lack of boldness of the men) will not fill the unwholesome gap. Men of God should recognize God's plan of assembly order, commending themselves, not suffering women to teach (I Tim. 2:11; I Cor. 14:34).
There are many Christian women who disagree with this spiritual precept. How they choose to think is up to them. But what they may have to say, and how they may go about saying it is up to the elders of the church. Let the elders be minded that they have a leadership role, and a Scriptural outline to follow (I Cor., ch. 14). God's spiritual, and prophetic men are responsible for the order, and conduct of the assembly (I Cor. 14:37). The apostolic rules of order are commands of God for the spiritually learned who willingly desire to obey God in a becoming manner.
But, if any person is not satisfied with the precept, such a one is not compelled to concede. The primary importance is that all believers gather together regardless of their differences of opinion in reference to church order according to becomingness (I Cor. 14:38).
Personally, even if a woman is rude and overbearing in a rebellious, and insulting manner as by ignoring the God-given, dignity and authority of a man, to such an extent that she may openly mock me, I still do not hinder her from attending service because I know it is God's will for men and women to gather together in his name and to be fed and nourished by the presence of the Lord, and his word, and the other members of the body. However, I also know that there are other gatherings I can attend if things get too disgraceful.
However, let me make the point that Paul says, "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord". For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing" (Eph. 5:22-24). Also, "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord" (Col. 3:18).
In order for a person to serve the Lord piously, he must reverence Him. So it is in a becoming marital relationship--the wife reverences her husband (Eph. 5:33). As God would have us to worship himself with reverence and awe (Heb. 12:28), in a like holy manner let the wife reverence her husband as her ordained head of the household; and with shamefacedness (I Tim. 2:9). Also, note I Pet. 3:1-7.
Now, it is a grievous matter when the whole assembly is so far out of control that responsible elders do not have command, and therefore, confusion, and disorder continually go on.
The early church had its problems concerning the developing, and implementing of the gifts. Throughout history, since that time, religious dogma has offered its unworthy substitute for the place, and standing of the Scriptures. Church order has been a problem for centuries, but no cultural ideas have ever successfully stamped out completely the simple, but spiritual Scriptures. God's written word has survived the ages. Denominational religion has offered its suggestions, ethics, and reputation, but the word of God piously discerns and exposes religious error. Church order is a latent expression awaiting to be sought, and applied by the elders, and body, through means of God's harmonious, holy, and inspiring word.
As for those advocates of dogmatic religion, no matter how beloved, knowledgeable or gracious they may be, I say their excuses are error and a waste of time. Their misinterpretation of the Scriptures is a hindrance to the purpose of the church. For instance, some of the erring teachers who do not concede to male leadership and the silence of women in the assembly misconstrue "there is neither male nor female" (Gal. 3:28) to support their thesis. Furthermore, they speak incorrectly to the effect that "they are commanded to be under obedience, as also says the law" (I Cor. 14:34) does not have to do with this time or culture.
For reference: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:28). And "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" (I Cor. 14:34).
The verse Gal. 3:28 declares the unity and equality which is in the liberty of faith in Jesus regardless of sexuality. Unity and equality result in deliverance from the bondage of the law, which was of a former covenant; however, the verse does not say that the God-given attributes which distinguish the sexes are abolished.
Both sexes are the workmanship of a divine Creator: "So God created man in his own image; in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them" (Gn. 1:27 [NEB]). A creative attribute is intrinsic in the image of the creature, which reflects the likeness of God.
God said in the beginning, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him" (Gn. 2:18 [NIV]). The New Testament states, "Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man" (I Cor. 11:9). A functional attribute of companionship as a helpmate for the man is inherent in the creation of the woman. A pastoral book, at I Tim. 2:13, reflects some of the details of God's creative order mentioned in the Old Testament.
God announced judgement and punishment upon the serpent, the woman, the ground, and the man (Gn. 3:14-19). The woman lost the degree of self-rule which she once possessed (although she formerly had a creative attribute to be a help meet and companion according to God's purpose); however, subsequent to the sin and fall of Eve and Adam, the woman also obtained a judicial attribute (I Tim. 2:14). God announced to her, "I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee" (Gn. 3:16).
The Hebrew word! "yim-shal" means that the man shall have "dominion" or "power" over the woman--"rule over." The same word (in a different form) is used in Gn. 1:18 meaning "to rule over" the day and the night concerning the luminary prominence of the sun and the moon. The same word (in a participle form) is used in the prophetic utterance Micah 5:2, meaning "ruler" concerning the future authority of the Lord Jesus Christ over Israel --take note of Mt. 2:5.
Afterward, Eve was no longer sinless; the sorrow, loss and chastisement that sin brings materialized: Her freedom had diminished. The liberal status of our progenitors in relationship to God had been corrupted due to the fall, and their relationship (as to the aspect of authority between themselves) became affected. Also man still tills the ground today to survive--the earth still brings forth thorns and thistles; take note of the consequence of the fall (Gn. 3:18).
The curse still remains today; it will not include, but remain until: "the redemption of our body" (Rom. 8:18-23); "there shall be no more curse" (Rev. 22:3); "when that which is perfect is come" (I Cor. 13:10); "we shall also bear the image of the heavenly" (I Cor. 15:49); "this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality ... Death is swallowed up in victory" (I Cor. 15:54); we "are as the angels of God in heaven" (Mt. 22:30).
Becoming converted, and saved through faith in Jesus does not take away all the evil, toil, affliction, and death that sin brought forth, nor does it disannul God's judgement upon the serpent, woman, man, and the earth, even though we are "the sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:26), and even though we are "the Israel of God" (Gal. 6:16). Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden of Eden: the whole creation has never been the same since (Rom. 8:22).
On the other hand, it is good for us to know: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death" (Rom. 8:1, 2).
For now we should recognize: "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God" (Rom. 8:16). The gifts are a manifestation of the Spirit: "the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal" (I Cor. 12:7). The gifts are made known and real to us that they are of God, and God gives us the ability to acknowledge them, and the giver of the gifts--Himself--God's power is recognized by his children through the manifestation.
Also, we should realize that later we will be changed for the better: "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God" (Rom. 8:19). The "manifestation" of the sons of God is when God will reveal to his children their glory in the day there will be no more curse, no more corruption, no more sin: when God will have given them a new body and their eternal reward in heaven.
However, the day of the "redemption of our body" (Rom. 8:23) has not manifested itself yet; it has not been realized by us yet because it will not come until a time in the future. Nevertheless, until that glorious time, sexuality, and its inherent, creative and judicial attributes continue to exist.
Also, in further reference to "there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:28)--if the Apostle Paul had not believed that women have different attributes than men according to sound doctrine, then he would not have exhorted Titus, who was accompanying him at Jerusalem (Gal. 2:1): "that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed" (Tit. 2:4, 5). Also note Pr. 31:10-31. The career of homemaking is a God-given attribute of Christian women.
Likewise, in reference to the same verse, but not in contradiction to, if Paul had not believed in authority and submission in master-servant relationships: "there is neither bond nor free" (Gal. 3:28), then he would not have mentioned, "Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things" (Tit. 2:9, 10).
Now, on the other hand, the prophetic ministry is given to the church--males and females (I Cor. 12:10). Any person, no matter what his or her sex, age, employment, social status, or nationality belongs to God if he or she has his spirit (Rom. 8:9; Gal. 3:28). Due to the fulfillment of the following prophecy, many have an inheritance among those that are sanctified.
"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit." (Joel 2:28, 29).
Not all have the same gifts (I Cor. 12:27-31). The body consists of many individuals with various gifts: there is a spiritual manner in the way the gifts are developed and applied concerning the reverence of authority: "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" (I Cor. 11:3).
Furthermore, worship service goes beyond the recognition of administrative rule. Appearance and conduct are important, "Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head" (I Cor. 11:4). A man should not pray or prophesy with long hair, or wearing a hat, or any type of covering on his head. That does not mean that he must be bald.
But if a woman prays or prophesies with her head uncovered, that is, if she does not have long hair, or a veil of some type, or a scarf, hat, or covering, then she dishonours her head: for that is as disrespectful as if she were shaven (I Cor. 11:5, 6, 15). "For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man" (I Cor. 11:7).
If the woman is the glory of the man, what has happened to the church and our society today? How many churches do you see where the women have long hair, or a covering? How many wives do you see who reverence their husband? Extravagance does not avail unto righteousness; women should dress in "modest apparel" (I Tim. 2:9). Disregarding chastity of dress and showing too much of their body, many women excite men. Just take a look at the way women cut their hair short as a man's today. It is difficult to distinguish the difference between a man and a woman because of the way some men and women dress and wear their hair. It is an awful sight the way some people make themselves appear when they should be glorifying God in all things.
The way a woman of devotion serves God shows honor and respect of the angels, "For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels" (I Cor. 11:10). The word "power" in Greek is "ex-ou-see'-a", which means "authority." The woman should have respect of authority according to the creative attributes: the woman was created for the man (I Cor. 11:9); and the woman is the glory of the man (I Cor. 11:7). In this respect, she ought to be covered preferably with long hair (I Cor. 11:5), or a covering of some other mode (I Cor. 11:6). The woman should have reverence for her husband, men in general, God and angels when she is praying or prophesying.
"Let all things be done decently and in order" (I Cor. 14:40). An important thing to remember is that the Apostle Paul did not intend for those who considered themselves to be prophets, or spiritual to disannul his writing having to do with order and becomingness for the contention of any person, but rather to excuse such a one, and not bind such a one to concede (I Cor. 11:16). However, if any person who chooses to ignore these beautiful things, how can such a one claim to have the authority of a prophet, or spiritual person without conceding to: "If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord" (I Cor. 14:37)?
May peace, mercy and love be multiplied,
Br. Ken
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