Tag Archives: roles

Some Thoughts on First Timothy (5)

23 Tuesday Nov 2021

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As mentioned in my previous post, what Paul wrote to Timothy, he wrote for the benefit of the congregation Timothy worked with in Ephesus (3:14-15). While the letter/epistle was written to Timothy in Ephesus, it was not to Ephesus only. The church in Ephesus was the recipient of instructions that pertains to all churches connected to the Lord Jesus.

In this contextual setting (2:8-15), the following is learned from the Holy Spirit. First, in a mixed assembly of males and females, the Christian men are to lead in prayer. Not just any male who identifies as a Christian, but one who lives a holy life, and it is reflected in the life lived. Second, in a mixed assembly, the women are to adorn themselves with modesty, that is, they are not to bring undue attention to themselves in that which they wear or in that which they do. Just as women can underdress, they can overdress also. Third, in a mixed assembly, the Christian men are to do the leading and teaching. In a mixed assembly, the women are not authorized to do either.

The Holy Spirit, through Paul, gave no qualifications to His instructions being limited to a first century setting or in a culture that has a different view of women than those in the days following the first century. Those who alter the Lord’s word on this matter will face these same words on judgment day. The males and females have roles in the family and in the body of Christ. Just as a male can’t be a mother, so a female can’t be a father. In the Lord’s church, with regard to leadership, the body of Christ would be for more harmonious and unified if each of us accepted the God-ordained roles set forth in Scripture.

Family Foundation

19 Tuesday Oct 2021

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We live in a society that looks on families as important, but not as important as individual ideals with their own priorities. If you want a family, then great, but don’t for one second think your approach to the family and its ideals is anything obligatory on me and my family. I/We set our own course.


With this, the family is marginalized into less than what it should or can be. In Isaiah, the Lord made it clear to the community of Israel the foundation of the family and society is found in Him. “It is the Lord of host whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, and He shall be your dread” (8:13, NASB).


We don’t live in a society that thinks this way. This passage is not addressing the context of a family’s foundation, but at the same time it is. How so? If one does not regard the Lord as holy in any context, how shall one regard the Lord as holy in the context of the family?

To regard the Lord as holy is to hear and obey His will. this starts with the husband / father, then the direction of the family follows his lead. If he does not lead in this, where does the family go?

Godless Agenda

06 Thursday Aug 2020

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In an evolutionary world, in the secular world in which we live – what roles do the males and females have? In such a world as this, the one who is stronger determines what roles each play. It can be no other way!

Survival of the fittest (or strongest).

Nature? What about nature? Nature allows certain things, but authorizes not a single thing. Nature is not authoritative in an evolutionary and secular world, except to say things left to themselves rundown, get old and rusty, decay. It’s neutral and has no stake in the game because, from the godless perspective, it cares not one single bit.

The strong eat (metaphorically or literal) all who get in the way.

There is no good reason for the female to be treated kindly, gently and with respect. What about children or the infirmed? If you say there is, what is that reason? Once you identify the reason or reasons, from what source of authority do they come? “It perpetuates life” you say. So? Does that or should that matter to a person in an evolutionary and secular world when might makes right?

Not even a little bit.

In an evolutionary and secular world might makes right; the only role that is king is the one who rules.

This is the world in which you live. It permeates Europe and the western world. It is beginning to get a hold in the United States. One political party is promoting it with their godless agenda.

WOMEN IN FIRST CORINTHIANS

19 Friday Sep 2014

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In chapter 11 of this book, Paul speaks to that which a great many women today take strong exception to, and that is the headship of man over a woman (particularly in the relationship of husband/wife). In part, Paul said: But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God (11:3, ESV). The word “head” is a key word in this verse; the man/husband has a head (Christ), the woman/wife has a head (man/husband), and Christ has a head (the Father).

How is the word “head” to be understood?

Albert Barnes said it plainly enough when he wrote:

The word ‘head,’ in the Scriptures, is designed often to denote ‘master, ruler, chief.’ The word ראשׁ  ro’sh is often thus used in the Old Testament; see Num. 17:3; 25:15; Deut. 28:13, 44; Jdg. 10:18; 11:8, 11; 1Sam. 15:17; 2Sam. 22:44. In the New Testament the word is used in the sense of Lord, ruler, chief… (E-Sword).

The significance of this this is apparent to each reader. So significant it is that many refuse to hear and submit to the Lord regarding it. Thus, those who have so chosen to operate have refused their ultimate “head” (Christ). Do they think they will escape His judgment regarding this? Evidently. But in this they are mistaken!

Some women respond to the Lord’s will by concluding (falsely) that the female is relegated to a second-class person. The words of the apostle Peter fit right here concerning those who twist the Scripture in actual words of implied teachings (cf. 2 Peter 3:16). There is no truth in this at all – from the Lord’s perspective (which is a holy perspective). The problem is, and has always been, man’s interpretation and application of God’s word. This approach of man is in accordance with a hermeneutical standard of self, something God does not recognize.

Just like the female who refuses to interpret what she clearly sees is the sense of the passage, there are males who abuse the authority given them by the Lord. Both will stand before the Lord on judgment day (2 Corinthians 5:10).

In the context of the passage – for that is always what we need to keep in mind – in the context of the passage, Paul was addressing an issue the Corinthians asked him about (head covering). In this context Paul addresses roles that each have in the Lord’s plan concerning the family. The male is given a heavier responsibility in regards to the family, and that pertains to his leadership in things holy. To minimize the role of the female in that same family, however, is a tragic mistake.

Speaking for myself in regards to my family, I have a tremendous responsibility placed upon me by the Lord in the leadership of my family. If I fail to exercise my responsibility in accordance to the Lord’s will, then I will have to account to the Lord for that. More than that, however, it is very much the case that I am instrumental in setting the direction my children go in life, and if I don’t take serious my responsibility, then the direction I send them won’t be heaven! A grave responsibility is given to the man in this role of leadership.

Marriages Fail Because….

14 Sunday Feb 2010

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Women, Divorce, and a U.K. Article
In an online article, I read of a local religious establishment that is under fire, especially the preacher, for a sermon that stated women are to submit to their husbands (dailymail.co.uk/…/Curate-outrages-cong). The headline was enticing, thus I read the piece. What I learned was that curate (preacher?) Mark Oden said that marriages are not working, and the reason they are not working is because wives do not submit to their husbands. “The apparent lack of obedience of ‘modern women’ was blamed for the high divorce rater.” Without knowing the context of the sermon and having only the online article, it is best to reserve judgment on what was actually meant in the particular context. However, it is worth noting the way some responded to these words. One woman asked how words like these could be spoken in the 21st century; she was disgusted by the sermon. Another woman asked what kind of medieval sermon was that!

Why is it that marriages fail? The male and the female have respective roles they “play” in the marriage relationship. The male cannot play the part of the female and vice versa. The husband can do the dishes just like the wife can take out the garbage. This does not address the kind of “domestic” work done within the home, but it is to say that each role is important and should honor God’s ideal. Marriages fail because of a couple of things (at least): first, there is a failure to have respect for the other and, second, there is a failure because one (perhaps both) refuse to apply the Lord’s will to life. Whatever a sermon might have or lack in substance, the failings in marriage can generally be nailed down to these.