On Women’s Issues
Dear Bro. Don,
We have found the subject material to be very informative and thought provoking. There is no doubt that cases of serious abuse of women in relation to their lives and their conditions exist among various sects of the world, and sadly in our own community as well.
However, we have found the substance of article #3 (submission) to be somewhat lacking. While the heading of page 113 (Tidings 3/04) refers to “The Principle of Submission,” the core issue and key passages (I Cor.11: 3; 14: 34,35; I Tim. 2: 11-15) relating to submission are omitted. The article commences by referring to a “balanced viewpoint,” while in fact the content is not balanced at all, in our view.
A balanced view, we believe, begins with the statement of the Apostle Paul, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” This clearly includes women as well as men. The article refers to a list of only faithful women found in scripture, and faithful they are, but the scriptures abound in examples of women who have similar weaknesses as men do in emulating divine ideals. For example, Miriam tried to exalt herself and became leprous; faithless Rachel said “give me children or else I die;” Jezebel manipulated and stirred up (controlled) her husband “to work wickedness;” Ahaziah was counselled “to do wickedly” by his mother, Athaliah; Job’s wife said “curse God and die;” it was Jesus who said, quot
ing a negative example, “Remember Lot’s wife,” and it was Sapphira who was a companion to deception. And of course, let us not forget Eve. The Apostle Paul said ” For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression” (I Tim. 2: 13, 14).
Clearly, human nature has not changed and women’s issues are akin to men’s issues, and that is dealing with a nature inclined to transgression. The challenge to both men and women alike is to work within the framework that God has arranged and not man, identified in I Corinthians 11:3. Their roles are clearly different, although in some areas their work overlaps. God and Jesus have a common mission as explained in John 17, but Jesus sits at the “right hand” of the Father, indicating a subordinate position. To elevate Jesus beyond this is to endorse aspects of the trinity. Again, Jesus and men share similar purposes, i.e., preaching the gospel, but there are areas of Jesus’ work where men have no authority to tread. The papacy has demonstrated that it is guilty of usurping here, and will suffer divine judgements.
In like fashion, the roles of men and women overlap at times, but occurrences should not be in a leadership role within the ecclesia, nor on the ecclesial platforms. It is here that modern Christendom has largely gone astray again, in recent times, and has exposed itself to open condemnation at the Lord’s return. Unfortunately, the subject article would encourage women along a similar direction. The urge to usurp positions and to control others is a weakness that both men and women are subject to. If the three scriptures that we have listed in paragraph one can be somehow explained away to mean something else or to be inapplicable to our day, then sisters need to start preparing to deliver exhortations, because there are no other passages to prohibit them, that we are aware of.
The fact remains, the subordinate roles that God has ordained have nothing to do with greater or less abilities, or intellects, or inferiority between men and women, but they have everything to do with His creative work with mankind, how sin entered the world, and His divine planning in general.
Let us then as men and women, as brethren and sisters of Jesus Christ, together, devoid ourselves from all forms of abuse, lest, like Miriam, we find ourselves “outside the camp.” Bruce & Barbara Abel, Grand Valley, Ontario
Thanks for your comments. Your point is well taken: an opening paragraph based on the three passages you have cited would have been suitable. While the article clearly assumes the reader’s familiarity with those verses, it always good to explicitly set things out rather than assume a common base of knowledge. We do note, however, that I Corinthians 11:4-5, and 14: 30- 31, are effectively referenced off setting an extreme interpretation of either of these passages.
In fairness to the author, Sis. Linda Wilkinson, she has presented a series of questions to consider rather than to press for any particular duties for sisters. And she notes that the references to sisters as teachers, etc. are only “occasional.” We did not sense the article was in any way pushing for sisters to seek ecclesial authority but was reminding us of the valuable roles sisters have played throughout the history of the people of God.
A Plea to All Internet Users
Dear Bro. Don,
As children of God in the midst of wolves, we must be as “wise as serpents and as harmless as doves.” Care should be taken not to reverse the example; the wisdom of a dove is nothing to be desired. This point might seem obvious but I fear that it is not always listened to.
I want to address an issue quite directly; not enough is said on the subject. There is a window to all the evils of the world resting quite comfortably on the desks in most of our homes. If that window is opened, we could be “like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life” (Proverbs 7:22, NIV, warning against the adulteress).
The interne is often praised as a new preaching tool, a great way to expand Bible study, and that it eases communication between members of our community around the world. This may be true; but if we are not as wise as serpents, we may fail to see that we are allowing ourselves, or others in our homes, access to the unequalled collection of all the sinful pleasures the world has to offer, quite literally.
I must bluntly speak about pornography specifically. We cannot be ignorant of its danger to everyone, young or old, male or female, brother or sister. “Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng. Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death” (Prov. 7:26,27). To say that it is not in your home is to be as wise as a dove. Remember the computer that you check your email with everyday? Through any internet search engine, within 30 seconds (don’t try this for yourself), you could be exposing yourself or a family member to a literal adulteress of unparalleled seductiveness.
We could be walking the streets of the World Wide Web all alone and hear the pleasant call of the adulteress at any time and with persuasive words she leads us astray; she seduces us with her smooth talk. All at once we follow her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose (Proverbs 7:21,22 paraphrased from NIV).
To say that “I would never do that!” is either a strong confidence in our ability to abstain from the lusts of the eye or an invitation for your flesh to put your piety to the test. The fact of the matter is, we are not to be in the world without tools of defense. To be as wise as serpents is to understand how our minds work. We can be our own worst enemies, so the only way to protect us from ourselves and the world is to board up the window of opportunity. We must burn our bridges.
Surely, the best option by far is to unplug from the internet. As ironic as it might seem, almost all of us, myself included, shudder at the thought of such a radical yet completely effective solution. As a result of this, if we choose to stay connected to the information of the world, we must equip ourselves with a software tool that prevents us from the possibility
of being exposed. It is my strong recommendation that all interne users subscribe to an annual internet filtering service. Although, with my experience, not just any service works properly. The only completely effective product is the “American Family Filter” found at www.afafilter.com . This service is not only geared toward children but adults as well. For adults, the filter can be set up without the ability to bypass the protection. It is the only way there can be peace of mind and safety from such dangers within our own homes; it simply must be done.
No one is immune from temptations, the key is to not give temptations an opportunity. “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren” (James 1:14-16 KJV). “Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman: That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words” (Proverbs 7:4,5 KJV).
M.D.
Support for NASU
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The Ann Arbor, Michigan, ecclesia would like to make known its unanimous support for the North American Statement of Understanding (NASU). We would also like to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to the brethren who have worked so diligently on the NASU committee. We pray that their efforts will soon come to a conclusion with the acceptance and implementation of the agreement.
Finally, we encourage our brothers and sisters in North America to consider the NASU and voice their support so that the brotherhood can move forward on a united front and put to rest what has divided us for so long.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One