In regard to those who should lead prayers, Paul orders, “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting “ (1 Timothy 2:8). The Greek word for men in this verse is aner, denoting males, not mankind in general (anthropos), a fact that is evident from the context; hence, Paul by way of contrast addresses females in the following verse, “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel…” (1 Timothy 2:9).
While gender makes no difference in receiving the gift of salvation (Galatians 3:28), there are differences in the roles of men and women in the church. Paul, by apostolic authority, goes on to make these roles clear in this passage, saying, “But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence”(1 Timothy 2:12).

The roles of men and women in the church with respect to authority are not based on culture but on creation, and thus do not vary with time and locale, “For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression” (1 Timothy 2:13-14). To say that we should disregard these divine injunctions today because of a change in culture is against the basis given in this passage and is thus a violation of God’s will. These were written that we should know how to behave in the church of God (1 Timothy 3:15); thus, the prohibition of 1 Timothy 2:12 that women are not to unlawfully take and exercising authority over men applies to all church practices in and out of the assembly. While we ought to do whatever we can to make the gospel more palatable to the culture we are trying to convert, we cannot disregard the law of God to do so (1 Corinthians 9:21-22).

 
In regard to women’s roles in the assembly, Paul enjoins, “ 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” 1 Corinthians 14:34. This is not merely a preference of Paul based on the culture of the time, for he appeals also to the law as a basis for this silence. If the rule that the miraculously endowed tongue speaker was to remain silent in the assembly if no interpreter was present (1 Corinthians 14:28) meant that he could participate in the worship in singing, etc. but ought not get up himself and lead the assembly in speaking something, then the silence women are commanded to observe must mean the same thing. While women do participate in the worship assembly, the law of God is they do not speak in such a way where their lone voice is heard leading the assembly.

-Mark Day

By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Hebrews 11:24-27

Moses made a choice that made all the difference. This decision drastically changed his circumstances here on earth and in eternity. The decision was whether to live for the “here and now” or for the “there and then.”

Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Thus, he would not identify himself with the Egyptians and their practice of oppressing the Hebrew people. Moses refused to continue to serve in a court that mistreated God’s people.

In refusing this identification Moses lost his high position in Pharaoh’s palace. He, thus, missed out on a life of opulence and ease. He missed out on the opportunities to fulfill every fleshly desire that palace life would have afforded him because he knew fleshly desires are fleeting.

Because of his decision Moses suffered. He shared the trials of the Hebrew people with whom he chose to identify himself. There were dangers involved in this identification that meant he had to flee for his life and spend forty years in exile in the land of Midian.

But what Moses gained was worth it all. He had the favor of God. Through Moses God gave liberty to the Hebrew people; thus, Moses fulfilled his highest potential in being useful for God’s plan. Because of his decision, Moses received the riches of heaven (Matthew 17:3), greater than anything earth can offer.
How did Moses see his way clear to make this all-important decision? How could he suffer in this life and yet be triumphant? He did it by faith. He saw Him who is invisible. By faith he respected God’s reward for a faithful life and received it (Hebrews 11:6).

What decision will you make? Will you live for the here and now? Or looking to the invisible God, will you live by faith?

-Mark Day

Perhaps you’ve heard the old idiom for describing someone dependent on their mother, “they’re tied to mother’s apron strings.” Dependence on mothers is good and beneficial in childhood. The law of a godly mother learned in the formative years of life will be a good resource and rule to live by throughout life (Proverbs 6:20-23). Who better to set an example before children than a godly parent who lives the virtues of Christianity day by day? Parents who know how they should act as children of God in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation are the best education for children (Philippians 2:15). God’s intention for the family is that deep, abiding impressions can be made by godly parents in the formative years of life (Ephesians 6:4; 1 Timothy 5:14; Titus 2:4).

But the time must come when mother’s apron strings must be untied. As a child grows into an adult and possesses the maturity and independence to stand on their own, then dependence on their parents diminishes. Time and again the Bible speaks of marriage as a time when one will “leave father and mother” (Genesis 2:24; Ruth 2:11; Matthew 19:5; Mark 10:7; Ephesians 5:31). This leaving does not mean that the child never considers the advice of their parents, for the command to honor parents still applies to adults who have old parents (Proverbs 23:22). Just as death is the natural end of a successful life and often brings sadness, so also the success of parenthood culminates in the sad day of allowing the little birds to leave the nest and find their own place in the world.

Consider Mary who was told by Simeon regarding her son, Jesus, “Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also” (Luke 2:35). Many times from that point on she had felt piercing pain of the sword when her son left her to fulfill His own responsibilities to the Heavenly Father. She lost Him at the Passover when He was twelve years old, only to find Him three days later discussing God’s word with the doctors of the law. Her son’s answer was, “I must by about my Father’s business” (Luke 2:49). When Mary wanted her son to help at the marriage in Cana, He told her, “Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come” (John 2:4). Though the word translated “woman” was a respectful title, it was not “mother.” When she desired to take Jesus away from speaking to the people in Matthew 12, her son’s reply was, “Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?” and stretching forth His hand toward his disciples, He said, “Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Matthew 12:47-50). And finally, when she beheld her son nailed to a cross, suspended between heaven and earth to save all mankind, He provided for her wellbeing through the disciple John, saying, “Woman, behold thy son!” Then He said to John, “Behold thy mother!” and John took Mary to his own home to care for her (John 19:26-28).

Thank God for godly mothers, who give such wonderful blessings to their children’s lives only to see them leave home and go their own way. Truly a godly mother’s love is the epitome of self-sacrifice and tender care worthy of our praise.

–Mark Day

The Scriptures themselves provide us with a marvelous understanding of how they are to be viewed. Consider the following.

• All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is sufficient for all religious and spiritual instruction. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 2:12-13; Galatians 1:11-12; Ephesians 3:1-5).
• Scripture was given “for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work,” and it is not to be added to, subtracted from, substituted for, revised, modified, amended, or supplemented by bishops, councils, popes, human creeds, church manuals, and/or catechisms. (Matthew 24:35; 1 Peter 1:24-25; 1 Corinthians 4:6; Galatians 1:6-9; 2 John 9).
• Scripture must be handled aright (rightly divided), recognizing the difference between the covenant God made with Israel through Moses (the Old Testament) and the covenant He has made with all humanity through Christ (the New Testament). (2 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 1:1-2; 9:15-17; 10:9b; et al).
• Scripture speaks to us in plain, explicit statements of various kinds (declarative, imperative, interrogative, hortative, etc.), by examples, and with implications from which we draw necessary inferences. With reference to inference, Paul asserts that the existence of the universe teaches us by necessary inference that there is an all-powerful, all-wise Creator (Romans 1:19-20). Jesus used inference in refuting the Sadducees’ lack of faith in the resurrection (Mark 12:24-27). If God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and if God is not the God of the dead but of the living, then it must necessarily be inferred that those Old Testament patriarchs are still alive in the spirit world, and, therefore, there will be a resurrection!
• We must honor the silence of Scripture, and not presume to speak where God has not spoken (I Corinthians 4:6 [NKJV, ASV]; 1 Peter 4:11).
• We should adhere strictly to Scripture in all matters of faith, doctrine, and practice, including what the New Testament says with reference to being saved from sin, the church, worship, and daily Christian living in all of its multiple dimensions (Matthew 7:21; Hebrews 5:8-9; 1 Corinthians 4:6; 2 John 9).
• A person of average intelligence can read and understand the Scriptures for himself/herself as surely as he/she can read any number of other documents and understand them (Ephesians 3:1-4; 2 Timothy 2:15).

The problems/differences we face today in the church and in the religious world at large are not so much a matter of not understanding what the Bible says as they are a matter of not believing what the Bible says. This is not to say that there are not some knotty passages concerning which good and able men have differed. But I fear that in too many instances some have allowed their social and professional peers and their religious and non-religious friends to intimidate them into compromised beliefs and positions where biblical teaching is concerned.

Paul expressed a fear that “as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3). The “strait” (observe the spelling) way is too restricted for some (Matthew 7:13-14). To insist on salvation only through Christ is too “limiting” for some (John 14:6; Acts 4:11-12). To insist on immersion for the remission of sins is too “narrow” for some (Romans 6:4; Acts 2:38). To worship without the instrument is too “odd” for some (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). To insist on male only leadership in the church is too “politically incorrect” for some (1 Corinthians 14:34; 1 Timothy 2:11-12).

Some seemingly have come to the point where they are ashamed of the simple truths of the Bible. I am reminded of the words of an old preacher who said, “I would be ashamed to be afraid and afraid to be ashamed of my Lord and His words.” Jesus had some sobering words for all who fall into that category (Mark 8:38).

By: Hugh Fulford, From Hugh’s News & Views, via Facebook- submitted by Jerry Sturgill