women speaking in church

[robinva]

I was very dismayed the other week in our mixed adult Sunday School class when I realized that of all the comments and questions came from the ladies. ( I'm sure this has been the case before, but I didn't notice) One of the ladies' husband was teaching a Sunday School class so he was not there, but I'm not sure that was excusable. Our teacher is a man (I don't personally know of any IFB church that would have it any other way), but if we take the Bible literally (which we as IFB say we do) then is right for a women to make comments in a mixed class at all? Because I Cor 14:35 says that we are to even ask our husband at home if we have a question.

[kidlovinmommy]

The same problem is going on in the church that we had been attending. During business meetings, women would even stand up and argue with the men or rudely interupt others who were speaking. A friend of mine started her own Sunday school class just for women. She is encouraging all young women to come leaving their husbands to go to another class alone that used to be the couples class. So now the single, married, divorced women are all in one class talking about the Bible and gossiping (more gossiping that learning). My husband told me that I couldn't go even if we were still at that church. We like being in class together and coming home and discussing the lesson. When a meeting was taking place about demoting the youth pastor, the interim pastor called and asked me to come speak out against him because he knew that I had issues with the way he handled things because we had discussed this with him. I did not go at all but my husband did. I think this is prevalent in most churches. This is just more of the world coming into the church.

Denise

[theschwarz1]

yes this is a common thing in our church. The women do not teach, but they are encouraged to share thoughts in discussion time,,,,and when it happens I just feel this weird feeling inside....I need also to talk to the leadership to not ask my wife to pray in closing or opening of a discussion time. That reeally bothers me. It has only been done once before.

[Brother Ben]

The church has become very cosmopolitan, hasn't she. It isn't consistent with contemporary trends to ask people to use the Bible as the guidebook of faith. I'm telling you, Americanization of the church will be the death of her. I'm sure if Bro. Roloff was still here he'd call it just what it is...sin.

[restored]

I do not speak in church unless it's to give a testimony. We are in a S.S class with other married couples and the women read from the study book we are using and reply. I however do not volunteer to read and if I have a question I will whisper it to Allen and if he doesn't know the answer then he ask the question for me. I ask him first because he is the head of our home and me and I want his answer if he is able to give it.

Heather

[robinva]

This comes from the footnotes in my husbands's study Bible for I Cor. 14:32-35:

"Let your women keep silence in the churches: Obviously, this must be interpreted in light of 11:5 where it is clear that Paul understood that women were permitted to prophesy and to pray in public. The expression possibly has reference to what is alluded to in verse 35. They were not allowed to interrupt the service by speaking in tongue."

but contradicts itself in the notes for I Timothy 2:11 and 12

"In public worship services women are to learn in silence with all (the fullest) subjection to church leadership. The prohibition against women teaching in the church is qualified by Titus 2:4, which allows them to instruct other women (and probably children also)."



I Timothy 2
vs. 8

I will therefore that men pray everywhere lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

vs. 9

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

vs 11, 12

Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, or to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

[George]

I am certain you are aware that if you are reading the notes in a study Bible, a commentary or anything like that you are reading the words of men and not the infallible word of God. hence the seeming conflict. Only God's word is perfect. The Bible cannot and does not contradict itself as do the words of men.

I was told quite some time ago that if the notes, references and commentaries seem to contradict to look to the Scriptures. If the Scriptures have a different meaning than the thing read go with the Scripture. In fact, I have quit using quite a few reference tools because of conflicts with the Bible. I find that a thorough reading, the use of a Bible dictionary and a lot of prayer allows the Holy Spirit to guide me as to the correct meaning and application of the Scriptures.

Yours in Christ,
George Groce

[robinva]

I didn't read all the notes in I Tim 2 . The authors of this Bible's notes did then say that men were to lead in audible prayer and women were to pray silently, which does directly contradict what was said in the notes under I Cor. 14.

Bro. George,

You are exactly right about reading the Bible and letting the Holy Spirit reveal His truth unto us. My post was to bring to light how men's wisdom compares to God's wisdom.

Robin