Cheryl Schatz

John,

Welcome!  Thanks for your comments.

You asked:

I am just absolutely stunned! I dont know how you can attribute that passage to “Judaizers”!

The Judaizers were a problem in many of the Gentile churches and Paul said in Galatians 2:4 that it was these “false brethren” who had sneaked into the congregation in order to spy out their liberty in Christ in order to bring them into bondage.

When we look at 1 Cor. 14:34, 35 we should be able to clearly see these false brethren because of the “law” that is quoted.  There is no such “law” in the scriptures that silences women in the congregation but there is a law in the oral law of the Pharisees.  This oral law, now written in the Talmud, silenced women in the assemblies and stopped them from learning in the assemblies.  If you do not see this manmade “law” quoted by Paul (Paul quotes from the letter written to him by the Corinthians – see 1 Cor. 7:1), please do show me where this “law” is in the bible?  Those who are in the Christian church such as CBMW who want to have role distinctions between Christians admit that there is no such law and can only guess at what “law” Paul is referring to.

You said:

“No where in God’s word does it say that man and women are to be considered as equal in earthly roles!”

We are not talking about earthly roles.  We are talking about spiritual equality.  It is all about our relationship with God and his working through us for the benefit of the body of Christ.

You said:

Yes men and women are equal in salvation, and as Children of God.

However I would seriously check yourself and your motivations in trying to read too much earthly equality into God’s Word!

I would recommend that you reread my article again.  The equality I have been talking about is our inheritance in Christ and thus our spiritual equality.

You said:

Otherwise you make the same error that homosexuals make in trying to extend passages far beyond their plain readings to try and say that homosexuality is not a sin.

Thanks for the concern.  This isn’t something that we are doing at all.  We must read the passages in their context, which is something that I had done in my article.  I have taken Gal. 3:28 in its complete context which includes our inheritance as “sons” of God.  Galatians 3 read in context will include Galatians 4.

As far as homosexuality, the scriptures are clear in context, that homosexuality is a sin and that no one who practices this sin will inherit the kingdom of God.  Can you show me one scripture that states that women who teach the bible to men are sinning against God and will not inherit the kingdom of God?

If you truly think that God’s Word infers earthly role equality for men and women then tell me why Paul did not demand that Philemon free the slave Onesimus to be earthly equal men?

Again, we are talking about spiritual equality.  The Christian influence did eventually bring about the freedom of the slaves, but the importance that Paul was bringing about was not the physical removal of slavery, but the spiritual removal of slavery.  Slaves were to inherit with the free men.  Slaves were spiritually equal as “sons” of God just as the free born were.  Slaves then would be free in their spiritual inheritance to use their God-given gifts for the benefit of the body of Christ.  No one should discriminate against a slave because of his earthly situation.  He was as equal to serve as any other free born “son” of God.

However it is not of God for individuals to demand leadership roles because they believe they have a right to equality.

I do not believe that any Christian can demand any “rights”.  In fact our inheritance is the ability to serve.  We are to follow our Lord Jesus into service as slaves.  We are not our own.  We are bought with a price.  And when we serve each other in submission and love, we serve the Lord Jesus who bought us.

I greatly appreciate your comments here and I hope you feel welcome and valued.  We should never fear being challenged on our exegesis or our service for Christ.  Truth is provable and can stand the test.  Thank you for your thoughtful questions.  If I can help you further to understand a side that you do not embrace, I am at your service.