Dave

Mark! You said

“Both 1 Cor 14 and 1 Tim 2 ARE in the context of a formal type church gathering. Dave i said earlier how i see this in 1 Cor so please look there. Chapter 2 of Tim is a focus on public worship. Chapter 3 then goes on to give the qualifications for the church leaders. It is all about the ‘formal’ church. Perhaps try and read the text!”

To just clarify, I have just attempted to read through all your comments and yes, you certainly do tell us how you see these texts, but you have never shown or indicated what in the passage causes you to draw the conclusions you draw. I have read the texts (thanks for your encouragement for me to read my Bible 😉 ) but I do not reach the same conclusions you do.

Now I have suggested at least twice that the burden of proof is on you to show that scripture differentiates between different types of church settings. The burden is not on me to prove what is not there…just ask Athiests!

What I can try and explain though is the Biblical concept that church is NOT dictated by what we do or by where we meet, but rather who it is that meets and for what purpose. Now, as you said, Jesus’ Spirit is with us all the time. That is correct. His Spirit is with you when you are alone, and when you are with others. The question is, when is Jesus with you in Spirit AND Body i.e. fully with you? Answer – when you are with at least one other Christian in Jesus’ name! It is then that Jesus is with you. Otherwise, what was the point of what Jesus said about when two or three gather together in his name? The church is his body.

Mark, you have suggested that I have ignored the context of passages. I am always open to learning the truth, so please tell me what context I have ignored, I would like to know. Something I am confused by is how strongly you have spoken about people like me ignoring context and not reading the passage, and yet you have failed to bring forth one specific statement or an explanation of a context that allows you to let a woman teach a man everywhere but in a ‘formal’ church. To put it simply, I think you are trying to make a distinction that is not there!