Good afternoon Southland... Needless to say, we currently have lots of things going on and this fall things are really going to get crazy @ Southland. Mark your calendars, program your computers, set your phones to notify you about each of these events coming in the days and weeks ahead. So lets just get to it. COMING SOON 1) B.I.B.L.E. (B-basic I-instructions B-before L-leaving E-earth). I will be teaching the 9:00 class in October and November and going over the SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES. What are those Pastor? These are the spiritual habits that the Bible mentions over and over again that SHOULD be a part of EVERYONE who calls themselves a CHRISTIAN. I will do my best to define each one and explain how you can make them a VITAL part of your life. Get in that class now as Pastor Ed teaches through the book of Hebrews. 2) Words Of Wisdom From A Divorced Guy (relationship small group). Almost two years ago, I taught an 8 week class on how to have strong relationships or fix the weak one youre in now. The material is mine and its personal. It stems from my failed marriage and why it did so and what you can do to prevent the same painful experience. This small group is great for ANYONE in any kind of relationship. From 7:30-8:30 on Wednesday nights starting OCTOBER 1st, this 8 week class and brand new HOME GROUP will be gathering in the beautiful home of Jim and Sherry Houchins: 134 Alpine Lane, Crete, IL 60417 3) THIRD ANNUAL CHURCH PICNIC: From now on...this annual event will have a BIG purpose beyond just getting Southlanders together for a day of fun. We are now using the yearly picnic as a means to honor ALL of the DOOR HOLDERS (SERVANTS) in Southland. The food and fun that the Battistonis have planned is ALWAYS top shelf and brings us together as a church like no other event. And now we are going to use this gathering to CELEBRATE those of you who serve at Southland. 4) JUICY FRUIT part 4: PATIENCE. By now all of you have this one down to a science watching me SLOWLY sludge our way through this passage. The Greek word for PATIENCE is interesting because its deals with ANGER. GET READY SOUTHLAND...THIS MESSAGE IS GOING TO GET PERSONAL. 5) MEN...mark down October 24/25. I am trying to get every available Southland man, 16 and up, to join me for an Act Like Men @ Southland overnight retreat. ONE NIGHT/ONE PURPOSE. The total cost, for what I am praying is going to be ANOTHER watershed time for our men, is only $35. This price includes one night of lodging and all the food you can eat. That evening is designed SPECIFICALLY for Southland men. In the weeks ahead there will be a maned table and a sign-up sheet. It will be VERY DISAPPOINTING for me if every eligible man @ Southland isnt there. Looking forward to seeing ALL of you this week. Pastor j Treasure Hunt I wonder how I might acquire The gem I desperately desire. What rocky mountain should I try? What miners tool should I apply? The range is burdensome and vast. I fear that I must fail at last. The prize I’m seeking proves elusive. My quest continues inconclusive. When I confess futility With absolute humility, I pray one misty mountain morn And in that moment I am born. I’m rich in Jesus. He’s the vein That gives me everlasting gain, The fortune the spent miner seeks Above the highest mountain peaks. Ed Havey WOMEN PASTORS In a social climate of complete equality in all things, the biblical teaching of only allowing men to be pastors and elders is not popular. Many feminist organizations denounce this position as antiquated and chauvinistic. In addition, many Christian churches have adopted the politically correct social standard and have allowed women pastors and elders in the church. But the question remains, is this biblical? My answer to this question is, No, women are not to be pastors and elders. Many may not like that answer; but it is, I believe, an accurate representation of the biblical standard. You make the decision after reading this First of all, women are under-appreciated and under-utilized in the church. There are many gifted women who might very well do a better job at preaching and teaching than many men. However, it isnt gifting that is the issue but Gods order and calling. What does the Bible say? We cannot come to Gods Word with a social agenda and make it fit our wants. Instead, we must change and adapt to what it says. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, the garden of Eden, and Adam and Eve. He put Adam in the garden and gave him the authority to name all the animals. Afterwards, God made Eve as a helper to Adam. This is an important concept because Paul refers to the order of creation in his epistle to Timothy when he discusses the relationship between men and women in the church context. Lets take a look. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being quite deceived, fell into transgression. (1 Tim. 2:12-14). This passage has several interesting areas of discussion, but for our purpose we will focus on authority. At the very least, there is an authority structure set up by God. The woman is not to have authority over the man in the church context, but this does not extend to the political/economic world. In the Old Testament Deborah was a judge in Israel over men. Also, in the New Testament, Phoebe played an important role in the church at Cenchrea (Romans 16). There is no doubt that women supported Paul in many areas and were great helpers in the church (Acts 2:17; 18:24-26; 21:8-9). But what Paul is speaking of in 1 Tim. 2 is the relationship between men and women in the church structure--not in a social or political context. When we look further at Pauls teachings, we see that the bishop/overseer is to be the husband of one wife (1 Tim. 3:2), who manages his household well, and has a good reputation (1 Tim. 3:4-5, 7). Deacons must be men of dignity (1 Tim. 3:8). Paul then speaks of women in verse 11 and their obligation to receive instruction. Then in verse 12, Paul says Let deacons be husbands of one wife . . . Again, in Titus 1:5-7, Paul says, For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might set in order what remains, and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, namely, if any man be above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. For the overseer must be above reproach as Gods steward . . . Notice that Paul interchanges the word elder and overseer. In each case, the one who is an elder, deacon, bishop, or overseer is instructed to be male. He is the husband of one wife, responsible, able to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict (Titus 1:9). We see no command for the overseers to be women. On the contrary, women are told to be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things (1 Tim. 3:11). Why is it that it is the men who are singled out as the overseers? It is because of the created order of God that Paul references (Gen. 1-2; 1 Tim. 2:12-14). This is not merely a social custom that fell away with ancient Israel. Additionally, the Old Testament mentions priests more than 700x, and every single one was a male. There is not one instance of a female priest. This is significant because priests were ordained by God to hold a very important office of ministering the sacrifices. This was not the job of women. Therefore, from what I see in Genesis 1-2, 1 Timothy 2, and Titus 1, the normal and proper person to hold the office of elder/pastor is to be a man. What About Galatians 3:28? There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Gal. 3:28). This verse is often used to support the idea that women can hold the offices of elder and pastor because there is neither male nor female in Christ. The argument states that if we are all equal, then women can be pastors. Loved-ones...DO NOT CONFUSE OUR POSITION IN CHRIST WITH OUR POSITIONS IN THE STRUCTURE OF THE CHURCH. Unfortunately, those who use this verse this way have failed to read the context. Verse 23 talks about being under the Law before faith came and how we are brought closer to Jesus and have become sons of God by faith. We are no longer under law, but grace and we are Abrahams offspring, heirs according to the promise, (v. 29).2 The point of this passage is that we are all saved by Gods grace according to the promise of God, and that it doesnt matter who you are--Jew, Greek, slave, free, male, or female. All are saved the same way--by grace. In that, there is neither male nor female. This verse is not talking about church structure. It is talking about salvation in Christ. It cannot be used to support women as pastors because that isnt what it is talking about. Instead, to find out about church structure and leadership, you need to go to those passages that talk about it: 1 Timothy 2 and Titus 1. Being a Pastor or Elder is to be in Authority God is a God of order and balance. He has established order within the family (Gen. 3:16; 1 Cor. 11:3; Eph. 5:22-33; Col. 3:18-21 ) and the church (1 Tim. 2:11-14; 1 Cor. 11:8-9). Even within the Trinity, there is an order--a hierarchy. The Father sent the Son (John 6:38), and both the Father and the Son sent the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 15:26). Jesus said, For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. (John 6:38). It is clear that God is a God of order and structure. In creation, God made Adam first and then Eve to be his helper. This is the order of creation. It is this order that Paul mentions in 1 Tim. 2:11-14 when speaking of authority. Being a pastor or an elder is to be in the place of authority. Therefore, within the church, for a woman to be a pastor or elder, she would be in authority of men in the church which contradicts what Paul says in 1 Tim. 2:11-14. But Doesnt This Teaching Belittle Women? No, male leadership does not belittle women. Jesus was given his authority by God the Father (Matt. 28:18). He was sent by God (John 6:38). He said the Father was greater than He (John 14:28). Did this belittle Jesus? Of course not. Women are of great value in the church and need to be used more and more according to the gifts given them. Does the wifes submission to the husband mean that she is less than the husband, less important, or belittled? Again, not at all. Not having a place of leadership in the church does not mean a woman is less of a person, less important to God, or inferior. All are equal before God whether it be Jew, Gentile, free, slave, male, or female. But in the church, God has set up an order the same way he set one up in the family. The chain of command is Jesus, the man, the wife, and the children. What About Women Who Say They are Called By God to Be Pastors? There are women pastors in the world who love their congregations and have stated that they are called by God to be pastors. Of course, I cannot agree with this considering the previous analysis of the biblical position. Instead, I believe they have usurped the position of men and gone against the norm of scriptural revelation. Additionally, those who state that they are called by God because of the great job they are doing and the gifting they have received are basing their theology upon experience and not scripture. The issue is simple: are they submitting to the Word of God, or are they making the Word of God submit to their desires? What About a Missionary Woman Who Establishes a Church? Scripture establishes the norm. As Christians, we apply what we learn from the Word to the situations at hand. So, what about the situation where a woman missionary has converted a group of people, say in the jungle somewhere, and she has established a church? In that church, she is then functioning as a pastor and teacher having authority over men in the church. Should she not do this? First of all, she should not be out there alone. She should be with her husband or, at the very least, under the oversight of a church body in the presence of other women and men. Missionary work is not a lone endeavor to be handled by single women. Second, if in some highly unusual set of circumstances there is a woman in a lone situation, it is far more important that the Word of God be preached and the gospel of salvation go forth to the lost than not. Whether it be male or female, let the gospel be spoken. However, I would say that as soon as there is/are males mature enough to handle eldership, that she should then establish the proper order of the church as revealed in scripture and thereby show her submission to it. Does this also mean that women shouldnt wear jewelry? Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments; but rather by means of good works, as befits women making a claim to godliness. Let a woman quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. (1 Tim. 2:9-13). Some argue that if we are to forbid women to be elders, then the context of 1 Tim. 2:9-13 demands that we require women to not have braided hair, wear gold, or have costly garments. Since no one wants to put that sort of a demand on a woman (since it is cultural), then why should we also demand that they not be elders since it would logically follow that it was also a culturally based admonition? The problem here is multifaceted. First, the objection ignores what the scriptures plainly teach about the elder being the husband of one wife. Second, it fails to address the real issue of biblical headship residing in the male. Third, it fails to properly exegete the scripture in question. In 1 Tim. 2:9-13 Paul tells us that women should be modestly dressed. He uses the example of the then present-day adornment as an example of what not to do. This is a culturally based assessment by Paul. Notice that Paul emphasizes good works and godliness as a qualifier (as does Peter, see 1 Pet. 3:2). This is not a doctrinal statement tied to anything other than being a godly woman in appearance as well as attitude. In verse 11, Paul says that a woman should quietly receive instruction. Please note that The word, heµsychia, translated “quietness” in 1 Timothy 2:11 and silent in verse 12, does not mean complete silence or no talking. It is clearly used elsewhere (Acts 22:2; 2 Thes. 3:12) to mean “settled down, undisturbed, not unruly. A different word (sigaoµ) means “to be silent, to say nothing” (cf. Luke 18:39; 1 Cor. 14:34).”3 Paul is advocating orderliness in this verse. Then in verse 12-13, Paul says, But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. Notice that Paul directly relates the authority issue with the created order. He does not do this with the womans dress code. Therefore, the dress code is cultural and the authority issue as doctrinal since the latter is tied to the creation order and the dress code, and authority issues are not. Conclusion of the matter Gods word clearly tells us that the elder is to be the husband of one wife. A woman cannot qualify for this position by virtue of her being female. Whether anyone likes it or not is irrelevant to the fact that this is what the Bible teaches.
Posted on: Wed, 13 Aug 2014 21:33:34 +0000
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