I'm not going to lie. There is a portion of the word I do struggle with.
1 Corinthians 14:34-35 KJV
34 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.
35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
and
1 Timothy 2:11-15 KJV
11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
1 Timothy 2:15 is especially hard for me, because I wasn't able to have children. But 1 Timothy 2:14 also gets under my skin. Did Adam not also have the choice to say he wasn't going to eat the fruit? He didn't say no. Yes, Eve erred greatly. But Adam also wasn't innocent of sin in the Garden of Eden. God punished both of them, after all.
I have no doubt part of my struggle with this is very likely to be pride. The culture of "female empowerment" and the decries of "sexism" are partly getting in the way. I know that. I also know that when this was written women were considered to be second class citizens. And I know I'm overthinking it, but I wonder what role women are going to play in God's kingdom, and in heaven. Am I going to be expected to watch over the children there and that's it? I don't hate children like I used to when I was younger, but I'm also not crazy about them either. Like I said, I know part of it is very likely to be pride. I ultimately know whatever role the Lord has for me will be perfect.
I also know part of the struggle is from my personality. It is extremely hard for me to sit back and be quiet. I'm an eager learner, and a very active participant.
I also can't help but feel that these passages have also been abused over the years.
I'm fixated on the fact that God elevated Deborah to the position of a judge over Israel. Why? There were plenty of men around. Why was she apparently the only one up to the task at that time? And why, given the social status of women at the time, did the men of the time follow her? And what of the fact that there were and are both prophets AND prophetesses? There's clear documentation in the Old Testament that the counsel of the LORD was sought through both men and women.
The pastor at the church I attend pointed out a couple of months ago that he often sees the women being the ones coming to church without their husbands. Why?
What if the man, who is supposed to be the spiritual head and leader of the household, isn't doing his job? Or what if he's not even around? Is the family supposed to remain stagnant? I don't feel like the answer to the third question here is yes.
Will God not use anyone at any time to accomplish His purpose and His will, even if that person is a woman?
If I see a man making a grave error, am I really not supposed to say anything to warn him? What about what God said all throughout Ezekiel about not warning someone about their sin resulting in their blood being on your own head?
And how do I reconcile this with Galatians 3:28 KJV?
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
I'm certainly interested in your thoughts!
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