Moral Clarity  for End-Time Living

Last Sabbath, in light of recent national news which revealed an apparent “less-than” status of women in some faith communities, we started to explore God’s word about the value and role of women in His family (see Pt. 1 of 2). After a general survey of scripture and a brief dive into 1 Corinthians 14:34-35, we found that women are equally and infinitely valued by God and have been given the same roles as men among His people! But what about other Bible passages which seem to indicate the opposite? Could it be that texts which talk about male headship suggest different roles for women than men in the church? Should what Paul wrote to Timothy, that he does “not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence” still be followed today? Should other passages which talk about headship in 1 Cor. 11 and Eph. 5 guide decisions about women’s roles in the church at all times and in all places? And what about the verses in 1 Peter 3, that wives should submit themselves “to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord” – should this stand as a pattern for how women should relate to men among His people today? If we think we need not address these questions, that these issues are an annoying distraction from our mission, let’s think again. Why? Because how we value and understand the role of women in God’s family will affect how we show and share the truth about Jesus to a world already confused and skeptical about a God who has followers who devalue and restrict females. What then is the truth about God as reflected in these passages of scripture? How do we honestly wrestle with them? Come contemplate an approach for understanding these texts which aligns with the truth about God in the rest of His word. When? This Sabbath, in a talk entitled, “The Value & Role of Women in God’s Family – Pt. 2 of 2” – it truly will be worth considering! ~ Teddy