This is a reply to Scott Fogg’s comment on my article titled “The Rationale Why God Created Woman” posted last July 3, 2007. His comment is as follows —
It’s interesting that you should mention Luke 19:40. For in the history of the Adventist Church, the visions that Ellen White had were first given to a man. But when this man refused to share what God had given him, God turned to Ellen and gave her the visions. It was only after she began to share what God had shown her that this man was emboldened to step forward and share what God had shown him as well.
And as far as Balaam goes, does it really matter whether or not he was an Israelite? God still spoke to him through the mule.
Regardless of whether or not you believe Ellen White was a prophetess, your interpretation of the Bible is marginalizing women. While I do believe there are things that women are better suited for (and likewise, men), to say that women have no place outside of the home is silly and insulting.
When Jesus and His apostles were preaching, it was in a very different world. Can you imagine if a woman had risen up to lead the church in 30 AD? It would have been too subversive for any culture or religion to handle at the time. The church would have been ignored or destroyed entirely. Which is why you have Jesus, the prophets, and the apostles downplaying the role of the woman in the church. But today, in the 21st century, there is no reason that a woman can’t lead.
Shouldn’t the Christian church be empowering all of its members? God doesn’t change, but society does. That’s only logical. And we see God working in new and exciting ways every day. Why would you want to limit God by effectively taking away half His congregation and relegating them to the kitchen?
I don’t see how any of this is “sensible,” and my study of the Bible has *NOT* led me into the same understanding it somehow had led you. I’m sorry.”
Scott
Dear Brother Scott,
False accusations are prohibited in your ‘adopted’ Ten Commandments.
Nowhere in my article did I say that women are only meant for the kitchen. A little study will tell you that the best of cooks and chefs in international kitchens are males. Your answers are false accusations to somebody who cares for the enlightenment of your soul.
Such is prohibited in the Ten Commandments.
I am obliged to repeat that in the Church of God, we esteem, with the highest of regards, our women. They occupy vital administrative positions in the Church like, being treasurers, auditors, and the like. It is not disgracing nor dishonoring a woman if one says that she must be under the authority of man.
(I Peter 3:7) “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”
Regarding a woman as a weaker vessel is honor unto her, according to Peter — a former seventh-day-keeper converted to the Church of God.
You accused me of marginalizing women; and you said that it is silly and foolish to say that women have no place outside the home. Did I ever say that women have no place outside the home? Or are you lying? Remember, “Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”
(Exodus 20:16) “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”
Your idea, that it was not timely for women to lead the first-century church because it would have been too subversive against their culture and religion, which is why Jesus Christ and the apostles downplayed the role of women in the Church, is really silly and foolish. And the notion that because it is now the 21st century there is no reason to prohibit women leading the Church, is utmost foolishness. Why?
The reason given by Paul prohibiting women to usurp authority over the man is not because it was then too early for women to take the role of leading the Church but…
(I Timothy 2:11-14) “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”
…because in the order of God’s priority, the man came first; and the woman is prone to deceit. The teachings written by the apostles, particularly those of the Apostle Paul, are commandments of the Lord.
(I Corinthians 14:37) “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.”
And one of those commandments of the Lord is what he wrote before verse 37. Let us read verses 34 to 36 of Chapter 14 of 1 Corinthians.
(I Corinthians 14:34) “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.”
(I Corinthians 14:35) “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.”
(I Corinthians 14:36) “What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?”
The Apostle Paul asked the women of Corinth, “What? came the word of God out from you?” God’s words are first entrusted to a man, and then they are relayed to a woman ("or came it unto you only").
Remember, Brother Scott, these things that the Apostle Paul wrote are commandments of the Lord. Are these commandments meant only for the first century Church? Are they to be disregarded in the 21st century? Oh, c’mon!
(Acts 1:2, 8) “Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:”
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Note that the commandments received by the apostles, they were to testify and preach unto the uttermost part of the earth — until the end of the age!
(Matthew 28:20) “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
It is really idiotic to say that the prohibition for women to lead the church of God is only to be observed in the 1st century and then to be disregarded on the 21st.
I can not help but quote and copy your erroneous idea that follows (which is highlighted in red letters):
“Shouldn’t the Christian church be empowering all of its members? God doesn’t change, but society does. That’s only logical. And we see God working in new and exciting ways every day. Why would you want to limit God by effectively taking away half His congregation and relegating them to the kitchen?
I don’t see how any of this is “sensible,” and my study of the Bible has *NOT* led me into the same understanding it somehow had led you. I’m sorry.”
You said, “Shouldn’t the Christian church be empowering all of its members?” Did God give power to the Church to empower all its members? What verse tells this so? Are all the members of the SDAC empowered? Were there (in the almost 200 year history of your church) other women that led your church? Or was it only Ellen G. White? Will you answer these questions honestly?
You said, “God doesn’t change, but society does.” I appreciate that you know that God does not change! But, even if human society changes — everyday, will the true Church of God change its doctrines with it? Noooooo!
(Romans 12:2) “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
In fact, it is prohibited for God’s chosen people to mingle with those who are given to change.
(Proverbs 24:21) “My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change…”
The teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ were not meant to be changed; unlike the Law of Moses or the Ten Commandments, they were given to be observed until the end of the world.
(Matthew 28:20) “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
The Law of Moses was until John.
(Luke 16:16) “The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.”
The Law of Moses was for the Israelites.
(Malachi 4:4) “Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.”
These are God’s commandments given to Moses on the mountain and are called by God the “Law of Moses”. Just like the commandments given by God to Jesus Christ for Christians, which was called “The Law of Christ”.
(Galatians 6:2) “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
The Law of Christ came from God, just like the Law of Moses.
(John 12:49-50) “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.”
What is this “Law of Moses” given to him by God on the mountain, that has with it statutes and judgments?
(Exodus 31:18) “And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.”
These are the Ten Commandments written on two tables of stones with the finger of God.
(Deuteronomy 4:13) “And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.”
It is also called “The Covenant,” which, later, was declared the “Old Covenant”.
(Hebrews 8:13) “In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.”
It was the law that was changed when the priesthood was changed.
(Hebrews 7:12) “For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.”
Jesus Christ succeeded Moses and his priesthood.
(Hebrews 3:1-4) “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honor than the house.”
In the Christian dispensation, the Law of Moses can not sanctify anymore!
(Acts 13:39) “And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.”
Thus, the change in Sabbath.
God bless,
EFS