| Witnessing A forum to discuss Christian witnessing and sharing of the gospel. |  | | 
21st May 2009, 01:12 PM
|  | Daughter of the King 26  | | Join Date: 11th December 2003
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Reps: 507,608,027,359,305,216 (power: 507,608,027,359,316) | | Originally Posted by Celticflower Sure you can! Everyone is important and loved by God - not just the guys.
"I commend to your our sister Phoebe, a servant (deaconess) of the church in Cenchrea" - Romans 16:1
The word deacon in the Greek word is usually translated "servant" and because the Greek uses masculine and feminine when speaking of Phoebe, she had the feminine word of servant (which is deaconess). Now in 1 Timothy 3:8-13 describes the qualifications of a Deacon, and while some people say that verse 11 is saying that women can also be deaconness, I don't buy it because verse 12 and 13 continues with the qualification of males being Deacons, but anyways, a Deacon have a certain work to do in the church. He's not a leader of the church, he is set apart to do a certain job. And we don't see anywhere in scripture that a Deacon takes a leadership role, ie like Elders. So, if someone wants to claim that women can be a deaconness, and while I don't agree, I cannot necessarily say that it is sin, but the truth is, the role of a deacon is a specialized one and not a leadership one. Deacons and Elders are two different roles. While the Elders are asked to teach and Shepard the church, Deacons are not asked to do that. The first person to tell of the good news of the resurrection was a woman.
That person was asked to tell the disciples that Jesus rose. And she also was not in a worship setting. We are asked to teach outside of worship but when we worship it is a different ball game. Priscilla is mentioned before her husband Aquilla making her at least his equal in the work they did spreading the gospel.
Being called before your husband doesn't make her more or less equal for we are told that we are all equal in Christ. There have been some passages where Aquilla was mentioned before Priscilla, that doesn't make her any less equal. Spreading the gospel we are asked, but when we come together as a body of Christ, women are asked to be silent and not to teach a man.
Adam does share some of the blame ya know. He didn't have to eat the apple. And maybe he didn't relay God's instructions to Eve very well. Not all men are good teachers.
Adam does share the blame, for he had his curse in Genesis 3, but teaching in a worship setting is not one of them, for God's reasoning was because Eve was deceived first. There is presidence for women to be leaders of the people of God throughout the Bible. Miriam is called a prophetess and is often named along with Moses and Arron. Deborah was a judge, Anna was a prophetess, etc. There is no valid reason, beyond one verse from Paul, against a woman leading or teaching or preaching. the letter to Timothy was just that - a letter to Timothy. If there were problems in his church that Paul felt he needed to address then those passages may well only pertain to the behavior of the women in Timothy's charge.
There are women leaders in the Old Testament, we see that throughout but what we don't see is the new covenant worship in the Old Testament and we don't worship the way did then. We are under the New Covenant and He asked us to worship him a certain way. I have no problem with women as pstors, or deacons or elders or teachers. Some women I know are much better suited for the positions than the men who currently hold them. God will use whom He chooses, and if He chooses a woman who are you to tell her to "shut up and jput up"?[/b]
It has nothing to do with our opinions and if we are okay with women being preachers, deacons or elders, it has to do with if God is okay with it. Even if someone seem better suited in our minds, if God have not asked for them to be, then we shouldn't try to. And simply because someone says "well God told me to do A, B, and C" if it is something that contradict scripture, I would be very weary of believing that god.
__________________ 1 Corinthians 8:9-11
Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol's temple, won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.
Legalistic or not, Christ said "If you love me, keep My commandments...He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the father's who send Me." John 14:15, 24
Why do we fight so hard to explain scriptures that are not there and yet ignore the ones that are? | 
26th May 2009, 07:24 AM
|  | Regular Member 30  | | Join Date: 14th November 2003 Location: cali~~*the golden state*~~
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Reps: 27,637,150,018,590 (power: 27,637,150,027) | | Originally Posted by Aino I'm wondering what those, who suppose that women shouldn't say anything in the congregation, think is more important: spreading the gospel to everyone or making sure that no one breaks the one verse in the Bible that tells women to shut up. I've heard, that the verse in the original language meant, that women should consentrate on God and his word in church services instead of chattering. And besides, it's not in the commandments, it's not anything that Jesus said. It's one sentence that Peter wrote. Do you think it's more essential than his commandment to spread the gospel? I don't think so.
I also think there's no reason why God would really want women not to witness to anyone, because otherwise there would be more and clearer biblical backing for the command. Can you? What harm do women do for christianity if they witness, get power or become pastors?
Why did only men become diciples in the Bible then? Because it was the way to do it two thousand years ago - women in general weren't respected enough, that anyone would have listened to them anyway. That's why Jesus chose men! Diciples had to walk a lot to tell about Jesus in other regions, too. They often faced persecution and physical violence against them was common. In Jesus's time women weren't used to physical stress and it wasn't appropriate for them to get to trouble in the way the diciples did. It was husbands' and families' responsibility to keep women safe and do the dangerous work themselves! Now the time is different. We don't dress like Jesus did, we don't eat the same food that he ate, we don't live in same kinds of houses, and the norms are different. Some of the ways of today are bad, but insofar that it doesn't go against the Bible, it's appropriate.
This issue you have comes from fundamental people, or those who can't get rid of their anxieties and problems or they just don't have a sense for reasonable thinking. Keep your head up and don't be afraid of witnessing. Don't care of judgemental troublemakers and keep your values healthy, good and biblical. God bless!
you said: It's one sentence that Peter wrote.
----
And your point is? You know that brings to mind people who discredit the people who wrote the bible, and say it wasn't God who said it, so they can do what they want.
For your info, 16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
By the way, I think you have it wrong. Paul was the one who said women should keep silent in churches and not hold authority there.
__________________ Oh Lord, my God. My life is in your hands. You placed me in your lap during my days of trial, calmed my soul when I was afraid. You showed me the power of the Word Lord, for I was too stubborn to believe. Even in my stubbornness you saved me. I was weak, but you cared for me...was lost, but you found me. You freed me from the devil's chains, and told me the Truth, much more than what that liar told me. Your presence makes me smile Holy Spirit, I love you...O, King of kings, and Lord of lords.... | 
26th May 2009, 07:29 AM
|  | Regular Member 30  | | Join Date: 14th November 2003 Location: cali~~*the golden state*~~
Posts: 492
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Reps: 27,637,150,018,590 (power: 27,637,150,027) | | Originally Posted by daydreamergurl15 The word deacon in the Greek word is usually translated "servant" and because the Greek uses masculine and feminine when speaking of Phoebe, she had the feminine word of servant (which is deaconess). Now in 1 Timothy 3:8-13 describes the qualifications of a Deacon, and while some people say that verse 11 is saying that women can also be deaconness, I don't buy it because verse 12 and 13 continues with the qualification of males being Deacons, but anyways, a Deacon have a certain work to do in the church. He's not a leader of the church, he is set apart to do a certain job. And we don't see anywhere in scripture that a Deacon takes a leadership role, ie like Elders. So, if someone wants to claim that women can be a deaconness, and while I don't agree, I cannot necessarily say that it is sin, but the truth is, the role of a deacon is a specialized one and not a leadership one. Deacons and Elders are two different roles. While the Elders are asked to teach and Shepard the church, Deacons are not asked to do that.
That person was asked to tell the disciples that Jesus rose. And she also was not in a worship setting. We are asked to teach outside of worship but when we worship it is a different ball game.
Being called before your husband doesn't make her more or less equal for we are told that we are all equal in Christ. There have been some passages where Aquilla was mentioned before Priscilla, that doesn't make her any less equal. Spreading the gospel we are asked, but when we come together as a body of Christ, women are asked to be silent and not to teach a man.
Adam does share the blame, for he had his curse in Genesis 3, but teaching in a worship setting is not one of them, for God's reasoning was because Eve was deceived first.
There are women leaders in the Old Testament, we see that throughout but what we don't see is the new covenant worship in the Old Testament and we don't worship the way did then. We are under the New Covenant and He asked us to worship him a certain way.
It has nothing to do with our opinions and if we are okay with women being preachers, deacons or elders, it has to do with if God is okay with it. Even if someone seem better suited in our minds, if God have not asked for them to be, then we shouldn't try to. And simply because someone says "well God told me to do A, B, and C" if it is something that contradict scripture, I would be very weary of believing that god.
I agree with you here. You know, once in a while, people will even try to say that those were not God's words and were only words written by the disciples or apostles.
__________________ Oh Lord, my God. My life is in your hands. You placed me in your lap during my days of trial, calmed my soul when I was afraid. You showed me the power of the Word Lord, for I was too stubborn to believe. Even in my stubbornness you saved me. I was weak, but you cared for me...was lost, but you found me. You freed me from the devil's chains, and told me the Truth, much more than what that liar told me. Your presence makes me smile Holy Spirit, I love you...O, King of kings, and Lord of lords.... | 
26th May 2009, 07:50 AM
|  | Daughter of the King 26  | | Join Date: 11th December 2003
Posts: 2,832
Blessings: 2,177,310
Reps: 507,608,027,359,305,216 (power: 507,608,027,359,316) | | Originally Posted by Bain_Adaneth I agree with you here. You know, once in a while, people will even try to say that those were not God's words and were only words written by the disciples or apostles.
Fortunately for us those disciples and apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and was inspired to write. So, either way, the Holy Spirit allowed it.
__________________ 1 Corinthians 8:9-11
Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol's temple, won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.
Legalistic or not, Christ said "If you love me, keep My commandments...He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the father's who send Me." John 14:15, 24
Why do we fight so hard to explain scriptures that are not there and yet ignore the ones that are? | 
28th May 2009, 06:21 AM
|  | God's own 20  | | Join Date: 16th May 2009 Location: Finland
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Reps: 1,563,462,801,713,558,016 (power: 1,563,462,801,713,564) | | Originally Posted by Bain_Adaneth you said: It's one sentence that Peter wrote.
And your point is? You know that brings to mind people who discredit the people who wrote the bible, and say it wasn't God who said it, so they can do what they want.
For your info, 16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
By the way, I think you have it wrong. Paul was the one who said women should keep silent in churches and not hold authority there.
I'm not trying to discredit the Bible. I appreciate it as the Holy Book and God's word, but I also think that it's written by men, and only inspired by God. If God would have wanted to have a perfectly right and not at all contradicting book, he would have just made it himself and dropped it from Heaven, or dictated it to one person write it, not 36.
I just see that there's not enough proof in the Bible for me to believe that women shouldn't be pastors. You should read my previous post again and try to understand the point I made instead of clinging to some single sentences I wrote. Fair enough, the name was wrong there. I changed it in the original post, too. To my defence I must say that the names are different in the finnish language, that I prefer to read my Bible in. Now bust me if I end up in a fight with you again - we clearly cannot keep it proper due to our different approaches to basically everything... I hope that you'll find a way not to be so judgemental. | 
26th June 2009, 05:50 PM
|  | Ave Maria Gratia Plena 29  | | Join Date: 31st May 2004 Location: United States
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Reps: 233,180,187,640,399,616 (power: 233,180,187,640,476) | | Originally Posted by pinkjess Okay, I feel so jealous that men can do whatever they want with God and be so treasured and loved by him while I get pushed aside and feel so undervalued. I want to tell others about Jesus and encourage them through my life's troubles! Can I do that? 
Sure girls can tell others about Jesus! But if you're going to tell them about Jesus, make sure you tell them the correct way to attain Heaven. You can't attain Heaven simply by becoming "born again" or by "accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior". I recommend the following reading: http://www.catholic.com/library/Are_...Born_Again.asp http://www.catholic.com/library/Assu..._Salvation.asp http://www.catholic.com/library/Grace_What_It_Is.asp http://www.catholic.com/library/How_...a_Catholic.asp http://www.catholic.com/library/Mortal_Sin.asp http://www.catholic.com/library/Nece...of_Baptism.asp http://www.catholic.com/library/Reward_and_Merit.asp http://www.catholic.com/library/Salv...the_Church.asp http://www.staycatholic.com/how_old_is_your_church.htm Scripture Catholic - SALVATION Truth in Catholicism - Jesus Saves
God Bless,
Holly (Ave Maria) | 
29th June 2009, 09:12 AM
| | Legend 39 
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Last edited by Mr.Cheese; 18th November 2009 at 09:46 AM.
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10th July 2009, 03:01 PM
| | Newbie
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Reps: 272,772 (power: 275) | | | Ave Maria,
maybe you could just tell us yourself what salvation is/requires rather than watching a bunch of videos or articles. What does the Bible tell you?
Thanks. | 
11th July 2009, 12:29 PM
| | Contributor
 | | Join Date: 27th February 2006
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Reps: 1,124,929,859,130,509,824 (power: 0) | | Originally Posted by pinkjess Okay, I feel so jealous that men can do whatever they want with God and be so treasured and loved by him while I get pushed aside and feel so undervalued. I want to tell others about Jesus and encourage them through my life's troubles! Can I do that? 
Sure, you can do that. You can also present the Gospel to them. | 
11th July 2009, 01:21 PM
|  | God knows your pain 22 
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Reps: 1,901,551,957,334 (power: 1,901,551,960) | | Originally Posted by Alive4Evermore Interesting theology and interpretation of Scripture you have.
What makes your right?? Originally Posted by Alive4Evermore Don't you listen to that previous poster. Of course, you can share your faith and witness to unbelievers. This is known as The Great Commission.
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)
He was talking to his disciples, which are men.
But anyways, I agree that we all should evangelize.
__________________ "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 2:23) If we lose our job, we worry about the bills. If we get sick, we wonder if it is 'the big one'. Are our children going to do well when they grow up? Will I have enough money to retire with? Will my lack of medical insurance mean I'll end up going bankrupt? Such concerns, which are part of life, are tests of our trust and hope in God as well as His faithfulness to us. |  | | | Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes | Linear Mode | | | |