If a person feels they can read a passage in isolation from the rest of scripture, and then reach a conclusion, they have not listened as they should, because Paul and Peter and John and James were not writing to us just a few sentences, that they would expect us to hear only a piece and not the rest.
If we listen, then we need to read fully through entire books, all passages, in time, with the humble attitude of hearing and learning, instead of trying to have a doctrine affirmed (which is not listening).
So, we would eventually read -- as we progress, over time -- also 1rst Corinthians, and Romans.
So, in time we should totally absorb the teaching to us in Romans chapter 14 and 1rst Corinthians chapter 8.
And when we do we will learn why slaves were told to remain slaves, several times, yet later to seek freedom, seemingly opposite instruction, and the radical, revolutionary quality of the letter of Paul to Philemon.
When we see Paul writing to Philemon it might seem a total 180 turn Paul makes in Philemon -- now instead of remaining a slave, instead of telling slaves as before to remain only cheerful servants, now the message is instead to the slave owner to treat the slave as entirely equal not only to himself, but as if the slave were Paul, in terms of total respect and equality.
Radical change, at that moment.
This would seem contradiction if we didn't also read Romans chapter 14 and 1rst Corinthians chapter 8, and learn the key principle.
In any given moment in time, and in any place, you, yourself, -- all of us, each one -- must give up perfectly good and fine freedoms, when needed, for the sake of the weak, so that they not be destroyed, in their weakness.
Even though that freedom we must give up around others is perfectly fine and ok in and of itself, and a part of our freedom in Christ.
Even though it's a good freedom, we have to sacrifice it at times, depending on the needs of others, that the weak have a chance.
So, in a moment in the 1rst century when weak men were being destroyed and their souls lost forever because of woman speaking up in the services, which women had not even been in services with men previous to the new Gospel, in that widespread new situation, those women were to sacrifice that new freedom.
They were to be quiet, for the sake of the weak, that the weak not be destroyed.
And so also slaves were to remain slaves, so long as their master was not yet converted, and not yet able to be strong in faith enough to treat them in the revolutionary new way as entire full equals in all ways, as Paul tells Philemon to do...
Does that make sense?
Today,
you, yourself, must give up freedoms at certain moments and places and times, as needed, for the sake of the weak. You.
You and me -- all of us.
Today. The message from 1rst Cor chapter 8 and Romans chapter 14 is not only for some people long ago.
So, if in your own church today, there are weak women who today feel that they should be able to participate in speaking in some ways in church, but you'd rather your preference was men only, then now, today, you yourself must sacrifice as needed for their sake.
If you don't think the 1 Cor 8 and Romans 14 message applies to you today, then pray for guidance on this, and ask humbly to be led to accepting the instructions to us.
Those who are indeed humble and willing to hear all of scripture, all of the epistles fully, and are more long in reading, and have read through, we are to bring all the parts together, not insist on flawed doctrines that are only traditions of men, but instead to take in all the key messages, instead of only some.
Slaves no longer are required to remain slaves. Yet, there are places and times where a Christian should remain a 'slave' in some sense, as needed, for the sake of the lost and the weak. Women in the U.S. no longer destroy weak men by speaking up, in most churches, so long as they speak with true humility and faith, in accord with all the meanings of God's word. They no longer are required in most places in the U.S. today to be silent to protect weak men. But there may indeed be some places, some churches, were this old sacrifice is still required.
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