Letters    

OF DANCING BEFORE THE LORD

Dear J. W.                                                                                                      April 26, 1994

       ...Regarding music to which Israel danced following victories over their enemies: and whether or not this constitutes bad music, Bible commentators tell us that the dancing here is not a recreational, or a sensual dance, but rather a leaping for joy. The synagogue was divided into a house of prayer, and a house for worship. The worship themes given in the Psalms have the effect of humbling, quieting, and of prostrating a person rather than eliciting incontinent outbursts as the charismatics do. I would, therefore, agree with you that the dancing of the Israelites following military victories was not intended for worship, but for victory celebrations. We would do the same.

TO A CHARISMATIC FRIEND

Dear S. S.                                                                                                  December 28, 1993

       ...Please do not take this as a personal attack, but I have nothing but contempt for the modern charismatic movement. Nothing about it is holy. There is within the movement little regard for obedience. It is empty, frothy, emotionalism.

     While the charismatics profess to follow the Holy Spirit, they reject all standards of separation from the world. Their men have no convictions about wearing their hair long, and often are effeminate. Their women demand to have the preeminence, and wear that which "pertains unto the man." Their families are ruled by a spirit of permissiveness, and their children nearly always go to Hell. Their music is theatrical, and sensual, and causes men to judge things emotionally like women. And, they use the name of Jesus like an incantation.

     I love people too much to entertain them, and to play with spirituality, and pretend we are honoring the Lord, even though we have no desire to please the Lord. S., "Faithful are the wounds of a friend," and I am a friend.

ON THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN WORSHIP

Dear T. L.                                                                                                  September 25, 1985

      ...The Bible teaches that it is wrong for a woman to publicly pray, or to read Scripture in worship. She may sing, but she may not conduct a choir. In a testimony service, she may request prayer, or give a testimony, but when she begins to "teach, or to usurp authority over the man," she is in error. Paul is very emphatic: "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" (I Timothy 2:11-14).

     When a woman begins to lead men, she is acting contrary to her nature because she was made for the man, and if she tries to rule over a man, she is acting contrary to her creation. Second, such a woman would be acting contrary to her position since the Fall in Genesis 3, for she was placed in subjection to man on account of her being deceived. (See also I Corinthians 14:34-35). If a woman prays in a service, let her not lead the congregation if men men are present. If she gives a testimony, let her do it in humility, and in subjection.

ON WOMEN AND CHRISTIAN MINISTRY

Dear M. K.                                                                                               September 17, 1993

      I was saddened to receive your card requesting us to cancel your subscription to The Angelus charging us with the recently invented crime of "sexism." However, Christians are known historically as "people of the Book." In matters of faith and practice, it is the Bible, the Word of God, that is our authority.

    For the first time in history, churches are accepting women as pastors, evangelists, conference and seminar speakers. This fact does not make it Biblical or right. Truth is predicated upon the Word of God. God has given truth, and it is He who has revealed what truth is. This is the reason that truth does not change with the standards of society. Truth is not subject to change with the changing of men's opinions.

   The Bible clearly teaches that women do not qualify for the Christian ministry. Every priest in Israel was a man. Only the heathen had priestesses. In the New Testament, the ministerial offices of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher are all in the Greek masculine gender. And, the qualifications of a pastor given both in I Timothy 3:1-7, and in Titus 1:6-9 specifically state they pertain to men.

    There is not one example of a woman serving in a ministerial office in the entire New Testament. Jesus chose 12 apostles, none of which was a woman. In fact, in 1900 years of church history, women were not commonly accepted into the Christian ministry until the last century. The Holy Ghost forbids a woman to teach, or to usurp authority over men, and He commands her to be silent in I Timothy 2:11-12. This prohibition of teaching is repeated in I Corinthians 14:34-35.

    There is no such thing as a woman minister who is in subjection to her husband, as commanded in Ephesians 5:22, and who has faithful children. God will not bless a woman who assumes authority over men. Whether you like it or not, whether it is politically correct or not, it remains truth—truth which will one day judge us.

     It is not discriminatory for God to make women different from men, and to give them different roles and responsibilities. But it is absolutely pernicious to change the clear teaching of the Bible to conform to the age in which we live.

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