MOOR of the Word with Pastor Chuck Pourciau

We saw how people, especially in the past generation or two, have sought to make this passage be more in line with those who believe there should be no distinctions at all in how men and women operate in the church. 

We first understand that Paul is speaking to saved women in the context of corporate worship in church. Saved women have a different worldview, a different purpose, a different everything from women who aren’t saved. They embrace some things the world considers foolish and they reject some things the world calls on them to embrace. Let’s ponder some of those things. Understanding this teaching in context is important. Let’s ponder the context of the entirety of Scripture. How does this whole-Bible context instruct Godly women?

This passage has created much fire. A woman must quietly receive instruction with submissiveness? A woman is not to exercise authority over a man and is to remain quiet? Has Paul been around any women? 

Is any member of your family a lesser family member? I hope not. But that does not mean that all people in the family have the exact same roles. What we have here is that common tendency to seek to make the Bible teach what we already believe. If we believe that there is no difference in role and function between the genders in the church and that the Bible is true, we have to figure out a way to make this passage say what we already believe. But what does it actually say?

Paul urged women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, “moderately and discreetly.” This speaks to the attitude a woman brings to the corporate worship experience. Obviously, this isn’t restricted to women, but, in these verses, Paul is addressing women specifically. 

These two words, modestly and discreetly characterize the attitudes Christian women bring to the worship experience. The term “modestly” is found only here in the New Testament. It denotes modesty mixed with humility. At the core of the world is the idea of shame. A godly woman would be ashamed and feel guilty if she distracted someone from worshiping God, or contributed to someone’s lustful thought

Paul’s point is not that women should be indifferent to their hair. That would contradict what he had just said about careful preparation to put oneself in order. Paul’s intent is not to forbid certain kinds of hairdos, as if some reflected a more worshipful attitude than others. He is confronting any gaudy, ostentatious hairdo that would distract attention from the Lord and the purposes that are holy. Women in that culture often wove gold, pearls, or other jewelry through their hair to call attention to themselves and their wealth or beauty.

How often do we think of the clothing we wear when we prepare ourselves for worship? Following his discussion of the role of the men when the church is called to evangelistic prayer, Paul turns to the subject of women in worship. He addresses their appearance, attitude, testimony, role, design, and contribution.

Paul now turns his attention from the men to the women. Needless to say, the role of women is one that is hotly debated in today’s church. There are two basic positions on the issue, and most everyone identifies with one or the other more closely. One is called the egalitarian view. The other view is called complementarianism.

This passage stands at the center of this contentious debate. Which view is the correct one? I prefer not to ask the question that way. Rather, I prefer to ask which view is the Biblical one, for, if it’s Biblical, it’s correct. 

There are many prayer postures found in the Bible: standing with outstretched hands; kneeling; standing; sitting; bowing the; lifting the eyes; falling on the ground. What posture are we to choose from amongst so many as it is impossible to assume them all. In short, the important thing is not the posture of the body but the posture of the heart.

Paul gave insight into how we are to pray. The first thing he mentioned is that we are to lift holy hands. What are holy hands? Holy hands indicate a holy life. We are confessed and cleansed and right with God. If I have unconfessed sin in my life, I cannot expect God to hear my prayers and answer them.

The word “preacher” comes from a word that means to proclaim or herald, to speak publicly. Some will say that we need always to be proclaiming the gospel, and, if necessary, use words. That’s a statement born in hell, brothers and sisters, since it minimizes the oral proclamation of the gospel. 

Paul wasn’t appointed as a gospel example to the Gentiles but as a preacher to the Gentiles, a proclaimer of gospel truth to the Gentiles. The only thing that separates Christian missionaries from Red Cross volunteers is the proclamation of the gospel.

The word “ransom” is a rich term that highlights just what happened to Jesus on the cross. When someone is kidnapped, a ransom must be paid by someone else to free that person. Jesus didn’t merely pay a ransom to free us. He became the victim in our place. He died our death. He bore our sin. He gave himself. 

Not only is there only one God, but there is only one mediator between God and men, Jesus Christ. Mediator is one who intervenes between two individuals to restore peace. Because Christ is the only mediator, all must come to God through him.

Some are offended by such an exclusive claim. But understand something very important. This claim is exclusive because it’s the only means of dealing with the problem that separates us from God. That which separates us from God is sin, not the lack of good works.