All Things Anne

Another part of the questionaire my Dad had me take

How important is it to you to be submitted to and committed to a local church body organized in a manner consistent with Biblical principles. Is this a priority in your life? Would you vigorously purse the best opportunity to worship, fellowship, and submit to a local Bible believing and preaching church?

The church is the people. Ephesians 3:10, 5:24-27; Philippians 4:15, Colossians 1:24, 1 Timothy 5:16, Hebrews 12:23, 1 Corinthians 15:9 (It’s kind of hard to persecute a “church” building!)

It is important to be committed to an assembly of Believers in a manner consistent with Biblical principles. (Hebrews 10:24,25) We need to be a part of a group for edification and encouragement (Hebrews 3:12,13; 1 Corinthians 14:26, Proverbs 27:17), fellowship (Acts 2:42-47), and accountability (to help keep each other from stumbling–1 Thessalonians 5:11-14, Romans 14:13, 19, 1 Corinthians 10:23,24). I don’t think we should submit to a church assembly (or the elders), though. Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines “submit” as: “To surrender; to give up resistance; to yield one’s opinion to the opinion or authority of another; to yield without murmuring.” We shouldn’t surrender ourselves or yield our opinions to anyone but Jesus Christ. As I mentioned above, however, I believe we should be accountable to members of a church assembly. Accountable, as defined by Webster’s 1828 dictionary, is “Liable to be called to account; answerable to a superior; subject to pay, or make good, in case of loss. A sheriff is accountable, as bailiff and receiver of goods; accountable for, that may be explained.” It has also been brought to my attention a verse in 1 Peter, which says, “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5) In other words, we should not be looking out for our own interests and dogmatically hold fast to what our opinions are, but to yield our opinions to others, perhaps to avoid conflict and divisiveness in the church.

It is not a priority in my life to become a member of a “church”, however, because we (as Believers) are The Church. (Ephesians 3:10, 5:24-27; Philippians 4:15, Colossians 1:24, 1 Timothy 5:16, Hebrews 12:23, 1 Corinthians 15:9) Wherever we have an assembly of Believers, we are having an assembly of the Church.

Our lives should be spent worshipping and glorifying to and of God, not just in a specific place. (1 Chronicles 16:29, Psalms 29:2, 95:6, 96:1-9, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 1 Corinthians 10:31) Therefore, we should vigorously seek a life that worships and glorifies God, not a place to worship and glorify God. Paul said (Romans 15:5,6), “Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This means we also need to be unified in our direction and not separated into little “cliques” (denominations), because a unified body works much more smoothly than a disjointed one. (Romans 15:5,6, Ephesians 4:1-6)

What do you think is the woman’s role in the church?

The woman’s role in the church is to keep silent and be submissive. “…it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.” (meaning the kind of church service mentioned above - 1 Corinthians 14:34,35) The older women should be reverent, not gossipers, but teachers of good things. There is a place for women to speak and teach, such as the home or to other women. After all, the Bible speaks of older women teaching younger women (Titus 2:3-5), King Lemuel’s mother taught him (Proverbs 31:1), and all through Proverbs it says (in effect), “do not forsake the teachings of your mother.”