A Daily Walk

Guest (Male): Coming up next on a daily walk.

John Randall: God says from the very beginning, before the fall of man, it was man and woman for life. That was God's intention. The culture says we disagree with that. In fact, we're going to legislate something different or we're going to say this. That doesn't change the fact that God's word is God's word. When you have the culture dictating what is acceptable, then the standard of God's word becomes rejected. And that's not only in the world, but listen, we're starting to see that infiltrate the church.

Guest (Male): Greetings and welcome again to a daily walk. We'll get back to Pastor John Randall in a second. We're about to continue our study of 1st Timothy and today we come to what you might say is a hotly debated issue in the world and the church today. But John will stress that we should allow God's word to guide us to what is right and acceptable, not the culture. In chapter two, Paul addresses the role, appearance, and action of women in public worship. How should women dress and act in the church setting? Can they teach and preach from the pulpit?

Well, let's allow the word to answer that for us.

John Randall: 1st Timothy chapter two with a message entitled women in the church. Why do you laugh? It's in the Bible. 1st Timothy chapter two beginning in verse eight, if you would follow along with me. I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting. In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but which is proper for women professing godliness with good works. Let a woman learn in silence with all submission and I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.

For Adam was formed first then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived fell into transgression. Nevertheless, she will be saved in child bearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness with self-control. The church in Ephesus had an amazing beginning that was born out of a spiritual revival. It resulted in the decline of idol worship. The city, which was also known for its practice in the occultic arts, ended up taking all of their pagan books of witchcraft and burning them because they had come to faith in Christ. Nevertheless, it didn't take very long for the enemy to attack the church.

False teachers had sprung up seeking to draw disciples after themselves. Poor leadership limited the effectiveness of the fellowships and things began to get out of order. Once the apostle Paul was released from his first imprisonment, he and Timothy were there in Ephesus. And when they had learned what had happened to the church, Paul realized that there was the need for strong leadership and the establishing of order once again. And so young Pastor Timothy was entrusted with the responsibility of the oversight of the churches in order to help the members of the congregation know, chapter three tells us, know how to conduct themselves in the house of God, which is the pillar and ground of truth.

And in verses eight through 15, we are given instructions concerning the practice of the church in public worship. And so he begins with the men in the church in verse eight. What are the men supposed to be doing? He said, I desire therefore that the men would pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands without wrath and without doubting. Paul's desire was that the men would be the spiritual leaders within the church, that they would lead by example in prayer, that they would live holy lives that were set apart for the purposes of God, that they would lift up holy hands without wrath, without anger, bitterness, and without doubting.

They would lift up their hands in faith toward God. And they would lead spiritually. For the ministry of the church to be effective, it had to start with the male leadership in prayer. Then Paul addressed the women within the fellowship by giving them instructions as to how to conduct themselves in public worship. And so he begins by first of all considering their appearance. In verse nine, he says, in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing. The word that Paul uses here for modest means well ordered.

And the words propriety and moderation refer to a reverence along with self-control. The instructions that Paul gives present an obvious contrast between the women found in the world in Ephesus and the women who were inside the church. How a woman adorns herself can tell you something about that woman. What she places on the outside of her body can often be a revelation of what's on the inside. In the Greco-Roman culture, a great emphasis was placed upon one's external beauty. And the way in which a woman would parade her external beauty is that they would go to extremes through uh the clothing that they wore.

And they would show up in these elaborate gowns and revealing so often somewhat of a sensual nature within the heart. Let me give you an example. This would be the equivalent and by the way, let me preface by saying I don't personally make opportunity to watch these kinds of things, but I am aware of them. The red carpet event. A red carpet event. The guys basically show up black, you know, it's a tux, you know, they they pretty much got the standard issue uh and that's there they are. But the women at the red carpet events, I mean it's like, oh here she comes, she's wearing this and it's like this this gown of of it's all shimmery and shiny and it's like a sparkle, it's water truck, you know, those shimmer.

It's like all these things and and it's it could be red, it could be and it's just decorated and and and then then there's people who are who will later on say, oh man, she looked horrible. Did you see that outfit? It was so It cost like a billion dollars for her to wear that dress. I mean just extravagant ways of flaunting beauty, accentuating certain parts of the body. You understand. Paul's saying when you show up to church, ladies, don't don't show up like that. This isn't a red carpet event. This isn't the prom. I mean this is this is church.

We're just here to worship the Lord. We're not here to dress in such a way that will draw attention to ourselves, but rather we want to draw attention to the Lord. And so Paul says, let the women in in public worship, let them dress modestly. Now granted, everyone has their own opinion of what modesty looks like. But Paul isn't saying here that a woman shouldn't take care of herself or that a woman can't dress fashionably and have her shoes match her. You know, he's not saying that. He's not getting all caught up in that. He's not saying that women can't wear makeup.

Hey, Dr. J. Vernon McGee said if if the barn needs painting, paint it. It's totally fine. And I'm okay with that. He's emphasizing in the public worship that the desire to draw attention to the Lord and not to oneself or stumble a brother. Men are very visual. And so it's important that you consider that. I love what Solomon said. He had some understanding of women obviously. 300 wives and 700 I mean it's just a crazy situation there. But here's what he said. He said in Proverbs chapter 11 verse 22, as a ring of gold in a pig's nose, so is a beautiful woman that lacks discretion.

She can be the most beautiful woman, but if she lacks discretion, it's like a a ring that's in the snout of a pig. It just That's just out of place and that's gross. You know, why would you put gold in a pig's nose? In my opinion, humble opinion, modest is hottest. I mean that's just what I am going to say. Write that down. There you go. But not only did the ladies wear certain clothing that would reflect an attitude of the heart, but also the way that they did their hair. In verse nine, he says, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing.

In ancient times, the wealth of the women would be displayed in the arranging of their hair. And within the arranging of their hair, they would put gold and pearls and costly gems that would reflect and be wrapped up in their hair. It was a status symbol that drew attention to oneself. History actually reveals that ornate hairstyles were prevalent in high society within Roman culture. Roman women, it was said, were addicted to extravagant adornment of the hair. In fact, I read some of the quotes of the secular historians. Listen to what one man said concerning women's hair in those days.

He said women with so many tears would load their hair with so many continuous stories that she would build up on her high hair. She is tall in front and behind she is shorter. You would think she was a different person. Curls climb on top of curl over the forehead. And there arose something, this is great, which at best looked like the masterpiece of a pastry cook and at worst like a dry sponge. And at the back, the hair was plaited and the braids arranged in a coil which looked like basketwork. In fact, one writer said many women would not touch their own heads lest they disturb it and that sleep came like a terror for the women because of their great concern.

Don't touch my hair. I got to sleep. I mean could you imagine just not that's what it was like. Paul says, you don't have to do that. I suppose the equivalent would be just decorating yourself in the most expensive jewelry that you can imagine. You just came in and the light hits your the the jewels that you have and it's just so shimmering. It's over the top ostentatious. Paul wasn't saying let your hair go, ladies. He wasn't saying, you know, don't cut the split ends, girls. He wasn't saying, you know, don't color it, don't wash it.

Please do all of those things. That's not what Paul is saying here. What he is saying is the emphasis. He's encouraging women in the church. Don't let your beauty be merely outward. There's more to you than what is just external. The world emphasizes so much of external beauty where the Lord sees something completely different. The Lord actually looks on the heart of a person rather than the outside. Again, in Proverbs 31 verse 30 it says, charm is deceitful and beauty it's passing. But a woman who fears the Lord, she is worthy to be praised. In fact, I want you to see this.

Turn your Bibles just a few pages to the right. 1st Peter chapter three. Look what Peter says and cross referencing something very similar. 1st Peter chapter three verse three. Look at what he says. Here Peter writes to the sisters in the fellowship. Do not let your adornment be merely outward arranging of the hair, wearing gold or putting on fine apparel. Rather, let it be, look at this, ladies, the hidden person of the heart with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which is very precious in the sight of God. Here Peter talks about a beauty that's incorruptible.

It's not on the outside. All beauty on the outside is is corruptible. Gravity wins. I mean which pulling us all down to the grave. You can get a lot of work done and prop this up and stretch this back and all of those things, but eventually beauty is fading, it's fleeting, but there's something that's incorruptible. It's what's on the inside. It's an incorruptible beauty, a gentle and quiet spirit seen in the lives of godly women. In our society today, people exalt and idolize the beautiful people, don't they? You could go once a year, you know, the end of the year, the most beautiful people in top 20 most beautiful people.

And I've never gotten one of those magazines, but they're just there. And usually the beauty I entirely the beauty that they're emphasizing it's only external. There's nothing said about their character, what kind of person they are. Just the external, what you see. They could be a mile wide in beauty and an inch deep in character. And what God sees is what's on the heart. If God had his own publication and showed beautiful people from heaven's perspective, it would be far different because God doesn't see as man sees because God looks on the heart. The true beauty of a godly woman is more, so much more than just outward externals because those things are corruptible, but it's an inner beauty that doesn't fade.

And so Paul says the women in public worship, their appearance should reflect that of a godly woman, which is more than just the overemphasis of outward beauty. Then Paul moves now from the appearance to the action of the women in public worship. Look at verse 10. But which is proper for women professing godliness with good works. The word professing is a word meaning to engage voluntarily in something. And in this case, the godly women were engaged in good works. How is it that a person's faith is demonstrated? I could tell you this morning that I have faith.

But how would you know whether or not I actually had faith? You would know that I have faith by the way that I live, by the things that I do. The works that I do are a demonstration of the faith that I have. James said that in his epistle. He said some of you will say you have faith and I have works. He said, show me your faith without your works and I will show you my faith by my works. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

In other words, he's saying your faith, my faith is going to be demonstrated by the works that we do. And for women in the church, godly women they're going to be professing, they're going to be revealing who they are in Christ by the works that they do. I think of an example of this in Acts chapter nine. You remember that woman whose name was Tabitha, also translated Dorcas. It's a name that means gazelle. It says concerning her in the early church that she was a woman who was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did.

And Tabitha was a woman who was known for these things and she was so loved that when she passed away, she died, they actually called for the apostle Peter and they didn't call for Peter to come and preside over her funeral. They called for Peter to come and raise her back from the dead. I've never gotten a call like that, but can you imagine? And Peter comes and he prays and she's raised back from the dead. That's how loved she was because of the good works, the godliness, the character that was seen within her life.

I think of Acts chapter 16, that woman named Lydia who Paul the apostle led to Christ, opened up her home, allowed the church to meet there. I think of Romans chapter 16, at the very end of that chapter, Paul lists a series of names. And eight out of the names that he listed concerning those co-laborers with him in the ministry were women. One of which her name was Phoebe and she was entrusted with the epistle to the Romans to deliver it safely. The activity of the women in the congregation should be that of godliness seen in their good works done as unto the Lord.

But then we come to now the function or the role of women in public worship. Pay close attention here in verse 11. Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. Let me begin by saying that there is no shortage of misunderstanding or debate over these passages. Entire books have been written to combat or to defend what it says here in God's word. Hours of scholarship have been poured into the study of proper interpretation. First of all, the historic interpretation.

The historic interpretation believes that scripture says what it says and it means what it says. And this view concerning this passage has been held in since the early church. The grammar of the passage is plain. Early church ministry bears record of it. There's no confusion, no problem concerning this passage for the last 1,970 years. Everybody knew what this passage meant until 1969. Everybody wants to be liberated. And and there suddenly there was a problem that was introduced through progressive interpretation. We have two views today. One is called complementarianism, which is the viewpoint that God has certain roles that are given to men in the church and different roles for women, for the sisters in the church.

Two different roles that God has given. They are distinct, equally important and complementary of one another, but nonetheless they are different from one another. And then you have what is called the egalitarianism viewpoint. And that is that there is no difference at all, no restrictions on the ministry uh for women in the church that they can do anything that the man does. And and that is the one way that people look at it. And what that introduces is what we would call a progressive interpretation. Progressive revisionists took issue with these passages. And why? Not so much because it was a textual concern, but it was a secular cultural concern.

And suddenly they began to interpret the scriptures that could potentially be offensive through the lens of the culture and begin to take away from what God says. And listen, if you change the meaning of this passage of scripture, this gives you license to do whatever you want to do and bend to any cultural preference of the day when you look at the scriptures. And aren't we seeing that in our world presently? Do we not see marriage under attack in this way? God says from the very beginning, before the fall of man, it was man and woman for life.

That was God's intention. The culture says we disagree with that. In fact, we're going to legislate something different or we're going to say this. That doesn't change the fact that God's word is God's word. And the same principle applies here. When you have the culture dictating what is acceptable, then the standard of God's word becomes rejected. And that's not only in the world, but listen, we're starting to see that infiltrate the church.

Guest (Male): We'll break away from the message for just a minute or two and Pastor John Randall will be right back. This is a daily walk. Today we're discussing the role of women in the church. Listen to today's message again or catch up on what you may have missed at a dailywalk.org or oneplace.com. And you can hear Pastor John's messages shortly after they're delivered by getting our church app. It's free. Just do a search for Calvary South OC to download our app and start listening to the latest teachings from Pastor John. Pastor John records encouraging daily devotionals that are accessible at a dailywalk.org.

Start the day with Pastor John, a cup of coffee, and your Bible. Our offer to you throughout the month of August is redeemed, a journey through Ruth by Michelle Randall, John's wife. Ladies, I know you'll be encouraged as you read about the story of Ruth and how it applies to your daily walk. It would make for great summertime reading. You might even suggest it for your next ladies Bible study at church. You can get a copy from us at a daily walk for the cost of just $10. We can take your request at 877-242-0828 or if you'd rather, visit our e-store at a dailywalk.org.

That's 877-242-0828 and a dailywalk.org. And if you could include a little extra, that would be a huge help as we are listener supported. No gift is too small for God to use in great ways. Again, donating online is super easy at a dailywalk.org. Let's return to Pastor John's message now. So first of all, let's consider the passage. Again in verse 11, let a woman learn in silence with all submission and I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. Now please keep in mind the context, first of all, concerning the passage, it has to do with public worship, the public gathering of the body of Christ.

First of all, make note of this. He says, let a woman learn. You got to pause right there and praise God for that because this was completely liberating for women in that culture. How much the gospel of Jesus Christ has done for sisters in the body of Christ, for women. Normally, women were not allowed to learn. If you study the Grecian culture, you'll know that there were times when women sadly were treated like slaves. They were placed in seclusion. They could uh a divorce could easily take place and they would be left destitute. It wasn't right, but that's what was going on culturally speaking.

The Roman culture wasn't much better, although they had a little more liberty, they didn't have that much liberty. In fact, often women were seen like a piece of property. And historically, it got so bad that in 331 BC, they had an epidemic where women were poisoning their husbands to get rid of them. That's one way to deal with the problem, apparently. And in Rome, divorce became very common. Then you move to the Jewish culture and a women's place in the home was respected as a mother, as a wife. But still, they would be considered inferior and not able to learn like the men.

Here's the apostle Paul saying, hey listen, let the women learn. Let them learn the word of God. Let them become students of God's word. Don't hinder them from that. The New Testament church was made up of men, women, slaves, free people, poor people, wealthy people, all together as one body. And in that sense, there was no distinction. In Galatians chapter three verse 28, the apostle Paul said, there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither bond nor free, male nor female. You are all one in Christ. We all have this opportunity to come before the word of God and to learn it, men and women alike.

And what a blessing to have women in the congregation that love God's word. Women that study God's word, that have questions about God's word. My wife reads the Bible daily. And there are things that she will share with me concerning the insight that God shows her as she studies the word that I go, wow, I I talked through the whole Bible, I never saw that before. That's good. I need to write that down and use it. I mean it's just a good insight that God showed her because she's a student of the word. Ladies, be students of the word of God.

John Randall: Obviously, much more can be said about all of this, so we'll devote another broadcast to the subject. Come back tomorrow as Pastor John Randall returns with more about women in the church here on a daily walk. This program is listener supported and brought to you by Calvary South OC.