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Standing for New Testament Christianity
Each local congregation of God’s people is charged with the responsibility of engaging in the work of the Lord. There is a need for edifying teaching, effective outreach, dedicated benevolence, appropriate discipline, etc.. To properly address these and other items, there is of necessity an avenue whereby decisions can be made.
MEN’S BUSINESS MEETINGS?
The "men’s business meeting" has become the standard practice in many churches to address these necessary decisions. Is the "men’s business meeting" a Scripturally correct method to discuss and decide on the work of the local church?
Some questions to ponder regarding the "men’s business meeting":
- Where is an example of a "men’s business meeting" in Scripture?
- What is the difference between a "men’s business meeting" and a church council or committee?
- What Scripture excludes women entirely from being present and participants in any part of the work of the local church? (NOTE, some may limit the nature of her participation, ie. 1 Timothy 2:12; 1 Corinthians 14:34-35, but they do not exclude her)
A BIBLE PATTERN FOR DISCUSSION & DECISIONS Matthew 18:15-17 - discipline
v 15, "...between you and him alone...
v 16, "...take with you one or two more..."
v 17, "...tell it to the church."Jesus' 3 step process for discipline:
- 1 - approach the offender individually
- 2 - take others (elders, if there are any)
- 3 - tell it to the church (not elders or men)
Acts 6:1-6 - local benevolent care
v 2, "...summoned the multitude of the disciples..."
v 3, "...brethren, seek out from among you..."
v 5, "...the saying pleased the whole multitude." Nothing contextually, nor anything grammatically would lead one to conclude that this "multitude of disciples" was exclusively male.
Acts 15:1-30 - doctrinal controversy
v 3, "...sent on their way by the church..."
v 4, "...received by the church..."
v 5, "...some of the sect of the Pharisees rose up"
v 6, "...apostles and elders came together..."
v 7, "...Men and brethren..." (cf. v 13)
v 12, "...all the multitude kept silent and listened.."
v 22, "...the apostles and elders, with the whole
church..."
v 23, "The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,
to the brethren..."
v 30, "...when they had gathered the multitude
together..."
"Brethren" (adelphos) is generic, used of both genders.
- were only men happy about converts? (v 3)
- were greetings extended to men only? (v 23)
- did Judas and Silas only exhort the men? (v 32)
1 Corinthians 5:1-5 - discipline
v 4, "...when you are gathered together..."
The disciples were to remove this one from fellowship. Remember Jesus said, "tell it to the church."
1 Corinthians 16;1-4 - messengers
v 3, "...whomever you approve by your letters..."
cf. 2 Corinthians 8:19, "...who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift..." The church was preparing a gift to send to aid the needy disciples elsewhere. They would choose messengers to bear their gift.
WHAT ABOUT THE SILENCE OF WOMEN?
Paul wrote, "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." (1 Timothy 2:11-12). The word "silence" comes from the Greek hesuchia, meaning stillness, desistance from bustle or language, quietness (Strong’s). It is the same word which is used in Acts 22:2 and 2 Thessalonians 3:12. The word does not call for absolute silence, but for a quiet, submissive disposition.
Paul wrote, "Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church." (1 Corinthians 14:34-35). This word silence is from the Greek sigao, which means to keep close, secret, to hold peace (Strong’s). It is the same word which is used in Acts 15:12, 13 and 1 Corinthians 14:28, 30. This word demands absolute silence. The context in which it appears addresses the use of spiritual gifts in the assembly.
Neither of these text remotely suggests that a woman should not be present and participating in a meeting to discuss and decide upon issues dealing with the work of the local church. Nor is there any other text in Scripture which would exclude women from presence and participation in discussion about the work of the local church.
No Bible text reveals or even slightly hints of a "men’s business meeting". This is a modern construction, another name for an exclusive committee which has taken power unto itself which God has not given. Biblical leadership belongs to the elders of the local church. In the absence of elders, we do not create a substitute structure.
The consistent pattern of the Bible is that all members of the local church ought to be present and participants as the work of the church is under consideration. Even in the case where there are elders in the local church, the entire church was still included in the process, both men and women. Shall we not follow the direction of God with regard to His church?
ANSWERING THE ATHEIST
Is casting out devils a sign of a true Christian? Mark 16:17 reveals that yes, it is the sign of a true believer, but Mark 9:38 and Luke 9:49 reveal that some who don't follow Jesus can cast out devils too. Is there a contradiction?
RESPONSE:
In Mark 9:38, John spoke to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us." (cf. Luke 9:49). I'm curious why the questioner stopped there, and did not read on. Notice Jesus' response:
Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name
can soon afterward speak evil of Me. For he who is not against
us is on our side. For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink
in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to
you, he will by no means lose his reward. (Mark 9:39-41)
And again,
Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side.
(Luke 9:50)
John had the idea that unless one followed with them, they were not indeed a follower of Christ. Jesus corrected him on this. Of these who were casting out demons, Jesus said, "...he who is not against us is on our side." He did not share John's perspective of them.
In the book of Acts, we find some who were not the Lord's followers, and they were not able to cast out a demon:
Then some of the intinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon
themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who
had evil spirits, saying, 'We exorcise you by the Jesus whom
Paul preaches.' Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish
chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said,
'Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?' Then the man
in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them,
and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house
naked and wounded. (Acts 19:13-16)
Those spoken if in Mark 16:17, Mark 9:38ff, and Luke 9:49ff were all true believers. The questioner has wrongly assumed that those of Mark 9 and Luke 9 were not. The context shows otherwise. There is no contradiction.
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