1 Corinthians 14:35
For it is improper for a woman to speak in church.
They are to ask their husbands at homes for it is improper for a woman to speak in church. Paul says for a woman to disobey this it would be a "shame, base, and dishonorable" thing. I think part of the shame would be that in not asking her father or husband at home, the woman misses an opportunity for building up her home. Also for her not to look to her husband or father as an authority is to put him to shame. It is definitely a shame for a woman not to build up her home and to fulfill her design as "a helper suitable for him" (Gen 2:18). Or it may just be the fact that speaking represents dishonoring men and therefore is "shameful". Whatever the reason is for it being a "shame" it comes out of the fact that the woman is not obeying the scripture that teaches that a woman are to subject themselves.
2 comments:
hey- i got to your blog thru amy drake. quick question- what about a theological discussion around the table, at a meal or gathering? do you think that it is biblically wrong for a woman to engage with a man other than her husband about theology -whether her husband is present or not? is it wrong for me to ask you this question thru blogging? should i have asked my husband first? thanks-
That’s a good question. When I wrote these things on women, I wanted to get at the raw meaning of what the scripture is saying. Not necessarily figure out all the practical aspects of it, but to just find out, “what is it saying?”, because I know that God is wiser than I am, and I can trust Him at his word, and that it is a good thing to obey Him. I also wanted to know because; I didn’t want to ask something of women that God was not asking. I will be honest with you I am still wrestling with this specific verse, trying to get at the core of what it is saying and what it means practically for us. I tend to approach scripture like Jacob when he wrestled with God. I wrestle with it and chew on it till God shows me what it means. This verse is such a sensitive topic, so I don’t want to come to a quick conclusion. But what I have written on 1 Corinthians 14 is what has come out of my wrestling with the verse so far. The scriptures are pretty clear that a woman ought to express “theology” or “who God is” in all that she does, whether actions or words. Anyone who would interpret 1 Corinthians 14 as saying that women should be weak or not express who God is has not really studied the scripture on this issue. And no I do not think that she has to ask her husband every time she expresses who God is in her life. I think we have to be careful of bringing or cultural perspective, or any cultural perspective, into our understanding of the verses on women. Also we must be careful not to have an “either or” mentality. As with many things the things of the Kingdom of God do not fit into these things. Women our both to be strong in their expression of theology both in their words and in their actions with men and they are also supposed to support the leadership of men, especially that of their husbands. I don’t think these are exclusive things.
Since Paul uses scripture as his reasoning for saying this (specifically to women) and later says it’s the Lord’s command, we cannot just ignore these verses. We must obey it. I do think it will take some learning on how to live these verses out practically, one to get our own assumptions on what this looks like out of the way, and two to learn to live out what the Kingdom of God has for us. My hope is to get people to start believing in the scripture and then once they do ask how we are to obey it.
Here is what I have come up with so far on the practical side of these verses, although I have not settled on a conclusion. The church is meant to be lead not only by pastors, elders, and deacons, but as families come into the church the father is to represent his family within the church and provide godly leadership. These verses reflect that: fathers rising up and taking responsibility to see that their homes are the Lord’s, teaching their family about the ways of the Lord. So I think this is the overall lesson of these verses: Women, what can you do to establish the godly leadership of your husband in your home. This is the over arching principle in whatever situation you find you self in, whether in the church meeting or out of it (1 Corinthians 11).
Specifically, this verse refers to meeting as a church (whether small group meeting or a Sunday service). I don’t think this means that a women cannot talk about God openly in her daily actions. In fact, I think that is the essence of womanhood, to express God in all she does whether by words or actions. So as long as she is supporting her husband’s leadership and is not in an authoritative or teaching position over men, I would not put any restrictions on her outside the church, as long as it is done with a gentle and quiet spirit (don’t put cultural connotations on this). I think an example of this is Aquila and Priscilla with Apollos. This was a one on one interaction with Apollos, and although I am sure they probably mostly talked with him together, I also wouldn’t be surprised if there were times for example Priscilla was working around the house and praising God and talking with Apollo on how great God is and about theology. We also know that Paul and Jesus talked with women. I think that theology should be part of a regular discussion among Christians (Col 3:16). What better thing to talk about then the glories of God as a part of normal discussion. I don’t think these verses are restricting that by any means.
I do think, though, within church or small group meetings there should be strong leadership from the men. And that this restriction focuses on that. I believe that these verses are putting the responsibility on direction, teaching, authority, and judgment on the men, because when that happens the church is stronger. It is not saying that women must be totally silence, because we see that in 1 Corinthians 11, Acts 1-2, and so on, but when it comes to the things above they are to be silent. I will be honest with you; I am still wrestling at this point. I also have the questions of “What is this supposed to look like?” And when I say these things, I also have a strong reaction like most people (because I come to it with my cultural expectations of what that looks like), but I am not interested in what I have say about it or what feel, but instead I want to submit to the word of God; “was it from [me] that the word of God came?” I do have more ideas about this verse, which are interesting and hopefully will be helpful, but I am still chewing on it waiting on the Lord to give me the answer, but I think what it comes down to is that we have to surrender to God in this and say, “I know you have something good here, your Word is God breathed and is for our good. God show us what you mean here and how we can practically live it out.” And He is good, and I think we will find in His word so much more than we expected or dreamed.
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