The married couple of Mr. and Mrs. Priscilla and Aquila are one of many examples of the early Church teaching and living the Gospel. Not only were they witnesses to the Good News about the Saviour, Jesus Christ, but together this duo trained Barnabas who then went out into his field of service and mission.

Aquila and Priscilla were considered equal. Of the 6 times they are mentioned, 3 times Aquila is named first and 3 times Priscilla is named first. Rooted in contemporary culture too many male leaders claim women (in general) cannot teach. But Paul writes that “there is neither male nor female” (Galatians 3:28), and Paul mentions many women leaders of the Church.

So what does 1 Timothy 2:12 mean, “I don’t allow a woman to teach or to have authority over a man. Instead, she should be quiet” (God’s Word Translation©)? Much can be said, but I refer only to the fact that verses 8-10 are plural, and since verses 11-12 use the singular (“woman” and “man”) it is not an issue of gender, but about wife and husband. A wife should not teach her husband, or usurp (interfere with, or interrupt, her teaching husband) during a gathering of believers. This is consistent with Jesus teaching that no believer should “have absolute power over people” (Mark 10:42 God’s Word Translation©). It also is consistent with Jesus teaching that if you have an issue with someone you first speak to them face-to-face privately, not in public (Matthew 18:15)! This shows how we must carefully consider the whole Bible, and not pick out one verse to give it a meaning which is contrary to the rest of Scripture because we can make it suit our own likes and wishes.

People also underestimate the incredible influence and pressure of society and culture and tradition on us, for human cultures treat people in categories (gender, race, economic status, age, etc.). God sees us as unique persons. The Bible declares, “There are neither Jews nor Greeks, slaves nor free people, males nor females. You are all the same in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28 God’s Word Translation©). This prohibits racism. James strongly teaches against showing favouritism to the rich (James 2:1-5). Paul clearly cannot be teaching sexism, then.

We must not let culture or tradition shape our faith. Many are the warning signs against giving up spiritual discernment for the easier route of peer pressure or religious domination. Instead,
always to submit to Scripture even if it makes you uncomfortable or demands you must give up a pet belief or cultural practice. “Ezra was determined to study the Lord’s Teachings, live by them, and teach their rules and regulations in Israel” (Ezra 7:10 God’s Word Translation©).

Never acquiesce to, or relax in, any theology or institutional doctrine, but, “Do your best to present yourself to God as a tried-and-true worker who isn’t ashamed to teach the word of truth correctly” (2 Timothy 2:15 God’s Word Translation©).

***This post is a sister to “Submission” which was published October 7, 2018. I respectfully suggest they could be read together.

The Bible is about God.

Yet people read it for political proofs, religious ideology, for use as a weapon against those with whom they disagree or find unacceptable and as a verification for their own heresies or adrenaline to feed their “I’m-right” ego.

The Bible is about being on God’s Team (with God as the highest honcho) and non-debatable love for each and every one of God’s creations.

If your reading gives you permission to judge and condemn anyone of any time or place, prideful assurance that your doctrine or culture is superior to others, or seems useful as an excuse to abuse or hold power over others, you are not reading The Bible God commissioned, but a social distortion for human justification for wrongdoing.

“The tree had fruit that was good to eat, nice to look at, and desirable for making someone wise [“like a god” Genesis 3:5]” Genesis 3:6.

From the beginning people chose whatever satisfied their personal consumption, titillated them in their vision and set them up to play god.

The Divine Plan was for people to serve in creation, walk with God and nurture each other.

I plan, God being my helper, to follow the Plan and benefit the Community, not my little self-centred, self-created universe. Yes, the price is high, but it is better than the religious vandalism that allows people to mutilate creation and destroy other people.

“Certainly the faithful love of the Lord hasn’t ended; certainly God’s compassion isn’t through! They are renewed every morning. Great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 CEB

“You have eternal life and peace on earth by what God does, not by what any human does; it is God’s gift [not a badge you earn].” Ephesians 2:8 (my paraphrase)