On Jun 28, 2009, at 3:23 PM, Nicoll wrote:
Hi Pastor,
I'm Nicoll [a pseudonym] and I'm Jo-Hanan's friend. I'm a Christian and I go to a charismatic church in Singapore (Victory Family Centre) and during holidays it would be Wesley Methodist Church in Penang.
Well I think it was a few months ago when he said very disturbing things such as tongues do not exist and women cannot be pastors and only Catholics celebrate good friday, among other things.
It wasn't easy to understand what he claims to be true to the bible because it is in conflict with what my pastors preach (they always say "let's all pray in tongues for awhile") and what my church does. In Singapore there are female pastors in my church (and perhaps you've heard of them, the Seawards) and I did ask my pastor from Wesley whether women can be pastors and he told me its a Southern Baptist belief, an American kind-of problem and not so much of an Asian problem. He did use the example of Deborah from the bible to back that argument.
Anyway since Jo-Hanan isn't very good at explaining (and he admits), he directed me to you. So I think I'd like to ask you two questions..
1. Where does it say in the bible women cannot be pastors? and
2. Why does he say that tongues have ceased? (when it isn't stated explicitly that they have...)
Yup, hope you could help me understand these issues. Thanks!
God Bless,
Nicoll
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Date: June 28, 2009 5:44:51 PM GMT+08:00
Hello Nicoll,
It is good to hear from you. Thank you for being a friend to Jo-Hanan!
And I am mighty glad that you are making inquiries what the Bible teaches on the issues you have raised. I always enjoy studying the Scriptures together with fellow saints.
I will direct you to the passages of Scriptures that deal with the issues under consideration. I will leave it to the Spirit of God to teach you from Scriptures given by His divine inspiration.
Your spirit of wanting to know what the Bible says is most commendable. Nowadays few care to know what the Bible says - what it says is irrelevant to them. More commendable would be to practice what you are shown the Bible teaches. "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." James 1:22. "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock." Matthew 7:24-25.
Apostle Paul wrote to Pastor Timothy,
1 ¶ I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from THE TRUTH, and shall be turned unto FABLES [FICTIONS]." 2Tim 4:1-4.
One more note: you and I need to agree that in the doctrine and practice of the Christian religion, the Bible is the ONLY infallible guide and authority. Our only interest is what has God said on this matter. God's revelation is everything; man's imagination is vanity. It is not what this pastor or that professor or that doctor of divinity says. There are enough such people teaching FABLES as TRUTH! Therefore, it is "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isaiah 8:20.
Jesus condemned the religious people of His day with these words,
6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." Mark 7.
Let's consider the issues you raise. I will give some passages of Scriptures for your preliminary consideration and study.
You said, "Well I think it was a few months ago when he said very disturbing things such as tongues do not exist and women cannot be pastors and only Catholics celebrate good friday, among other things."
The veracity of a matter is not determined by how much it disturbs us. An uninformed and prejudiced mind is often disturbed by the things (whether true or false) it hears the first time. For example, when it was first stated that the world is ROUND, it was very disturbing to the ignorant Roman Catholic Church. They had always believed that the world is FLAT and that the world is the centre of the universe! Lies are sweet and comforting to those with itching ears - said Apostle Paul!
The veracity of a matter is to be measured by its EXACT conformity to the Holy Scriptures, God's revealed word to His children.
1. Where does it say in the bible women cannot be pastors?
The Bible not only affirms positively that only certain men are to be pastors. It plainly forbids women to be pastors. This is not because men are better than women. This is because the Head and Lord of the church decided so - it is the will of the Head and Lord of the Church.
Here are some passages of Scriptures for your consideration. The teaching is plain and easily understood. You draw your own conclusion.
Apostle Paul writing to Pastor Timothy, reminding him of the qualification of a pastor/teacher in 1Tim 3. (This is repeated in Titus 1.)
3:1 ¶ This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil."
There are ONLY TWO offices in the church of Jesus Christ - only two sets of qualification are given for the two offices of the NT church - that of pastors/teachers (bishop/overseer) and deacons. The rest are all man-made and imagined. For these offices that Christ Himself has ordained for His church, He himself lays down the qualifications for those exact and same offices. No more and no less.
What about women pastors? Read this passage and may our Lord give you light!
1Tim 2:
9 ¶ In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
Please understand these words in their proper context - the church. There are many vocations where women can teach legitimately. But it is the will of the head of the Church that the office of pastors/teachers are restricted to men only - and restricted to selected men, men whom the Lord Jesus Christ himself has called and given to the church. Women 'pastors/teachers' are USURPERS - God's words, not mine. They are a great shame to Christ... they pretend to be teachers of Christ's word but are the greatest transgressors of Christ's plain command. And this order of male headship is based on creation principles and the tragedy of the fall - and not something cultural or misogynous or Jewish male chauvinism.
Another passage, 1Cor 14:33ff - the immediate context is the orderliness when the church meet for public worship - " How is it then, brethren? when ye come together..." (for public worship - where men and women, boys and girls are gathered together) verse 26.
Read the passage below slowly, and think for yourself. Let the Word of God speaks to you.
26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together...
33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
34 ¶ Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
The context is the public gathering of the church for worship: it is not permitted unto women to speak - in the office and capacity of pastors/teachers. That office is RESERVED by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself to those selected men whom He Himself has called and equipped for the work of pastors/teachers, see Eph 4:11.
All so-called women 'pastors/teachers' are WITHOUT shame - not knowing that they shame themselves for usurping man's office, they shame Christ the head of the Church by repudiating Christ's plain command, they transgress the law of God, they shame the 'sissy spineless men' under their ministry. God's words, not mine!
Now, let those who claim that women can be pastors prove that these plain Scriptures speak otherwise! May our Lord grant you light, and guide you. If I have erred from the Scriptures, please be so kind to convert me back to the truth. "19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." James 5.
It refreshes my own soul restating these plain truths from the Holy Scriptures. And I thank you for giving me the opportunity to do so.
If you have further questions, please feel free to ask further.
I commend you, young lady, for wanting to know what the word of God says on the various issues.
2Ti 2:7 "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things."
2. Why does he say that tongues have ceased? (when it isn't stated explicitly that they have...)
I will reply to this question on 'tongues' in another mail, tomorrow.
Until then, read an excellent article here first:
http://www.letgodbetrue.com/bible/heresies/tongues-have-ceased.htm
(This article will probably give you enough biblical truth on the subject.)
your brother and servant in Christ,
sing
