It
is the goal of the Lord's church locally and throughout the world to
uphold and defend God's Word as the only authority in spiritual matters.
With that goal in mind, this column will address some comments received
from a reader. We appreciate hearing from the readers, and encourage you
to write. Since the note which came in the mail recently was not signed,
we will be using throughout today's article. the grammatically-correct
generic "he" and "his" in referring to the
letter-writer.
First,
after reminding us that Paul Crouch was "the founder of the largest
Christian TV network in the world," the writer asks the question:
"What have you done?" Jesus, in Matthew 7:21-23, gives a
glimpse of the Judgment scene. He says, "Not every one that
saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he
that doeth the will of my Father, which is in heaven." Many
present at the Judgment,, having done many wonderful works in Jesus'
name, and expecting to enter heaven, will hear the awful sentence:
"I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
Jesus continues in Matthew 7:24-27 to teach that it is the one who hears
and obeys His sayings who will be blessed. Let's look at John 14:15:
"If ye love me, keep my commandments"; John 14:24:"He
that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings"; John 15:14:
"Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you."
Jesus' point is clear: obedience to His commands is of more value than
the doing of many wonderful works in His name. TBN's programming is
filled with many individuals and groups who are doing what the religious
world considers "wonderful works in Jesus' name." Yet, most of
the teaching in these programs is not found in God's Word. In light of
Jesus' clear warnings in the above-cited scriptures, we will continue to
urge our readers to use their time studying God's Word for themselves,
then obeying only what is found there.
The
letter-writer found especially offensive God's commands as to who may
and who may not proclaim His Word publicly through preaching. He
comments: "God loves women. Yes, women can preach. It's a free
nation!"; "If you would preach the full gospel, then a woman
wouldn't have to."; "If you hate women so much, why don't you
go to Afghanistan where they treat women like dogs. I hear that Al Queda
needs a few good men." Let's look at God's Word on the subject of
women preaching. "Let the woman learn in silence with all
subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority
over the man, but to be in silence" (1 Timothy 2:11,12); "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. 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" (1 Corinthians 14:34,35). There is a group whom women
may teach. Look at Titus 2:3-5: "The aged women likewise, that
they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given
to much wine, teachers of good things; that they may teach the young
women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be
discreet, chaste, keepers, at home, good, obedient to their own
husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." Christian
woman have a very important role in Christ's church; that role is
described above. The final sentence of this passage - "that the
word of God be not blasphemed" - gives
the result that will follow when God's commands to the older and the
younger women are obeyed.
Further
comments from the letter-writer: his opinion that the newspaper column
is "garbage"; that we "don't get it, do you?"; that
the column contained "nothing uplifting"; and the suggestion
that we "don't watch TBN." These opinions will not be
addressed, but we do thank the reader for writing. May we all continue
searching the Scriptures, believing and obeying only what God's Word
teaches.