God's Word Only!

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.