The blog has moved again. Sorry. But this time, I promise it’s permanent. It is now at the address of the main site - www.plainbibleteaching.com.
You can read more about the change here - Plain Bible Teaching Relaunch
[This article was written by Tim Haile.]
For centuries, questions and controversies have existed among religious people over the role of women in the work and worship of the local church. Two extreme positions have arisen:
These extreme positions result from people either completely rejecting the plain commands of Scripture, or from a failure to consider their context.
There are others who do not hold either of these extreme positions, but they still have honest questions about the nature and extent of the limitations that are placed upon women. For example, is it always wrong for a woman to teach or correct a man? Do women violate Bible teaching by answering questions in a Bible class? May a woman answer a public question about an absent member? God has spoken to these things, both explicitly and implicitly. We will need to examine the related commands, statements, examples and implications in order to obtain a clear understanding.
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Towards the end of a lengthy discussion of Jesus’ work as our high priest, the Hebrew writer provides a summary in his explanation of Psalm 40:6-8. In this explanation, he tells us the three things Jesus came to the earth to accomplish.
“After saying above, ‘Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them’ (which are offered according to the Law), then He said, ‘Behold, I have come to do Your will.’ He takes away the first in order to establish the second. By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:8-10).
The prophecy attributes these words to Christ: “I have come to do Your will.” Jesus came to do the Father’s will (cf. John 5:30). These verses mention three things that Jesus did by the will of God.
Jesus came to do God’s will and die on the cross. In His death, He made atonement for our sins, abolished the Old Law, and established His new covenant. Our responsibility now is to follow the new law, and not turn to the old, so that we can have our sins forgiven.
The June issue of Plain Bible Teaching is now online with the following articles:
I hope you find the new articles helpful.
I’ve written a few things about gay marriage and homosexuality recently (links at the end of this post). But something occurred to me today that I had not mentioned in a previous article. It’s a simple point, and maybe it will be another argument we can use when discussing this issue with others.
Many believe there is nothing wrong with homosexuality, that it is an inherited trait, an acceptable practice, and a normal lifestyle. They argue (incorrectly) that the Bible does not call this a sin. And they contend that God accepts those who continue to practice homosexuality.
Then the argument is made for same-sex marriage. If there is nothing wrong with homosexuality (as they believe), then there is no reason (in their minds) why gays cannot marry one another.
Even if homosexuality was not a sin, that would not necessarily mean that same-sex marriage is acceptable. For those who believe homosexuality is a wholesome lifestyle and that God accepts unrepentant homosexuals, I challenge them to find just one passage that mentions, or even suggests that God allows same-sex marriage. After all, God instituted marriage (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:3-6). If gays can marry, surely there is some verse were we can find this.
The fact of the matter is that there is no verse that either condones or explicitly condemns same-sex marriage. You would think that if homosexuality wasn’t a sin, then logically God would either endorse same-sex marriage or explain why He does not allow it. But there is nothing there. The lack of a mention says a lot.
Homosexuality is a sin (Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Timothy 1:9-10). No twisted arguments used to justify the practice or same-sex marriage will change that.
In Galatians 2:11-14, Paul tells of the time when he came to Antioch and had to rebuke his fellow apostle Peter (some versions call him Cephas here). The reason why Paul rebuked him was his hypocrisy. Peter knew that God accepted the Gentiles (Acts 10:34-35; 11:17-18). And he knew that God accepted them without them adopting certain aspects of the Law of Moses, like circumcision (Acts 15:5-11). Yet when certain Jews arrived, he withdrew and refused to associate with his Gentile brethren.
Peter’s sin is usually what we emphasize in these verses, and rightly so. But Paul, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, believed it was also good to single out Barnabas as one of the ones who went along with Peter. Paul said, “even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy” (Galatians 2:13), indicating that Barnabas’ fault was significant. What lessons can we learn from Barnabas’ sin here in Antioch?
Barnabas knew better. It was here in Antioch that he had witnessed the grace of God and the Gentiles responding to the gospel (Acts 11:20-23). Later he debated this issue in Antioch & discussed it with the apostles and elders in Jerusalem (Acts 15:1-2,12). He knew that God accepted the Gentiles without circumcision, no matter what the “party of the circumcision” believed (Galatians 2:12).
Barnabas should not have been carried away. Before this, we have seen Barnabas’ willingness to stand against the majority and accept one that the other brethren would not. When Saul returned to Jerusalem following his conversion, “he was trying to associate with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple” (Acts 9:26). Barnabas stood up for Saul before the church, rather than going along with the fear and rejection of this man (Acts 9:27). Barnabas should have done this on behalf of the Gentile Christians in Antioch.
Barnabas could have withstood Peter. Peter was an apostle (1 Peter 1:1), an elder (1 Peter 5:1), and a pillar in the church (Galatians 2:9). But even a leader in the church can be rebuked, provided it is on the testimony of two or three witnesses (1 Timothy 5:19-20). Barnabas could have taken two or three of the Gentile brethren Peter had withdrawn from as witnesses against him and rebuked him as Paul did. But he didn’t.
So what can we learn from this?
We can also keep in mind that Barnabas was a faithful follower of Christ. But he did make this mistake. No matter how strong we are (or think we are) as Christians, we must always be diligent and watchful so we do not fall into sin.
Many homosexuals and those who support their lifestyle have argued that those who are gay are so because of their genetic makeup, i.e., they were born gay. This was given as a reason why we cannot say that homosexuality is wrong because, after all, they cannot help it. Supposedly, there was scientific evidence to back up this claim.
Reasoning from the Bible, Christians have taught that homosexuality is a chosen practice, not a trait that was hardwired into one’s DNA. After all, the Bible calls homosexuality a sin (Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Timothy 1:9-10). And we know that God would not allow some people to be born in a state that would guarantee their damnation because “God is not one to show partiality” (Acts 10:35). Paul even alludes to some in Corinth who had once engaged in this practice, but had given it up when they turned to the Lord (”Such were some of you…” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
So we had this apparent conflict. Should we believe the word of God, or scientific evidence?
Well, it turns out that the American Psychological Association is now admitting that there is no evidence that a gene exists that makes one gay. You can read about it here: APA revises ‘gay gene’ theory.
There are surely many factors that contribute to one’s decision to engage in homosexuality. In the same way, there are many factors that might contribute to one’s decision to lie, steal, commit adultery, or murder. But that does not change the fact that these actions are sinful. Instead of looking for excuses for sinful behavior, we must simply repent and follow the Lord.
Jesus is, “to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation” (Hebrews 5:9). Make the choice to follow Him. As the Hebrew writer went on to say, “let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).
