Christian women who speak in church - how do you explain that it's OK to do so?

Question

For those who responded to my previous question, I thought it would be clear that I am an evangelical atheist, attempting to show the absurdity and misogyny of the Bible,. Geesh!

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AgNRyLU5rx.vMhuCdsICoZXzy6IX?qid=20060915061035AAsWbWA

1 Corinthians 14:34-35 - Let women be silent in church; they are not to be allowed to speak. They must submit to this regulation, as the Law itself instructs. If they have questions to ask they must ask their husbands at home, for there is something indecorous about a woman's speaking in church.

Dukalink - Leviticus is from the Old Testament. I keep hearing from Christians that we are supposed to follow the New Testament. Or do you just pick and choose the parts of the Bible that try to explain your myth?

Axel - one definition of evangelical is: marked by ardent or zealous enthusiasm for a cause http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=evangelical

Oh, and welcome to the fold!

Suzanne - 1 Corinthians 11:16 Man was not created originally for the sake of woman, but woman was created for the sake of man. For this reason a woman ought to bear on her head an outward sign of man's authority for all the angels to see.

Paul wrote about women as if we were lower than men. I didn't say that this was a quote from Jesus. I said that Christians pick and choose from the Bible to fit their needs.

Yeger (if you mean the beer, it's spelled Yeager), go have another drink. I have a wonderful life and I'm a very happy person. Atheism is not equated with tragedy. How about you, since drinking is so important that it's the name you chose?

Answer 1

Just more proof of how Christianity sucks. They discriminate women! I really look forward to the day when Christianity will disappear forever and stop preventing real progress for mankind.

Answer 2

Paul wrote to the Corinthian churches to address a specific problem in THAT church; this is not a letter directed to all churches in perpetuity, although we can certainly learn from it. The Corinthian church lacked order; everyone was speaking at once -- giving prophecies, speaking in tongues, etc. Because the women sat in a different area than the men, the women were having difficulty hearing and would frequently call out to their husbands, asking them to repeat what had been said. Paul's letter is an attempt to bring order to a very disorderly church.

Notice Paul references "the law" (small "l") in verse 34 of his letter. He is not referencing a New Testament Law, because Jesus taught nothing about this; in fact, He taught the opposite -- women were free to speak with Him at all times. When He spoke with the Samaritan woman at the well, the apostles wondered why He was speaking with her, but didn't dare to question Him. Jesus is also documented as having sisters Mary and Martha sit at His feet, which, in those days, was reserved for official students of a Rabbi ONLY.

So what does this tell you? The "law" to which Paul referred had to have been some type of local ordinance. As I have demonstrated above, it is certainly not part of the Commandments given by Jesus Christ.

Peace.

Answer 3

The application of the apostle Paul's inspired command should be understood in the light of the context.When Paul wrote,the meetings at the Corinth congregation,including those meetings where unbelievers were present,lacked order.More than one person at a time would be prophesying or speaking in a tongue(1Cor.14:22:32).
Evidently some women there would raise challenging questions and dispute with men appointed to teach the congregation.Thus,these women were actually assuming the position of teachers and ignoring the position of headship assigned to the man.(1Cor11:3).
This in no way demeans women.1Cor14:33 calls attention to the fact that "God is a God,not of disorder but of peace"In order for things to run orderly there has to be those whose lead and those who follow.
The Bible admonishes husbands to love their wives as their own bodies(Eph5:28).They are reminded to assign their wives honour 'as to a weaker vessel'(1Peter 3:7).
There is nothing absurd or misogynous about the Bible.It was written by men who were inspired by God.It is there for our instruction and guidance (1Tim3:16,17)
You lack understanding,therefore are finding it difficult to make any sense out of it.The Churches of Christendom don't help your plight.They teach doctrines of men not of God,thereby confusing and turning many away from Almighty God.

Answer 4

Sounds to me like your trying to find a reason to not believe. The Bible was inspired divinely, but it was still written by the hands of men who lived in a time when women did not have a public opinion.

I am interested to know, when those terrible things in life happen. Like if you were in a car accident or someone broke in your house; Do you pray? An evangelical athiest is not what I want to be when I die.

Answer 5

dear cathrin (sorry if i spelled incorrectly your name)

i am an evangelical church an i gave my hearl to christ !# years ago
i serve with a short meassages before the sermon
and i feel that god gave me the talent of knowledge and public speaking< the holy spirit is assurign me that even if i"m a woman i must speak for the good for my church
dear< you should interpret the bible in the cultural context>
paul said that women should?t speak but< in that time women weren"t eucated they sat in their churches in the back> paul says not to talk to keep the discipline and the silence during the sermons>
and now< in the @!st century when women are equally treated considering education

Answer 6

Well said! I have been trying to point this out. I'm not an atheist though - I believe in the Creator but the idea of a male god and a male savior with 12 male apostles is nothing but an attempt to justify misogyny.

Answer 7

I will not take Biblical instruction from someone who does not believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God.

And yes, I will continue to speak in church.

Answer 8

There are so many prohibitions in the bible (Let me direct you to Leviticus, Chapter 22), that the time comes that we must discard those portions that divide, rather than unite

Answer 9

Because Christians pick and choose which parts of the bible to believe in, then explain away the parts that they don't follow with reasons like:

Out of Context
Mistranslation
Old Laws that don't apply anymore.

Answer 10

huh? You are an "evangelical atheist". First time I see such a label.

I am an unbeliever - and definitely not an "atheist".

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My answer: well, you have just converted me to your belief. I won't be a christian.