Take the New Testament passage, 1 Timothy 2:12-14:
(Needless
to say this is an unpopular passage in the modern world, but self deception, and the "standard heresy", does
not fool God, IT IS SIN, and is counterproductive.)
(We should, if necessary,
confess to God our extreme difficulty in accepting the truth of the passage and ask for his help -- NOT FALSIFY IT.)
8I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
9In 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;
10But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
11Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
12But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the
man, but to be in silence.
13For
Adam was first formed, then Eve.
14And
Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
15Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness
with sobriety.
The "standard heresy" is that this is a "pastoral"
letter and therefore only applies within churches.
But, this is wrong.
There are TWO reasons plainly given why a woman is not to take authority over a man, nor is she to teach.
Reason 1 is the problem of her deception in the Garden of Eden.
Reason
2 is that God created the man, first, in his image, then, second, he created the woman to be a helpmeet for the man.
THERE IS NOTHING SAID ABOUT BEING IN A CHURCH OR NOT!
And these
two reasons, DO NOT, depend, at all, on a church setting.
God's truth,
in the passage, applies GENERALLY throughout the world.
See Genesis chapter 1
and 2 and also see my page, Genesis 1:26,27.
There are RIGHT ways of handling unpopular bible passages.
