Devotion - Thursday, November 5

Thank goodness that there are some of Paul’s writings which we have come to understand as culturally limited. In my continued reading of I Corinthians, I arrived this morning at the latter verses of Chapter 14. Here, Paul says, “As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silence in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak… If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home.”

How blessed we were last night at LSM with Leslie’s devotional. Carrying I Corinthians 14 forward without reconsideration would have precluded her serving as our guide.

Our Tuesday night Bible study is a majority of women. I can’t imagine turning them away, insisting that they wait till they are married and then ask their husband questions raised by the book of Hebrew’s references to our Great High Priest.

Paul writes words which guide and direct us. Some of his words need to be reconsidered as we move forward in our desire to serve Jesus. Here is one such place.

Those who insist on a literal interpretation of every verse of scripture are more inclined that our expression of the Church to live by I Corinthians 14. But few, very few, prohibit all female speech in church. They have adjusted Paul’s words to mean that women should not be pastors. This is understandable. How many of the strong female members of our churches would be such had they never been allowed to ask questions during their Sunday Church School classes?

Thank goodness we have come to understand that Paul’s words here, while instructive to the church in Corinth, are not binding on the churches we attend.