Joshua 1:8
"...[B]ut you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Joshua 1:8).
"You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me." (John 5:39).
"And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13).
I like v. 20. We have renewed minds and ought to use them accordingly. We serve a God of reason.
ReplyDeleteI also like v. 40. We serve a God of decency and order. Our lives should mirror our God. I find comfort in knowing if something is indecent, disorderly, incoherent, fuzzy, or in the gray - it is not of God. Our God is a God of clarity, decency, and reason.
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm reading this about speaking in tongues, I'm struggling trying to get a visual... I'm picturing a church full of confusion with people speaking gibberish without any meaning in order to create some kind of image about themselves but not really to have true significance or meaning... Is this a somewhat fair picture? And what kind of sign are tongues for unbelievers?
ReplyDeleteI like the end of v. 26 about building one another up.
I think that's a fair visual and probably why Paul was writing to them concerning the matter. I think the point is to glorify God with whatever gifts you're given rather than, as you said, to try to appear religious or something.
ReplyDeleteRemember in Acts when the Apostles were speaking in tongues on the day of pentecost and everyone there was amazed. They then wondered how uneducated jewish men were able to speak in various languages and it opened the door for Peter who spoke to the unbelievers and converted many of them.
Good example in 12:06 comment Josh.
ReplyDeleteIronically a little confused by verse 34 about women in church. But assuming that is cultural thing.
Love verse 33: "For God is not a God of confusion but of peace."
I'm not entirely sure but I don't think the command for women to not speak in church is a cultural thing. I think it has to do with his earlier statements in regards to women being submissive to men, wearing head coverings, etc. Women are to submit to men, who are to submit to Christ. I think Paul is referring to humility here. And I think it's regarding authoritative teaching. This isn't really a problem for us today as really nobody talks during church except the pastor. However, I do think this is a rebuke to allowing female pastors, though I may be wrong on this - doubtful since this is my blog:)
ReplyDeleteThis verse (34) is a little tough... In the Catholic Church women are only allowed to be nuns and monks (silent). You will never see a female deacon, priest, or a religious figure of much "rank." Honestly, I never thought too much of it. I do think it is important to keep this verse in context. The woman isn't to be "silent" in the church gather in that she isn't to sing/worship/pray, but she is to be conscious of her role in the church, and I think Paul is saying here that they are not to hold a teaching position as far as being the sole pastor/preacher/priest, or even to question the pastor. I know this interpretation (which is a solid literal interpretation) angers a lot of branches (ie the more liberal Lutheran branch) and others who value female leadership in the church. We struggle with the term "submissive" and it carries such a negative connotation. Honestly I know that women are WAY more intelligent than men, but I have listened to tons of females preach (Trinity Lutheran was right next to our home church and we went there probably 5 times a year growing up), and I prefer listening to a male Priest or Pastor. Maybe it's due to more than just a preference...
ReplyDeleteBut then again, maybe there are binders of women out there who would be fantastic preachers :-)
ReplyDeleteThis is your blog Josh, so you are probably right on about the female pastor thing. :)
ReplyDeletelol Mary, binders of women!
Interesting that Jesus actually broke "social mores" when he spoke to the woman at the well. I need to quote verse 34 next time Karyn is yapping at me in church. JUST KIDDING!
haha! Crazy thought that sometimes social mores aren't everything...
DeleteTrue!
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