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THE ESSENTIAL OF GODLY WOMEN 1 TIMOTHY 2:9-15 Pastor Stephen Muncherian January 31, 2010 |
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Please turn with me to 1 Timothy
2 - starting at verse 9. Over the last few
Sundays we’ve been looking at Paul’s first letter to Timothy - Timothy
who is pastoring the church of Ephesus. Ephesus
which was a very broken city. A place
where the culture was definitely not Christian and was very immoral. Where being a Christian - living out our faith
- sharing the Gospel - was not easy. In
many ways like Merced. And yet - in places like Ephesus
- or here in the greater Merced metroplex - people need Jesus. Jesus is the only One who can give us the real
life with God that we need. Jesus is the
only One who can heal our brokenness. The
people around us need Christians - us - the church to step up to the
plate and live out the Gospel. To take the
Gospel of Jesus into our community - the places we work - where we go
school - in whatever relationships we’re in. We’ve been looking at what Paul
writes to Timothy - pastor of the Ephesian church.
As Paul deeply cares for Timothy and the believers in
Ephesus - and the not-yet-believers in Ephesus - Paul is writing this
letter to Timothy and the church - to focus them on what’s essential to
be focused on if they’re going to be effective as the church that God
will use in Ephesus. The essentials of the Church that we need to give our lives
to if we’re going to be the congregation that God intends for us to be
here in Merced.
Before we come to verse 9 there
is one other thing I like to make sure we’re all on the same page with. What we’re about to look at here has become
one of the major battlefields in the church - and in a number of homes. Many people struggle with these verses. Many people have been hurt.
So, we need to agree together to approach this section
with great care to try to understand what Paul is writing and not just
how feel about things. If we’re going to
get what Paul is getting at and have his teaching effect our lives
positively then we’re going to have to approach this with humility and
to give each other a lot of grace. Are we
together on that? 1 Timothy
2:9 - Paul begins, “Likewise, I
want women...” Put another way, “with that
same thought in mind, I want women…” That “likewise” is important if we’re going to
understand what Paul
is focused on for women. Last Sunday we looked at Paul
discussing the essential of Godly men. Godly men taking spiritual
leadership in prayer. All of which
begins in the heart - which is Paul’s focus. The
priority of the heart. The priority of
what? The heart. Godly men whose hearts are broken - surrendered - anguished - before God. Godly
men who have an eagerness for the things of God and a desire to be used
by God in their families - at work - at school. With that same priority - the
priority of the what? The heart. Paul goes on here - “likewise” - in the same way men are to pay
attention to their hearts before God and so to conduct themselves as
Godly men - Paul is now going to speak to women about their heart
attitude and conduct. Verses 9 to 12 focus on The Priority of the Heart. Let’s
say that together, “The
priority of the heart.” Going on in verse 9: Likewise, I
want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and
discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly
garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women
making a claim to godliness. Remember Phyllis Diller? Believe it or not she’s still alive. Phyllis Diller once said she that she’d spent three hours in a beauty shop -
and that was just for the estimate! In Ephesus when women stepped
out for the evening
it was like the red carpet at the Academy Awards. They
spared nothing - no expense to look absolutely dazzling.
They would pile up their hair in braids held together with
tortoise shells - pins and combs made out of ivory and silver and gold. The wove imported pearls into their hair. Imagine - if that’s how
extravagant and costly and how much time was spent on just their hair -
imagine how extravagant and expensive the rest of the ensemble was. The more extravagant - the more expensive -
the more captivating - the better. Ephesian
women could spend small fortunes on their outward appearance. There’s nothing wrong with
feeling good about the way we look. Women
enjoy putting on make-up and a nice dress - or accessorizing. That all can make someone feel pretty -
feminine. Which is cool.
But what was going on here was an in your face competition. An ego-fest of style that was designed to bury
the competition. Never happens today. Right? In Ephesus ritual prostitution
was an accepted daily part of life. The
society was driven by sex. Again - never
happens today. Right?
Modestly and discretely focus on style.
There is a reserve in what Godly women wear.
Skin is covered. Curves are
not accentuated. The focus is not on the
body. Are we together?
Godly women don’t dress like prostitutes.
Do you sometimes wonder if women really understand how what
they wear effects men and the opinion of men towards them? How
degrading that all is? Women should watch men watching women. They
should listen to
the comments men make to men about women. Women
should ask themselves if they really want that kind of attention from
men.
Some have taken Paul’s teaching to the other extreme. Women shouldn’t wear make-up or jewelry or fashionable
clothing. The more drab and less
flattering the better. Gunny sacks.
But that misses Paul’s point. Paul’s point is that the outward
demonstrates the inward. Let’s say that
together, “The outward demonstrates the inward.” What a women wears - or doesn’t
wear - demonstrates a heart that’s either focused on self or focused on
God. The heart of a woman that’s trusting
herself or trusting God. A women who gains
her self-image from what others think about her or what God thinks of
her as His unique and beautiful creation. Paul says its not what’s outside
that impresses God. Godly womanhood has to
do with the heart of a woman being broken - even anguished - and seeking the things of God -
inward God inspired beauty. What women
wear - how they conduct themselves - should draw attention to God
working within their hearts. In a sex crazed broken
society to draw attention to what it means to live life with the living
God - what it means to know Jesus the Savior and to live surrendered to
Him. Going on - verse 11: A woman must quietly receive instruction with
entire submissiveness. But I do not allow
a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. That’s kind of a tough couple of
verses. Isn’t it? Does anyone know who this is? Mary Daly. Mary
Daly died earlier this month (01.03.10). Mary
was one of the first American women to earn advance degrees in Roman
Catholic theology. A theology that she was
continually in conflict with. Mary
described herself as a “radical
lesbian feminist.” For 33 years - contentious years - Mary Daly
was on the faculty of Boston College in their theology department. Monday, USA Today ran an op-ed
piece on Mary with this quote: “Riding the
second wave of American feminism, Daly inspired a generation of
religiously concerned women to confront the fact, with all its social
consequences, that “as long as God is male, the male is God.” (1) In an interview
with What Is Enlightenment? magazine,
Daly said, “I
don't think about men. I really don't care about them. I'm
concerned with women's capacities, which have been infinitely
diminished under patriarchy. Not that they've disappeared, but they've
been made subliminal.” Can you hear the hurt and anger
in that? “Women
quietly receiving instruction with entire submissiveness” is a teaching that has been
misused - abused - confused - and refused - by a whole lot of good
people. These are tough verses - the
heart of the struggle over women’s roles in the church. Put simply - what role can a women have in the
ministry of the church if any? Let’s be honest we haven’t
done well as resolving that conflict. Men
have not always acted in a way that preserves the worth and value of
women - even in the church. Some have said that women should
sit quietly and not say a word. In some
churches women - once they enter the sanctuary - women are not even
allowed to say “hello” or open their mouths. Some
say its wrong for women to lead in any way when that leadership
involves any authority
- or semblance of authority - over a man. No women song leaders or even
musicians - because that involves authority - directing - leading men. No women on the church board - or committees - where authority
over men takes place. Certainly no women
pastors. Missionaries maybe. But
that involves teaching ignorant savages. God doesn’t contradict Himself. So
Paul can’t be writing something here
that contradicts God. We need to be careful that we
don’t interpret this passage in a way that’s inconsistent with the
teaching of Scripture. We need to remember that God has used women in
leadership and authority over men - Deborah the judge of Israel, Esther
the Queen, and others. Here in Ephesus -
where Timothy is a pastor - Aquila and his wife Priscilla took Apollos
- a man - and both of them - husband and wife together - Aquila and
Priscilla taught Apollos about Jesus. Later
when Paul comes to Ephesus - Paul never reprimands them - never says
Priscilla was wrong to instruct a man. In 1 Corinthians 11 Paul himself gives instructions to women as
to how they’re to pray and to teach Scripture in the church (1 Corinthians 11:3-16). So, whatever understanding we come to about
these verses must fit with what the rest of Scripture teaches about
women in ministry. We need to remember that Paul is
focusing on the priority
of the what? The heart. The
heart of a Godly women.. Verse 11, “a woman
must quietly receive
instruction.” Then in verse 12 - regarding
authority - women are “to remain
quiet.” - same word. In 2 Thessalonians 3:12 - Paul writing to men
and women who were being busybodies in the church - Paul exhorts them
to work in “quiet fashion” - same Greek word as here in 1 Timothy 2. One English translation puts it,
“urge them to settle down.” or “to be
peaceable.” Probably in Ephesus - when they’re in Torah class - receiving instruction - these ladies were being argumentative and
aggressive and stubborn and taking over the discussion - spouting off about what
they know or they think they know - controlling the church - dominating
it - visibly or behind the scenes. In verse 12 the Greek word for
“authority” has the idea of mastery - of domination - giving orders that someone else should
follow without question. Paul is writing
about having that kind of authority while teaching. What Paul writes here in
revolutionary in a patriarchal society. Sometimes
we miss that because we’re arguing over what Paul says shouldn’t be
going on. Paul doesn’t say, “Its a
mistake to educate women. Its wrong for
women to teach.” This isn’t an absolute
prohibition against women teaching. In the
New Testament women did teach. But, when
women teach - their attitude should not be domination - rulership -
over men. Or having to prove that women are every bit as
capable as a man. The heart of a Godly women is to
be so sold to out to God that her trust is in God - her self-confidence
and self-image come from God - so that she’s able to listen to others -
to have a heart attitude of humility - openness - peacefulness - in how
she conducts herself - clothing wise - how she receives and gives
instruction. Verses 13 to 15 focus on The Struggle of the Heart. Let’s
say that together, “The
struggle of the heart.” What Paul writes in verses 13 to
15 is the summary of a much larger event in Genesis 1 to 3.
Which is a very familiar event especially if you were with us back in October when we
looked at marriage. If we’re going to understand
Paul’s point we need
to also be reminded of what took place in Genesis.
So it you would - turn back to Genesis 1 - keep one finger
in Genesis and the other finger in Timothy 2. In 1 Timothy 2:13, Paul writes, For it was
Adam who was first created, and then Eve. In Genesis 1:27 - reading in
Genesis - the account of creation - we know that both Adam and Eve were
created in God’s image. Both are equally
the image of God. Yet, there’s a designed
order to creation. Adam comes first - then
Eve. Like the Godhead - Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit - all equally God - yet different in their roles - male and
female are different in their roles. Then notice in Genesis 1:28 God
instructs both Adam and Eve to rule over the earth and to fill it with
people. There’s a command given that
they’re to be obedient to. Then turning ahead Genesis 2:25
says - “And the man and his wife were both naked and were not
ashamed.” There’s nothing between them - no sin - no
issues in their relationship. They could
stand there in total innocence and openness before each other and not
feel the need to hide anything. Contained in Paul’s illustration
about Adam being created first and then Eve are these truths from
Genesis: Both male and female - equal as
the image of God - different as to their roles - have a partnership in
obeying God’s commands. Then 1 Timothy 2:14 - Paul
writes, And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being
deceived, fell into transgression. Some people have suggested that women are
more sinful than men. Somehow the fall of
mankind into sin should be blamed on Eve - even though Scripture
teaches that Adam -
who’s the representative of mankind - Adam is held accountable for our fall of mankind into sin (Romans 5:19).
In Genesis 2 God instructs Adam
that he can eat from any tree but the one in the center of garden
(Genesis 2:16-17). A command that Adam -
in his role of leadership should have passed on to Eve.
In Genesis 3 - wouldn’t you know it, there they are right
in front of that forbidden tree. The
serpent comes and has this famous conversation with Eve. Where was Adam?
Verse 6, “she gave
also to her husband with her.” Adam
- who has this role of leadership stands
there and let’s Eve take the fall. When
Paul says that Eve was deceived and sinned he’s not trying to pin the
whole descent of mankind into sin on Eve’s shoulders.
Paul’s point is that that happened because Adam abdicated
his role of
leadership in the relationship and Eve took the leadership role that wasn’t hers. 1 Timothy
2:15 - Paul writes, But woman
will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in
faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint. Karen and I have 4 children. Some of our brethren - with 10 plus children -
have congratulated us on a good start. Some
people have said that unless women are
bearing children they can’t be saved. Imagine
what that means for single women or an infertile women. Does
that mean that they’re not going to heaven? Obviously
that’s not consistent with the rest of Scripture. Paul is directing us to the
first mention of the Gospel in Scripture - Genesis 3:15.
God in cursing the serpent says that one day a child of
Eve - Jesus - will crush the head of Satan. (Romans 16:20)
Eve brought sin into the world. Mary
brought our Savior, Jesus Christ. Because of Jesus - born of a women - a woman - or a man - can be saved by grace through faith. There’s something else we need
to understand about what Paul is saying here - the faith, love, and
sanctity with self-restraint part. Genesis 3:7 says:
“Then the eyes of both of them - Adam and Eve - were opened,
they knew that they were naked; and they sewed leaves together and made
themselves loin coverings.” Sin enters the relationship -
comes between both equal partners of the image of God.
They’re naked and they’re ashamed. Genesis 3:16 - God speaking to
the woman - a curse because of her sin: “Your desire
will be for your husband and he will rule over you.” At the entrance to heaven there
are two lines. One line has a sign that
says “Husbands ruled by their wives” The
other line has a sign that says, “Husbands who ruled over their wives.” In the first line thousands of men were lined
up. In second line - the “Husbands who
ruled over their wives” line - there was one man. Saint
Peter looking at this one man asked, “What are
you doing here?” The man answered, “I don’t
know. my wife told me to stand here.”
Do you see what Paul is getting
at? Bottom line: We struggle with the roles of
men and women in the church because we struggle with sin.
The women in Ephesus were doing the same thing as Eve -
struggling against the authority of Godly men. Their
focus was on themselves not God and what God would have for them. Grab this: Paul is writing - in conduct - in times of
instruction - in times of teaching - the heart attitude of Godly women - the
actions of a Godly woman - must come from a heart broken and open before God - eagerly seeking
God and the things of God - obedience to God - in faith - in love - in
sanctity with self-restraint. I’d like to take this one step further. Remember these?
Back in October when we looked at marriage we looked at
these cycles. Cycle number one is the
Weakening Cycle - which is a description of what we struggle with in
our marriages. Which relates to what we
saw in Genesis - especially Genesis 3:16. God
explaining the consequences of sin to Eve - nailing the bottom line of
our husband wife struggle. God says to
Eve, “yet your desire will be for your husband, and he will
rule over you.” Remember that? Without love - Adam protecting
Eve from the serpent - Eve insecure - reacts without respect for Adam -
takes leadership away from Adam who’s let her down - desires to control
her husband - and Adam - not respected by Eve - because she’s taken the
role of protect and provide away from Adam - Adam reacts without love
towards Eve. Adam demanding to exercise
control over Eve. Eve desiring to control
her husband. The second cycle we looked at is
the Energizing Cycle. The number one need
of a man is what? Respect.
The number one drive of a man is what?
to provide and protect. As a
husband is giving himself to do that providing and protecting thing -
he needs the unconditional respect of his wife. The number one need of a woman
is what? Love. She
desires love - especially love that fosters a feeling of relational
security. Security coming from a husband
who will be there for her in the way she needs him to be there for her
- unconditionally loving her. That love
provides the protection she needs to feel - what allows her to feel
secure.
Looking at the Energizing Cycle. As the husband loves his wife it motivates her
to respect him which motivates him to love her. That
energizes our marriage - energizes us to do what God has purposed and
enabled us to do as a married couple. All that doesn’t change because
suddenly we’re talking about church. It’s
a very real description of the dynamic that goes on in the church in
our male female relationships. Grab this: Godly
women want to follow a man who’s following God - to give Godly men
respect and honor. But, if the Godly men
are not acting Godly in their leadership - either by what they’re doing
or not doing - a women will feel insecure and try to do what makes her
feel secure. The reverse is also true. If Godly men step up to the plate and lead in
a Godly manner Godly women will feel secure in following.
They’ll show respect and honor to the men that will
energize the men to keep on doing the leading thing what helps the
women to feel secure and to live out their role in the congregation. Are we together? All the differences between men
and women can either make us more effective as a congregation -
energize us as a congregation - serving God or they can weaken us and
tear us apart. We can either stifle each
other or we can energize each other. Women add to the congregation tenderness - empathy - softness - sympathy - nurture. They
add qualities and perspective that men cannot
give. Those are qualities - blessings -
that God has given to this congregation - through women. We
need Godly women engaged
in ministry the essential roles that God
has created them for. The bottom line of what makes
all this work is the same in marriage as in the church - the same for a
man and the same for a women. Its all
about the heart. The priority of the heart
unconditionally sold out to God. Paul starts with men. First of all men need to step up to the plate. Men - in aguish - in prayer - from hearts sold
out to God - taking Godly leadership in their homes and church and
community. Last Sunday we had a whole lot
of men up here in front praying. May those
prayers - coming from the heart - be been carried through into action
in our lives. Then Paul writes, “Likewise, I
want women…” Women - are you willing to trust
God with your heart? To set aside your
fears - to set aside your self - and to allow God to create from within
you the women of Godly beauty and worth that He desires you to be - to
use you in the essential and unique roles that He’s created you for in
His church? _________________________ 1) USA Today, 01.25.10. 7A
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the NEW
AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968,
1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
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