Life Learning Series

We do not have the spiritual energy that is necessary to assess the full scope of why God made certain restrictions in His service.  We do not have the intellectual capacity to know when we can, safely and righteously, veer from the narrow way that is of the Father.  Our only recourse is to follow the straight path of declared Scripture, and accept it as it is recorded in the Bible.  Any other flavor of Scripture, regardless of the intention of the heart of the variance, is not capable of bringing about the best that we can get from the LORD.  We should always want the best that the LORD has to offer.  Our prayer needs to always be as Moses prayed, at this time.

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.  Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.

O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.  Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil.  Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.  And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

(Psalm 90:12-17)

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Though it is true that, in the LORD, the heart of man takes a back seat to function of worshipping God; unfortunately for us, we must live in the world where, too often, mankind places the functional aspects of our worship in a back seat, relative to the heart of man.  This is demonstrated in our schemes and desires.  Moreover, society applies pressure on us to accept their newly formed additions to the declared doctrine of the LORD, for the earth.  Too many of us submit to this pressure.  Then, even when we want to do something, and we have the best of intentions; still, we are outside of the will of God.

– Explore Gender Bias — Definitely: Part Fifteen –

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Regardless of what we do in the church, if we do not do it for the right reason, then we are wasting time.  We are not just wasting our time, but we are also wasting the time of other members of the congregation.  We can try to say that we have no responsibility for emotions of others, but that is wrong.  As the apostle Paul taught us:  we all need to be aware that our area of service is somewhat optional, as pertains to location of delivery.  Consider this Scripture.

I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.  But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

Let not then your good be evil spoken of:  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.  For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.  For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.  It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.  And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

(Romans 14:14-22)

Does this mean that I will not operate in the church unless there is a group consensus about what I am doing?  Of course, that is not the answer.  We do not have to give undue weight to group consensus.  However, we do have to present clear biblical doctrine that supports our position of service.  Among the times when this was clearly demonstrated was when Peter and the other apostles were told that they could not preach in Jesus’ name.  This is that episode of history.

Gender Bias – 14-Specialization

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If we are imprecise in our observation of where we are in the mix of environments of service, we can be the source of misuse of the doctrine of the Bible.  In consideration of our topic of this day, we say that sloppiness may persuade us that we should discard gender bias when we are in the church, in favor of some activist’s approach that may be appropriate in the family.  Sometimes, we do this as based on, what may be called, equal rights.

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Scripture persuades us to keep precision active in worship.  For instance, Scripture draws a distinction in the gender, by establishing a new title of reference.  An example of that is seen in the following Scripture’s use of the word, prophetess.

And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes.  And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king’s, saying, Go ye, inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.

So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her.

(2 Kings 22:11-14)

In that Scripture, the woman is not referred to as being a prophet.  Moreover, as is obvious, the prophetess is not a priest.  Yes, these distinctions are important:  yes, they are very important.  A prophet could be called upon to carry out capital punishment, as was done with the prophet Elijah.  The action of this prophet of God begins with the gathering together of certain false prophets of Israel.

– Explore Gender Bias — Definitely: Part Thirteen –

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A place for everything, and everything in its place:  Why is it that we can accept this for ordered physical reality, but not for proper order in spiritual interactions?  We know that there are component parts to service in the LORD.  For instance, at the inauguration of the mission of Israel, the LORD separated out an initial special section, with conditions.

And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.

Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:  And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.

These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

(Exodus 19:3-6)

In time, the LORD made clear that being His kingdom of priests did not indicate that being a priest was an umbrella assignment for every citizen of the newly redeemed congregation of Israel.

– Explore Gender Bias — Definitely: Part Twelve –

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Rest in the LORD is not the same as surrender to the LORD.  Surrender must come first; then, rest will follow.  A kingdom example provides us some insight about the process.

These kingdoms were told that they needed to surrender to the LORD’S ordinance.

In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,

Thus saith the LORD to me; Make thee bonds and yokes, and put them upon thy neck, And send them to the king of Edom, and to the king of Moab, and to the king of the Ammonites, and to the king of Tyrus, and to the king of Zidon, by the hand of the messengers which come to Jerusalem unto Zedekiah king of Judah; And command them to say unto their masters, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say unto your masters;

I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me.  And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him.  And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son’s son, until the very time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him.

(Jeremiah 27:1-7)

These kingdoms also received the word that the possibility of rest was on the other side of surrender.  They also received the word that told them that discord and disarray was the only other possible outcome for them.

– Explore Gender Bias — Definitely: Part Eleven –

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Our ultimate example begins here.

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin.

And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.  Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin–;

and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.

(Exodus 32:30-32)

Our ultimate example was perfected here.

And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.  And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying,

Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

(Luke 2:39-44)

– Explore Gender Bias — Definitely: Part Ten –

In honor of the separation of church and state, let us press toward understanding our place in the state, as separate from the church. We want to do this because we need to understand that there is a measure of gender bias that is prescribed for the state, as well as for the church. Looking at the early days in the Old Testament, it is easy to see the gender bias that is a sure part of God’s Design. To prevent you from accusing me of narrow vision, let me say that everything that happens, and that has happened, or that will happen, in this world, is because the LORD included it in the Design for this world. These are His words on that matter.

I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

      Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.

(Isaiah 45:5-8)

That Scripture lets us say that, in the time of the Old Testament, it is no accident that a certain gender was put in the place of being the rule-maker king–with some associates that are provided by the LORD. Therefore, since the associates are of the LORD, we know that the associates are not impotent. To be the king is not to be the sole power source; God-given associates are a necessary part of any kingdom. Consider this other power source that was unleashed in the kingdom of Egypt.

– Explore Gender Bias — Definitely:  Part Nine –

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To assist the people of Israel, on their way to a more stable understanding of the mission that the LORD was burning into the fabric of their culture; the LORD sent them some assistance. It is worth noting that the LORD did not punish their ignorance by neglecting them. God did not say, of the people; that they would just have to return to the law of Moses, and do their best to re-establish their devotion to it. As before, with the priests and prophets, the LORD sent them assistance. To appreciate this assistance, let us go back to the time that it first appeared, in the time of Moses. Actually, we will show that it appeared in two parts: one political and the other spiritual. The political part is seen in this communion that occurred between two servants of God.

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening. And when Moses’ father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?

And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God: When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.

And Moses’ father in law said unto him,

(Exodus 18:13-22)

The spiritual part is seen in this communion among several servants of God, and the LORD, as negotiated on the nation’s behalf by Moses.

– Explore Gender Bias — Definitely:  Part Eight –

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There is a current debate about the reach of democracy, as pertains to its extension into the military. One of the things that are pushing its way into the foreground of political consideration is whether democracy must be restrained in that environment. Those who present the historical view have stated that, for a goodly part of its history, democracy was not a part of the military. This is true. It is especially true of the development of the nation of Israel, as it is recorded in the Bible. Let us take a look at that, for a moment.

In the Bible, the children of Israel were not consulted as to their participation, or not, in the military. At the first points of progress toward becoming a nation, the LORD instituted a practice that involved almost automatic drafting into the military, as we see here.

And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying, Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls; From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies.

(Numbers 1:1-3)

The militaristic mind set of the nation of Israel was not limited to the general population; it was also a part of the religious conduct of the priests. In a certain episode of the priests’ history, they showed that they, too, were called to adopt a military attitude about the purity of their service to the LORD. There was a time in the reign of king Uzziah, when the LORD moved powerfully in the king . . .

But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.

– Explore Gender Bias — Definitely:  Part Seven –

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Now, let us depart from the middle ground–the cities of refuge–and return to the pure poles of coordination of human behavior: the church, and the state. Here, we will become somewhat lazy in our linguistics. Here, we will start to use the word, government, as being synonymous with the state. This is lazy because the church is also a government. Though, in truth, the church is not just a government; it is the Government, and its Head is the Godhead of Existence; including, all its worlds. The LORD introduced this differentiation to the judge of Israel, Samuel, as Israel opted for an earthly head of state.

Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

(1 Samuel 8:4-9)

Whereas the Government is a straightforward and easily perceived entity; the governments of the world (both individually and collectively) are not. Therefore, here are two layered sets of Scripture that gives us a frame of reference, by which we can understand the Government and governments, better.

– Explore Gender Bias — Definitely:  Part Six –

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