![\"Freedom](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/freedom-or-restriction.jpg?resize=304%2C456&ssl=1\" "\\"Freedom")
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Responses to question #4<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n In the\u00a0last blog post<\/a><\/strong> Cheryl Schatz posed her 4th set of questions to\u00a0Mike Seaver<\/a><\/strong> regarding their discussion\/debate on women in ministry. Links to all the previous questions and responses is at the end of this post. \u00a0This discussion will be Cheryl\u2019s response to Mike\u2019s answers on question #4 and Mike\u2019s rejoinder.<\/p>\n Cheryl Schatz responds:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Mike, I am very happy that you admit that there is no verse<\/em><\/strong> that instructs elders to stop women from using their gifts. \u00a0In fact as the body of Christ we are to encourage one another in our gifts. \u00a0And we are told not to judge in these secondary areas.<\/p>\n Romans 14:4 \u00a0Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n There is a faithful solution to women teaching the bible to men. \u00a0It is to encourage the women to teach and do not stop them from teaching. \u00a0We should allow those men whose bible-trained conscience does not stop them<\/em><\/strong> from accepting the good gifts that God gives through women, to stay and receive from the Lord. \u00a0Then let\u2019s give those men whose conscience is weak and who do not believe it is right for a man to listen to a woman, the ability to leave quietly and respectfully. \u00a0But whatever we do, scripture does not say that a woman is not allowed to teach if she is teaching the truth. \u00a0Let her teach<\/em><\/strong> and encourage her<\/em><\/strong> by acting as one who values both the woman and her gifts because if you refuse to listen to her, she will most certainly receive the message that what she says has no value.<\/p>\n When we try to put limits on another fellow member of the body of Christ, and they do not accept our man-made limits, we may end up treating them with contempt, but the way of love shows that we need to let these women be responsible for their conscience before the Lord on these debatable matters.<\/p>\n Romans 14:10 \u00a0But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.<\/p>\n Romans 14:11 \u00a0For it is written, \u201cAS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.\u201d<\/p>\n Romans 14:12 \u00a0So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Romans 14:13 \u00a0Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this\u2013not to put an obstacle<\/em><\/strong> or a stumbling block in a brother\u2019s way.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n It is a godly thing not to be an obstacle in the path of our own brother or sister in the Lord.<\/p>\n Mike, you said that God has set parameters on His gifts. \u00a0However if you look closely at the restrictions in the Scripture, you will notice it is only the gifts that do not benefit all<\/em><\/strong> that are restricted and even these gifts are not completely restricted<\/em><\/strong> and they are never restricted by gender. \u00a0It is God\u2019s intention that the gifts He gives benefits all. \u00a0Prophesy benefits all. \u00a0Teaching benefits all. \u00a0Tongues without interpretation benefits only one. \u00a0Men\u2019s and women\u2019s gifts benefit all.<\/p>\n Lastly we are told that we are not to allow our freedom to be spoken of as evil.<\/p>\n Romans 14:16 \u00a0Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n A woman\u2019s gift of teaching the Bible is not something that becomes evil when a man walks in the door. \u00a0Her gifts are also for the common good<\/em><\/strong> so that the entire body will grow together instead of growing apart and separated.<\/p>\n ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<\/p>\n Mike Seaver\u2019s rejoinder:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Cheryl, once again, thanks for your response. \u00a0It is a joy communicating with you about this issue.<\/p>\n First off, you said, \u201cThere is a faithful solution to women teaching the bible to men. \u00a0It is to encourage the women to teach and do not stop them from teaching. \u00a0We should allow those men whose bible-trained conscience\u00a0does not stop them<\/em><\/strong> from accepting the good gifts that God gives through women, to stay and receive from the Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n Cheryl, I don\u2019t think this is a conscience issue. \u00a0It is not like eating meat or not eating meat sacrificed to idols. \u00a0Paul says don\u2019t allow it (1 Tim 2:12), and so we shouldn\u2019t say that it is okay for those who have strong consciences. \u00a0I\u2019m not saying that \u201cwomen teaching men\u201d is on the same level as those who are homosexual, but the same arguments you use of \u201cconscience\u201d and \u201cdon\u2019t judge\u201d is the very same argument I hear from homosexuals. \u00a0Anyone can say that some have strong consciences and some have weak consciences (and most of us always seem to think we have the strong consciences). \u00a0Homosexuals also say that anyone who says what they are doing is wrong is judging them. \u00a0Though I do not associate homosexuals and the gravity of that sin (Romans 1) with \u201cwoman teaching men\u201d, they do both have some commonalities in their arguments. \u00a0They both dismiss Biblical passages that speak to an opposite view of what they hold. \u00a0They both hold their view in the name of Christian freedom. \u00a0They both say that the passages that speak against their view are culturally binding, but not binding for today. \u00a0They both say that God made them or gifted them in a certain way and that God would not do that if he did not intend them to live it out. \u00a0You see, Cheryl, your arguments are a slippery slope. \u00a0You do not have a passage that says, \u201cWomen should teach and exercise authority over a man,\u201d but 1 Timothy 2:12 says, \u201cI do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man\u2026.\u201d \u00a0This is huge difference in our arguments.<\/p>\n The idea of women not teaching men is an instruction set in which to do it is to obey it and to not do it is to disobey it.<\/p>\n ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<\/p>\n Question #5 will go on-line on August 31st with the responses set for September 2, 2009.<\/p>\n ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<\/p>\n Links to previous segments of the debate:<\/p>\n Questi0n #1 and Mike\u2019s answers<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Responses to Question #1<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Question #2 and Mike\u2019s answers<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Responses to Question #2<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Question #3 by Cheryl and Mike\u2019s answers<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n