Shame On All the Sex Predators! Out -- all of you, OUT!!

Humiliation and Shame for Sex Perverts is Deserved

by pastor Paul J. Bern

To view this on my website, click here :-)

I don't have to explain my topic for this week. Everybody has been watching or hearing about what has been going on in the halls of power in Washington as well as in Hollywood. Accusations of sexual assault, or lewd acts, or of randomly exposing oneself to whomever have suddenly started boiling to the surface. It started with former New York congressman Anthony Wiener, and he is now paying a very high price for his indiscretions in the form of a 21-month stint in federal prison. This was followed just a few months later by disclosure in Hollywood of producer-director Harvey Weinstien being accused of multiple counts of unwanted sexual advances and even outright assaults. Then several more Hollywood directors disclosed of their own sexual indiscretions, presumably to keep from being humiliated, followed by the flap over actor Kevin Spacey's allegedly uncontrollable sexual advances. While all this has been going on, president Trump has been accused by at least 20 women of unwanted sexual advances. Most recently, formerly popular Matt Lauer, the morning “Today” show host, was abruptly fired for his own incredibly poor judgment in failing to contain his own sexual appetites. On and on this goes, and where it stops nobody knows – except God.

My favorite book – the Bible – has plenty to say about sexual immorality. Everybody knows that, although not everyone believes in it. Allow me to name a couple of examples, and then I'd like to list a few bad things that can happen when we will not or cannot control our own sexual desires. First Corinthians chapter 6, verses 12 and 13 says, “'Everything is permissible for me' – but not everything is beneficial. 'Food for the stomach and the stomach for food' – but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.'” Having multiple sex partners in the times in which we live can be downright dangerous in a worst case scenario, particularly if your partner is already married or living with someone without telling you so. We think he/she is single but they're not, and next thing you know you-know-who comes home, and there you are. Some say, “Well, I don't care for the bar scene, so I use dating services to help me locate Mr. or Ms. Right so I can screen people first”. Let me point out that, according to data from the CDC located right here in Atlanta, 1 out of every 5 people on the dating websites have an STD. Out of those individuals, fully 80% don't bother to tell their new partners they are infected. You can imagine how that will turn out for everyone involved! The moral here is that, while we have the free will to do whatever we want, there can be an extremely high price to be paid when we abuse it.

Another example can be found further down in the same chapter of 1^st Corinthians, verses 18-20, which read, “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a Temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, who you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” The word 'flee' means to turn and run away from something or someone who poses a clear and present danger to yourself or your livelihood – even your very life! What happens during mass shootings? People turn and run for their lives, and that's exactly what we should do with regards to sexual immorality. That hot new partner you just stumbled upon could end up slowly killing you slowly long after the lovemaking is over – very, very slowly, in fact – with some STD that the newly infected person probably never heard of.

One final example I feel should be mentioned on the topic of sexual sins and perversion can be found in 1^st Thessalonians chapter 5, verse 3, and I quote: “But among you there should not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.” OK, right here it is in black and white, everyone! God ranks having multiple partners right up there with the top 1% and all their insatiable greed. You know, they have 99% of America's wealth, while the remaining 99% are left with the remaining 1% – those people? Think of how much you likely despise those people, and that's how offended God is with our sexual immorality (Never mind how offended God is with their greed. I've already covered that topic extensively, and I will do so again, God willing!). This includes people – and particularly those who self-identify as 'Christians' – who hang out at nude or topless clubs, who look at porn, and in many cases even the singles bars should be off-limits to true Christian believers who are single. If anyone feels so lonesome that they would go to a night club and risk getting shot or stabbed just to find someone to love, I've got a news flash for those individuals – you won't find that special someone there. All you'll meet are a bunch of drunks, and who wants that? Those who truly desire a soul-mate should ask God to send him or her to you. Believe me, when the time is right, he will.

The apostle Paul, who wrote all the quotes I'm using today including this last one, said it best in this regard: “Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” (1^st Corinthians chapter 7, verses 8-9) Anyone who is really burning up with that much passion should go ahead and find a spouse to keep themselves from sinning – there is nothing wrong with this at all. But none of us – I am single myself – will find our future spouses on-line, or in some bar, no matter how fancy or attractive they may seem. Moreover, you will never find him or her watching porn either! If anyone really wants a spouse, they should pray to God to send them one, because when we do, and those prayers are made with the utmost sincerity, God will answer that prayer. That's one thing I know for sure. The other thing that we have all seen for ourselves on the news and other media is that, when we cannot contain or refuse to curb our sexual proclivities – or if certain people think they can get away with their unwanted sexual advances because of their status, wealth, or both – those days just came to a sudden and dramatic end! I, for one, am glad this has occurred. It happened for the good of our country and for ourselves. This series of incidents has proven conclusively that sexual immorality, when carried to its extremes, will destroy the lives of the perpetrators. Chalk one up for gender equality, for mutual respect, and for Jesus Christ, the originator of gender equality.

America's Political Leadership is Inceasingly Clueless, and Here's Still More Proof

Five Biblical Concepts Our Political

Leaders Just Don’t Understand

by Rev. Paul J. Bern

Right-wing Evangelical Fundamentalism, as well as much of America's conservative political leadership, claims to return to the roots of Christianity. Few of these fundamentalists care much about the early church, the four Gospels, the apostle Paul's letters, or St. Augustine. Rather, they blend Southern Conservatism, bastardized Protestantism, Aryan heresies, gross nationalism and a heavy dose of naive anti-intellectualism for a peculiar American strain of what I will tactfully call spiritual sophistry. As a pastor by the name of Reverend Cornell West has noted, “the fundamentalist Christians want to be fundamental about everything, except ‘love thy neighbor.'” I couldn't agree more. So, I decided to make that this week's commentary (I never liked the word 'sermon', it seems too stiff and formal to me). Here are some verses we liberal Christians wish they would get more “fundamentalist” about:

1. Immigration: The verse: “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” - Leviticus 19:33-34, KJV.

Bogus 'Christians' hate this verse because fundamentalists are almost universally xenophobic. The truth of the matter is religious fundamentalism is only a reaction to the multiculturalism of a liberal democracy, and particularly in multicultural churches. Rather than seeking a “brotherhood of man,” religious fundamentalism longs for a colonial community, without the necessary friction from those with foreign beliefs, cultures and customs, and especially with different skin colors. We are called to discern among “sojourners”. The original meaning of this word in this context is 'those who move about from place to place'. This looks to me like a euphemism for what some call 'illegal immigrants'. People looking for a home have been around ever since humankind began to explore the earth. (the New International version translates 'sojourners' as “aliens”, which has a more familiar right to it) There are currently 11 million illegal immigrants who want to become citizens, with likely an additional 20 million family members as new citizens within about a decade. What does God say about those who hate without cause and mistreat foreigners? “I will be a swift witness against… those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against … those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.” Malachi 3:5., KJV

2. Poverty: The Verses: “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” - Matthew 19:24, NIV.

“Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.” James 5: 1-6, NIV

To myself, at least, one of the most absolutely hilarious aspects of modern-day, far-right Christianity is its reverence of capitalism. That’s because Christ could be considered anti-capitalist, as well as Moses (see Exodus 22: 25-27, in any Biblical version you like). Consider that there is some version of the story of the rich man approaching Jesus that appears in every Gospel. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus tells the rich man, “go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.” (Mark 10:21) The story of Lazarus should similarly terrify modern day fundamentalists. Lazarus is a beggar who waits outside of a rich man’s house and begs for scraps. When both Lazarus and the rich man die, Lazarus ends up in heaven, while the rich man ends up in hell. When the rich man begs for water, Abraham says, “Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.” Luke 19:25.

So-called “conservative Christians” (the very term is an oxymoron) hate these verses because the only thing fundamentalists dislike more than immigrants is poor people. Seriously. A former Tea Party congressman once said he thought the government should cut food stamps entirely, “The role of citizens, of Christians, of humanity is to take care of each other, but not for Washington to steal from those in the country and give to others in the country.” Former congressional representative Michelle Bachmann has also made a similar statement. The entire Tea Party movement is based on the idea that a huge portion of Americans are “takers” who suck the lifeblood out of the economy. Never mind the fact that the reason all those people aren't working is because their jobs got exported overseas for pennies on the dollar, leaving them destitute. The majority of Christian “fundamentalists” insist that poverty be explained in terms of a personal moral failure, or even mass incompetence. They therefore hold that success should be described in terms of morality, when in fact the Bible says quite the opposite: “In the last days many will compare godliness with gain”. The poor are considered culpable so that they can be punished – like today’s cuts to food stamps or the public shaming of those on disability, welfare or unemployment.

3: The Environment The Verses: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Genesis 1:27-28 

 

“By him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:16-17

Why do so many fundamentalists twist and distort these verses? In Genesis, man is given stewardship of the Earth, God’s creation. Stewardship in the Christian tradition implies protection. Man should exist in harmony with the earth, not work against it. Jesus Christ once told his followers: “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” - Luke 16:13. Increasingly, the religious right (which is neither, by the way) is trying to do exactly that, intertwining Evangelical fundamentalism with unfettered capitalism — with disastrous results for the earth's environment and the US job market. Thus, American political life is increasingly dominated by Christians from the extreme right who reject the religious ethos in favor of capitalist ethos. It is these same Christian right wing nuts who seeks to discredit the threat of global warming. It also claims the threat of climate change is “alarmist” and fears that efforts to clamp down on emissions will hurt the poor (read: Fortune 500 corporations). In reality, climate change will have its greatest effect on people living on less than a dollar a day who can not adapt to higher temperatures. Conservative Evangelicals are not concerned with dwindling biodiversity, the destruction of ecosystem, rampant pollution, global warming and the numerous other environmental challenges we face. Rather they, with the business community, are only concerned with the bottom line. The future is irrelevant (unless we’re talking about government debt). Thus, the Biblical command to protect the environment is quietly swept under the rug.

4. War The Verses: “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” - Matthew 5: 38-42, NIV “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.” - Matthew 5: 43–45.

As a religious and political movement, fundamentalists have defined themselves as a party of opposition, rather than of love, grace and mercy. Some scholars are erroneously calling this a “third great awakening”, even though it is different from the other two. This one is full of contempt disguised as piety toward those whose understanding of religion fails to meet their lofty standards. While past “Great Awakenings” have looked inward, seeing sin within the conflicted self, this new awakening looks outward, seeing sin in the wider culture. The culture, which is secular, is evil, while the church is sacred. This is why modern religious fundamentalism gravitates towards xenophobia, homophobia, sexism, etc. Fear and disgust are its motivating factors. This fundamentalism inclines some religious people toward a preemptive “war of religion” and a strong disgust (that sometimes culminates in violence) toward Muslims and gay people. Oddly enough, the Christian tradition has developed a theory of “Just War” (developed by Thomas Aquinas) which condemns war except when all other options have been exhausted and there is just treatment of prisoners (with a specific condemnation of torture). If only one of the past two “Christian” presidents had listened.

5. Women The Verse: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” - Galatians 3:28

Although the right often claims the Bible supports their absurd ideas about gender roles, such sexist claims have been thoroughly debunked by theologians. Generally, when you’ll hear an explanation of why women belong in the home, it’ll rely on a misreading of one of Paul’s doctrines. In contrast to Paul, Christ rarely concerned himself with sexual mores, although he clearly was against divorce. He was far more concerned with fighting oppression and injustice. Fundamentalists want to keep women submissive and subservient, but Jesus won’t let them. In Luke, for instance, Jesus is blessed by a priestess named Anna. He praises a woman who stands up to a judge and demands justice. It’s worth noting that in a time when women could not testify in a court of law, all four resurrection stories have women arriving first to Jesus’ tomb. Jesus talks with a Samaritan woman at a well even though Jews had nothing to do with Samaritans, and he praises Mary Magdalene for listening to his words (see Luke 10:38-42). These verses are powerful and I believe that they should be carefully considered.

I'm becoming increasingly concerned that Christianity and religion in general is represented by its most ultra-conservative, fundamentalist elements. Remember that Karl Marx drew his inspiration for the famous quote “From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs” from the example of the early church (Acts 4:32-35). But once the moral potshots are finished, we all have to face the fundamental and aching deprivation of having been born. We can continue to have a fun time berating those who believe the Bible explains science. The Christian message doesn’t contradict science, and nor is it concerned with American politics. Ultimately, Christianity is about transcending politics and fighting for social and economic justice. Think of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi and Malcolm X – all of whom were influenced by their religion to change the world. Jesus saw how oppression and oppressors consumed the world. He has, as always, sided with the oppressed. This Johnny-come-lately of skewed fundamentalism I'm writing about is radically new and far removed from true Christianity. True Christianity offers us a far superior doctrine — one of social justice, love and equality. When we practice all of these, we are following Christ regardless of religious denomination.

BIble study this week will be the first half of 1st Timothy chapter five

Giving Proper Respect To Women and the Elderly

[1^st Timothy chapter 5, verses 1-15]

Last week when we finished chapter 4, we read the apostle Paul's warning to Timothy about false prophets, phony healers and deceitful teachers. Do not hesitate, Paul wrote, to put these individuals out of the church, and to warn everyone he knew about them as well. Having instructed Timothy about how to treat those who preach a gospel other than that of Christ, as we begin chapter 5 we find him shifting his emphasis to internal matters within the church. This, Paul wrote, is how we should treat each other.

“Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. Give the people these instructions too, so that no one may be open to blame. If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than the unbeliever.” (1^st Timothy chapter 5, verses 1-8, NIV)

Here is practical, everyday advice from the apostle Paul on how to treat others. Remember what Jesus taught, “Love your neighbor as yourself”. These are very good examples of how to do so. There is also considerable advice and admonition about widows. Remember that this was written at a time when the average life expectancy was about 40-50 years of age, and sometimes much younger. So, there were more than enough widows to go around as it was. Paul is very clear about the dignity and respect that should be given liberally to widows, especially those with children. But Paul is equally adamant that any widow's children who are old enough to work should support their mothers in their time of need. He finishes the thought by stating unequivocally that any professing Christian who does not care for his widowed mother or sister is a phony and self-deceived Christian. How can we profess our love for God and our faith in the salvation of Christ while simultaneously turning away immediate family members who need help most urgently? To say the least, I would call that a glaring contradiction, and it's just as applicable today as it was 2,000 years ago. Now let's hold that thought as we continue at verse 9.

“No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over 60, and has been faithful to her husband, and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds. As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to. So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity to slander. Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.” (1^st Timothy 5, verses 9-15, NIV)

This was written during a time period when women going off to work each morning was nearly unheard of. Those who are widowed – and there were a lot of those by today's standards just because life back then was really, brutally difficult – lost their sole source of financial support. The best way to get that source of income reestablished was to go out and find someone else to marry. Apparently people married for practical as well as emotional reasons, a practice that continues to this day in many countries around the world, including the US. We already know from our previous studies on Paul's letters that he thought women should be subservient to men, and he once even wrote that women were to be “silent” in the church. Times sure have changed since then, and for the better, I think. Equality, as I posted on this website awhile back, is Scriptural (2 Cor. Chapter 8, verses 13-15; Acts chapter 4, verses 32-36). Although the apostle Paul was certainly entitled to his opinion, I have always treated men and women as equals and I always will.

Paul also wrote about “helping those in trouble and devoting (ourselves) to all kinds of good deeds.” Let's ask ourselves this very question – when was the last time I helped someone in trouble? Did you ever pull over to the side of the road to help a stranded motorist? When have any of us stopped to help a handicapped or disabled person cross the street at a busy intersection? Just think of the most dangerous intersection you know of in your hometown, and then imagine your elderly mother or grandmother trying to cross that street at rush hour. Here in Atlanta where I live, I would either drive her to wherever she needed to go myself, or I would hire a cab for her. I'm sure you would do the same, even if you're not on the best of terms with them. I think elderly people have earned that privilege out of respect for their advancing years. “As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. Thus they bring judgment on themselves...”. To a skeptic, this could very well read as if Paul were saying, 'If you're a widow and under sixty, go and get another husband because you will get only limited assistance from us'. By today's standards that would seem very chauvinistic to many, or even sexist. But please remember that there was no such thing as political correctness in Paul's day. Also, let's give the apostle Paul a little slack when it came to his attitude toward women, because he was a product of his own environment. I do not believe as Paul did about women, and I stand up and applaud those ladies who find themselves widowed or divorced and who decide to shake off their misfortune and go it alone in spite of the setback they have endured. 

 

“So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity to slander. Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.” I think it's sad that these were the only options available to “younger widows”, and that Paul made the age limit sixty at a time when the average life expectancy including men was two thirds that much. Had I lived back then, I think I would have taken a more liberal or progressive approach to addressing this issue within the early Church. Apparently women going to work or starting businesses was offensive to the apostle Paul. In that respect, I continue to hope that we live in a kinder and far more tolerant society today than was the case during Paul's lifetime, and I am doing everything I can to bring it to fruition. And next week we will finish up 1^st Timothy chapter five. Shalom!

This week's Bible study will be 1st Timothy chapter 2

Settling the Debate About the Role of Women In Church

[1^st Timothy chapter 2]

When we last left off at the conclusion of 1^st Timothy chapter one, I concluded with the words, “Love, unconditional love, always wins and triumphs over hate, aggression, fear, and greed.” Today, I will do my best to go deeper with these words to the benefit of all who read this, regardless of denomination (or not). So today we will explore chapter two of 1^st Timothy, which is a relatively brief chapter comprised of only 15 verses. Beginning at verse one, it reads as follows from my New International Version (it matters little which version you use, they're all the Word of God):

“I urge you, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may lead peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men – the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men – the testimony given in its proper time. And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle – I am telling the truth, I am not lying – and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.” (1^st Timothy chapter 2, verses 1-7, NIV)

First things first, pray for everybody, all the time. Be in a constant state of prayer. Pray without ceasing. How can we worship Jesus if we won't even talk to him? Communication with God, like communication with a commanding officer in battle, or among co-workers in an organization, is mandatory if we are to become effective servants and ambassadors for Christ. How should we pray? The Lord's prayer is one excellent example. But we can and should pray in a conversational style as well, as if Jesus is riding in our car, or when we're grocery shopping, walking down the street, or even at work. It doesn't matter very much how and where we pray as long as we continue to do so. God “wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” The best and most consistent way we can come to a knowledge of truth is through prayer. That's because, when we talk to God he invariably responds one way or another. Sometimes it's directly to us, other times God can talk to us through other people, which is why we all need to learn to be better listeners. At still other times a response from God can be found through a sudden and dramatic change in your circumstances, such as finding a new job. The main thing is to keep looking for signs of an answer. Don't worry about timing either, because God is always exactly on time, even when you think He's not.

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men – the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men...”. Jesus taught the apostles, “No one comes to God the Father except through me”. Absolutely nobody, game over, end of discussion. Only by the shed blood of Christ the Lord can anyone be reconciled to God and achieve eternal life in and through Him. There is no substitute. None, zilch, nada, forget about it. But when we have salvation in Christ we inherit eternal life, which is the goal we pursue by loving one another as Christ commanded. Jesus Christ crucified, died, and resurrected is the single-sentence summation of what it means to be a Christian. It means that no matter how many bad things we have done, no matter how many bad decisions we have made, and that no matter how many regrets we have in our lives, Jesus and only He can make things right again, only He can do away with our past, only He can make us whole again as He mends broken hearts and shattered minds, nobody else but Jesus. “... for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle... ”. How about the rest of us? Have we become heralds for Jesus, spreading the good news about the salvation of Christ to anyone who will listen? Because, if we're not doing that we're not emulating the apostle Paul, and if we're not emulating Paul, we're not true followers of Christ. In that event we would be little more than “wannabe” apostles, and who is willing to settle for that? So it's time for us to step up our efforts during these Last Days, because we are running out of time. Speaking of time, let's conclude today's study beginning at verse eight.

“I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger and disputing. I want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. A woman should learn in quietness and total submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing – if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.” (1st Timothy chapter 2, verses 8-15, NIV)

These verses of Scripture have generated quite a lot of controversy for many generations, certainly for far longer than I have been alive, and that's well over half a century. In the first place, it's important to understand that the apostle Paul was writing from the point of view of a first century man who lived 2,000 years ago. It goes without saying that people are very different now than back then, and people's attitudes about the opposite sex are vastly different now as well (with some of that being good, but other stuff maybe not so much). We have yet to achieve equality among men and women. Although great progress has been made, especially in the last 90 years or so going back to the Suffrage Movement of the early 20^th century, it is a cold hard fact that women's earnings in the American workplace still trail their male counterparts by nearly 30%. Meaning, we still have a pretty long way to go to achieve true equality in the workplace.

Having said that, Paul starts this closing paragraph of chapter two with one thing that is indisputable – “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger and disputing.” Today we would say, “brothers and sisters”, or sometimes the much older word “brethren” is still used, but that is becoming less common in modern times. Those who gather to worship and to break bread should check their anger, their hostility and their lack of forgiveness at the door. To have anything like this going on in a church today, in my view, would be inexcusable in the event of its discovery. Remember what Jesus taught: “If any one comes to make an offering and has a disagreement with his brother/sister, let them go first and make peace with them. Then, after you have done so, return to the temple to make your offering”. That would include our spouse, our boss, a parent or a sibling, among others. So before we come to church on Sunday morning to make our offering, let's all be sure we are at peace with one another. It's time for some of us to put our child-like rivalry and envy aside and grow up!

Now comes the sticky part; Paul's 1^st century attitude toward women. I cannot think at the moment of any other place in the Bible where I have reservations about what is written except for right here. Paul starts off with, “I want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety...”. So far, so good. Then Paul wrote, “A woman should learn in quietness and total submission.” I agree, but I also think that this applies equally toward men and women. “Fear of the Lord”, wrote King Solomon in the book of Proverbs, “is the beginning of all wisdom”. So the part about total submission applies just as much to myself as it does towards any female. But then Paul throws a monkey wrench in the works when he wrote next verse: “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.” This is a verse of Scripture that has been abused and misused for centuries by abusive authoritarians who are looking for an excuse to bully other people, and to do so in the house of the Lord! Those who do these things will be called into account, and they risk summary judgment by the Lord if they do not stop acting like this and mistreating other people. When their time comes to stand before the Lord at the Throne of judgment, most of them will be thrown into the lake of fire.

On the other hand, there are a number of female evangelists, worship leaders and teachers in the modern church, not to mention all the pastor's wives, who are doing an enormous amount of good for Christ all over the world. Again, this is a reflection of the apostle Paul's upbringing, education, and overall frame of reference. “ Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing...”. In this passage of Scripture, women get the sole blame for original sin, when in fact both Adam and Eve were equally responsible. Next week, we will take up where we left off, and we will see that Paul moves on with his letter to Timothy to more important matters. But for now, I am in favor of unconditional equality regardless of gender, age, race, nationality, creed or religion, or sexual orientation. Enough said.