tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14547096.post112154078036969387..comments2007-04-14T07:02:05.489-04:00Elreta Doddshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04145148247695632837noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14547096.post-1156465057438935692006-08-24T20:17:00.000-04:002006-08-24T20:17:00.000-04:00Elreta - great work. Keep writing on the equality of gender for God is not a respector of persons. <BR/><BR/>This is a huge problem in the church today and oddly enough many think it is a "liberal feminist" idea. Actually, in my opinion, I believe it is a "conservative position" to hold to the concept that God is not a respector of persons - neither male or female. (Even the unbeliving feminist without grace knows she is equal in her soul.)<BR/><BR/>The issue is clearly the priesthood of the believer and not female arrogance on the part of women or a lack of being submissive to authority. It is the other way round. I am speaking of a mature Christian woman.<BR/><BR/>Placed along side other remarks by the Apostle Paul concerning regeneration ... the arguements simply falls apart. <BR/><BR/>What does it mean to be regenerated? <BR/><BR/>Listen to what Paul says concerning believers. This passage is NOT being addressed to males only ... I have interjected "(male & female believer)" to make the point.<BR/>-----------------------------------------<BR/>Col 2:6 "Therefore as you (male & female believers) have received Christ Jesus the Lord, {so} walk in Him, having been firmly rooted {and now} being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you (male & female believers) were instructed, {and} overflowing with gratitude. <BR/><BR/>See to it that no one takes you (male or female believers) captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. <BR/><BR/>For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you (male & female believers) have been made COMPLETE, and He is the head over ALL rule and authority; and in Him you (male and female believer) were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; (you male and female believers) having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you (you men and women) were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. <BR/><BR/>When you (male and females) were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you - (male and female) - alive together with Him, having forgiven us (males and females) all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us (male and female), which was hostile to us (both male and female); and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, (male and females) having triumphed over them through Him. <BR/><BR/>Therefore no one (male or female) is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day-- things which are a {mere} shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ." <BR/><BR/>"Let NO ONE (male or female) keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on {visions} he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshy mind, and not holding fast to the head, from whom the ENTIRE body (male and female), being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is FROM GOD.” <BR/><BR/>(This SPEAKS OF EQUALITY - a "hand" is not greater than a "foot" nor does it have more authority. Growth comes from God ... not from males or females.)<BR/><BR/>“If you (male or female) have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you (male or female) were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees*, such as, "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" (which all {refer} {to} things destined to perish with use)--in accordance to the commandments and teachings of men?"<BR/><BR/>(*do not speak...same connotation.)<BR/><BR/>"These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self abasement and severe treatment of the body, {but are} of no value against fleshly indulgence. <BR/><BR/>(Chapter 3) Therefore, if you (men and women) have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, NOT on the things that are on earth. For you -(men & women) have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. "<BR/>------------------------------------------<BR/>Now I could go on and on regarding the priesthood of the believer . . . throughout the New Testament. <BR/><BR/>What does the word say about the Doctrine of Nicolaitanism spoken of regarding the church of Pergea.* (info provided below) <BR/><BR/>Do men have a leadership role? Absolutely. Not a domineering role. Women, clearly, are called also for the "gifts" were poured out upon all mankind as God wills it. (Check the Greek.)<BR/><BR/>Who, oh man, are YOU to dictate to God Almighty regarding his precious elect?<BR/><BR/>Surly the Apostle Paul was writing letters to encourage, give insight, and correct some specific problems that involved certain women and men who were either immature Christians, or “tares” sown in the body. Men and especially pastors and theologians have twisted what he said ... for it does not harmonize Colossians 2-3 at all.<BR/><BR/>(The doctrine of the Nicolaitans was mentioned in the Apocalypse of John to the churches of Pergamos and Ephesus of the seven churches of Asia in Revelation 2. It is a symbolic name of a party that represents the hierarchy of a ruling class over the rest of the people, developing a pecking order of fleshly leadership. Jesus hates this and warns the people to repent or else "I will come upon you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth." The same warning illustration is applied to those that abused grace, which led to licentiousness from the example of Balaam, seducing Christians to fornication and tampering with idolatry. The individual overcomer is allowed to eat of the hidden manna and given a white stone with a new name written in it.)<BR/><BR/>This I know: "As a woman, chosen of God, I am complete in Christ, lacking nothing." I boast in the Lord my redeemer, the Holy Spirit my teacher. Thank you Father for showing me so clearly who I am in Christ. Thank you for maturing me and teaching me how to walk according the spirit and not according to the flesh. Thank you also for your wonderful men who share the work you have called us all to, who love, accept and respect my calling also.Patti Durrettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14547096.post-1140049800255320222006-02-15T19:30:00.000-05:002006-02-15T19:30:00.000-05:00The proper reference is Romans 16:1, I am sure this was a typo. <BR/><BR/>Referring to the word servant. It is debated whether διάκονος (diakonos) here refers to a specific office within the church. One contextual argument used to support this view is that Phoebe is associated with a particular church, Cenchrea, and as such would therefore be a deacon of that church. <BR/><BR/>In the NT some who are called διάκονος are related to a particular church, yet the scholarly consensus is that such individuals are not deacons, but “servants” or “ministers” (other viable translations for διάκονος). For example, Epaphras is associated with the church in Colossians and is called a διάκονος in Col 1:7, but no contemporary translation regards him as a deacon. <BR/><BR/>In 1 Tim 4:6 Paul calls Timothy a διάκονος; Timothy was associated with the church in Ephesus, but he obviously was not a deacon. In addition, the lexical evidence leans away from this view: Within the NT, the διακον- word group rarely functions with a technical nuance. <BR/><BR/>In any case, the evidence is not compelling either way. The view accepted in the translation <BR/>(the Net Bible) above is that Phoebe was a servant of the church, not a deaconess, although this conclusion should be regarded as tentative.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Quoted from the Net Bible - note to Romans 16:1<BR/><BR/>Please see Bible.orgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com