Psa 149:1  Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. 
Psa 149:2  Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. 
Psa 149:3  Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. 
Psa 149:4  For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. 

The title of our study is found in the last verse of this Psalm 149 where God describes the honor that will be given to the saints who will be used to show mercy to all of God’s people, a mercy that will unfold through judgement that must first come upon the household of God, and culminates in the lake of fire with “the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God”. God’s elect are being prepared today “to execute upon them the judgment written“.

Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. 

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 

God has concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all, and those who obey not the gospel of God in this age are those who are not being shown that mercy. God’s mercy is God’s goodness that leads us unto repentance and is described as “the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering” that we are not to despise. It is for our sakes that the world is blinded and not given to see the relationship that we have with the cross of Christ, which is the altar that we continue to eat at and that the world has been blinded to being able to see by the god of this world.

Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 

Heb 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

2Co 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 

We praise God today because we can “commit the keeping of their [our] souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator” and know that we are suffering “according to the will of God”. It is God’s will that we suffer and fill up what is behind of the afflictions of Christ for his body’s sake, which is the church so that we can go unto maturity and rule and reign under Jesus Christ (Col_1:24 , 2Ti_2:12). 

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body‘s sake, which is the church: 

2Ti 2:12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 

This Psalm is filled with words that describe the praise of God’s saints for the judgement that has come upon us in this age, and the “high praise” to God that we offer to Him for the honour of being sanctified and made to be His workmanship or vessels of honour who are “meet for the master’s use”. God’s purpose for us is to train us up through the chastening grace and faith that we receive as His sons (Heb 12:6, 1Jn 3:1) so that we can “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance”, another way of saying spiritual works in this age that we must be careful to maintain, and God willing we will! (Tit 3:8). 

2Ti 2:21  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. 

2Ti 2:22  Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

1Co 6:3  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 

Mat 3:8  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

Initially we bring forth those fruits within ourselves as the body of Christ and first fruits of God, but the end result of our growth is to be used to help “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance” in the lives of everyone else who will come up in the second resurrection, to enter into the kingdom of God through the elect who are represented by the pillars in the temple. God will use His “priests of God and of Christ” to bring humanity into the intimate and loving and eternal relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ and His body.

Rev 3:12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. 

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 

Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 

Without judgment in the earth, mankind will not learn righteousness, and even still learning of God’s righteousness does not preclude that someone will continue in it (Joh 8:31-32). That will be very clearly evidenced with anyone who only knows Christ after the flesh or with a fleshly relationship, not yet having God’s holy spirit within them which will be the case during the thousand year reign (Isa 26:9,  Rom 8:9).

Judgment, or the learning of righteousness for the world, will begin with a rulership that will not deviate from God’s word in the least (Mat 5:19). That strict adherence to the law of Christ will set the stage for the destruction of all flesh at the end of the thousand year reign when Satan is loosed for a season and all of the law-keeping of mankind is revealed to have not been accomplished through the righteousness of Christ but via their own wisdom and power (Php 3:9). 

With Christ’s spirit in us today, the least is greater than John the baptist (Luk 7:28), and the earnest relationship (Eph 1:14) we have with Christ now will lead to our entering into the fullness of that relationship in Christ at the first resurrection (Rom 3:10, Joh 17:21). God’s elect are the only ones during the thousand-year reign who can be said to be called “great in the kingdom of heaven” simply because true greatness to God is being able to obey all the commandments of God. That can only be accomplished perfectly through those who have gone on to perfection in the first resurrection (1Jn 1:8, Herod Luk 13:32 , John Luk 7:22, Rev 22:14).

The thousand-year reign of the saints under Christ is a baptism by water given by the saints, and typified by John the baptist’s baptism in his day, but it is the baptism of fire that will change the hearts and minds of mankind (Mat 10:28) so that humanity can bring forth “fruits meet for repentance” being now able to reflect the mind of Christ in all they say and do after they have “suffered a while” as God uses the elect to judge the great unwashed masses to “make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle” you. That is the purpose of the great white throne judgement (1Pe 5:10, Rev 20:11-15).

This Psalm 149 reminds us that we have great reason to rejoice, and again I say rejoice, because the true witness, Jesus Christ, has made His bride ready so that she can “give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready” (Rev 19:7). This honor of being made ready “have all his saints“, and is the reason the idea of praising the Lord is mentioned so often in this Psalm and many other sections of scripture.

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

Psa 149:1  Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. 

It is within “the congregation of saints” (Luk 17:19-21) that the LORD within us is going to hear “a new song” (2Co 5:17, Mat 13:16, Col 1:27), and that song is one of praise (or boasting)H1984 [H8761] for the sanctification process He is accomplishing through each member of Christ’s body that helps keep the whole body healthy (Eph 4:16). Just prior to being demanded of the Pharisees where the kingdom of God is, Christ said these words in regard to the wholeness that is found within the body of Christ where the kingdom resides in earnest today (Luk 17:19-21).

Luk 17:19  And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. [What makes us whole is our faith which is manifested through the many members that make us whole or one body, Christ’s body (Luk 17:5-10, Rom 12:1-10, Col 1:24].

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 

Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. [“as he will” – 1Co 12:11]
Rom 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 
Rom 12:4  For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 
Rom 12:5  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 
Rom 12:6  Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; [Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.] 
Rom 12:7  Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 
Rom 12:8  Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 
Rom 12:9  Let love be without dissimulation[^G505]. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 
Rom 12:10  Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; [Php 2:3]

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: [Eph 5:26-30]

Luk 17:20  And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 
Luk 17:21  Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. 

2Co 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

Psa 149:2  Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. 

It is the “Israel” of God who is rejoicing “in him that made him” (Eph 2:10) and the “children of Zion” who are “joyful in their King” (Rev 15:3). 

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 

Rev 15:3  And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

Israel and Zion are the symbols that represent God’s elect who are joyful to know that the mind of Christ our King is abiding in us via the holy spirit of God (Col 1:27).

Gal 6:16  And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S. 

1Co 2:16  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Revelation 4:8-11 witnesses to the truth that one day all of mankind will know God can do what He wants with that which is His own starting with the “four beasts” that each has “six wings” (24 wings), and that He makes His strength perfect first through the elect who are those kings and priest who “cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power” (Eph 1:11, Rom 9:21). 

Rev 4:8  And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: [“But blessed are your eyes“] and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
Rev 4:9  And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 
Rev 4:10  The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 
Rev 4:11  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created 

Psa 149:3  Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. 

Praising God “in the dance“ and singing praise unto him with “timbrel and harp” are statements that signify that our relationship with Christ will produce harmony in the body of Christ as we are led by the holy spirit and grow in our understanding of this dance of tried faith which God has called the elect to be the first to learn.  We lay down our life trusting in His faithfulness and in His will to be accomplished in our life by His power, learning to say with Christ “nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luk 22:42). The reverberation of a “timbrel and harp” are symbols of this beautiful witness that sounds forth from the body of Christ. 

Jer 31:4  Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.

Jer 31:13  Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. 

Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 
Rom 8:15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 

Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 

Isa 52:7  How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! 

Rom 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Psa 149:4  For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify^{H6286 [H8762]} the meek with salvation.

God is beautifying “the meek with salvation” first, and “the LORD taketh pleasure in his people” through that process of bruising us (1Jn 4:17) knowing that He can and will bring us to ultimately rejoice for the suffering which we endure for His body’s sake, words that were uttered in type and shadow via Moses found in Hebrews 11:26-27. 

Isa 53:10  Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 

Deu 24:20  When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs^{H6286 [H8762]} again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. [(Gal 6:10) there is the inward stranger, fatherless and widow in our midst, and the outward as well, and we do good unto all men knowing we are doing this unto Christ, unto those who are beloved for the gospels sake (Rom 11:28).

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: 

Heb 11:26  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 
Heb 11:27  By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 

Moses’ meekness typifies who the bride of Christ will become (Num 12:3, 1Pe 3:4, Zep 2:3, Mat 5:5, Gal 6:1, Col 3:12, Jas 3:13, 1Pe 3:15) and can only come about as a result of the trials that the LORD enables us to endure as Moses did for our sakes to show us that pattern (2Co_4:15). His death at 120 years (Deu 34:7) signifies that progression of trials [tribulation 40, times three 40+40+40] that are needed in our life as we learn that the LORD’S spirit “shall not always strive with man” but will for the symbolic 120 (Gen 6:3). In the morning, or as we die daily, the Lord’s strength will be made perfect through our weakness so we can endure until the end and be saved by putting off our flesh, which is a lifelong process and why 40 is mentioned three times (Mat 23:12).

2Co 4:15  For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

Deu 34:7  And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. 

Gen 6:3  And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. 

Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

In order for God’s elect “To execute upon them the judgment written“, we are going to need to grow in the fruit of the spirit called “meekness” (Gal 5:22-23), knowing that the judgment upon us in this age is for that very reason so that we can be always ready “to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear“. All the fruits of God’s holy spirit are matured through Christ who gives that increase that can only manifest or be made perfect through God’s judgments unfolding in our lives.

1Co 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 

Meekness is not weakness, but is rather another critical part of the foundation God is forming within the bride of Christ through His spirit, so we can boldly proclaim the true gospel at any moment to anyone who asks “you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (Eph 6:19). The word fear in the statement “meekness and fear” reminds us through this section of scriptures who it is we are to fear and who it is we are not to fear.

Luk 12:5  But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. 

Heb 11:26  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 
Heb 11:27  By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 
Heb 11:28  Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

The rest of that chapter in Hebrews 11 discusses the acts of faith that typify the certainty of our deliverance through Christ who reconciled us to God by His death and is saving us with His life within us which gives us the power to overcome any and all fear of what men can do to our flesh. 

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 
1Jn 4:18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Rom 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 

Mat 10:28  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 

Next week, Lord willing, we will look at the last five verses of Psalm 149 that speak of the great joy that will be ours as a result of the Lord judging us in this age, which judgement is typified by Jacob wrestling with a man through the night (Gen 32:24). 

There will be joy in the morning (Psa 30:5) and “high praises” for the workmanship of God that will prepare His bride “To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people“. It is because of that judgment being accomplished in our life today, and promised to come to an end (1Pe 4:17, Rev 15:8, Php 1:6), that the saints can “be joyful in glory“. 

The glory in which we have joy is being given the ability to obey God and overcome in this life and glorify Him with that obedience just as Christ did (Heb 5:8, 1Jn 4:17). That overcoming process we’ve been looking at in this study is brought about by the judgment God is bringing upon the church today, and we “give honour to him” (Rev 19:7) because we know that it is the Lord who is working this great work within us today both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Php 2:13) which is to bruise us for a very glorious purpose of then exalting us into positions of honor in the first resurrection because of the suffering we endured through Christ until the end of our life (1Pe 4:17, etc).

1Co 6:3  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 

2Ti 2:12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 

Rom 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 

Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Next week’s verses:

Psa 149:5  Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. 
Psa 149:6  Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; 
Psa 149:7  To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; 
Psa 149:8  To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; 
Psa 149:9  To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD. 

Hi Mike,

Thanks so much for the response. I have not seen the article on The Head of the Church is God, but will read it soon. I was basing my questions on two emails you have that pretty much say “women can’t teach period” — of course, I’m paraphrasing and may not even be accurate. That was the impression I had.
Here are the two emails to which I referred:
http:// www. iswasandwillbe. com/ Role_ of_ women_ in_ church. php
http:// www. iswasandwillbe. com/ womenteach. php
The first one only addresses what women should not do. The second addresses what women should do and then what married women are to do. As you know, this is not my situation. The email you wrote to me much more addresses what women can do as opposed to what women can’t do. Somehow the “keeping silence in the church” was making the rest of Scripture ‘not for me’ but for men only. I was thinking I only needed to be ready with an answer if a younger woman asked, but could only smile if a man asked. Which, of course, is either adding to or removing from scripture. I was confused.
Since most of the people who seem to ask me questions are younger men, neither of these letters addressed my own role in the church. I am here all alone so the men of the “church” I know are online. My “church” is online — so keeping silence in the church to me would be to simply not take part in fellowship.
Doesn’t applying these verses about “women” only to literal women mean that you are saying that not every word from the mouth of God applies to you (men). And if these verses only apply to literal women, doesn’t that mean that Godis a respecter of persons and that all the verses that apply to “men” don’t apply to me (women)?
I’m not asking you to rewrite what you’ve already said. I’m just asking exactly where that line is drawn. Now, my question is should I “dumb up” because there are men in the discussion? I know I am not supposed to teach with authority within the church, but are we to just shut up when God has revealed to us what He has not yet revealed to the man asking the question? ” Are we, as women, supposed to “dumb up” when we have the answer to a question simply because a man is the one asking? It sounds like we can’t witness about a thing that might have even one iota of “teaching” in it. For instance, I might say “I believe Christ is going to save all mankind” but I can’t say why because it might be “teaching so I can’t give a scripture. I can’t show one answer to one question a younger, less knowledgeable man might have.
It’s all very confusing trying to be tough enough to be the head of the household of teenage boys while studying scripture and then not being allowed to even have an opinion to a man. Whew!
But couldn’t we say that the discussion of both men and women’s role in the church is a spiritual type of the relationship between us and Christ and Christ and the Father? That basically both of us (types of women) are to be silent in the presence of Christ (type of man) and not dare to teach Him, as Christ in turn defers totally to God the Father.
And you see I run right into the problem in having this discussion with you — not that I would dare to teach you — but that I am not exactly keeping silent either. I am still confused on where the line is drawn between teaching, witnessing and just having our tongues cut out.
What I do know is that I should approach all speaking with meekness, humility and fear. I have certainly found that waiting for the question is a much better approach then throwing around answers to questions that haven’t been asked. I do see that the man as the head of the household is God’s way, but I also see that that has had no relation to the cards I was dealt in my own literal household.
You know, Mike, your teachings have so opened up the spiritual meaning of scripture to me and probably the only thing equal has been “Types in Genesis” by Andrew Jukes. The spiritual meaning of all words, comparing spiritual to spiritual, types and shadows– I learned these from you. The “numbers” series you did was huge in my understanding. I’ve listened to colors and metals and hope to get to the animals soon.
Well, rest assured that I am nowhere on the road to “hating” you for what your teaching is. I truly have no desire to dominate men or have any authority over anyone. Okay, truth be known I HATE MICE these days and would like to dominate them by forever banning them from my house… you think you’ve closed every entrance, but those little buggers find a way to get in … and how do they know how to avoid those glue traps in the dark… my dogs seem to find them easily… but that’s another story…
I know how busy you are and apologize for taking up so much of your time!
Blessings,
C____

Hi C____,
Thank you for your question.

You say:

I am still confused on where the line is drawn between teaching, witnessing and just having our tongues cut out.

That ‘line’ you are searching for is not really that hard to find. It is all really a matter of what is in your heart. God knows my heart and He knows your heart. If I have any resentment whatsoever against any woman in the world, then God will burn that resentment out of me. If, on the other hand you have any desire in your heart to ignore God’s Words concerning your role as wives and mothers and as women in His church, then that resentment also will be burned out of you.
God’s church is “the body of Christ.” If my mouth is unable to be used because of laryngitis, then my hand will quietly, humbly and willingly, step right up and write out what I want said. My hand has no desire at all to be my mouth, but when the need for expression arises and my mouth is not capable, my hand is used to express my thoughts.
Here is what we are told at the very beginning of mankind’s existence.

Gen 2:18 And the LORD God said, [ It is] not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
(MKJV) And Jehovah God said, It is not good that the man should be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.

You ask:

Now, my question is should I “dumb up” because there are men in the discussion? I know I am not supposed to teach with authority within the church, but are we to just shut up when God has revealed to us what He has not yet revealed to the man asking the question.”

Absolutely not! You “dumb up” only when there are men there speaking the truth. You never fail to “give an answer for the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”

1Pe 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Those words are addressed to men and to women. But “the church” as you know, is not a building, but God’s people, so “if two or more are gathered together” and one happens to be a man, then it would be a godly woman who would want that man to speak God’s words of truth instead of her. “A meek and quiet spirit” is not a spirit that is afraid of what any man thinks, but it is a spirit that is very concerned with obeying the words of her spiritual husband, Christ. If “the man asking the question” wants an answer from you, then you need to be ready, willing and able to answer that question with a “meek and quiet spirit.” You cannot answer anyone with a “dumb spirit”. Christ casts out spirits of dumbness:

Mat 9:32 As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.
Mat 9:33 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.

Being afraid to stand for truth is nothing less than a spiritually dumb spirit, whether that truth is the salvation of all or the role of women.
I know very well that you are not seeking to be a teacher of men “in the church,” and yet you speak for many women with these words. It has to be hard for a woman to hold herself back and let her husband take the lead. It has to be just as hard for a single woman to let men be the leaders in the church and in society in general. That is especially true in a society which has succumbed to the feminist doctrine and has, in that process, emasculated the male of the species.
So the line you are looking for is a willingness to be quiet when there are men who are leading in truth, and a willingness to speak that truth when God himself has not placed a man there to tell the truth.
Every truly godly woman wants a strong, godly man to lead her and her family. Every godly single woman wants men to be leaders in the church and in the community. But when the world is full of spiritual ‘Baraks’ who will not go to war for God’s truth unless a spiritual ‘Deborah’ goes with him, then God’s modern day Deborahs go with those men, and while doing so, these modern ‘Deborahs let such faithless men know that the glory of winning the battle will not go to that man but will go to a woman who was willing to stand alone with God. The whole story of Deborah answers your question about “where is the line?” Where the line is depends upon where the men around you are in Christ. Every woman will live these words somewhere in her life. When there is no man to answer the question, then stand up and witness to the Truth. If Deborah had refused to go to war with Barak against those who were oppressing God’s people, then the war would never have been waged.

Jdg 4:8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.

If Jael had waited for wimpy Barak, the enemy would have escaped, and the battle would not have been completed.
But if Barak had been the leader he should have been; had Barak had in himself the relationship with God which Deborah had, there would have been no need for Deborah to even have been judging Israel in the first place, much less leading Israel into battle. The whole story of Deborah and Barak in Judges is an indictment of men who refuse to speak up in God’s church today and stand for “what is written therein.” The men who refused to even go to battle are cursed in that story:

Jdg 5:23 Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.

The men today who refuse to stand for the truth of God’s Word, what both the Old and the New Testaments, say about God’s order in the physical home, with physical families and in God’s spiritual home, with the spiritual family of God, are those who “come not to the help of the Lord against the mighty” forces which are determined to undermine and neutralize and eventually destroy from off this earth, God’s elect who have His words in their mouths.
But at the same time, and in the very next verse, the women who both humbly and courageously, stand in the gap, for those very words of Truth, are praised and honored.

Jdg 5:24 Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.
Jdg 5:25 He [ Sisera] asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish.
Jdg 5:26 She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen’s hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples.
Jdg 5:27 At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell: where he bowed, there he fell down dead.

Do you want to “smite Sisera?” Do you want to be Deborah and Jael? I hope you do have such aspirations. If you do, it is nothing more or less than a gift from God, and if you have been given that gift you will “smite Sisera,” and ‘Sisera’ will bow at your feet.’ But that will be done only by standing up for God’s own words which are all through out both the Old and New Testaments. Women are created to serve God by inspiring men to be leaders and by helping men to serve God. Women are created to speak when men will not do so. That is what scripture teaches. That is where ‘the line is.’
I have pointed out that, “let your women keep silence in the churches” that ‘silence’ is really the word ‘quiet.’ But, Lord willing, I will never be so afraid of any man that I ignore the plain words of God and rationalize my way around those words for fear of what men and women might say and do.
If you really want to “judge Israel” or “smite Sisera,” then take these words of Peter and apply them to the church. Paul tells us the marriage relationship is all really speaking of the church and its relationship to Christ.

1Pe 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, [ men and women in Christ] be in subjection to your own husbands [ Christ]; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; [“Without the word…” As Christ’s wife, I am an example to those who oppose me and what I teach by not attacking them or even trying to change their mind, but rather…]
1Pe 3:2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. [“Your chaste conversation” means your quiet way of life.]
1Pe 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; [ Putting the gold of God’s word around our own heart’s idols and being accepted of men by accepting false doctrines]
1Pe 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. [ When I refrain myself from trying to show my enemy his error, that is of great price to God and to Christ.]
1Pe 3:5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: [ Abraham, a type of Christ who submitted to his head, obeyed God and was called righteous]
1Pe 3:6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid [ of religious feminists] with any amazement.
Eph 5:32 This [ the marriage relationship discussed above] is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

I feel that I have dealt with what the scriptures have to say about all of this in depth in the paper on iswasandwillbe. com entitled The Head of Christ Is God. I hope you will take the time to read, or if necessary, reread that paper. The whole orthodox Protestant world has come to the conclusion in just the past few decades that all the very Biblical words concerning a woman’s role in the church are tantamount to declaring women to be inferior to men, as if the body was somehow inferior to its head simply because the mind of the body is in its head, and a wife is inferior to her husband simply because she is not the leader and head of the household.
The calling God has given His elect is a tough calling for us all. We all see and hear confusion and lies being spread all around us every day by men and women alike. How we handle ourselves in this situation, reveals what is in us. We cannot hide Christ, and neither can we hide it if our father is really the Devil. What is in us is what will come out of us.

Mat 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

The principle involved in physical marriage carries through into, and is really nothing more than a reflection of the realm of the spirit. Christ is working all things, so when I hear a minister teaching eternal hell fire, I too, am tempted to immediately rattle off Joh 6:44, 1Co 15:22, 1Ti 2:4, 1Ti 4:10, 2Pe 3:9, 1Jn 2:2 etc. etc. etc. But I cannot do so simply because I would be disobeying God’s command, “Cast not your pearls before swine… be ready always to given an answer to him that asketh…” etc. It is Christ who, through an evil spirit, has every orthodox Christian minister speaking all those lies and “deceiving the whole world.” For me to try to withstand those ministers is the same as a woman feeling that she has to preach and teach in the church, just because men are not doing so or simply because she believes God has called her to do so. The Truth is that God has sent a lying spirit into the mouths of all of today’s orthodox Christian ministers and into the mouths of all who deny that Christ was made sin and our keeping every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.
In the paper, The Head of Christ Is God, I pointed to all the women mentioned in the New Testament who had spoken out for Christ. In every instance, these women simply witnessed to the Truth. The woman at the well told “the men of the city” come see a man who told me all I ever did.” Why can’t all the women who want to be teachers and preachers do the same today? Why cannot the women today who claim a desire to serve God, see the humble spirit in this woman, and see how she directed those to whom God had sent her, to go to Christ to learn. Where, in that story, is this woman seeking to get men to sit down and listen to her. She is directing “the men of the city” to Christ. Any woman doing that today will be showing men that the “Word of God”, one of Christ’s many titles, forbids women to teach “in the church”. “In the church” means when there are men present to do the teaching. If there is not a teacher present, then do not fail to answer questions simply because God has not placed a teacher there to answer the questions you are being asked.
Neither Paul nor Peter nor Christ ever tell women that they are never to speak to men about Christ. All of Paul’s and Peter’s statements are made to ministers and churches. Paul is writing to the church at Corinth, to Timothy and to Titus, when he makes his statements about women. Peter’s epistle is addressed to God’s “elect” when he makes his statements agreeing with Paul.

1Pe 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
1Pe 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

Read God’s Word concerning women. Look at what women did in scripture. Look at all the things women are admonished to do in scripture, and ask God for the wisdom and strength to abide by his words.
That is what I did in that paper The Head of Christ Is God.
I am thankful for your fellowship. I have articulated this as best I can with, as always, the scriptures as my foundation.
I hope I have said something that will help you to see more clearly where is the “line” you are seeking. That line is what keeps us all from sinning against our heavenly Father. That line is the mind of Christ, on this or any other subject. Here is the only way to even hope to know where is that line:

Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike

Mike,

I read the article named How Strong Brothers Bear the Infirmities of the Weaker Brothers.  In reading this I have a question or two.

I am personally against pagan Holidays. My wife is not. She is a protestant who goes to a “Four Square” church.  How am I supposed to handle Days, Months and so forth in this situation. Should I go into my bedroom and shut the door during meals and gift giving?  Should I be an overbearing, faith dominating husband and says, “NO CHRISTMAS/ EASTER/ WHATEVER for you in MY household!”  How should I go about dealing with a situation that I can’t change?  My wife is her own person, and I’m not going to dominate her faith.  And I really don’t want to be a jerk who doesn’t spend time with his family because of some vain custom that has nothing to do with anything, except vanity. I have asked many people how I should go about dealing with my wife, and I am receiving COMPLETELY different views on everything, and I never get any truly informative responses.  I also am never able to find ANYONE else experiencing this either.  So no one can relate.  I’m sure it’s not supposed to be easy, or it wouldn’t be an effective tool for weeding out the hay, stubble and wood in me.  Plus, the only person I can say that truly can relate is God himself, since he was married to Israel for as long as he was, and they were completely against him every step of the way, so perhaps this is just me living every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. I don’t know.

I see people who don’t participate in pagan customs (JW’s and CGG)  and it really seems like the way they refuse to eat (physical) food that has to do with these days gives more glory to the day than it detracts.  If we shouldn’t keep days and months and so forth then why do we even acknowledge them at all?  Why do we see it as a pagan day in the first place?   Aren’t we still esteeming these days by even acknowledging them as anything more than a day of the week, month or year?  I don’t go out of my way in a department store to avoid walking near a christmas tree;  I don’t start getting scared of eggs during the easter season; I don’t refuse to touch pumpkins in October.  Why then should I, as a “mature” (if you can even call me that) son of God, not be able to eat a meal on a day that was once designated as a pagan day, by pagans, who are pagan?

I suppose that by asking these questions it exposes me as the carnal minded person I am.  I have no problem admitting that.  But I also thought that (in the words of Paul, I believe) all things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. (I’m sure that it’s possible I am improperly applying this verse in this situation, which would expose my carnality even farther.)

Nothing I have said in this email is meant to justify continuing in pagan customs and days. I am absolutely against them. (My wife gets very frustrated at me when I start pointing out the pagan aspects of these days, and I make fun of them.)

Thank you for your time, and forgive any of my arrogant ignorance you may encounter.

J____

Hi J____,

Thank you for your questions.

You ask:

I read the article How Strong Brothers Bear the Infirmities of the Weaker Brothers.  In reading this I have a question or two. I am personally against pagan Holidays. My wife is not. She is a protestant Who goes to a “Four Square” church.  How am I supposed to handle Days, Months and so forth in this situation. Should I go into my bedroom and shut the door during meals and gift giving?  Should I be an overbearing, faith dominating husband and say, “NO CHRISTMAS/ EASTER/ WHATEVER for you in MY household!”  How should I go about dealing with a situation that I can’t change?  My wife is her own person, and I’m not going to dominate her faith.

The first thing I want to do is to let you know that I commiserate with you in your situation.

While it is true that I have never had this particular struggle with my wife, she did at one time oppose my growing understanding of universal salvation, to the point that she was burning the literature I was ordering on that subject. So I am well aware that it is very hard to remain faithful to the Word of God even with the support of your family. It is even harder when your family is not on the same page with you.

What I did is what you need to do. I reminded Sandi that God had placed me at the head of our family. I reminded her that it was not her place to attempt to become my leader or to keep me from searching for the Truth of God’s word. I told her that if she did not want to go along with me then that was between her and God. But I did not even flinch when I told her that she would not become the head of our household and that if she had any pretense of obeying God’s Word then she would never again burn the literature which I had ordered.

Eph 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Eph 5:22  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Eph 5:23  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Eph 5:24  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so [let] the wives [be] to their own husbands in every thing.
Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Christ “loved the church and gave Himself for it.” Husbands must be willing to do the same for their unbelieving wives. But Christ never submitted Himself to the leadership of His wife. He will have no part of any such arrangement. Verse 21 is addressed to the church as a whole. I should submit myself to you, and you should submit yourself to me so as to have an attitude of wanting to help each other. I will be of no help to you at all if I cannot even take the time to listen to what you have to say. You will be of no help to me if you cannot do the same. But let no one ever tell you that verse 21 nullifies or contradicts verse 22. It does nothing of the kind. Verse 22 actually clarifies verse 21. The way we demonstrate our obedience to verse 21 is by obeying verse 22. Men must never abdicate their position as the husband and spiritual leader of the home. Women must never allow themselves to attempt to lead their husbands. When women must lead as did Deborah, they must do as Deborah and encourage their ‘Barak’ husbands to take the lead in every possible way. If you have not yet done so, then be sure to take the time to read The Head of Christ Is God. You also need to read the section of the Law of Moses Versus The Law of The Spirit dealing with 1 Corinthians chapter 7.

We have not been called into an ideal life. We have rather been given an evil experience to show us where we are lacking and to humble us:

Ecc 1:13 I applied my heart to inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: it is an experience of evil Elohim has given to the sons of humanity to humble them by it.

“All that is done under heaven,” including your experience with your wife and my experience with Sandi, “is an experience of evil which God has given us to humble us.” You don’t know me, and I do not know you, but then again we do know each other well enough to be able to agree that we both need much more understanding of where we are still lacking and much more humility. We are not being called to take Boy Scouts out camping. Our calling and election is to be the rulers of this entire earth and to bring all men to Christ. It will be the believing mate who will “sanctify the unbelieving mate.” It was through Joseph that his unbelieving brothers were saved. That is a promise from God:

1Co 7:12  But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
1Co 7:13  And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
1Co 7:14  For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

It may not take place in this age, but it will be done just as you have read. It will be the believers who will save the unbelievers:

Rev 3:9  Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

To “worship at your feet” they must first be given a change of heart. This will take time and a lot of patience and mercy on the part of all the ‘Josephs’, known as God’s elect. It will be through their unbelief that we will be given our faith and it will be through our mercy that they will be given mercy:

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

The second thing you need to know is yes, you are right, you do not have dominion over your wife’s faith. It is the strong who are to bear the infirmities of the weak. Look at all the years God tolerated and “bore” the infirmities of Israel. But God did not participate in Israel’s abominable practices. He put up with Israel’s rejections of Him and His ways for a long time. But there must always be boundaries which must not be passed. Even God eventually divorced Israel for all of her fornications and adulteries.

“I am set as a defense of the gospel” is true of all of God’s elect. We are all intended to be “hated of all men for My name’s sake.”

Php 1:15  Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
Php 1:16  The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
Php 1:17  But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

“For my name’s sake” means ‘for obeying me in spite of all opposition from all men’ including our own families.

Mat 10:34  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Mat 10:35  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Mat 10:36  And a man’s foes [shall be] they of his own household.

It is obvious from this e-mail that you are not being party to your wife’s observance of pagan holidays. That is all that God expects of any of us. Your wife cannot act beyond the measure of faith she is given. But the same is true for you.

You cannot teach your children all the lies which make up the observance of pagan holidays. Christ was not born in December. There were no three wise men at the manger in Bethlehem. There is no such thing as a Santa Claus who comes down the chimney and leaves toys for good little boys and girls. Sunrise services are specifically condemned in scripture. Rabbits do not lay eggs. Children should never be allowed to threaten to trick a person who doesn’t give them a treat. Witches and goblins are an abomination to God, etc., etc. I remember Halloween when I was a child. No, I didn’t even know that “trick or treat” was a threat. Does that justify filling my little innocent mind with all the lies and witch craft associated with Halloween. No, it does not. What comes in as so innocent brings so many lies and deceptions with it that it must not be allowed into our spiritual houses. Now here is a verse of God’s Word which is about as hated as any:

2Jn 1:9  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2Jn 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your [spiritual] house, neither bid him God speed:
2Jn 1:11  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

The most upset I have ever seen Paul Crouch and Benny Hinn was when they were attacking “heresy hunters.” God’s elect are by their new nature heresy hunters. They are commanded to be so:

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

If you fail to teach the Truth to your children, then you have given up your position as the spiritual leader of your home. Your wife is ruling over you, and your children will oppress you. That is what you have sown, and that is what you will reap.

Isa 3:12  As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

“As for my people Children are their oppressors and women rule over them.”  At whose feet does God lay this sad state of affairs. He lays it all at the feet of those who are supposed to be Israel’s leaders: “They which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.”

“The way of thy paths” is the Truth of God’s Word. When God’s own ministers follow the will of the people instead of the commandments of the Lord, the Lord holds the overseers of the flock accountable:

Deu 9:20  And the LORD was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him [for helping the people to make a golden calf]: and I prayed for Aaron also the same time.

Psa 119:105  NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Not keeping pagan holidays and rituals is not the only way God has of trying His elect. God’s elect do not need to look for a way to be hated of all men; all they have to do is to obey Him. These verses of God’s Word are not telling you to be a domineering husband. What they are telling you is to never be dominated by your wife. “Sin lies at the door, and its desire will be against you” Again, read The Head of Christ Is God.

I would hope you would never again “make fun of” your wife’s pagan religion. That is all she has at this time. Do not ridicule her faith. Let every word you speak be spoken “with meekness and fear.”

1Pe 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Nevertheless God’s elect put obedience to Him over obedience to their mates, male or female. You cannot dominate your wife’s faith but neither can she dominate your faith. You cannot help what she teaches your children, and she cannot stop you from teaching your children the Truth. Do not try to force your wife to obey God. Obedience must come from the heart. But women rule God’s fallen people. That is the outward fruit of a society where the flesh is ruling the spirits in men. Women do not rule men who are filled with the spirit of Christ. The spirit rules the flesh, and husbands are the spiritual leaders of their wives in an ideal Godly family.

But you need to know that your situation is not unique to you among those whom God has drawn to our Bible conferences. There are many more who are in just the same situation. One mate sees the deep spiritual truths of God’s Word, and the other does not. It is very common to be where you are. I give the same advice to them all. Do not try to force your mate to eat your meat. Neither should you allow your mate to turn you away from serving your Lord. Never miss an opportunity to gather together with and have a meal with your extended families. But being there does not necessitate that God’s elect participate in the pagan rituals of the pagan holidays. Stand your ground just as the Adversary stands his ground.

Here is a verse of scripture which is often used to justify keeping pagan holidays and calling that keeping of pagan holidays the “meat of God’s Word:”

1Co 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
1Co 10:24  Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s [wealth].
1Co 10:25  Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, [that] eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
1Co 10:26  For the earth [is] the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.

The “all things are lawful for me” is emphasized to the exclusion of the rest of the verse: “but all things are not expedient:” What is Paul driving at? Is he telling the Corinthians that pagan idols are of such little significance as to be ignored? Or is he telling them to be careful not to give occasion to weak brothers who might take up pagan ways? Well, just look at the verses preceding these verses. They are very revealing as to what Paul meant by “all things are not expedient:”

1Co 10:14  Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry .
1Co 10:15  I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
1Co 10:16  The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
1Co 10:17  For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
1Co 10:18  Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
1Co 10:19  What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
1Co 10:20  But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
1Co 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
1Co 10:22  Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he

“Flee Idolatry… Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils.” Does any of that sound as if Paul took pagan ways and customs as a light thing?

Let’s look once more at how Paul approaches this subject as it regards believing spouses who are married to unbelieving spouses.

1Co 7:12  But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
1Co 7:13  And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not , and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him .
1Co 7:14  For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
1Co 7:15  But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

“If she be pleased to dwell with Him… If he be pleased to dwell with her.” What is understood in these two situations is that the believer remains a believer. What is understood is that his unbelieving mate is not about to compromise his or her faith. If with that understanding, the unbelieving spouse, male or female, is pleased to dwell with the believing spouse, let neither of them depart. If on the other hand the unbelieving spouse cannot accommodate the faith of the believing spouse, then it is the unbelieving spouse who decides to leave:

1Co 7:15  But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

God has promised that the believing spouse will be the one to save the unbelieving spouse, just as Joseph saved his unbelieving brothers. It is not promised to be in this age, but it is promised to happen when God has ordained it to happen.

1Co 7:16  For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
1Co 7:17  But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
1Co 7:18  Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
1Co 7:19  Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God [is everything].

Rituals are nothing. Keeping the commandments of God is everything. What are those commandments in regards to observing of holidays in both the Old and the New Testaments? For those to whom obedience matters here is what the scriptures teach in both the Old and the New Testaments:

The Old Testament:

Deu 12:28 Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest [that which is] good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God.
Deu 12:29  When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land;
Deu 12:30 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.
Deu 12:31 Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.
Deu 12:32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

The New Testament:

Gal 4:9  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Gal 4:10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
Gal 4:11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

Why would not Paul fear keeping pagan holidays if Jewish “days, months, times and years” indicated to him that the Galatians were losing their faith in the words of Christ? How can we read what Paul says to the Galatians and surmise that the “meat” he speaks of in Romans 14 is the going along with observing pagan holidays.

The reason I do not keep pagan holidays is the same reason I do not dress in drag. It may indeed be lawful to dress like a woman if there were a circumstance that made it expedient to be covered in women’s clothes. But what kind of a testimony would that be to do so when it was not expedient? It isn’t uncommon for women today to discover that they are married to a man who is a cross-dresser. What should be done in that case? Both cross-dressing and pagan holidays are forbidden by God:

Deu 22:5  The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

Paul’s statement that he became all things to all men was never intended to justify permitting either physical or spiritual homosexuality in our homes and around our children. As overseers of God’s flock we must “be vigilant” to keep “the Lord’s table” pure of defilement.  Let’s look at Paul’s statement that he was “made all things to all men.”

1Co 9:19  For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
1Co 9:20  And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
1Co 9:21  To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
1Co 9:22  To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all [men], that I might by all means save some.
1Co 9:23  And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with [you].
1Co 9:24  Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
1Co 9:25  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it [exercise discipline and self-control] to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

The very first thing Paul tells us is that “I made myself servant unto all.” He then lists four things to which he became a servant:

1Co 9:20  And unto the  [1] Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to [2] them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
1Co 9:21  To them that are [3] without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
1Co 9:22  To the [4] weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all [men], that I might by all means save some.

Paul became as a Jew to the Jews, as under the law to them that were under the law, as without law to those without law and as weak to the weak. Is Paul saying that he became a Jew, became a law keeper, and was at the same time not a law keeper and was weak in the faith? No, Paul never took leave of his Christian principles as he demonstrated when he confronted Peter and Barnabas and all the other Jews who separated themselves from the Gentiles at Antioch.

Gal 2:11  But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
Gal 2:12  For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
Gal 2:13  And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
Gal 2:14  But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before [them] all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

‘Dissimulation’ is another word for hypocrisy. “Becoming all things to all men” is not an endorsement by the apostle Paul for all of us to become hypocrites. Paul was anything but a man pleaser:

Gal 1:10  For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Christians who think that standing out from the crowd is unnecessary have not a clue as to what “hated of all men” is all about. It is not just about “loving your enemies.” We are hated of all men “for my name’s sake.” And “for my name’s sake” is for Christ’s doctrine.

2Jn 1:9  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2Jn 1:10  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine , receive him not into your [spiritual] house, neither bid him God speed:
2Jn 1:11  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

Few verses in scripture are as hated as these verses. It is detestable to those in Babylon when anyone sees fit to abide in that doctrine of Christ. Coming out of Babylon will not be tolerated by those who are Babylon and her daughters.

‘Coming out of Babylon’ is far more spiritual than it is literal. We often think that because we have stopped attending a denominational church, that we have “come out of Babylon.” But that is nothing more that a first step. Coming out of Babylon has much more to do with getting all the false doctrines and “days, months, times and years” out of our minds and hearts, than it has to do with coming out of a physical building. Look at how Babylon is described in Rev 18:

Rev 18:1  And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth [those who come out of Babylon – Jer. 22:29] was lightened with his glory.
Rev 18:2  And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
Rev 18:3  For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Rev 18:5  For her sins have reached unto heaven , and God hath remembered her iniquities.

Babylon is the church system and its doctrines within each of God’s elect. The “nations… kings… and merchants” are all within each of us. The fact that “Babylon the great is fallen” is simply acknowledging that God’s elect have come to see that Babylon is within each of us.

Here is this same statement put in another way:

Eph 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3  Among whom [children of disobedience] also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

It is not people who say “Lord, Lord” who will enter the kingdom of God, it will be those who keep His commandments:

Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Again, what is the commandment of the Lord in regards to observing pagan holidays and Jewish holidays? Every scribe instructed unto the kingdom of heaven brings forth out of his treasures thing new and old:

The New Testament:

Gal 4:10  Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
Gal 4:11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

The Old Testament:

Deu 12:28  Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God.
Deu 12:29  When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land;
Deu 12:30 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.
Deu 12:31 Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.
Deu 12:32  What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

“You shall not do so unto the Lord your God…”

That is “the will of my Father” according to the Old and New Testaments, on this particular subject.

You also say:

I see people who don’t participate in pagan customs (JW’s and CGG) and it really seems like the way they refuse to eat (physical) food that has to do with these days gives more glory to the day than it detracts.  If we shouldn’t keep days and months and so forth then why do we even acknowledge them at all?  Why do we see it as a pagan day in the first place?   Aren’t we still esteeming these days by even acknowledging them as anything more than a day of the week, month or year?  I don’t go out of my way in a department store to avoid walking near a Christmas tree, I don’t start getting scared of eggs during the Easter season, I don’t refuse to touch pumpkins in October.  Why then should I, as a “mature” (if you can even call me that) son of God, not be able to eat a meal on a day that was once designated as a pagan day, by pagans, who are pagan?

It is not you who is acknowledging these days, months, times and years.” It is the non-believer who gets up before dawn on Easter Sunday to go watch the sun come up:

Eze 8:14  Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD’S house which [was] toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.
Eze 8:15  Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, [and] thou shalt see greater abominations than these.
Eze 8:16  And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD’S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, [were] about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.
Eze 8:17  Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.

They… have returned to provoke me to anger” or as Paul puts it:

1Co 10:22  Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

And this question is posed in the very chapter which is so often quoted to justify accommodating those who insist on keeping pagan holidays. Here is the verse so often misapplied:

1Co 10:23  All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

“All things are lawful for me” is quoted as if “all things are not expedient” were not the very next words.”

I do not know what you read in the letter you reference above that would have led you to think that you should “go into your bedroom and shut the door at mealtime.” Being the believing head of the house necessitates that your unbelieving spouse should be the one who does any “departing” that might be done. It should be the unbelieving spouse who is leaving the room if there is any leaving to be done.

You are right, you cannot dominate your wife’s faith. You cannot drag your wife to Christ. But does this mean that your wife can dominate your faith and the faith of your children? Eat meals with your wife and your family even during pagan holidays, but do not ignore this truth:

Mat 10:34  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Mat 10:35  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and
the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Mat 10:36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
Mat 10:37  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me .
Mat 10:39  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Mat 10:40  He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

So if peace in the family means more to you than the cross of Christ, then that too, is the sovereign work of God. You are asking me what you should do at Christmas and Easter and I would suppose at Halloween? The answer is:

1Co 10:31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

If you can allow your wife to take the lead in your home and teach your children to observe Christmas and Easter just as the Canaanites did in the days of Moses and Joshua, and if you can convince yourself that you are doing this to glorify God, then that is what you need to do. That is what has been done with this verse here in 1 Corinthians 10.

1Co 10:31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
1Co 10:32  Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
1Co 10:33  Even as I please all [men] in all [things], not seeking mine own profit, but the [profit] of many, that they may be saved.

Verse 32 is used to nullify verse 31. And verse 33 is used to nullify this verse:

Gal 1:9  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:10  For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Does Gal 1:9-10 sound like Paul was teaching that we should “please all men in all things?” Does he not say “If I yet please men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” No, the word ‘men’ is not to be found in the 33rd verse of 1 Corinthians 10. The whole chapter is a warning against such an attitude. Look at the preceding verses:

1Co 10:28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth [is] the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:
1Co 10:29  Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another [man’s] conscience?
1Co 10:30  For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
1Co 10:31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Pay close attention to the Words of God. “If any man say unto you, ‘this is offered in sacrifice unto idols’, eat not for his sake that showed it…” But wait, are we not being told that eating meat offered to idols does not matter one way or the other? Yes, indeed, that is what Babylon wants us to believe. But that is not what scripture teaches. What scripture really teaches is that the actions of the believer must be expedient in the eyes of the unbeliever. What the scriptures really teach is that if a weak brother sees me eating meat offered to an idol, he will be emboldened to eat meat offered to an idol:

1Co 8:8  But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
1Co 8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
1Co 8:10  For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

Let’s leave out the added bracketed words and reread 1 Cor 10:33:

1Co 10:33  Even as I please all in all, not seeking mine own profit, but the [profit] of many, that they may be saved.

What “profits many” and what “gives none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles nor to the church of God?” Here it is. This is what gives none offence neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles nor to the church of God:”

Deu 12:28  Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest [that which is] good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God.
Deu 12:29  When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land;
Deu 12:30 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.
Deu 12:31 Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.
Deu 12:32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

Gal 4:9  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Gal 4:10  Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.

In both cases so very much progress has been made, and still God’s own people want to “return to the weak and beggarly elements.” They have come so very far, and it is then that the ways of the heathen just don’t seem like that big of a deal. After all you are doing them to your God, not to some pagan god. And with the same mind, the same mouth you declare that you are not doing these pagan rituals to your God. You cannot have it both ways. Either you are “doing all you do to the glory of God” or  you are doing it for some other reason. Neither are in obedience to the commandments of either the Old or the New Testaments.

Gal 4:10  Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
Gal 4:11  I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

Eat with your wife and family. Do not be afraid of their physical food. But do not partake of their spiritual food in the form of their pagan rituals. Is that in any way at all dominating your wife’s faith if you are faithful to what you know to be the Truth of God’s Word?

1 Corinthians 10 is a whole chapter which is listing the rebellions of Israel against her husband and telling us not to do the same, and we turn this chapter into an excuse to ignore the words of our spiritual husband so as to justify allowing our physical circumstances or society, to become our leader in things pertaining to how our lives and the lives of our children are led. When children see believing husbands allowing our unbelieving mates to take the lead and to set the agenda, they see a father who is saying that what God’s Word says is not as important as what Mom says.

“Thou shalt not do so unto the Lord thy God” regarding  the ways of the heathen who are driven out is no different than “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Both are physical actions which belie a spiritual condition. We cannot commit physical adultery and claim to be the children of God. Neither can we ignore God’s Words about the adultery of the nation of Israel and their adulterous actions in adopting the ways of the heathen they have driven out. Neither can we ignore the words of the New Testament that we are to “eat not” meat offered to idols if we are told, and we know that it is offered to an idol. It may indeed be lawful for you to eat it because you are aware that the idol is nothing, but because you have been informed that this is meat offered to an idol, it is not expedient that you eat meat offered to an idol because it will embolden your brother to go ahead and eat it just to keep from being different. For the sake of weaker brothers, God’s children cannot act as though Gal 4:10 is not there in God’s Word:

Gal 4:7  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Gal 4:8  Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
Gal 4:9  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Gal 4:10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
Gal 4:11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

Galatians was written by Paul. This is the same Paul who wrote Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8 and 10. Now let’s look at the verses which are used to turn the meat of God’s Word into herbs and eating of spiritual herbs by babes into eating meat.  Let’s take a close look at verses which are used by those who can’t stand up to their spouses, family members and society, but they have no problem withstanding the plain words of scripture.  Let’s start with Romans 14 first.

Rom 14:1  Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
Rom 14:2  For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

Who is this brother who is “weak in the faith and can eat only herbs?” According to this same apostle, this brother is the one who feels compelled to accommodate his mate and the whole Christian world by “observing days, months, times and years.”

Gal 4:9  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Gal 4:10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
Gal 4:11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

“Bondage” is the act of being dictated to by church traditions and by society that you must have a tree, lights, a wreath, a nativity scene, spend money for gifts, be careful not to appear to favor one family member or friend above another, be careful not to forget anyone, etc., etc. as you observe this pagan ritual, along with Easter, Valentine’s Day, Halloween, etc. This is the “bondage” of “days, months, times and years” to which Paul refers. It matters not that Paul is actually referring to Jewish holy days; they too, are days, months, times and years.

It is the observance of “days, months, times and years… the weak and beggarly elements” which identify the “weak… herb eating” brother. It is not vice versa. It is much easier to cave in to the pressures of family, and friends and society, and “observe the pagan holidays or the days, months, times and years” of Judaism, than it is to be careful not to “partake of the table of devils.”

1Co 10:19  What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
1Co 10:20  But I say, that the things which the Gentiles [Babylon] sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
1Co 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
1Co 10:22  Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

The “idol” is the false doctrine. The “things offered to idols” is the doctrine that obedience to God and the rejection of false doctrines” is self-righteous herbs. Nothing could be further from the Truth. It is the meat eater who tells the herb eater:

Gal 4:10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
Gal 4:11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

It takes a strong brother to point out that Paul says:

1Co 10:28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth [ is] the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:

“Eat not” that which you know “is offered in sacrifice to an idol” is the admonition of God’s Word. Why is the strong brother told “eat not meat offered to an idol?” It is because doing so would embolden the herb eating, weak brother who observes days, months, times and years, to eat meat offered to an idol:

1Co 8:10  For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

What is offered in sacrifice to idols in today’s society? It is the insidious celebration of pagan rituals as an innocent and harmless way in which the nations which have been cast out of our land worshiped their Gods. It is forgetting that we are told not to commit adultery against our spiritual mate, Christ.  It is forgetting that we are told not to ask how the nations served their gods so we can adopt such observances in worship to our God who has delivered us from such “weak and beggarly elements.” When we allow our wives to take over the leadership in our homes and teach our sons and daughters to observe pagan rituals claiming that we are doing so “to the glory of God”, we have forgotten and ignored the Words of our Lord which told us that such things are not to be done to him:

Deu 12:30  Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.
Deu 12:31 Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.

Now who do the scriptures teach us is the most apt to judge his brother? Is it the brother who is so strong in the faith that he can “eat all things” and observe and do all that Christ and His word commands us, or is it the brother “who is weak and [who] eats herbs” and “observes days, months, times and years?” Is it not the brother in Christ who is not yet able to bear the rejection that obedience to Christ’s doctrine invariably necessitates? Yes, according to Rom 14, it is the weak brother who cannot eat spiritual meat, who wants to go back to the weak and beggarly elements of “observing day, months, times and years” who tends to do all the judging:

Rom 14:1  Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, [but] not to doubtful disputations.
Rom 14:2  For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak [“observes days, months, times and years” – Gal. 4:10], eateth herbs.
Rom 14:3  Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
Rom 14:4  Who art thou [weak in the faith brother] that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he [the strong brother who does not observe days, months, times and years] shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

If there is anything we should learn from Christ’s and Paul’s examples, it is that the closer we get to God, the more cut off we are from this world:

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and[ they are life  [and they do not stop with the four gospels].
Joh 6:64  But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
Joh 6:65  And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
Joh 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

2Ti 1:15  This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

One reason for this was the fact that Paul taught the meat of God’s Word which was:

Gal 4:7  Wherefore thou art no more a servant [“the heir” who remains as an immature “babe in Christ,” a weak brother who is still only able to eat herbs], but a [mature] son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Gal 4:8  Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods [observing days, months, times, and years].
Gal 4:9  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Gal 4:10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
Gal 4:11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

2Ti 1:15 was written late in Paul’s career just as it was late in Christ’s ministry when so many “turned back and walked no more with Him.” Strong meat is for the few. Observing pagan holidays is for “another who is weak in the faith who eats only herbs.” Pagan holidays are clearly observed by the ‘many.’  Just because certain cults obey God’s Words on this subject is no reason to ignore God’s plain statements that we are not to serve him as the heathen served their gods.

Nevertheless according to the scriptures “whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” According to scripture “the strong should bear the infirmities of the weak.” According to scriptures the strong meat eating brothers ought not despise those who cannot yet bear the strong, hard to digest, doctrines of Christ. And according to scripture, the weak herb eating brothers ought not judge those who can and do go all the way with God, even while being accused by their herb eating brothers of being self-righteous, elitist and unloving.

Rom 14:3  Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

“God has received him which eats not” as a “babe in Christ” who is not yet mature enough to eat meat. He cannot yet bear the rejection of society which total commitment to Christ entails and necessitates.

Rom 14:4  Who art thou [weaker brother] that judgest another man’s servant [who can eat all things]? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall [the spiritually strong] be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

1Co 10:28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth [is] the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:

If a brother is so immature as to feel the need to tell you that the meat you are eating is offered to an idol, then the last thing in the world you need to do is to act as if it doesn’t matter. Not because it does matter, but because a weak, herb eating brother honestly believes that it does matter. It is for the sake of those who cannot accept the meat of God’s word that we “eat not for his sake that shewed it and for the sake of his conscience that showed it.” It is also expedient that brothers who know that pagan holidays are “offered to idols” “eat it not” for his sake that knows it and for the conscience of all who others who also know better than to eat meat offered to an idol.

Rom 14:12  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
Rom 14:13  Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in [his] brother’s way. [By eating meat offered to idols in the presence of a weak brother: By observing pagan holidays in the presence of our own immature children and weak brothers]
Rom 14:14  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.
Rom 14:15  But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat [which he told you was offered to an idol], now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

Rom 14:3  Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
Rom 14:4  Who art thou [weaker brother] that judgest another man’s servant [who can eat all things]? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

Does God’s Word teach us to force our mate or friends or families to eat our hard to receive meat? Absolutely not! Sin is a matter of “whatsoever is not of faith” be it ‘strong meat’ or ‘herbs.’ We are not all at the same stage of maturity, and we must allow for that fact:

Rom 14:5  One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day [alike]. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
Rom 14:6  He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard [it]. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

Again, the one “who can eat all things” is the strong brother who “eats not” because he knows this has been offered to idols.

1Co 10:28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth [is] the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:

Rom 14:7  For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
Rom 14:8  For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
Rom 14:9  For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
Rom 14:10  But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
Rom 14:11  For it is written, [As] I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Rom 14:12  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God .
Rom 14:13  Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in [his] brother’s way.
Rom 14:14  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.
Rom 14:15  But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat [offered to  idols], now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
Rom 14:16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Rom 14:18  For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
Rom 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. [Obeying God’s Words]
Rom 14:20  For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed [are] pure; but [it is] evil for that man who eateth [meat offered to idols] with offence.
Rom 14:21  [It is] good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor [anything] whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
Rom 14:22  Hast thou faith? have [it] to thyself before God. Happy [is] he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
Rom 14:23  And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Nowhere in this chapter is the weak brother ordered to advance to maturity. Nowhere is the strong brother encouraged to give up his strong meat for herbs. What both parties are admonished to do is to neither despise or judge each other.

1Co 10:1  Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
1Co 10:2  And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
1Co 10:3  And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
1Co 10:4  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
1Co 10:5  But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
1Co 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
1Co 10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as [were] some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
1Co 10:8  Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
1Co 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
1Co 10:10  Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1Co 10:12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].
1Co 10:14  Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
1Co 10:15  I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
1Co 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
1Co 10:17  For we [being] many are one bread, [and] one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
1Co 10:18  Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
1Co 10:19  What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
1Co 10:20  But I [say], that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
1Co 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
1Co 10:22  Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
1Co 10:23  All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
1Co 10:24  Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s [wealth].
1Co 10:25  Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, [that] eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
1Co 10:26  For the earth [is] the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.
1Co 10:27 If any of them that believe not bid you [to a feast], and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
1Co 10:28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth [is] the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:
1Co 10:29  Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another [man’s] conscience?
1Co 10:30  For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
1Co 10:31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake” proves that there is nothing wrong with eating a meal at a family function. What it does not prove is that you are now able to participate in the pagan rituals that often accompany such a feast. We can be disposed to go to see and to meet family and friends who may never be seen again. Being friends with the family does not necessitate partaking of their pagan rituals “to the glory of God.”

Deu 12:28  Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest [that which is] good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God.
Deu 12:29  When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land;
Deu 12:30  Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.
Deu 12:31 Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.
Deu 12:32  What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

No, your wife is not to be the leader in your home. You cannot and should not try to force her to see or to do anything she cannot do in good conscience. But that does not mean that you “go into the bedroom and close the door” while your wife and children run the affairs of your home. What you do is sit down with your wife and show her what God’s Word says about Christmas and Easter. No, she will not likely see how the whole world can be wrong, but that is why “you shall be hated of all men?” Do we think that “I have come to set father against son” simply means that one or the other of the mates does not believe in loving their enemies?  No, it includes much more than on single doctrine. It includes the sum of God’s Word. Both the Old and the New.

We are all in this process together, so don’t even concern yourself with how carnal or how mature you may appear. You are exactly where God wants you to be at this moment. The same thing is true for us all.

I hope this has helped you to see what the scriptures reveal is expected of all who find themselves in your situation. Ruling and reigning with Christ and not being hurt of the second death is what is at stake.

You are not alone, rather your situation is what is most common in our fellowship. Above all I pray that God will strengthen you to “take up your cross and follow Christ” in the face of all odds and all opposition.

Your brother in Christ,

Mike

Hi! Mike:

Thanks for all your articles. I’m still reading on them. I appreciate your understanding in the matters of the law and agree with what you say. It has really helped me a lot in my walk, thanks.

My question is this: Paul told the church a woman should not to speak out in the church, and I understand what he meant. But he said the law said for a woman not to speak out in the church. What law? What was Paul talking about? Is that even in the old covenant law for a woman not to speak out in the church? Thank you for you time because I know you work hard and do all this without pay.

May God truly bless you,

J____

Hi J____,

Thank you for your question. I am thankful that you enjoyed the paper on the law.

You ask why Paul refers to the law in reference to the role of women in the church. Here is the verse to which you refer:

1Co 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

“As also saith the law” is referring to the law of Moses, with which the Corinthian readers would have been very familiar. Not every word of the law has been contradicted. But every word of the law of Moses, which we are here discussing, has been superseded by “the law of the spirit of life.” Christ said the “Thou shalt not commit adultery” has been superseded by His “But I say unto you that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.”

Christ did not change the law to “Okay, now it is all right to commit adultery.” The law also says ‘don’t commit adultery’ as any of God’s elect would agree and teach that the law says. It is still to this day “the law [which] brings us to Christ.” It is “the law [which] is not for a righteous man but is for the lawless and disobedient.” And it is that very same law for the lawless and disobedient which God uses to bring us to Christ as “a schoolmaster… as a tutor and a governor.”

Here is that same phrase in an earlier chapter of this same epistle:

1Co 9:7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
1Co 9:8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
1Co 9:9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
1Co 9:10 Or saith he [it] altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, [this] is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

The fact that the law of Moses says anything does not in and of itself mean that what the law of Moses says is wrong. The rich young ruler quoted the law when he said “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God…”

Deu 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

You and I can tell people to “Love the Lord thy God” today, and we can add “as also saith the law.” But whenever the “but I say unto you…” law of Christ does contradict the law of Moses, and it does so many times, then we are to “obey God rather than man [Moses – law for the lawless and disobedient].” Pointing out that the new does not always contradict the old does not make the old equal with the new or place the old over the new. The fact that many of the things Christ taught did indeed contradict the law of Moses does not mean that this is always the case. Just because Moses required “all thy males” to appear before God “three times in the year” does not mean that under the law of Christ women can now be heads of the household or be teachers and preachers in the church.

Exo 23:17 Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD.

Women were not even to “appear before God” under the law of Moses. Does not the law itself tell us that Eve was made for Adam and not Adam for Eve? If indeed women can teach men, then I can teach Christ. If it is permissible for a woman to lead her home, then indeed she can lead the church. But that is the exact opposite of what we are told:

1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
1Ti 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
1Ti 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
1Ti 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

Are we now, just because we are not under the law of Moses, to be teaching that since “we are all one in Christ and there is neither male nor female” that now we can all share the same restrooms and bishops can now be the wife of one husband? Can we now all go around in ‘drag’ because there is neither male nor female, and we are all one in Christ? Saying ‘there is neither male nor female, but we are all one in Christ” is not to be understood in that way. The way it is to be understood is that even though we are all given differing gifts and differing roles, we are not over one another. We are a body which is happy and thankful just to be a part of that body. We are all one body in Christ. And what is expected of men is given us in God’s Word. What is expected of women is also given to us in God’s Word.

If women can preach and “take care of the church of God”, then they can certainly “rule [their] own house and have their children under subjection.” And if a woman can do these things, then she can also be the “husband of one wife.” But a woman cannot be the husband of one wife any more than I can be the head of Christ.

The very best witness a Godly woman can have is to be of a “meek and quiet spirit” in this flesh. That is what God is looking for in a Godly woman. All of the great sermons by all of the great women preachers of this world do not change these words of God’s Word:

1Pe 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, [be] in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
1Pe 3:2 While they behold your chaste conversation [coupled] with fear.
1Pe 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward [adorning] of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
1Pe 3:4 But [let it be] the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, [even the ornament] of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
1Pe 3:5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:
1Pe 3:6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well,

Does any woman want to be “of great price in the sight of God?” God leaves us all with no excuse. He makes His will known. The question He poses is:

Luk 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

I hope that this has given you a better understanding of a woman’s role under the law of Moses. Under that law women were not even to “appear before God.” I hope you see that when Paul or Christ or anyone else appealed to the law of Moses, they were appealing to what is expected from “the lawless and disobedient” and not what is ideal or excellent or commendable. It is no doubt hard for a woman to hear men teach lies and not take it upon herself to straighten out those deceits. But whenever a woman preaches, she is really showing how little she regards “these sayings of Mine.” Her preaching and straightening out of the worthless men around her is about as productive as me trying to drag people to Christ. It cannot be done. And a woman cannot be of “great price in the sight of God” while she is without a “meek and quiet spirit.” The law of Moses just happens to agree with this New Testament Truth. The word ‘silence’ is a bad translation and should be ‘quiet.’ “A meek and quiet spirit is in the sight of God of great price.” It is the simple Truth of God’s ‘Is, Was and Will Be Word.’
Mike