A CALL TO MODESTY, DECENCY, AND SUBMISSION

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.

1 Timothy 2:9-10

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

In yesterday’s message, we looked at verses that reminded us that at the heart of the Gospel, the good news of God’s redeeming work through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus, is a single belief in a single God who had a single Son. It was this message that Paul, purposed to bring the salvation message to the “end of the earth” (Acts 1:9), was sharing with his missionary partner, Timothy, to share with the Ephesian church he was pasturing.

In the midst of what was a polytheistic, idolatrous society, Timothy was to preach the power of one to his congregation and to those who were unsaved. The focus was to be on God as the sole God of all creation and Jesus, His Son, the only Savior of the world. They were to be the focal point of all worship, receiving all the honor, glory, and praise.

Given this, we move to today’s verses which have known to get people worked up into a lather, mostly because people want to do what they want to do. The world has pushed an agenda that encourages total freedom in behavior and rails against any impingement on that freedom, even if it comes from the Bible which is the word of God Himself. Unfortunately, too many Christian believers continue to allow themselves to be influenced more by the world than the Lord. 

Do we have the authority or right to challenge God and His word and will?

It’s a question we should always consider when the sin of disagreement with what He tells us to do starts to bubble up to infect our hearts, minds, and mouths.

With this, let’s look at today’s passage, one that contains specific direction for Christian women and their role in the church.

I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. 2 Timothy 2:9-10

First, we see where the scriptures address attire in the church. You will often hear people say to just come as you are to worship the Lord but God’s word does put guidance in regard to what a woman wears and the call is to modesty and decency.

In other words, a woman shouldn’t dress in a way that draws more attention to themselves in church than to the Lord.

In the Ephesian church, it was obvious that some people liked to show off their high socioeconomic status within the congregation. They would come to worship with elaborate hair styles or adorned with gold, pearls or expensive clothes. This was done to be seen and adored by others, to be an object idolized by others, especially those who were not as well off. In doing this, the woman became the focal point and stole spotlight away from the Lord.

We still see this happening today in many churches. In fact, I have been in worship settings where it seemed there was a fashion competition going on, women trying to outdress the other so to be viewed as the queen of style for any given Sunday.

The call from God Himself is for modesty and it’s not negotiable. He and He alone is to be the center of our worship in church.

Women also aren’t to be placed on positions where they are teaching men in the church. This also isn’t negotiable although you would never know it with the propensity of churches who permit female pastors into their pulpits.

Is it permissible to obey some parts of God’s word and turn a blind eye to the ones we don’t agree with? And who has any right to disagree with the God of all creation, the God who reigns and rules with absolute sovereignty over all things in Heaven and on earth?

This matter of women remaining quiet in church in full submission to God’s will and way is reinforced in 1 Corinthians. There we read:

Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. 1 Corinthians 14:34-35

No one completely understands the scriptures perfectly and there are bound to be questions but here we see where those questions aren’t to be openly asked in church by any woman. They are to avoid disgracing themselves and sinning against God by asking their husbands at home. And if the woman is single or widowed, they can seek out a man who is knowledgeable in the Word and ask her questions.

Now, of course this places a lot of responsibility on the men. They are required to take the lead in teaching and preaching the word of God, growing strong in the knowledge of the scriptures so to instruct and advise. Husbands had better be ready to field the questions of their wives and provide sound, accurate direction. The Lord will hold them accountable for being prepared to do what He is calling them to do.

Friends, if we really believe in the power and authority of One, one God who is supreme over us all and His one Son, the only One through which we can be saved and be brought to the Father (John 14:6), then we can comply in full obedience to what they tell us to do, no matter our gender. The world would lead us in a different direction but we know that when we are Christians, we are in the world but not of it. We are to dare to be different and never apologize for it.

In the end translation, nobody should be so bold to feel they can brush off what God’s word commands and do as they see fit. For the scriptures assure us that every word within is “God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God (whether man or woman) may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

And this includes the good work of proper worship. 

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.