The article discusses the misinterpretations of 1 Timothy 2:11-12 regarding women’s roles in the church. It critiques arguments allowing women to teach or preach under male authority, emphasizing adherence to biblical authority and order. The essay cites theologians like John Piper and John MacArthur, reinforcing traditional views on gender roles in ministry.
The essay explains the term “perspicuity of scripture,” stating that the Bible is intelligible to all believers through the Holy Spirit’s guidance. While some passages may be complex, overall understanding is accessible to everyone with diligence and prayer. This concept counters the need for exclusive interpretations or codes, promoting personal exploration of scripture.
Here is a quote by George Muller. I focused on the part that said ‘water through a pipe’.
As the outward man is not fit for work for any length of time unless he eats, so is with the inner man. What is the food for the inner man? Not prayer, but the Word of God-not the simple reading of the Word of God, so that it only passes through our minds, just as water runs through a pipe. No, we must consider what we read, ponder over it, and apply it to our hearts.
― George Muller, The Autobiography of George Muller
Do you read the Bible as water runs through a pipe? The words just gushing through your mind on their way to somewhere else? Sometimes I do. I finish a paragraph and realize it hasn’t ‘sunk in’. We must not allow the word to run through our brain in one ear and out the other, as water runs through a pipe. We should absorb the word like a sponge. Hold onto it, keep it, treasure it.
In Esther chapter 1, King Ahasuerus hosts a lavish banquet, leading to Queen Vashti’s refusal to display herself before drunken guests, highlighting her modesty. This refusal results in her being set aside, contrasting with Salome’s eager dance display at Herod’s feast. The narratives emphasize the consequences of alcohol and the importance of modesty.
I critique Turning Point USA’s Young Women’s Leadership Summit decision to include new convert Nala Ray on their speaker panel. I warn that new converts like Ray should not be put into leadership/authority roles too soon, emphasizing the need for care and nurturing in a less hectic environment. New converts, famous or not, should be exhorted to settle into a church pew during their faith journey.
Turning Point USA’s Young Women’s Leadership Summit aims to empower women through civic engagement and political activism. However, the article critiques this initiative, questioning its alignment with biblical roles for women which are supposed to be primarily focused on home and motherhood. It highlights inconsistencies among speakers promoting activism while diverging from scriptural teachings on femininity and family responsibilities.
In 1 Kings 13, a ‘Man of God’ is sent to rebuke King Jeroboam but later falls prey to an old prophet’s deception, leading to his demise. The narrative emphasizes the importance of discernment for believers, urging them to verify teachings against scripture, as false prophets can mislead even the faithful.
The seventh day, sanctified by God for rest, underlines a universal need for downtime. Studies indicate productivity diminishes beyond 55-hour workweeks, showing God’s wisdom in structured work balanced with rest enhances efficiency. Christians remember Jesus as a model for intentional breaks amidst busy lives, supporting a cyclical rhythm of work and worship.
The Laodicean Church, as depicted in Revelation 3:14-22, embodies spiritual complacency and arrogance, marked by self-reliance on wealth and ignorance of its wretched state. Jesus warns of the dangers of this “lukewarm” condition, urging repentance and emphasizing the necessity of recognizing one’s dependence on Him for genuine righteousness.
We have passed the traditional gateway to summer: Memorial Day Weekend. I hope you had a nice one. I rested on Saturday and on Sunday after church there was a BBQ picnic at a member’s home. I’ve had a few pamering apointments during the week, adn a few social engagements.
I’m looking forward to a slower pace, some penetrating reading (Man in His Fourfold State by Thomas Boston) and some light reading, (The Way of the Gladiator) and trying some new recipes. I also want to do more photography. Will I do some bookbinding or crafting? Maybe. I know I will binge some TV shows in some evenings. I like TV. So, nothing fancy, just a nice season of 8 weeks of being a homebody.
Time for another roundup of interesting links and pics that I call Prata Potpourri. Enjoy.
Pastor Tom Buck posted this graphic on Twitter, saying someone sent it to him. The origin is embedded in the graphic, it’s from Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte NC. It contrasts godly repentance with worldly sorrow. It’s helpful.
Pastor Darrell Harrison of the Just Thinking Podcast had an essay published in TableTalk magazine, pondering our artificial culture. It’s good.
Here’s an excerpt: “Lamentably, many professing believers succumb to such shallow enticements, choosing instead to gratify their flesh rather than obey God. An example from Scripture is that of Demas, who became so enamored of the world that he deserted the Apostle Paul in carrying out the work of the gospel (2 Tim. 4:10).”
If you care to descend 2800 feet into a recently discovered world’s deepest sinkhole to explore a unique microclimate containing rare and undiscovered plants and animals, then have at it. It is in China. The site Beauty of Planet Earth says of the giant hole,
The Xiaozhai Tiankeng is more than just a giant hole in the ground. Its unique microclimate, with its own weather patterns and lush vegetation, has fostered a distinct ecosystem. A total of 1,285 plant species, among them the ginkgo, along with various rare animals such as the clouded leopard and the Chinese Giant Salamander, have been discovered in the sinkhole. Due to its remote location, many plant and animal species found within the sinkhole haven’t been documented elsewhere, potentially representing new discoveries for science.
Thinking Biblically is a hub of resources from experts ranging from theologians to paleontologists affiliated with The Master’s University in Santa Clarita, CA. If you are interested in a 12-episode video tour & Lectures of Old Jerusalem led by Mater’s Seminary professor Dr. William Varner, seeing and learning about the biblical places mentioned in the Bible, then this series is for you. It’s free.
It’s summer. Not that the hot season these days sparks the need for less clothing, it seems that less clothing rather than more clothing is the standard whatever the season. WHen did our culture get so casual with showing so much flesh?
Here are two resources. One is by Jeff Pollard, an Elder at a Florida Church, editor of the Free Grace Broadcaster and manager at Chapel Library. He wrote a 40 page essay titled Christian Modesty: The Public Undressing of America. Here is the blurb-
God’s Word has much to say about the way we dress, especially in worship. Christian Modesty and the Public Undressing of America examines relevant portions of Scripture and investigates a little fashion history in order to present a Biblical doctrine of modesty. This is an important discussion for both men and women. While this controversial subject often falls into the realm of subjective experience and speculation, the author begins with a study of Holy Scripture.
The black-and-white photo below went viral. Caption: “Before sagging, bonnets, and Walmart PJs were worn in public…” It’s not just nostalgia. It’s a rebuke. We used to dress like we belonged. From Dignity to Disorder:
This isn’t suits vs. sweats. It’s about the collapse of culture. When we dressed with honor, it wasn’t vanity. It was identity. It said: I belong to a family, to a Church, to a standard. Today? We dress like we’ve been abandoned by all three. Listen to or read my Substack article for more:
Do you like seeing homes and how the owner decorated? Apartment Therapy has got your back. If you like Quiet Luxury, Dark & Brooding, Coastal Inspired, Enviable Exposed Brick, Inspired Kitchens, whatever style you enjoy, click on the image to see more of it.
the-end-time.org 