Truth Magazine

By Hoyt H. Houchen

Question: Does 1 Corinthians 14:34 forbid women speaking out, like on a Wednesday night when the one making the announcements says, “Is there any announcement we failed to make?”

Reply: 1 Corinthians 14:34 does not forbid a woman to speak up in an assembly in such circumstances as referred to in the question. This passage has been misused by those who attempt to prove that a woman cannot ask a question or make a comment in a Bible class conducted by a man.

The setting for the verse under consideration was concerning spiritual gifts that were being exercised in the church at Corinth. There was disorder in the assembly, thus Paul wrote to correct the confusion. There could be no edifying in such a condition, so he urged in verse 26, “Let all be done to edifying.” He wrote in verse 33, “For God is not a God of confusion, but peace.” Then he summed it all up in verse 40, “But let all things be done decently and in order. ” Thus we have the background for verses 34 and 35, “Let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law. And if they would learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church.” The men who were speaking were inspired. If a man who was speaking in a tongue had no interpreter, he was to keep silence. This is obvious because in such a case there could be no edifying, the very purpose of tongue speaking in this situation (see v. 26 again). The prophets were instructed how to have an orderly service. “And let the prophets speak by two or three, and let the others discern. But if a revelation be made to another sitting by, let the first keep silence” (vv. 29,30). So, certain men in the assembly were to keep silence, and implying that all the women were to do likewise. There is no indication that the women present were inspired or that they were receiving revelations.

The word “women” in verse 34 is from the Greek word gune and can be translated either “women” or “wives.” The context favors “wives.” These women were the wives of the prophets and were evidently uninspired. To avoid interruptions, these wives were to ask their husbands (the prophets) at home for any information they lacked. This consideration makes sense and is in harmony with the context.

Although miraculous tongue speaking has ceased, the principle of women being in subjection remains in force in our assemblies today. Paul wrote, “but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law” (v. 34). They are not allowed to confuse the assembly today any more than they could then. But the stipulation that “if they would learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home” does not apply today, for the obvious reason that she has the same revelation that her husband has – the word of God. In fact, some women’s husbands are not even members of the church. It would be rather absurd for a woman who desires some Bible information to be restricted to ask her non-Christian husband at home.

There is much that a woman can do in the assembly, and yet be in subjection to the man. She can sing in the assembly (Eph. 5:19); she can and should pray in the assembly. There is a vast difference in a woman praying and one leading prayer in the assembly. There is also a vast difference in a woman singing and one directing singing in the assembly where men are present and able to do so.

Neither 1 Corinthians 14:34 nor 1 Timothy 2:11,12 forbids women to participate in a Bible class taught by a man. In so doing she is not usurping the authority of a man, neither is she teaching over a man. Women speak and teach in the assembly when they sing, confess Christ or confess their sins. In these acts she is in submission to man and is not out of place. She can ask questions and make comments in a Bible class taught by a man, and yet at the same time be in submission to the man. Neither is she violating any Scripture if she modestly speaks up in an assembly to remind a man of some missed announcement when the man has made such a request of the audience. How strange it is that some brethren think a woman is keeping “silence” when she sings at the top of voice in the assembly, but that she is not keeping “silence” if she makes a comment or asks a question in a Bible class!

Let us remember that the context of 1 Corinthians 14:34 was to avoid confusion in the assembly at Corinth. While women are prohibited to direct singing, lead in prayer, preach, take a leading part in the assembly where men are present, she nevertheless can fulfill her role of submission by doing much to encourage and strengthen others in the Lord’s work and be instrumental in bringing many precious souls to Christ.

Guardian of Truth XXX: 19, p. 581
October 2, 1986

By Johnie Edwards

The shedding of tears, on the part of many, is about a thing of the past! Even crying at funerals is seldom seen anymore as it is suppose to be a sign of stability not to cry. The Psalmist said, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy” (Psa. 126:5). There are different kinds of tears mentioned in the Bible. Let’s take a look at some.

Tears of Warning

Paul shed tears because he knew that brethren would not listen to the truth and would depart from it. He said, “Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears” (Acts 20:31). Even though the Bible is filled with warnings, most do very little heeding. The purpose of a watchman was to “hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me,” (Ezek. 3:17) said God. We would all do well to listen to the warnings of God. One reason Noah was said to have walked with God was that he listened to the warnings of God and “prepared an ark to the saving of his house. . . ” (Heb. 11:7).

Tears of Sadness

The Ephesians wept as Paul bid them goodbye on leaving the work at Ephesus. “And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him” (Acts 20:36-37).

Too many times preachers leave a place of work with malice toward the elders and the elders toward the preacher. My brethren, this ought not to be! A lot of churches have a pre-set time frame in which a preacher is to work and when that time is up, he must go regardless of how good the work is going, and this is sad. Some places just about “eat” the preacher up when he first begins a new work and after he has been there a short while, they wished they had! There just needs to be a better and closer tie between elders and preachers

Tears of Sympathy

“Jesus wept” (Jn. 11:35). Jesus wept because He cared when others were in sorrow. Mary and Martha had just lost their brother to death. Even though Jesus could and did resurrect Lazarus from the dead, He still showed concern. I am afraid that many are too cold and indifferent toward others who sorrow. Someone says, “I thought we ought not sorrow when a Christian dies.” No, you have that wrong! Paul told the Thessalonians “that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope” (1 Thess. 4:13). Let’s not get too proud to cry.

Tears Over Sin

Jeremiah of the Old Testament has often been called the “weeping prophet” because he cried over the sinful condition of God’s people. Israel was guilty of backsliding, playing the harlot, and forgetting God; they could not blush and they would not walk in the old paths. Such is enough to make the righteous cry. Jesus wept over the sinful condition of God’s people. “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd” (Matt. 9:36). Sin in our society is the order of the day and most of us do very little about it. It would do us all good to look at the sinful condition of most people and allow our tears of concern to lead us to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Eph. 5:11).

Guardian of Truth XXX: 18, p. 562
September 18, 1986

By Morris Hafley

The title certainly seems a contradiction, doesn’t it? Well, there has been, to my knowledge, only one airconditioned furnace in history.

This came about in Daniel 3, when the three brave friends of Daniel stood for the truth of almighty God. The old recording of Johnny Cash suggests that they would not bow, they would not bend, they would not bum. They would not bow to idols; they would not bend or compromise the laws of God; they would not burn in a furnace made exceedingly hot by the old idolatrous king. God had, as it were, airconditioned that furnace and saved the three Hebrew children from certain death.

You knew all that, so what is my point? Well, there is another very hot place, only this time, God has heated it. It is called hell. It is a place for the unbeliever (John 3:18, 36; Rom. 2:6-16; Matt. 25:41,46). It is a place for those who refuse to obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus (2 Thess. 1:8,9). God will not condition the air for those who reject His conditions of salvation. Remember the rich man of Luke 16:24 who said, “I am tormented in this flame”?

Wouldn’t you like to miss hell? Sure you would! Then get your Bible and study it (2 Tim. 2:15). Let it lead you to that beautiful place called heaven where pain and sorrow will never invade. Be among that innumerable host. “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Rev. 22:14).

Guardian of Truth XXX: 18, p. 567
September 18, 1986

By Lewis Willis

Someone, apparently in our radio audience, is on Rex Humbard’s mailing list. For some reason they decided to send me a copy of two recent letters they received in an attempt to raise funds for the Humbard Ministry. The person sending me the letters observed that “he comes from all angles” in an attempt to raise money. Candidly, I could not believe people would be gullible enough to fall for these two recent promotions. But, I guess it takes all kinds.

The first letter was from Rex’s daughter, Liz. She told how “an urgent request” had come from the Philippines for Rex to hold a crusade there. She had discussed this with her Dad just the night before she wrote the letter: “Dad said to me last night, ‘I am struggling inside. For I know the unrest in that nation and that God wants me to take His message to those thousands of poor people. But, this crusade will cost several thousands of dollars that we don’t have. God will have to speak to the hearts of His partners to give. ‘ I could see Dad’s heart was torn . . . because the ministry didn’t have the money it took to hold this crusade. It was in that moment that God spoke to my heart to share this news with you and ask you to join me in giving our seed gifts to send Dad . . . to the Philippines.”

Liz then explained that Rex was soon to have his 67th birthday. She even had birthday cards printed up to send to the people on their mailing list. All people needed to do was sign the card, enclosing $20.00, and return it to the Humbards. Liz and Maude Aimee would take all of these birthday cards, wrap them in a special gift package with a blue ribbon on it for Rex to open. “On his birthday morning, he will be able to sit at the table and read your card of encouragement you sent . . then as a reminder that you shared his 67th birthday . . . we will send you back a length of the beautiful ribbon to use as a Bible marker.”

Now, that’s an offer one can scarcely refuse, especially since God has put it on her heart to make it, even promising that the giver could expect God’s “flow of blessings” to replace the $20.00 given. Rex even enclosed a special hand-printed note. Besides his Philippine need, he only has three weeks to raise $73,000 or he “. . . may not ever be able to write you or minister to you again . . . or this ministry will be nothing more than a memory.” Each person was asked to send $50.00. All they needed that week was $70.00 from each person on their mailing list!

The next week, the listener sent me Rex’s next appeal for funds. In this packet, Rex announced, “Jesus can break your chains!” He pointed out that his readers might be in a prison of spiritual, physical, family or financial need. In fact, he said that “I believe at this very moment you may be bound by a need or circumstance that God wants to free you from.” The chains of that bondage could be broken! He said it was just like Paul and Silas were freed from the bondage of their Philippian prison. He then included Acts 16:25-26 to prove this. But notice how “Reverend Rex” changed the Bible text in his fund-raising letter: “At midnight Paul and Silas began to give to God . . . and the chains were loosed.” I checked eleven different translations of the Scriptures and not one of them even mentions “began to give to God” as a part of the Divine text. That is a Rex Humbad alteration of the text in an effort to get into the wallets of the people on his mailing list. This, we are to believe, comes from “a spirit-filled preacher.”

Anyway, “as a point of contact,” Rex sent along, in a cellophane packet, two plastic links of chain. The reader was asked to hold the links of chain in his hand and read a Bible passage. Then, he was asked to break them apart, enclose one link in the reply envelope Rex had sent, along with “your sacrificial offering of $10, $5, $25, $30 or more to give to God and His work.” Rex then added, “the Lord told me you need to do this!” If we are to believe him, God had made a direct revelation to Rex to send these links of plastic chain to his followers to help him raise money. The Bible tells us Divine revelation is finished and completed that’s the meaning of the word “perfect” regarding the law of liberty in James 1:25. The Bible being true, and I say this benevolently, God didn’t say any such thing to Rex Humbard and he misrepresented the truth when he said that He did!

Admittedly, I’m not a plastics expert, so this is only a guess, but, I would guess you could buy approximately 1000 yards of this plastic chain for about $100. So, if Rex can get from $5 to $30 out of each follower, he will have turned a bundle of bucks! Of course, from his point of view, the important thing is that all of those people would have been delivered from the chains that bind them – no matter what the need – even if it is financial. I was just thinkin’ if one of these chain links will release Rex’s followers from their financial woes, why won’t it release Rex from his manifold financial woes! I wonder how responsive he would be if I returned these links to him and told him that God had told me to write and have Rex send me all the money he received from the fund raiser. I wonder how obedient Rex would be. Do you think I should try that?

Guardian of Truth XXX: 18, p. 561
September 18, 1986