100 tough questions- f
25. Why does God use Faith as the criteria for bible?
For the simple reason that 'faith ' is the most fair and just way for God to use for all generations of people. Since people are born thousands of years apart, in different cultures, societies, languages and each have developed differently not everyone has access to the same discoveries, the same knowledge, the sam einformation and thus it would be unfair to require something that many could not possess nor hope to have access.
We know from history that knowledge rises and falls, it depends on the Age as well. Many ancient civilizations were quite advanced and had access to the Pythagorum Theorum 2000 years before Pythagorius 'discovered' it and many modern societies never advanced beyond the stone age thus to reguire anything else than'faith' would be cruel and unjust. God is neither cruel nor unjust and He has made the criteria the same for all, despite their knowledge, their nationality or their access to information.
All have the same chance and the same opportunity, all they have to do is hear the word and make a decision, accept the gospel by faith or reject it and that does not take a a Oxford trained mind to do. We all have the ability to make decisons, we all have the ability to exercise 'faith' if we want to believe. It is not difficult to do and everyone from every civilization throughout the ages had/have such abilities given to them by God , so that they all can join Him in heaven if they so choose.
it is simple, fair, just and easy one just has to take that first step and then their lives are changed forever.
26. Can women be ministers or preachers?
Recently, the news published a story concerning the R.C.C.'s latest remarks concerning women and the priesthood, http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/pope_women_dc , and in reading the article one can find the following quote:
"Proponents of women's ordination say Christ was only acting according to the social norms of his time"
This same argument is used by the protestant church as well (see the article on Culture in another section on tis website) and it is troubling. For this idea, presented above, brings with it many dangers which are damaging to the church and the work of Christ.
One such danger is that the idea in the quoted words tells the world that it is okay to disobey God and that is not so. If the church disobeys, then how can they expect the world to follow Him? They can't. Another danger here is that it is telling the world and church memers that it is okay to change what God says because culture demands it. That also is wrong for the church is not instructed to follow culture but God's word.
One last danger to be looked at is that this idea is saying that Jesus submitted Himself to culture's ways and chnaged what he wanted tofit the times. That is basically accusing Jesus of lying and deceiving and that is just out of the question. Jesus taught exactly how He wanted the church to be run and did not say one thing for one culture while meaning another for a different culture. That would be unfair, unjust and hypocritical, all things that are not of God.
Yes it is done to 'fit in' with the secular world more but that is one of the problems, for the church is not to 'fit in' with the world but are to 'be the light' so the world knows which way is the correct direction to follow.
The church tends to get creative in bending the rules and getting around the criteria God laid out for the church to obey. They create interesting titles such as; minister of christian education or minister to children, thus they are not technically pastors but in reality they are and women are given positions God did not intend.
God is very consistant in all His ways and we see that throughout the Old Testament and into the New that God does NOT break His own rules nor does He allow culture to dictate how He teaches Hispeople what to do. Jesus wasnot acting inaccordance with the 'cultural norms' but was teaching the way His church is t be run. Which means thatthe example set y Him and the criteria giventhrough Paul are the way things are to be.
Many cite Jesus treatment of women as an excuse to elevate them beyond wat they are to be. That is wrong as Jesus was showing His followers that women are not to be excluded and have an important role in His church, theyjust do not have the right to be appointed an overseer, pastor or elder. That is not their calling and the church CANNOT use culture as an excuse to disobey God and ignore Jesus' example.
The church is not here to please the world and be accepted by it, they are to please God and to doso must follow what God has said to do. Does this mean that women are to be ignored and excluded from the church's ativities? NO, Jesus showed that women do have a role in the church and that they are to be included in His work. They are not second class citizens of the kingdom of God but equal partakers but that does not disqualify the rules that God set forth.
This is the mistake that many churches make as they consider women who want to be ministers So the answer to the question is-- NO, they can't be pastors or ministers but they do have a role which Jesus has called them to and by sticking to following God's ways they will find out that role and aid the church.
The church needs to remeber that God does not break isown rules nor does He bend them, He allows things to take place even though some actions are against His wishes but it is the church that suffers as their impact is far less than it should be and their reaping is far smaller than it could be.
God said, 'It is far better to obey than to sacrifice' and that is the key eveninthis issue. The church needs to obey ALL of God's ways, not just the ones that are culturally acceptable and in so doing they will please God and the world WILL see how it is to be done. As it stands, the unchurched world can ignore Christ's words, message and convictionbecause the church does and the church should not be providing ecuses or justification for the world to continue sinning.
