And the lady said...

Recently, I attended a funeral in another state. Every effort was made by the minister to assure the family that the deceased was a special person who was now with Jesus, looking down from Heaven.

None of that squared with what the Bible actually says about the hereafter. Rather, we read that, "No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven – the Son of Man" (John 3:13, NIV). "Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day…For David did not ascend to heaven" (Acts 2:29, 34 NIV). The Bible nowhere teaches that Heaven is the reward of the saved!

However, it was the unscriptural way the funeral was conducted that really stood out.

No one seemed shocked that a female minister delivered much of the funeral sermon. Now don't get me wrong. In a free country, religious denominations can ordain anyone they want – even if it conflicts with the plain words of the Bible! If their teachings are not biblical, it follows that their ordination practices probably will not be either.

Qualifications for ordaining true ministers of God are found in several places in the Bible. In every case the directions from God are for ordaining a man, not a woman! Some examples are: "appoint elders in every city as I commanded you – if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife… holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict" (Titus 1:5-9). And, "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife…one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?)" (1 Timothy 3:2-5).

The Bible is clear on the subject of women preachers in the true Church of God: "Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence" (1 Timothy 2:11-12). And, "Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church" (1 Corinthians 14:34-35).

Now before anyone gets upset with me, let me point out that these are direct quotes from God's inspired word. If you have a problem with what it says, your problem is with God!

Does this mean that God hates women? No! But in His wisdom our Creator gave the role of leading the family and leading the church to men, just as He gave the absolutely essential ability to have and to nurture children to women. God has equipped men and women differently, for different roles in life.

The lady preacher droned on. I sat through the funeral, wondering just how much further human beings will be allowed to go in rebelling against God. Why do they dare call themselves Christian if they do not intend to do what He says? "But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God" (1 Corinthians 11:3). How much better off this world would be if we only believed and acted on the word of God.

For more about God's word and the Bible-based practices of God's true church today, order or read online our informative booklets, Restoring Apostolic Christianity and Where is God's True Church Today? They, like all of our publications, are free of charge.