Agrees with Bess on Biblical guidelines

To the editor:

I agree with Howard Bess’s recent article (Nov. 21) that some Biblical guidelines or recommendations are controversial. I checked with 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus, which provided instruction to pastors on how to execute their responsibilities. As explained by professor Bart Ehrman, professor of religion at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: the author is concerned that churches appoint proper leaders. In both 1 Timothy and Titus, detailed instructions are given concerning the qualifications of bishops and deacons. They are to be seasoned Christians with upright moral lives who know how to control their own households and have good reputations on the outside (e.g., 1 Tim. 3:1-13). These leaders are all to be men. Women are to have no leadership roles in the church; in fact, they are not even to speak in church. It is explained that women are descended from Eve, who was deceived by the serpent in the Garden of Eden, ate the forbidden fruit to bring sin into the world, then duped her husband into doing likewise (1 Tim. 2:11-15). The conclusion is that if women are allowed to lead, they will be deceived by the devil, will deceive their husbands, and will lead their husbands into sin and ruin. Women are, therefore, to be silent in church and hope to be saved by bearing children. Of course, these were authors probably of the second century, not the 21st century.

Doug Bartko

Palmer