This is a very important section. Let us begin by reading the only Scripture in the entire Bible that deals with this subject in a complete manner. We can find direction for Christian behavior in just about all of the books of the Bible; but here, we find this portion of Scripture deals exclusively with our subject. 1 Corinthians 14:26 - How is it then, brethren? when you come together, every one of you has a psalm, has a doctrine, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. If any man speak in an [unknown] tongue, [let it be] by two, or at the most [by] three, and [that] by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If [anything] be revealed to another that sits by, let the first hold his peace. For you may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but [they are commanded] to be under obedience, as also says the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.

Observe, the phrase, "when you come together, every one of you has."  I have found that most Protestants have made objections to some of the practices of the Catholic Church, and yet they accept many of the practices that the Catholic Church has invented. Practices that are not found, or upheld by the Bible, nor by the early Church! What I believe to be a very important item, is the order of a Church meeting, the way the meeting is to be conducted. Most Protestant Churches copy the format of Catholicism, they just went along with the way things were done, and didn’t question them. I would like to question this practice here, and now. "When you come together, every one of you has a psalm, has a doctrine, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation." Take notice of the fact that God desires that each and every member take an active role in the Church meeting! "Every one of you has" In most congregations we have a choir, deacons to take up the offering and someone to offer prayer, but as a rule the "pastor" does the main preaching for the meeting. This is not Scriptural! The "overseer" or "pastor" is to guard the "flock" not become the whole or main part of the meeting! The word "pastor" means shepherd. The shepherd of a flock of sheep doesn’t graze in the grass of the fields; he watches out for wolves and other dangers. The sheep do the grazing and the "reproducing" each have their job.

In Catholicism the priest was the intermediator for man. We of the Protestant Churches do not except this view of intermediator, for we know that only Jesus Christ can fill that position, (a man born of God’s Spirit doesn’t need any other man to intercede for him, we have direct access to God through Jesus Christ!). In Catholicism, the word priest is used, and this is because they don’t understand the significance of the  veil of the Temple being torn in half, from the top to the bottom! We have confused the role of "overseer" - "pastor". While rejecting the Catholic view and title of "Priest," we accept, in part, the "Priest" type of functions and ascribe them to our "overseer" or "pastor" role. Hence we have members of our Churches that do not even know how to lead a soul to repentance! And why? Could it be that they have little or no responsibilities in the Church, and consequently feel that they are inferior to the pastor or others in the Church in regard to ministering Jesus Christ to the souls around them? For shame! This is only too true! It is a normal practice for the members of a Church to bring people into a Church meeting for the purpose of conversion, because they don’t know how to lead them into a Christian experience! If we read our Bible we will find that people were converted and then "allowed" to attend Church meetings. Let us re-read our Scripture, "When you come together, every one of you has a psalm, has a doctrine, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation." I believe if we obeyed this Scripture, we would have more members taking an active role in the Life Of Christ! They would be able to do what God ordained them to do!

Let’s continue, at this point I am about to become unpopular with the "Baptist type" denominations for my stand on the rest of this Scripture, and at the same time I will become very unpopular with the "Pentecostal type" of Churches! A feat I seem to be able to accomplish with ease. Let all things be done unto edifying. If any man speak in an [unknown] tongue, [let it be] by two, or at the most [by] three, and [that] by course; and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. Now mark this Scripture, the gift of tongues is to be in the Church meeting. But it is to be used as follows:

1) Only two or at the most three persons are to speak in tongues.

2) They are to speak in turn, or course, not at the same time.

3) If the gift of interpretation is missing they are NOT to speak in tongues in the Church meeting.

Some denominations have decided that the gift of tongues is unnecessary today! This I do not understand. We as a Church are in a very backslidden condition. I believe we need everything, every gift that God in His wisdom has placed in the Church. What, are we so spiritual that we can give away the gifts of God? God placed this gift in the Church, and He knew what He was doing! The fourteenth chapter of Corinthians was written to deal with the problem of the improper use of this gift, not to assign it to the grave! Look at verse 39, we have a command from God "and forbid not to speak with tongues." This I fear many denominations have done. They have forbidden the speaking in tongues, thereby breaking a command of God. The reason for the three rules governing the gift of tongues is this, "Let all things be done unto edifying" read the entire chapter of 1Corinthians 14, you will begin to see the will and way of God in this gift.

An important fact

The "Gift of tongues" is, as we are told in the Bible a "manifestation of the Spirit of God!  1Corinthians 12:7 "But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." The varies gifts That God has outlined in 1Corinthians 12 are all manifestation of the Spirit, God's Spirit. Today the Church is so very backslidden that the world has taken over our country, God has been put out of our schools and our Government. Someday soon, the Devil will attempt to put God completely out of our lives as he has dome in so many communist countries already!

Could this be the reason, that as it is written in the book of Revelation chapter 3:17 `Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked." That is God's judgment of the Church today, we don't need His manifestation, we are rich and have need of nothing from God!!!!

God put all of these Gifts, or manifestations of His Spirit in the Church because we need them and will need them until we are taken out of this evil world that seems to be able to take over so easily.

A little peek at the Gifts or manifestations of God

1Corinthians 12:8-11

  8. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge     according to the same Spirit;
  9. to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
10. and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.
11. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

Why do so many in the Church say we don't need the manifestations of the Spirit of God anymore, (gifts of healing - effecting of miracles - prophecy - distinguishing of spirits - various kinds of tongues - interpretation of tongues  why? Is it because unbelief has taken over so very much in the Church that even the mention of some miraculous intervention seems preposterous? I did not mention The word of wisdom - the word of knowledge or faith It is because I haven't heard many complaints about these. People know that the Scripture says that without faith it is impossible to please God, and the same worldly Church members seem to be confused between God's wisdom and man's wisdom, as well as between the God's knowledge, and  man's knowledge, for the most part they have substituted man's wisdom and knowledge for God's!

Next "1 Corinthians 14:29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If [anything] be revealed to another that sits by, let the first hold his peace. For you may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets."

This next gift is not addressed as much as the gift of tongues; however we need to understand it just as well.

1) Two or three prophets are to speak.

2) The others in the congregation are to JUDGE what has been said!

3) If God has revealed something to someone else in the congregation the first speaking is to give way to this one whom God has given revelation.

You might say, “We don’t have any prophets in our Church”

My question would be, “Are you in a Church, or just a religious organization?”

 How to get into the most trouble in this world today

Preach or teach or teach on the subject of woman's submission!

Today, above all days, we seem to have a lot of confusion about the role of a Christian woman, and how she should function in the Church. I believe one of the causes of the confusion is the Women's Lib Movement. This is a personal thought and not one based on the Bible. I believe that the Women's Lib Movement has brought women into bondage! Not freedom. Prior to the Women's Lib Movement, Women were treated like ladies, men opened doors for them. Many times on crowded public transportation I have seen men give up their seat for a women. Now, it seems they are being treated like one of the boys! Advancement? Better treatment? I think not! So much for what I think, now what does the Bible say?

1) Women Pastors?

This is where the fur will fly! But here we go. 1Timothy 2:11 - 15 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

Take notice of these Scripture verses, But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. Here we are told that women are not to teach or usurp (exercise authority) over a man. Now read 1Timothy 3:2 - 6 

2. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
3. not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, uncontentious, free from the love of money.
4. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity
5. (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?);
Please take note of the fact that HE must be the husband of one wife, now this a woman can never be! Also, the masculine is used throughout this text. Another requirement is "Apt to teach" in 1Timothy 2:12 the Bible says "But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. The Lord made this clear in the previous chapter. He told us that women can not teach or usurp authority over a man, and now in the very next chapter, chapter 3; we are told that one of the requirements of an elder is that he be apt to teach. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see that women are not qualified to be elders in the church, or to hold any office that requires the teaching of men!

2) Who Can Women Teach?

Titus 2:3 - 4 The aged women likewise, that [they be] in behavior as becomes holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young woman to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children. 1 Peter 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, [be] in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives. A wife can be a powerful weapon in the hands of Almighty God! Look at this scripture, a woman can win her husband by the way she lives her life. The life of God in a believer is a powerful witness of Jesus Christ! "Without the word" In the past thirty-two years I have been used of God to re-unite a lot of husbands and wives. It is a task I am thankful for being allowed to participate in. I shall never forget Who does the work! We are only vessels, let me illustrate. A while back I had two young people come to me for counseling, After talking to them I found out that they were already separated and each living with someone else! Not a good beginning. They didn’t come to see me because they wanted to save their marriage, but because their parents had said that if they would counsel with me once, then they could divorce. As I was trying to figure out what to say; I noticed how the wife was looking at her husband. A terrible hatred was in her eyes; I was shattered. Then I glanced at the husband, and I saw the same hard look of anger and hatred! I thought how can this be; when only three years ago they loved each other so much that they were married. Before they came that morning I thought that I knew just what to say to them, but after seeing the looks of hatred in their eyes; I didn’t know what to say. Instead I began to cry uncontrollably, not a normal thing for me; I have seen a lot of this before. I was decimated by the hatred they displayed for each other! I was embarrassed beyond belief, but could not get a hold on my emotions. I must have cried for five minutes. Never in my life have I had an experience like this. After I regained my composure the husband got up, and at the same time, his wife got up; they headed for each other and embraced. It was done, and I was a useless bystander. The Lord had done it all without me, I had said nothing! They went back together. Wife, don’t ever play down the power in your life. The Lord can do amazing things in and through you.

3) Women In The Church Meeting

The Lord has a Divine order in the Church, and it is important that we obey Him in everything, and that means even in the things we do not understand! I believe that one of the most often abused commands of God is this. 1 Corinthians 14:34 - 37 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but [they are commanded] to be under obedience, as also says the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. Take notice that this is not anything less than a command of a Holy God. I have probably heard all of the arguments, they try with different reasoning to annul this command of the Lord.

Fifty years ago I would not have received much of an argument about what I have said regarding a woman's place in the Church. Two hundred years ago no argument at all, but today, well that's another thing. Watch, approximately 1900 years have passed, and no problem with this subject; just about everyone was in agreement. But in the last fifty years the subject has completely changed! Now follow me here please; God doesn't change! We have changed in our thinking. We have embraced the will of man and forsaken the will of God! For shame. I Remember some time back; I was at a home meeting. As I quoted this scripture one of the women interrupted me and said, "That’s your interpretation, and I don’t believe it" . . . I returned, "That was not my interpretation, it was a direct quote from God’s word", (she didn’t know that I was quoting the Bible, she thought that I was giving my own opinion) So I asked her to follow along with me in 1 Corinthians 14:34. After having her read this scripture aloud, I asked if she still thought that this was my interpretation. Her response was not new to me; I had heard it before. She said, "The apostle Paul was a male chauvinist, and that is why he tried to lower the place of women in the church!" I asked her how she had arrived at a conclusion like that? She said that she had read it somewhere. I know where she read it, "1Satan 3:14". You see Satan also has his word, and you can tell it quickly. It will always contradict the Word and will of God. He doesn’t sign his name as author, he allows his people to sign their name on his work. Just like God used many people to write down His commandments and instructions in the book we call the Bible. Now watch this, with one simple explanation "The apostle Paul was a male chauvinist" she tore out of her Bible this important command of God! She allowed the Word of God to be interpreted by the word of man (really the word of Satan).

How convenient! Anything we don’t like that we find in the Bible, we simple look to man’s writing until we find someone else with our dislike of that particular command. Then we take his or her explanation to disavow the Word of God!

Never forget that the Holy Bible is the Word of God, not the chosen writers that God ordained to put His words on scrolls and paper!

My friends, that is how we ended up with so many different denominations. Don’t do this! But instead, allow yourselves, your books, and all that your friends have to say, to be judged by God’s Word, never the other way around. This is very important please allow me to repeat it,

"Allow yourselves, your books, and all that your friends have to say, to be judged by God’s Word, never the other way around."

If you would like an explanation of why God doesn’t allow women to speak during a church meeting, read  1Timothy 2:11 - 14 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. God doesn't permit women to teach or usurp authority over a man, (And please don’t forget this is God’s commandment, not Paul’s). Here we have God’s reason for this command. Someone might say, "Is God being fair to subject all women this way, for something that Eve had done?" When we ask a question like this, just exactly what are we doing? First off, we are Not Trusting God. And we are thinking that our powers of reason are as great as God’s! What foolishness, what Gaul! That is exactly what the children of Israel did to the Lord during the forty years of wandering in the desert! I might be accused of being a "male chauvinist", that’s O.K., what I am, is a man that believes and obeys all of God’s word, not just the parts I like! I am not afraid or intimidated to preach all of what the Lord instructs me to preach. The homosexual, the drunkard, the adulterer, all take exception with God’s word, the very instrument that God has sent to us to bring conviction of sin!, to bring us to salvation! I have preached for many years now that every one agrees with God’s commandments! I wish to repeat this. Every one agrees with God’s commandments! Now you might say, Mr. Wright, you are crazy, I know that EVERYONE doesn’t agree with God’s commandments! Please let me explain. I remember a time when I knew a man out west who was a thief. He stole radios out of airplanes. A lot of people knew about him. One day I was alone with him and said to him "It is wrong to steal". He exploded, "The insurance companies are rich, they deserve what happens, they cheat people, and they can afford it". All that I said landed on deaf ears. He had justified his sin! Then it happened; early in the morning a few months later, I had a student, and we had just landed our plane, after having a practice flight. Looking down the ramp I saw a large man jumping up and down obviously very angry. I went to him to see what had happened. It was this man, (the one who hated insurance companies) someone had stolen the radios out of HIS plane! Now he perfectly agreed with what God had said about stealing! You see, it is all in your point of view. Does the adulterer want someone to commit adultery with his wife? No! Does the thief want someone to steal his radio equipment out of his airplane, NO! Do the backbiters want someone to talk bad about them behind their backs? NO! You see everyone agrees with God’s commandments, It all depends on the point of view!

4) What about Prophetess?

I believe that all doctrines must pass the test of "All Scripture". If our doctrines fight any scripture we have a doctrine that is wrong! We must look further into God’s word for understanding. The Bible speaks of prophetesses in Acts 21:9 - 11 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. And as we tarried [there] many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agapes. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus said the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owned this girdle, and shall deliver [him] into the hands of the Gentiles. God will use Prophetess, but not against his own rules! Prophetesses can prophesy but according to 1Timothy 2:11 - 14 not during a meeting of the church!

The Lord wants men and women everywhere to be in His service, but it is His service, and we should serve Him as He has directed. If after reading the Scriptures listed above you still think it right for women to speak during a meeting of the Church, or teach and exercise authority over men; then you will be able to understand how the adulterer, the thief, the backbiter, and the murderer justify their defiance of Almighty God!

To sum up

If the Church meetings were conducted in the manner prescribed in this scripture we would have a very powerful congregation, just like the first congregation. The love of God would be evident by the generosity of the believers toward one another. They would be able to lead other souls into this blessed relationship with the Living God, and they would be a very difficult group to fool when it came to spiritual things.