NOTE to Reader: My apologies for the one-month span between Part 6 and this Part 7. The Christmas season is rather demanding on a pastor. Today, I am continuing to release portions of my work addressing the legitimacy or illegitimacy of women involved in local church ministry and beyond. I will assemble a complete version of this in book form in the coming months. You can go back and read the other parts here on my Substack, Small Town Pastor.

WHAT IS “EXERCISING AUTHORITY OVER A MAN?”

This question about “exercising authority” is where I began to get more clarity on this whole issue. First, let me attempt to paraphrase this verse as seems consistent with the contemporary interpretation and application of this verse: “Women must remain silent in Church services or similar gatherings, and are never allowed to teach or preach from the Bible when men are present. The reasoning here is that when a woman does so, she is exercising authority over the men who are present.”

Many Evangelical pastors, teachers, and denominational leaders spout such warnings about women preaching or teaching as if, simply by expounding on some of the wonderful truths in Scripture in front of men, the woman has hijacked a man’s role and, in so doing, she has attained some form of authoritative spiritual dominion over the men in the audience.

Even if my above interpretation is not exactly how these evangelicals view this verse, it is how they apply it.

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REALITY CHECK

I have struggled with this interpretation (or at least the implication) about women teaching or preaching from the Bible because of what I see as an apparent fallacy. That fallacy is the suggestion that a woman gains (or takes) spiritual authority over others through biblical oratory.

I have taught the Word of God through hundreds of sermons and Bible studies for over forty years, and yet I have never been able to “exercise authority” over anyone. Every pastor, teacher, and elder would have to admit that their simple, yet consistent act of teaching Scripture has not granted them any authority over those who were in the audience. The proof of how powerless male preachers and teachers are in “exercising authority” over a congregation is plain in how easily people hop from Church to Church whenever they choose.

This same scenario is endemic to the American Church. If someone gets offended, feels excluded, wants better programs, or does not like some of the teachings from the pulpit, they get up and find another Church. Where is this “authority” of the preaching and teaching male pastor over congregants, as these religious leaders allege (when a woman preaches or teaches with men present)? If I, as a man, could not gain any form of controlling spiritual authority over others by preaching and teaching them, then how could a woman do so?

One could refer to the end of the book of Hebrews, where the writer commands the Jewish believers to “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you” (13:17 NIV84, emphasis added). However, the only authority held by these leaders is that which is willingly granted to them by their hearers, not unconsciously infused within them by the leader’s teaching of Scripture.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is: if men do not attain the ability to exercise spiritual authority over their listeners by their act of teaching truths from the Word of God, then women do not “exercise authority” over men when they do the same. How is this not self-evident?

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• More to come, and I hope to finish this by May of this year.

• © by Timothy B. White, Small Town Pastor, All Rights Reserved, January, 12, 2026

Caution: Reading this month’s column may be hazardous to feelings of depression, insecurity, and hopelessness. If you intend to remain depressed, insecure, or hopeless, please do not read on. If that is not your intent, I have good news for you.

That question, in the title of this column, is one I have shared with my congregation from time to time. Now, you may be wondering what the “that” is – good question. “That” is found in verses like 1 John 4:10, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (NIV84)

And also in Galatians 4:4-5 “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (ESV). And then in Titus 3:4-5 “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,” (NIV84).

“That”

The “that” is about why God would send His Son to save us. Stop for a moment, and consider the divine and supernatural characteristics of God, and then, by comparison, the finite and imperfect characteristics of humans, and you have to begin to wonder why He notices us at all. In light of who the Sender is compared to who the “receivers” are, one has to wonder, “Why would God do that?” Why would He send His Son, born of a virgin, into this troubled world that has rejected Him?

Fact Not Fiction

Christmas is quickly approaching, and the truth is, we do not need faith to know that Jesus was born and lived in the time the Bible reveals. Secular historians (as with Josephus, AD 36-100, Tacitus, AD 56-120, and Pliny the Younger, AD 62-111) affirm that Christ walked this Earth, ministered, had many followers, was crucified, and even rose from the dead.

Not to mention that the entire world uses the approximate year of Christ’s birth to mark the timeline of world history. Therefore, Christmas is the celebration of an actual historical event recognized by nations around the world. The fact that one named Jesus truly came to this Earth, and yet the question still lingers, “Why?”

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Insignificant, at Best

Let’s expand our perspective on this question. Ask yourself, “How significant are we in all of creation, anyway?” Watching the news and witnessing individuals boasting about themselves and their pursuit of power and acclaim, we humans tend to think we are very significant. Some think of themselves as a god (North Korean dictator, for example). However, our true significance becomes clear when we lift our eyes to the night sky.

Thanks to the James Webb Space Telescope and the Hubble Telescope, we know that our solar system is nothing but a speck in one of multiple “arms” of our galaxy, which consists of millions of stars and solar systems. And what’s more, our Milky Way Galaxy is just one out of 100 billion that we know of.

Let’s face it, we are far less significant than the people of “Whoville” in the Dr. Seuss story, “Horton Hears a Who.” Earth itself is little more than a microbe of dust within millions and billions of pieces of dust flying through the void of space. What keeps God from losing track of our world in such an expanse?

Nothing!

When we realize just how small we are within the vastness of creation, it is astonishing to consider that He would care about us at all. And then I have to ask my second question, “What does He stand to gain from this deal?” What indeed?

Here is the only answer I can come up with: Nothing! When God the Father sent His Son, our Savior, Jesus, to suffer our punishment for sin in our place, He stood to gain nothing – absolutely nothing. As Jehovah God, the “self-existent One,” who dwells outside of all time, space, and matter, He needs nothing that He cannot create for Himself.

Seriously, I am astounded that God would send anyone or do anything to save humanity at all. And what is even more astounding is that, with His foreknowledge (as only the true God would have), He knew that the majority of humanity would reject the precious sacrifice of His Son for their salvation, yet the Father sent Jesus anyway.

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Only One Reason

There can only be one reason that such an all-powerful, superior, transcendent being who exists outside of all we depend on for life and sustenance would come to save us – because He loves us. Why would He love such flawed, rebellious microbes in the universe? Why? Because in creation, God became our Father. Just as Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father who is in heaven…”

We may be “microbial specks” flying through the universe on a little bit larger microbial planet, but we can grasp the intensity and power of a parent’s love. Before a child has a chance to do anything to earn their parents’ love, they are loved completely. The reason is that that kind of love is never based upon their child’s performance, giftedness, perfection, or even appearance, but solely because they are your very own.

How many parents have said, as they held their newborn child for the first time, “I would give my life for you.”? Well, that is just what God the Father did for His children through His only begotten Son, so that we would “not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16-17).

Everything!

As the Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:19, “… God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them…” (NIV84). What response is worthy of such a priceless gift? I can only think of one response: Everything! In other words, saying, “I will love and live for You, Father, for the rest of my life.”

As Jesus began His earthly ministry, his message was, “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” (Matt. 417). “Repent” was the message He gave to His disciples when He sent them out ahead of Him (Mark 6:12).

Paul’s explanation in the book of Acts provided further explanation of repentance: “I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.” (Acts 26:20). The “deeds” do not save us; they reveal a life that has chosen to follow Jesus with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength.

The good news is, “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” Titus 3:5.

Last Question

The sinful and lost state of this world moved the Father’s heart to “reconcile the world to Himself” through Christ’s sacrifice. And now we have a crucial decision to make – What will you do with such a priceless gift? “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2). My last question, “Why wouldn’t you do that – today?”

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© Pastor Timothy B. White, December 23, 2025. All rights surrendered to the service of my heavenly Father, who sent His one and only Son to save me and adopt me as His son.

Paul writes this to Timothy about women: “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. (1Tim. 2:12 NIV84). In Part 5, I dealt with the Greek word translated “silent,” so I will not repeat myself. Instead, I want to address a plausible background scenario for Paul’s statement, “I do not permit a woman to teach…” I will address the issue of “exercising authority over a man” in Part 7.

WOMEN PRIESTESSES FOR A FEMALE GODDESS

As the capital of the province of Asia, Ephesus had become a lucrative financial center due to the trade that flowed through it and its status as a chief center of worship for Greek gods.^[1] It is not surprising, then, to learn that Ephesus was home to the wealthiest families in that part of the Empire. And these wealthy families were key participants in the worship of their most revered goddess of them all, Artemis (Diana).

Apparently, the worship of a goddess required female ministers, priestesses, and the wives of these wealthy businessmen served in this role. The historical record notes that the primary qualification for their priestly office was two-fold: Be a woman of character (coincidentally, similar to what Paul admonishes all Christian women to attain) and be very rich.[2]

BUT, WE ALWAYS DID IT THAT WAY BEFORE

In Ephesus, therefore, it was the expectation that the rich women of “high status” would assume the lead priestly role in the worship of Artemis. Therefore, the likely scenario is this: As these women of “high status” came to Christ, they would naturally expect to play a priestly role in the Church. Presuming upon the basic qualifications for serving the Artemis cult, the women would expect to be in priestly roles in the Church as well, since education was of little importance in the former.^[3]

This scenario, though somewhat speculative, would explain Paul’s practice of not allowing women to teach since, as new converts, they would be ignorant of biblical teachings. We will see in a later section evidence that certain women were involved in teaching when men were present, thereby exposing the false assumption by many Evangelicals that claim Paul’s words unilaterally forbid a woman ever to preach or teach from the Bible in the presence of men.

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THE REASON FOR MY TITLE

Furthermore, I hope to reveal the absurdity and harm that such restrictive teaching about women has on the Body of Christ. The title of this work, “Evangelical Burqa,” is intended to illustrate how those who hold to such restrictive practices within the Evangelical Church are quenching the giftings and callings of biblically mature, godly women and thereby hindering the spread of the Gospel to a lost world.

As I have already addressed above, the Apostle is not commanding women to keep their mouths shut whenever they are in a Church gathering and listening to a man teach or preach; he is addressing their demeanor as they receive instruction. Again, Paul’s command that women receive instruction with the same attitude of “quietness and stillness” to portray themselves as virtuous women in the sight of the citizens of Ephesus – thereby making the “teachings of Christ attractive.” This last point is the driving motivation behind Paul’s final words to Pastor Timothy.

COMING UP

In Part 7, I will show how absurd and biblically inaccurate it is to forbid a woman to teach the Bible or be involved in ministry whenever a man may be present. Stay tuned.

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© December 8, 2025, by Timothy B. White (As With All Parts of “The Evangelical Burka” now “Burqa”), All Rights Reserved.

[1] Ben Witherington III, Letters and Homilies for Christians, Vol. 1: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on Titus, 1-2 Timothy and 1-3 John (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006), 218.

[2] Ibid., 220.

[3] Ibid., 221.

LET’S BEGIN AN EXPOSITION OF THE PASSAGE

1 TIMOTHY 2:11

“A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness.”

The Greek word translated here as “quietly” is hesuchia, which some older versions translate as “silence.” Paul uses the same word in the following verse, which I will refer to next. As noted above, educating women was controversial in “the Greco-Roman world, with some suggesting that it was inappropriate altogether.”[1] However, contrary to the norms of the day, Paul’s words in this verse indicate that he expected Christian women to receive instruction in the Church. In light of the cultural tension this would create, Paul calls upon them to do so in a manner that models the culture’s definition of an honorable woman: modesty, piety, “silent in public spaces,” and “full submission” to their husbands.[2]

This interpretation is consistent with the concept of the woman receiving instruction “quietly” (hesuchia) as further defined to mean: “descriptive of the life of one who stays at home doing his own work, and does not officiously meddle with the affairs of others.”[3] Therefore, it is plausible that Paul’s use of hesuchia in this verse calls for Christian women to consistently conduct themselves in culturally acceptable ways that align their lives with the Greco-Roman view of “social order,” which included proper submissiveness to their husbands. Since these cultural expectations were not contrary to biblical teachings, aligning with them would be viewed positively by society, thereby helping cultivate an environment favorable to the spread of the Gospel.^[4]

In this, and further instructions by Paul, the reader must not lose sight of the Apostle’s overriding concern, that “in every way, they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.” (Titus 2:10). As we will see further on, the Greco-Roman culture highly valued the roles of men and women, the marriage relationship, and family. And so, when the citizens of Ephesus perceive that the teachings of Christ build stronger families and respectable men and women, the rest of society would see the Gospel as beneficial and desirable. Furthermore, the unbelieving women of Ephesus would likely be impressed to see that the Church valued women through their inclusion in biblical instruction, while also encouraging them to be models of honorable Christian women consistent with the current culture.

1 TIMOTHY 2:12

“I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.”

So, we will explore the three elements in verse 12, beginning with the last one, (hesuchia) “…to remain silent,” to tie it together with the previous verse’s similar command.

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“BUT TO REMAIN SILENT”

Some Bible teachers believe that Paul wanted to “silence” all the women in Ephesus and disqualify them from teaching based on the assumption that they had all been led astray by Hymenaeus and Alexander (1:20).[5] This view is based on the general belief within Greco-Roman culture, with some exceptions, that women had an inborn, gender-specific propensity to deception and therefore should not be allowed to teach, since they are less capable of discerning Truth from error than men.

However, an overlooked fact in this view is that the false teachers were men, demonstrating that “gender is an unreliable measure for who can teach” and who can be led astray. ^[6] Therefore, Paul’s prohibition on women teaching cannot be about an alleged inability of women to discern Truth from error.

As we continue through the text, I intend to demonstrate how neglecting to consider the cultural understanding of the original Greek words in this text has created what I have termed an “Evangelical Burka” that wrongly subjugates women by unnecessarily excluding them from ministry in Jesus’ Church. And just to remind the reader, as I stated at the outset of this manuscript, I believe that God has created men to be leaders in His Church, consistent with the creation order, but that women, as co-heirs in Christ, also have a vital role in the ministry.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A VERB AND A NOUN.

Once again, let us consider the Greek word hesuchia, translated as “silent” in verse 12. This Greek word is used five other times in the New Testament (NT), such as in Luke 14:4, Acts 11:18, 21:14, and 22:2. According to Stong’s Concordance (#G2271), the word is not a verb (an action) but a noun (the name of something) meaning, “stillness, that is, desistance (slowing down or stopping) from bustle or language: - quietness, silence.” This Greek word conveys the idea of an unruly crowd being “hushed,” calling for respectful conduct as the women receive instruction rather than prohibiting them from speaking at all in such a setting. But wait, there’s more.

By cross-referencing Paul’s use of the feminine noun with the masculine hesuchios (#G2272), the point becomes clearer. The masculine noun is similarly defined as “[be] still, to keep one’s seat, undisturbed, undisturbing, peaceable, quiet.” Once again, based on the original definitions of the original Greek words, there is substantial evidence to conclude that Paul’s emphasis appears to be on the manner in which the women receive instruction, not on completely silencing their voices when the Church has assembled.

The Apostle, knowing that the unbeliever’s view of Christ’s teachings will be shaped by how believers conduct themselves within the Church, is likely calling for a respectful learning atmosphere as these teachings are addressed, as well as reinforcing the importance of women conducting themselves in the aforementioned honorable manner. [7]

STAY TUNED - Does a woman exercise authority over a man when she teaches or preaches from God’s Word? - Part 6

Next, we will consider the broader religious context of women teaching and the claim of taking authority over a man. What was Paul confronting?

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[1] Heather Geloria, “Does 1 Timothy 2 Prohibit Women from Teaching, Leading, and Speaking in the Church?,” Pricilla Papers 27, no. 3 (2013): 21.

[2] deSilva, An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods & Ministry Formation, 678.

[3] All definitions of Greek words taken from Joseph H. Thayer’s, The Fourth Edition of Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon to the New Testament. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1977) unless otherwise noted.

[4] Ibid., 676.

[5] Timothy D. Foster, “1 Timothy 2:8-15 and Gender Wars at Ephesus,” Pricilla Papers 30, no. 3 (Summer 2016): 5.

[6] deSilva, An Introduction to the New Testament, 677.

[7] Foster, “1 Timothy 2:8-15 and Gender Wars at Ephesus,” 5.

[My apologies for putting this out later than stated. As a pastor of a small church I had to devote myself to some work projects as we had weather to do so.]

A Point We Cannot Miss In The Subject At Hand

Please do not miss this point: Paul’s motivation for Timothy’s circumcision before joining the Apostle’s ministry is the same for the Church’s mission work today. Adoption of community standards, appearance, and practices that differ from those of the missionary’s homeland but do not conflict with Scripture is standard practice in today’s missions organizations. Although head coverings for women or separating men and women in a service are not common in America, a woman missionary will wear a head covering, and the men will sit separately from the women in the meeting hall if that is practiced in the country where they seek to share Christ. By doing so, the missionary honors their culture and prevents unnecessary obstacles in reaching the people for Christ.

As we dig deeper into Paul’s commands regarding women in the Church, we need to recognize that he is directing the believers, as is permissible in Scripture, to modify their actions and gender-specific roles in ways that are “culture specific” without necessarily establishing a universal truth for all time. As noted above, Paul’s strong wording to the Corinthian Church about women covering their heads does not appear anywhere in his commands to Timothy in Ephesus. We need to pay attention to both what Paul commands and what he does not.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF 1 TIMOTHY

So, what was going on in the 60s (just “60s,” not 1960s, of course) in Asia Minor, today’s western Turkey? The year was approximately AD 63-64 when Paul was released from prison and wrote his first epistle (letter) to Timothy, as mentioned in Acts 28.^[1] Approximately 15 years have passed since these two began traveling together. At some point, Timothy became the overseer (Pastor) of the Church in Ephesus (1 Tim 1:3-4), and the notorious Nero was the current Emperor in Rome.^[2]

The purpose of writing this letter to Timothy was to remind him of the reason the elder Apostle wanted him to remain in Ephesus:

1Tim. 1:3-7 (NIV84) As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer (4) nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith. (5) The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (6) Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. (7) They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm. (Emphasis added)

As we have already observed, the bulk of this first letter focuses on addressing the roles, responsibilities, and appropriate conduct of believers in the Church[AB1] . A further examination of the Greco-Roman household codes will be added to this section in the final edition. As a teaser, David Balch’s archeological research “offers convincing evidence that “the rules regarding household management can be traced to Aristotle’s Politics over 300 years before the church.”[3]

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THE CULTURAL CONTEXT OF EPHESUS

For additional historical context, Ephesus was the capital city of the province of Asia, with a population of over 200,000, making it the third-largest city in the Roman Empire.[4] Athletic festivals played a central role in educating young citizens in the Roman Empire, and the city of Ephesus was a significant part of this.^[5] Unlike athletics today, these competitions were directly associated with one of several Greek gods (such as Zeus for the Olympics).^[6] The Christians would likely not participate in sports since the pagan religious beliefs and practices of Ephesus were intertwined in their sporting events and athletic teams.

Most prominent in Ephesus was the Greek goddess Artemis (or Diana). Ephesus was the guardian of her magnificent temple, considered one of the world’s seven wonders.^[7] The predominant role of women priests in the worship rituals of their female goddess will help us better contextualize Paul’s words to Timothy about women. More on that later.

The worship of Artemis carried over into the city’s economy in the production and sale of miniature images of her. Acts 19:24 says that the silversmiths enjoyed “no small trade” from the small statutes/idols they made and sold of their revered goddess. However, when Paul, Timothy, and others came to Ephesus in the early AD 50s, the impact of the Gospel extended even to their economy.

Beginning with the reception of the Holy Spirit by the 12 followers of Christ in Ephesus, Paul and his companions would spend two years teaching and preaching in Ephesus with such effectiveness that the entire province of Asia heard the message of salvation, likely establishing the Churches listed in Revelation 2 and 3. Due to the large numbers of people coming to faith in Christ, the impact upon Ephesus was so significant that the idol-making silversmiths were at risk of being put out of business. In a desperate attempt to save their trade, these men went through the city, stirring up the people with false accusations against Paul and his partners, causing a two-hour citywide riot. While the silversmiths claimed they were defending their goddess, in truth, it appears to have been about their income loss (Acts 19:23-41).

Timothy receives Paul’s first letter approximately ten years after this tumultuous time. The precise year when Timothy became the Overseer (Pastor) in Ephesus is uncertain, but one thing is sure: the cause of the riot was recent enough that it was likely still a point of contention. Without a doubt, it was no small decision to follow Christ in a city so permeated with a polytheistic and idolatrous culture. And with the recent memory of the riot and its negative impact on sharing the Gospel, Paul would want to assure the young Church that it did not engage in or allow unnecessary actions or practices that would stir up another uprising.

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LITERARY CONTEXT OF CHAPTER 2:11-15

What is in 1 Timothy before and after this passage?

The first letter to Timothy is the first of three “Pastoral Epistles” (1 & 2 Timothy, Titus), which focuses on the roles, qualifications, and responsibilities of the overseer (Pastor) of a local Church.[8] While some of Paul’s teachings are cross-cultural, he also writes to Timothy within the context of unique cultural and societal issues specific (i.e., “situation-specific”) to the Church in Ephesus.[9] Paul had left Timothy in Ephesus for a time to keep the Church on track theologically and in matters of appropriate conduct (1:3). In verse 7 of chapter 2, the author declares himself “appointed a herald and an apostle,” a teacher to the Gentiles, and a spiritual father to Timothy.[10]

The Apostle exercises his “appointed” authority throughout this letter with such commands as “Prescribe and teach these things” (4:11), and again, “Teach and preach these principles” (6:2), and the frequent use of the Greek word paraggellō translated as “command/instruct/prescribe” (1:3, 5, 18; 4:11; 5:7; 6:13,17).[11] The twice repeated command to “fight the good fight” of the faith” (1:18 and 6:12) serve as bookends to a letter whose urgency is evident in Paul’s statement: “In case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God” (3:15). Proper conduct within the “household of God” was of utmost concern to Paul because it would directly impact how unbelievers viewed the effect of the Gospel in individuals, families, and public life – for better or worse.

In the three verses (8-10) that precede our selected passage, the author begins to give instructions about the manner and attitude in which men should pray, and that a woman’s adornment should be her good deeds and modest clothing. Once again, Paul is communicating to Timothy and the Church about the proper conduct of men and women that will benefit the preaching and hearing of the message of salvation.

In the thirteen verses following the chosen passage, the author gives specific qualifications for those who desire to become “overseers” and “deacons” (3:1-13). Paul gives Timothy a comprehensive list of character traits, acceptable behaviors, household expectations, and the need for a good reputation among outsiders for anyone seeking these offices.

Among the many qualifications listed, only one (“able to teach” in 3:2) refers to one’s spiritual gifts or abilities, while all the rest point to the individual’s character and authenticity of their faith.

In verse 11 of chapter 3, under Paul’s instruction about selecting deacons, he also includes character qualities for the “gunē,” typically translated as the deacon’s “wife.” However, this Greek word is used nine times in this epistle alone and is translated into English as “woman/women” or “wife/wives.”[12] Is the Apostle speaking of wives, or is he referring to the similar qualifications for the women serving as deaconesses? The possibility for either conclusion has merit.

In Rom 16:1, Paul says, “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a ‘servant’ of the Church in Cenchrea” (NIV84). The Greek word “servant” in Rom 16:1 is the same as that in Paul’s letter to Timothy for a “deacon.” If the Greek word for Stephen and Phillip’s role as deacon, then why not translate it the same for Phoebe? What grounds do we have not to allow the belief that Phoebe was serving as a deaconess like Stephen and Phillip?

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THE SOCIO-HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Throughout Greco-Roman culture, husbands generally believed that their wives could not learn, and women were typically regarded as easily led astray into foolishness if left to themselves.[13] Consequently, most women in Ephesus did not receive a formal education except for women married to wealthy men. Similarly, in Jewish culture, boys learned to quote the Torah, and women and girls could only listen in synagogues.[14] However, some philosophers accepted women as disciples, but only when it came to public speaking (called “rhetoric”); the boys received training in this.[15]

It was common for single Greek men to be sexually active in early adulthood and then eventually marry. However, the woman he married typically had to be a young virgin who was possibly more than a decade younger than he was.[16] The age difference between husband and wife would further the low expectations of women’s ability to learn, given the man’s greater life experience than his young wife. However, the wife had an essential role in the household, which I will address later.

In this passage, Paul could be passively confronting the treatment of wives by men resulting from these marital realities in his epistle to the Church a few years earlier:[17]

Eph 5:24-28 NIV84 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. (25) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (26) to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, (27) and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. (28) In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

In light of Paul’s overriding concern that the believers’ conduct makes Christ’s message attractive to the unbelieving Gentiles, Paul would see an opportunity to demonstrate the societal benefit of the biblical model. Further on, I will delve much deeper into the importance of the family and the “household codes” in Greco-Roman culture in Ephesus. Next, we will begin our exegetical examination of the specific text, vv. 11-15.

** Thank you for reading this far. Part 5 will begin an exegetical examination of the specific passage. Words mean things, and so we need to understand what the Greek words really meant to the writer and the reader of these epistles. **

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[1] Graham Simpson, The Pastoral Epistles, 1-2 Timothy, Titus: An Exegetical and Contextual Commentary (Fortress Press, 2017)., 3.

[2] [Craig Keener?], “New Testament Chronology Chart” in Walton and Keener, 1608.

[3] Shi-Min Lu, “Woman’s Role in New Testament Household Codes: Transforming First-Century Roman Culture,” Pricilla Papers, Vol. 30, No. 1, Winter 2016, 9.

[4] Salisbury, “Paul’s First Letter to Timothy,” 80.

[5]Matthew Mellott, Walter F Taylor, Jr. “An Agonistic Explosion: An Investigation of Athletics in the Seven Cities of Revelation” Currents in Theology and Mission, 46 no 2 2019, p 21, http://currentsjournal.org/index.php/currents/index

[6] Mellott, Taylor, “An Agnostic Explosion”, p. 22.

[7] Morna D. Hooker, “Artemis of the Ephesians” The Journal of Theological Studies, 64 no. 1 Apr 2013, p. 42, https://doi.org/10.1093/jts/fls174.

[8] deSilva, An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods & Ministry Formation, 649.

[9] Mbamalu, “The Woman Was Deceived and Became a Sinner,” 7.

[10] Leland, et al., Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, 872.

[11] All Scripture verses will be from the New American Standard Bible © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation – unless otherwise noted.

[12] In the NASB, NIV and NRSV “gunē” in 1Tim. 3:11 is translated: “Women,” but the KJV, NKJV, and ESV translate it as “Wives.”

[13] [Craig R. Keener?], “Women’s Education in Antiquity” in Walton and Keener, 2128,

[14] Ibid.

[15] Ibid.

[16] [Craig R. Keener?], “Marriage Roles in Antiquity” in Walton and Keener, 2082.

[17] [Craig R. Keener?], Introduction to Ephesians in “Quick Glance” in Walton and Keener, 2074.

[AB1]Doing some research on Greco-Roman household codes will be very helpful in understanding what’s happening in this particular church.

I cannot imagine that there is anyone who is not aware of the malicious assault on free speech that occurred on September 10 at Utah Valley University.

I am, of course, speaking of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, who at the age of 18 founded Turning Point USA, which has grown to one of the largest student mobilizing organizations in the world. His organization has impacted millions, but in just the first 10 days following his death, including the memorial service at State Farm Stadium on Sunday, September 21, that message and movement have spread to over 100 million people worldwide.

The deluded shooter thought he had silenced the one he hated, but in reality, his bullet set loose a megaphone for truth louder than anyone could have imagined. Even leaders of multiple nations around the world stood to honor Charlie’s life and work. And then there are the countless number of people who have committed or recommitted their lives to Christ, the explosion of requests for new TPUSA Chapters, and millions of dollars in new donations, all because of Kirk’s martyrdom.

When People Criminalize Words, Bad Things Happen

Charlie Kirk’s “weapons” were words, questions, listening, and respectful dialogue. And yet, for one radicalized 22-year-old, those “weapons” were his definition of “hate,” and the only solution he could think of was execution. The deranged assassin was blind to the fact that the only one filled with hate was the one pulling the trigger. Anyone watching the countless TPUSA videos can see that the one thing Kirk did NOT have for others was hate.

I am not ashamed to say that, mixed in with deep sorrow and shock, I experienced anger. I was angry for the years of irresponsible and heated rhetoric from the left, falsely (and dangerously) labeling conservatives with emotion-driven labels like “Extreme” Right-wingers, Nazis, fascists, white supremacists, Christian Nationalists, haters, etc. And who can forget Biden’s dark and angry speech as president with the red background and two Marines behind him, where he angrily warned Americans that everyone who voted for Trump (i.e., “Extreme MAGA”) was an “existential threat to our democracy,” and that “MAGA” must be stopped, or else America will no longer exist (my paraphrase). These egregious misrepresentations of conservatives only feed a growing climate that further divides our country, and for some, justifies political violence.

Now, let me be very clear, the only one responsible for the murder of Erika Kirk’s husband and father to their children is the one holding the rifle — period. But words mean things, and people in places of power with a “big microphone” must be held to a higher standard of accountability for their words because of the influence those words have. We are the ones who must hold them accountable by speaking truth and exposing their lies.

Even more disturbing, since the assassination, is having to deal with those heartless responses from some on the left who are either blaming Kirk for his murder, celebrating it, or both. Where is the compassion for a young wife who is now a widow, and two children who are fatherless at the ages of one and three?

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First Step Needed For A Genuine Turning Point

May I suggest that the first turning point we need in our political and cultural dialogue is to “re-humanize” those who disagree with us? When we begin to see each other as humans with families and real-life challenges instead of just a label, we can start to bring down the political temperature and help to diffuse any rationale for violence against one’s opponents.

In Genesis 50:20, Joseph tells his brothers who sold him to slavery years earlier: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” As I have said, we are already seeing people come to Christ, which is the most crucial factor in society if we want to see a positive, enduring turning point in America.

The proof that a return to faith in Christ is crucial has been displayed by the peaceful, prayerful, and godly way Christians and other conservatives have responded to the cold-blooded murder of the founder of TPUSA, which is 180 degrees from how the left responded to George Floyd’s death.

According to data from Homeland Security Digital Library and Police Magazine,

“During the summer of 2020, there were approximately 8,700 protests in major cities across the U.S. and Canada, with 574 of those protests involving acts of violence. This (data) indicates a significant level of civil unrest during that period. Additionally, one city reported around 100 protest events alone.”

But wait, there was more! Who can forget the pictures of looting (2,385 accounts) and arson (624 incidents, including 97 police cars) that dominated these 574 riots. What is even worse is that between two and three dozen people died.

“More than 2,000 law enforcement officers were injured in the first weeks of protests over the summer following the in-custody death of George Floyd, according to a report from the Major Cities Chiefs Association,” as also reported on the Police Magazine website.

The Contrast Could Not Be More Extreme

However, in stunning contrast to 2020, on Sept. 10, when a hate-filled leftist homosexual is radicalized to the point of publicly murdering a prominent Christian leader, NONE of the violence, looting, or riots of 2020 occurred anywhere — worldview matters (Marxist vs Biblical). Nor did we have to wait for some leading Christian, Conservative, or Republican to give us our marching orders or narratives to recite. We already had the teachings of Christ to show us how to respond.

Following that evil act, we turned our hearts, minds, and voices to God the Father. We joined together to share each other’s grief, and we prayed for those impacted, including the gay shooter and his grieving family. We then dedicated ourselves to boldly sharing our faith and fearlessly speaking up for Truth, as Charlie did so well. How about we “rewind and repeat” THIS model whenever we face national trauma and violence?

The Second Step - The Power of Forgiveness

The pinnacle of how Christ’s teachings transform the believer was demonstrated by Erika Kirk when she stood there, tears flowing from a grieving heart, and declared, “I forgive you,” to the shooter (who was not there, of course). She was not saying that the perpetrator should not face justice, but she was telling those emotions of “hate, anger, and desire for revenge” that they have no place in her heart, thus setting her free from what corrupted that troubled 22-year-old.

Jesus taught a better way:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:43-45a).

Jesus has more to say on this matter, but suffice it to say, America’s Turning Point will be determined by how earnestly we apply these liberating truths to our lives. As we do, we have reason for hope.

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Originally published in my "Pastor’s Perspective" Column for the Stevens County Times, Loon Lake, WA, October 2025.

© by Pastor Timothy B. White, All Rights Reserved, October 2025

As I have already stated, if we misinterpret and thereby misapply passages such as 1 Tim. 2:12, and 1 Cor. 14:34, which both state that within the context of the assembled Church, women “should be silent,” the stakes are high regarding the fulfillment of the Great Commission to preach the Gospel and “make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19-20, and Mark 16:15). Moreover, by wrongly suppressing women from ministry roles for which God has ordained and equipped them, we risk “quenching the Holy Spirit’s” moving within and working through His Church (1 Thes. 5:19).

Shortly, I will address the above verses in their context—both exegetically and culturally—but first, we need to discover Paul’s underlying motivation behind his teachings to these Gentile Churches. Then, in Part 4, we will consider a key biblical principle and two enlightening examples.

FOR GOD’S SAKE

In the closing words of Paul’s first letter to Pastor/Elder Timothy in Ephesus, we read these words: “So that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered” (1 Tim. 6:1). In fact, not less than four times in 1 Timothy do we see the Apostle calling believers to conduct themselves in such a way that unbelievers would not have a reason to slander them nor the message of the Gospel (3:7, 5:7 & 14, 6:1). He believed that the very integrity of God’s nature and Truth would be honored or ridiculed by unbelievers based on how the Christians publicly lived out their faith. He was correct then, and he is correct now.

PAUL’S CONSISTENT CALL TO THE CHURCH

Throughout the writings of the Apostle Paul, you find a consistent call to Christians to conduct themselves in ways that bring glory to God and the Apostles’ teachings in the eyes of unbelievers. For example, he bemoaned the consequence of the blatant double standards of the Roman Christians by pointing out that “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you” (Rom 2:24). Similarly, his words to “Pastor” Titus saying that the primary reason for the Christian men and women to live righteous lives was so that “in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive” (Titus 2:10).

Even within the congregation, Paul knew that the extent of love, kindness, patience, and mercy shown among believers influenced how the pagans around them perceived Christianity. To the Corinthian believers, he spoke about not “causing your brother to stumble” by what they ate or drank in the context of buying meat from the market that had been sacrificed to the pagan idols in their city (1 Cor. 10:23-33). And then again, in Romans 14, Paul speaks at length about caring for the weaker brother and the importance of giving deference to others so they will not stumble: “…make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way” (v. 13b).

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Paul’s most well-known statement on this subject is in 1 Cor. 9:22, “…I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.” Similarly, the Apostle Peter had the same concerns for the way fellow Christians lived among their pagan neighbors, as evidenced by his words in 1 Peter 2:12, “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us” (and 1 Pet. 3:16).

Without question, one of the most consistent concerns expressed in Paul’s teachings to the early Church was the importance of behavior that reflected well upon Christ and the message of the Gospel. Spoiler alert! As we continue this journey, I believe we will discover that Paul’s deep concern about believers not needlessly offending the values of the current pagan culture, where there is no contradiction in Scripture, influenced his instructions in his day. These instructions were not intended to create a universal practice for all people at all times. Paul does not negate the differing roles of men and women, but instead, builds upon the current Greco-Roman Household Codes[1] of the day regarding authority within the home and society. Those codes established the relationships within the household, with the elder father/husband as the head, followed by the wife, children, and slaves.

A KEY PRINCIPLE AND TWO EXAMPLES

Principle in Modern Missions And Paul’s Day

In 1 Timothy, Paul’s concern is the same as in current foreign mission efforts today –to carefully consider the cultural context, religious history, and community standards of the chosen region, tribe, or nation. These Missionaries then determine which cultural values do not contradict the essential truths of the Gospel as they prepare to reach out. Long-standing mission-sending agencies know full well that disregarding people’s highly valued cultural standards, as long as they do not violate biblical standards, would create an unnecessary “stumbling block” to the unbelievers’ willingness to hear the message of salvation.

Therefore, the followers of Christ would include these acceptable practices in their expression of faith and living for Christ, within the context of their ministry, but not as a universal command for all nations and all times. An example of this would be women wearing head coverings in certain cultures. While not intended to make it a universal requirement for all believers in all lands, in certain cultures, Christian women would submit to wearing head coverings out of respect for their traditions and because it would be acceptable within the teachings of Scripture.

The underlying motivation for incorporating certain acceptable cultural practices was to prevent creating an unnecessary “stumbling block” that would offend the native people by the missionary showing a lack of respect for their community standards and traditions. This disregard for their culture would cause the people to slander God’s Name and reject the Apostles’ teaching (The Gospel). Today’s approach to foreign missions is identical to Paul’s and has proven to be practical and effective in proclaiming the saving message of Christ within a pagan culture.

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An Example From Corinth

Speaking of head coverings, let us consider Paul’s stern command to the Christian women in Corinth to have a head covering as a sign of being under authority, and when they pray or prophecy in the Church:

“And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is just as though her head were shaved. (6) If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head… (10) For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head.” (1Co 11:5-6, 10. NIV84 )

This is not about what Paul instructed regarding women in the Ephesian Church, but instead what he did not instruct them. There is no such command to the women in Ephesus regarding head coverings. The absence of this command in 1 Timothy is very significant when one considers the harsh judgment the Apostle suggested for the woman who does not cover her head in the Corinthian Church. Did he forget? Not likely.

Different cultures have a variety of standards for dress and gender roles that do not necessarily conflict with biblical standards. These lesser community standards are applied solely within the culture where they are most valued. It is logical to assume that Paul did not include the requirement for head coverings in the Ephesian Church because that was not a significant part of their Greco-Roman culture.

Someone may argue that the discrepancy between these two passages is not significant because head coverings were not being neglected in Ephesus; therefore, Paul did not need to correct them. If that is so, then with some exceptions, why don’t these present-day pastors and denominations enforce the wearing of head coverings for their women as well?

An Example Regarding Timothy And Circumcision

One final example that will come to bear in a later chapter is Paul’s teachings about circumcision for Gentile believers. In a general statement, he declares that “Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts” (1Cor. 7:19). He is saying that under the New Covenant, the requirements of the Mosaic Law about circumcision no longer apply to the followers of Christ. And yet, when he meets Timothy on his second missionary journey (AD 49-51) and is determined to have this vibrant young believer join him, he first circumcises him (Acts 16:1-3). From this point on, Timothy appears to have become Paul’s regular companion.[2]

We can conclude with fair certainty two things: First, Paul recognized that circumcision was still a valid part of the Jewish heritage, just as he continued to observe the annual feasts that were central to the Jewish culture, without making these requirements for Gentile believers; Second, Paul had Timothy circumcised because his mother (but not his father) was Jewish. If Paul had not done so, Timothy, a Jew, would have been a distraction, or worse, to the Jews’ ability to hear the message, for they would consider Timothy to have betrayed his heritage. Once again, Paul strategically navigates through the cultural customs and practices to remove any unnecessary stumbling blocks that do not contradict the essential truths of the Gospel.

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[1] “Household Codes of the New Testament,” by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D., https://catholic-resources.org/Bible/Epistles-HouseholdCodes.htm

[2] Acts 20:4, Rom. 16:21, 2 Cor. 1:1, Gal. 1:1, Php 1:1, Col. 1:1, 1 Thes. 1:1, 2 Thes. 1:1, Phm 1:1.

Thank you for reading Part 3. I will be sending out Part 4 by next week. The exegetical and cultural examinations are about to unfold, giving us a better idea of what Paul was teaching and how it applies to us today. Stay tuned.

© by Pastor Timothy B. White, All Rights Reserved, October 2025

[This is the second excerpt from my upcoming mini-book on the subject of women in ministry - a debate that continues to divide believers and entire denominations unnecessarily. For more introductory comments and opening remarks, see Part 1.]

What’s A Woman To Do?

In my 40-plus years in ministry, I have observed that most American Christians rarely engage in in-depth Bible study, and even more rarely read their Bibles consistently. Instead, they ask their pastors or favorite teacher/evangelist to explain the scriptures. Using chosen English translations with the specific wording they desire, these preachers and teachers inform “casual Christians” about what the Bible says in the selected passage. Satisfied that these professionals have more insight and knowledge than lowly church members, they begin repeating to others what their revered teacher/preacher told them to believe, never having searched the scriptures themselves.

However, such a shallow approach to something so consequential for fulfilling the Great Commission and the structure of Jesus’ Church is fraught with numerous dangers. To err in such a way is to risk removing a large portion of the body of Christ, upon whom God places His Spirit and calling. When “body parts” are removed, the “Body” is handicapped and weakened in its ability to proclaim the message of repentance and faith in Christ effectively. Furthermore, misinterpreting the biblical stance on a Christian woman’s role in the Church opens the door for further error, potential legalism, and false doctrine. Simply applying modern-day culture and the English language is inadequate for interpreting Scripture written in an ancient foreign language almost 2,000 years ago on the other side of the world.

The stakes are too high. We cannot afford to quickly apply a 21^st-century understanding of the Apostle Paul’s instructions in this challenging passage to all people groups of all ages.[1] Undoubtedly, godly biblical scholars have landed on both sides of the issue. Therefore, we must approach this topic with a level of humility. We must also acknowledge that the cultures and concepts of today differ significantly from those of Paul and Timothy’s day. So, as we approach this topic, we must first recognize that Paul’s teachings should be viewed as “situation-specific”[2] (pertaining to the people and issues at hand), “occasional”[3] (reflecting what was happening within a specific moment in history), and within a pre-existing culture.

“Go Home!”

“Go home” was one of several derogatory statements directed to Beth Moore from Pastor John MacArthur at his 2019 conference titled “Truth Matters Conference” (I do not believe she was in attendance at the time). Beth Moore is a well-known and much sought-after speaker who has preached and taught the Bible to thousands nationwide and beyond. At the time of this rebuke, she was also a member of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), which holds that women are not to teach or preach when men are in attendance and should not hold the office of Pastor (the actual Greek word, poimēn, is translated as “Shepherd” except in Eph. 4:11).

Nevertheless, the fruit of Beth Moore’s ministry displays an undeniable “Teaching” gift as listed among the five ministry gifts to the Church in Ephesians 4:11-12:

“It was He (Christ) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” (NIV84, Emphasis added)

Only heaven knows how many believers, both men and women, have been edified and become better equipped for “works of service” through the teaching and, yes, preaching of scripturally wise women of God. Furthermore, since most Evangelical denominations interpret “prophecy” to mean preaching the Word of God, then Joel’s prophecy about the last days, as quoted by Peter on Pentecost, is further proof that women have a place in this form of ministry.

“‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.” (Act 2:17-18 NIV84, Emphasis added)

The typical response to my assertion that women can preach and teach the Word of God would be, “So long as there are no men present.” Oddly enough, many of these same Church leaders and denominations have sent women out onto the foreign mission field, where they minister to men and women in ways their denomination will not allow them to do at home. How is this not a contradiction?

The Ignored Conflict Within the Passage Itself

Clearly, when read plainly, the Apostle Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 2:11-12 sound unequivocal:

“A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.”

There it is! Unquestionable and irrefutable proof that women should not teach or preach, or even speak up in the Church whenever men are present, if at all. Or so we are told by many conservative religious leaders, who hold such a view. But there is a problem with such a literal application of these two verses. The problem is that if we are to take these two verses literally, then what about the following three verses? Should these also be taken literally?

Consider what they say about the fall of humanity and women’s path to salvation from a purely literal reading:

“For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing—IF they continue in faith, love, and holiness with propriety”. (vv.13-15, NIV84, Emphasis added)

A literal reading of verses fourteen and fifteen gives the impression that the Apostle Paul is a misogynistic, woman-hating monster. The 21^st-century reader would recoil at Paul’s seeming assertion of Adam’s innocence in the Garden, blaming Eve as the one solely responsible for the fall of all humanity.

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“But wait, there’s more!”

If that is not troubling enough, a literal reading of verses fourteen and fifteen suggests that the woman’s only hope for salvation is to give birth at least once. What if a woman has not had a child, or is infertile and incapable of having a child? How absurdly contrary to the message of salvation through repentance and faith in Christ:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. (Eph 2:8-9 NIV84, Emphasis added)

And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Act 2:21 NIV84, Emphasis added)

Of course, proponents of excluding women from ministry do not apply a literal reading of verses fourteen and fifteen (which suggest that only mothers can be saved), yet they see no conflict with doing so with verses eleven and twelve. The term “cherry picking” seems apt in this case, which is troubling because some excellent expository preachers who have significantly blessed the Church in many ways are guilty of doing so in this instance.

Someone may say that verses eleven and twelve are literal, while thirteen through fifteen are more figurative. But on what basis can one distinguish Paul’s sudden swing from literal to metaphor in just a few verses? And who is to say which part in this text is to be verbatim and which figurative? Either way, when considered within their immediate context, we are faced with some troubling teachings that contradict the most basic elements of salvation for women.

If, Then.

If literal interpretations are troublesome for some of these verses and inconsistent with other teachings in Scripture, then we must be missing some context. If this is true for verses fourteen and fifteen, and it clearly is, then we are likely missing some important context in understanding verses eleven and twelve. A truly objective approach to this subject would see it no other way.

Context Matters

It has been rightly stated that the three rules for correctly interpreting Scripture are: Context, Context, and Context — more specifically, cultural/historical context, the context of the biblical text, and linguistic/exegetical context. Current cultures and definitions of words have no place in a proper understanding of first-century writings.

In other words, the student of Scripture must determine what Paul had in mind when he wrote to Timothy, and what the latter understood his elder mentor was commanding him to do. If we hope to grasp Paul’s instructions about women in this passage correctly and then apply them to today’s Church, we need to step into Paul’s mind and into the dominant Greco-Roman culture of Ephesus in the first century.

Additionally, we cannot ignore the fuller meanings of key Greek words chosen by Paul in this passage. Finally, Paul’s other similar teachings to the Corinthians, for example, are just as significant in our pursuit of truth as is the current text. We will examine all of these in this short work.

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Coming up in Part 3:

As I have already stated, the stakes are high if we misinterpret and thereby misapply this and similar passages to women in ministry. To understand what is at stake, we will examine Paul’s underlying motivation behind his teachings and how other key cultural practices of the Jews and the people of Ephesus can provide clarity and resolve the disturbing contradictions mentioned in Part 2.

[1] T. Desmond Alexander, Brian S. Rosner, D.A. Carson, Graeme Goldsworthy, eds., New Dictionary of Biblical Theology (Downers Grove: Inter-Varsity Press, 2000), 137-138.

[2] David A. deSilva, An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods & Ministry Formation, Second Edition (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2018), 661.

[3] Abiola I. Mbamalu, “‘The Woman Was Deceived and Became a Sinner’ – a Literary-Theological Investigation of 1 Timothy 2:11–15,” HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies 70, no. 3 (February 21, 2014): 7, https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v70i3.2062.

I want to thank my new Substack friend, Julie West, for her encouragement not to wait until I have finished this work, but to release excerpts as I begin to do so with this post. You can go to her Substack by clicking on her name. She has some great stuff and a book that looks very insightful.

So, here we go.

Introduction

From fall 2018 to the end of 2020, I was deeply engaged in a master’s degree program at Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington. As I navigated my way through this degree program, I discovered one of my true passions: writing. The content of this “mini-book in progress” is a significantly expanded version of my final paper for the course, entitled “Reading the Bible, Exegesis, and Interpretation.”

The professor for this particular course was Dr. Alaine Thomson Buchanan, to whom I also owe much thanks and gratitude for her instruction, insight, and encouragement. In addition to Dr. Buchanan’s academic career, she is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God (as am I).

“Pick a controversial passage of Scripture.”

Dr. Buhcanan’s instructions to our class for our final exegetical paper were to choose a passage of Scripture, of not more than six verses, that is difficult or even controversial within the Christian Church. Given the controversy surrounding whether a woman should be in the pulpit when men are present, I decided to examine arguably one of the most controversial and anti-women passages in the New Testament, 1 Timothy 2:11-15. This topic has created a vast divide within modern Protestant and Evangelical denominations. Over the last few years, the most notable divide regarding women in ministry has been within the Southern Baptist Convention, which appears poised to split in half at the time of my writing.

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Why this title?

I have chosen a new title from my original course paper, “What’s a Woman To Do?” (listed above), to “The Evangelical Burka.” I believe this title is more descriptive of the adverse effects that an inaccurate interpretation and application of Paul's biblical teaching have upon women in the modern-day Church.

In Islam, women wear a variety of head coverings. The “hijab” covers the hair and may or may not cover the neck while leaving the face fully exposed. The “niqab” is like the hijab except it covers the face while leaving the eyes exposed. The “burka,” however, is the most isolating of all the “coverings” as it features a mesh “screen” over the eyes, essentially cutting the woman off from those around her even while she is present in public.

These three types of Islamic head coverings for Muslim women symbolize the different degrees to which conservative denominations have denied spiritually gifted women from being used in their God-given gifts within the Body of Christ. The “Evangelical Burka,” in my estimation, represents the teaching of the hardliners who demand that women must “be silent” and “not teach with men present.”

Upcoming Epilogue

In the form of an Epilogue, I plan to address another element of this group’s Evangelical Burka that commands wives to remain in the home with a physically abusive (possibly alcoholic) husband. These same churches that silence women in most church ministries also teach that such an abused woman needs to “submit” to her husband until he is saved, regardless of the physical and mental danger she is in. More on that after we cover the role and restrictions of women in ministry.

A Reluctance Within the Evangelical Church

Regarding the role of women in the ministry, the Assemblies of God has been ordaining women since its inception in 1914. However, within the larger body of Christ, many spiritually gifted women of God have experienced various degrees of suppression or outright denial of their demonstrable gifts for edifying the body of Christ through preaching, teaching, and ministering. Professor Buchanan, who is so fluent in Koine Greek that when others bring their NIV or NASB Bibles to Church, she brings her Greek New Testament instead. Still, with her extensive academic work and knowledge of the original language of the New Testament, she has experienced marginalization when lesser-educated men were present. Her perspective was of great help in this project.

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Initially, I did not know precisely where I would end up on this issue, but I was excited to begin pursuing the Truth. I hope you enjoy the ride as I have enjoyed the journey. As a side note, I was delighted to find that my final paper received the highest grade possible, and I am grateful for the many compliments I received from fellow students for my presentation to the class.

However, my desire to expand and share this content extends far beyond getting praise or a passing grade; I want to offer a thoughtful, contextual examination to my fellow pastors, denominational leaders, and fellow Christians for their consideration. I believe the words God told Moses to say to Pharaoh apply to a large segment of the modern-day Christian Church: “Let my people (women) go!”

For His Glory,

Pastor Timothy B. White

1. THE FUNDAMENTAL ONGOING DEBATE:

ARE WOMEN FORBIDDEN TO MINISTER TO MEN?

The primary focus of this study is to address the ongoing debate about women in ministry. The general question we will consider is, “Does Paul teach that women are forbidden to engage in the preaching, teaching, and similar pastoral ministry within Jesus’ Church as a recognized credentialed minister whenever men are present?” As one young Calvinist Pastor said to me some years ago, “absolutely not,” and then he read to me Paul’s words in 1 Tim. 2:11-12:

“(11) A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. (12) I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man;” she must be silent. (NIV84)

For this brother in Christ, those two verses clarified the issue – period. Of course, his belief on this subject extended beyond two verses in the Bible, and on so many other, more critical doctrines, we agree.

Are we overlooking essential contextual elements?

But is it that simple? Could we be missing significant cultural contexts, ignoring the possible conflict of parallel passages, and neglecting crucial exegetical examination of the original language of this text? With approximately two millennia separating Paul’s words from our present-day Christian Church, we owe it to ourselves and the body of Christ to explore these critical elements related to proper biblical interpretation.

Far too many believers recite what they are told the Bible says without actually studying it for themselves. So, I invite you to join me on an “excavation” of the cultural, historical, biblical, and linguistic facets surrounding this issue to see what we uncover.

What about women as a lead pastor?

On the more specific subject of women as the lead Pastor of a congregation, I will discuss this at length after we have done our broader “excavation” on the above question. As a “teaser,” I would say that I believe God has given men the primary role of leader, protector, and guide in society and in the Church of Jesus. While I firmly believe that men, whenever possible, should hold the lead pastoral role in the local Church, that does not preclude situations where a man is not available or qualified, thereby opening the role to a woman minister. More to say on this later.

Disclaimer

I am keenly aware that biblical scholars and seminary professors, far more accomplished than I am, have studied and debated this issue for generations. However, I am also mindful that believers have the same Holy Spirit referred to in 1 John 2:20, 26 as “his anointing (which) teaches you about all things,” and a plethora of Bible Study reference works, Bible dictionaries, Greek and Hebrew Lexicons, and historical books available in print and online, thereby giving the average follower of Christ a chance to investigate these matters themselves.

In humility and openness, I offer the reader my best understanding of Paul’s teaching, based on the cultural and historical contexts of the first century, the original language, and crucial parallel passages in Scripture. Taking a multi-directional approach to this issue, I believe, will give today’s Christian Church the best chance to “rightly divide the Word of Truth” (2 Tim 2:15) and unleash the gifts and callings of God through His servants, both male and female.

“Let the reader understand.”

[Watch for Part 2, “What’s a Woman To Do?” in a week.]

© by Timothy B. White, October 2025, All rights reserved

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And yet, with the days-old Charlie Kirk’s assassination still leading every news story, some pastors refused to mention anything about the evil deed that has shaken the Western world and the Christian Church for the last four days. How heartless to not even offer a prayer for his widow and now fatherless children! What kind of fear, or intimidation, or complacency has caused this?

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I have heard from some podcasters and online individuals who claim to have attended church, only to report that the pastor didn't encourage them to pray for Erika and her children. They then posted, “Time for me to find a new Church.” Maybe that is true, or maybe it means you should do as Charlie did - have a conversation with your Church leadership who made that decision, and find out who is to blame. Who knows, you may be the one to open their understanding and reverse course for the better?

And if you are a pastor, I pray that you walk in boldness and confidence as a shepherd without fear of those who reject it when you apply the Truth of God’s Word to the issues facing people every single day. You serve an audience of ONE - please Him, and your work is done.

And everybody said: “Amen!”

Mural of Charlie Kirk painted by Israeli artist Dudi Shoval in Ashdod, Israel, within 24 hours of the assassination.

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What a horrible Wednesday this has been. Charlie Kirk, the founder and leader of Turning Point USA, was gunned down by a sniper at Utah Valley University in Oren, Utah.

Charlie Kirk was leading the way in practicing freedom of speech by allowing people to ask questions and engage in respectful debate. He was the epitome of toleration of other views as he discussed the issues on the merits, and without ad hominem attacks. What made him so dangerous to the leftist ideologues was how persuasive and effective he was.

So, as others have said, Charlie Kirk was assassinated because they wanted to silence his questions and clear-minded answers. For the actual fascists and totalitarians amongst us, if they cannot win the debate on the merits, then your only recourse (aside from admitting you were wrong) is to assassinate your opponent’s character with slanderous falsehoods, spreading lies, and ultimately, taking their life.

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Today is a Turning Point for the USA!

What the assassin and those who silently celebrate Charlie’s death do not realize is that the last thing that will come as a result of this murder will be silence. I believe that the “crack” of the assassin’s bullet will become the alarm that will awaken thousands of Charlie Kirks all across this nation, and even more so, on our college and university campuses.

This awakening and rising to the occasion, however, must be governed by a biblical response, as in Romans 12:21 (NIV84) “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” In other words, conservatives will not climb onto rooftops with our rifles at democrat rallies; instead, we will intensify TPUSA’s work to engage our younger generation on the issues with all the confidence, respect, and clarity that Charlie demonstrated.

The sweetest form of revenge

Someone once said that the best revenge against someone who has worked to undermine your efforts is to succeed anyway. We do not give up on the cause we know is right, and we do not give in to the fear of potential attacks and insults from the left. Demand justice if needed, but the Christian conservative’s goal cannot be to hurt those who attack our freedoms, but to defeat their twisted lies by faithfully and persuasively speaking the truth.

I pray for all those who have been inspired by Charlie Kirk’s message and boldness that they would realize that their time is now! They took out an incredible young man, but what they “meant for evil, God will use for good” by firing up an army of bold and happy conservative students and young adults who will be even louder than Charlie Kirk ever could have been on his own.

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This is not a time to cower in fear, but to stand up even bolder

As the religio-political leaders threatened the early church to stop speaking and preaching about Jesus Christ in Acts chapter 4, the believers did not complain or whine to God about how unfair it was. Quite the contrary. They prayed for more boldness and that God would “stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders in the Name of Your holy servant, Jesus.” (Acts 4:30)

You could paraphrase their words in this way: “Father God, in light of these threats of imprisonment by those who oppose Your Gospel, we ask for all the boldness and demonstration of Your power that put Peter and John in prison to overwhelm us, too. Make us as deserving of arrest by the enemies of God as Peter and John are today.”

Let’s be done with the intimidation and self-censoring being done in Churches, pulpits, places of business, and schools out of fear of being labeled or slandered by the leftists amongst us. Loving people the best is telling them the truth without apology. And when they reject your words, or worse, turn against you, do not be dismayed. We are not responsible for how people react to the truth they need in that moment of their life. Our only responsibility is to be the best friend we can be by pointing them to the Truth - who ultimately is, Jesus, “the Way, the Truth, and the Life. (because) No one comes to the Father, except through me (Jesus).” (John 14:6).

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Let me close with a prayer:

Heavenly Father, I pray that you would send great comfort and peace upon Charlie’s wife, Erika, and their two children. Strengthen them and carry them with Your Everlasting Arms. And I pray that TPUSA will grow and be a catalyst for a greater cultural shift toward righteousness and away from the Marxism and atheism that have held so much ground in segments of our society, not the least of which is in higher education. And I pray for Your Church and the shepherds you have placed within her that we would be bold, filled with Your Holy Spirit, Your love, and the unmatched Truth in Your Word. Make our lights for You brighter than ever, and anoint our words to penetrate the hearts and minds of those blinded by the world and the devil. Ultimately, I pray that You would be glorified through Your Church where I live and those who are reading this as well. May Jesus and His Truth be lifted up that many will see and believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, who is the Savior of the world. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.

How many times, as a culturally engaged pastor, have I heard this question: “How can a Church be participating in politics? Is your Church tax-exempt?” What prompted this question was a post I placed on a local social media site announcing that residents could sign an initiative at our church if they so desired. The focus of the initiative was to protect Washingtonians’ right to have natural gas in their homes. Yes, our liberal state government has worked overtime to eliminate natural gas from all new home construction because of the myth of climate change. Almost everyone was appreciative and encouraged others to sign it.

Since that online encounter, the IRS has decided that Churches can endorse political candidates and issues without the threat of losing their tax-exempt status. As reported in, of all places, the New York Times, in part stated:

The agency said that if a house of worship endorsed a candidate to its congregants, the I.R.S. would view that not as campaigning but as a private matter, like “a family discussion concerning candidates.”

For the full article, click here.

(For a deeper dive into the fallacy of “Separation of Church and State,” I will be posting another column I wrote on that specific topic to my Substack shortly.)

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“No Creator, No Rights”

July 4th, this year, was the 249^th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, often called our nation’s birth certificate. My question for our consideration is whether this sacred document is solely political or something more.

On that question, Gary DeMar, President of American Vision, states:

“The Declaration of Independence is a religious document, basing its argument for rights on theological grounds. Rights, the Declaration maintains, are a gift from the Creator: ‘We are endowed by our creator with certain inalienable [unchangeable, absolute, immutable] rights.’ The logic is simple. No Creator, no rights.”

As DeMar said, “The logic is simple. No Creator, No Rights.” Our founding fathers’ understanding of human civilization and how it should be viewed begins with and is founded upon the belief in a divine Creator as taught in the Scriptures. In other words, we cannot separate the church from the state because we would not have the “state” (our nation) if it were not for the Church.

The State’s Relationship to the Church

A couple of years ago, the then mayor of New York City made a statement I have quoted before that was quite profound and surprising from a liberal Democrat. He was in a news conference discussing the increasing crime in the city, and then he stunned almost everyone with these statements:

“…And we say over and over again, "We need to build a world that's better for our children." No, we need to build children that's better for our world. And we have to be honest about that.

And it means instilling in them some level of faith and belief. ... Don't tell me about no separation of church and state. State is the body. Church is the heart. You take the heart out of the body, the body dies. I can't separate my belief because I'm an elected official. When I walk, I walk with God. When I talk, I talk with God. When I put policies in place, I put them in with a God-like approach to them. That's who I am.

For the full transcript of his speech, click here.

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Colonial Pulpits and the Declaration of Independence

Most Americans would be surprised to learn that portions of the Declaration of Independence contain complete sentences – word for word – from the numerous sermons preached and published for the public to read from the early 1600s to 1763.

Probably the most influential pastor of the actual wording within our Declaration of Independence – including almost exact quotes – was from pastor John Wise’s teachings. His sermons and writings powerfully expounded on the biblical basis for the issues that eventually found their way into this foundational document.

In 1864, historian Benjamin Morris stated that “some of the most glittering sentences in the immortal Declaration of Independence are almost literal quotations from [an] essay of John Wise,” which was “used as a political textbook in the great struggle for freedom.”

Imagine that - the sermons preached from colonial pulpits became the blueprint for the U.S. Constitution and the most powerful, blessed, and free nation on the face of the earth. We must ask ourselves, preachers, is the content of our messages capable of instructing a community or region in how to create or restore a free, safe, secure, and prosperous society? If not, why not?

Sixty-two years later, on the 150^th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, President Calvin Coolidge, in a speech he delivered in Philadelphia in 1926, stated: “The thoughts in the Declaration can very largely be traced back to what [Pastor] John Wise was writing in 1710.”

Indebted to Colonial Ministers and American Christianity

One historian put it this way:

“It is without question: American Christianity, …was primarily responsible for the philosophy expressed in the Declaration of Independence – a philosophy that energized men to love freedom, that made them see themselves as heirs of human dignity and subject to a law higher than the state (i.e., Nation).”

David Barton, the founder of Wall Builders, said that many Americans today are sadly unaware of this fact: “Ministers were intimately involved in every aspect of introducing, defining, and securing America’s civil and religious liberties.”

The point is this: It was colonial Christian pastors whose sermons “laid the intellectual basis for American Independence.”

Thomas Jefferson said of the sermons of his day, “Pulpit oratory ran like a shock of electricity through the whole colony.”

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Essential Questions for Today’s Pastors to Consider

Maybe we who preach and teach the Bible should ask ourselves: “What impact do our sermons have on this generation, the culture, or the ideologies vying for societal superiority?” In our larger work of “rightly dividing the Word of Truth” (2 Tim. 2:15b), does our work include holding up the hot topics of our day to the “plumbline” of that Word? How effectively are we shining the light of Truth onto the issues that accost our congregants’ eyes and ears outside the walls of our churches?

And - not to stop there - but to honestly assess whether we, as preachers and teachers, have purposely avoided controversial topics out of fear of losing members, or upsetting some? Does the possibility of being labeled a “Christian Nationalist” intimidate you into self-censorship? The most common form of bringing politics into the pulpit is when the pastor purposely avoids or sugarcoats controversial topics because he fears how people will react. The Bible says that “the fear of man will [always] prove to be a snare” (Prov. 29:25a), and the maturity and influence of the body of Christ is seriously reduced.

To Be Relevant, We Cannot Be Neutral.

Furthermore, not addressing current issues and prominent leaders in light of scripture gives the impression that the Bible and Christianity only apply within the confines of the local church and faith in God. The unintended consequence is that young believers and our youth may get the idea that the “real world” is disconnected from Christianity, and question the latter’s relevance for today.

On the contrary, our American Christian heritage regarding the pulpit is quite different from what we see today.

Wayne C. Sedlak, a historian and a pastor, explains,

“The pulpits of that era (17^th and 18^th centuries) were anything but neutral. And they certainly did not subscribe to that error of reasoning so dominant in the churches today, which says that the only proper subject of concern for the pulpit pertains to individual salvation and one’s personal preparation for heaven.”

Listen to our 2nd President, John Adams, response to the pastors of his day when he happily said, “the pulpits thunder and lightning every Sabbath against King George’s despotism” and praised these pastors as being among “the most conspicuous, the most ardent, and the most influential” men of that day in the “awakening and revival of American principles and feelings” that led to our ultimate Independence [“The Works of John Adams,” Charles Adams, editor].

One historian, Tom Barrett, observed, “I do not consider it a stretch at all to say that were it not for the pastors and churches of colonial America, our land would be a British colony today” [Source: “The Forgotten Holiday”].

Maybe we, who preach and teach other believers, should reread the paragraphs above.

Our Nation Needs a Patriotic and Bold Clergy

Where would we be today had our founding fathers not been willing to pledge their lives, fortunes, and sacred honors? What kind of people would they have been in the latter portion of the 18^th century had the pulpits been more concerned about keeping people in the pews with self-help and prosperity-laden sermons instead of boldly addressing issues that included politics, morality, and government corruption, as well as sin and salvation? I shudder to wonder.

On May 9, 1789, in an article titled “The Importance of the Protestant Religion Politically Considered,” which appeared in the Washington, D.C., newspaper “Gazette of the United States,” we find this glowing endorsement of these brave pastors:

“Our truly patriotic clergy boldly and zealously stepped forth and bravely stood [as] our distinguished sentinels to watch and warn us against approaching danger; they wisely saw that our religious and civil liberties were inseparably connected and therefore warmly excited and animated the people resolutely to oppose and repel every hostile invader. May the virtue, zeal, and patriotism of our clergy be ever particularly remembered…they wisely saw that our religious and civil liberties were inseparably connected.”

How is it possible that we, the Christian Church, cannot see that connection, too?

As mature followers of Christ, we can simultaneously love God and our Nation without losing our perspective or having misguided priorities. In rebuttal of that statement, some will wrongly apply Jesus’ warning in the Sermon on the Mount, saying, “You cannot serve two masters.” Such a reply is an excuse to hide from speaking out on issues that could bring disagreement, opposition, and loss of members.

“Preach…For the time will come…”

As the final words of the Apostle Paul to Timothy stated:

“Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction. For a time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” (2 Tim. 4:2-3)

When we, the preachers, teachers, and church leaders of today, make the choice to do our work solely before an audience of One, to please only Him, then the fear of man and the rejection of a corrupt society will fade away. And then, with the Church led in this way, only the LORD knows the depth, breadth, and length that His Church could impact and influence the generations to come.

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For those interested, on Sunday, June 30, 2024, I preached on this subject with much more content, which you can listen to on our podcast: Proclaim Liberty Throughout the Land (sermon title).

[Other Sources, including direct quotes from: “The Black Robe Regiment: The Pastor-Patriots of the Revolution,” Wineskins.org; “The American Revolution Actually Began in the Pulpits,” By Gary Palmer, Special to the Press-Register; David Barton’s ministry, “Wall Builders;” Other sources cited within the above text.]

NOTE: This is an expanded version of my original column by the same name in the July 2024 edition of the Stevens County Times, Pastor’s Perspective Column, based out of Loon Lake, WA. 99148.

© By Pastor Timothy B. White, all rights reserved.

Lee Greenwood wrote “God Bless the USA” in 1983, and MCA Nashville released it on May 21, 1984. It has become the theme song for President Trump, but it speaks to so much more than just one man’s love for his nation. It speaks for all who still stand for our flag and kneel at the Cross of Christ.

More than a dozen years ago, I was at Silverwood Theme Park in north Idaho, about to watch a performance in one of their theaters, when “God Bless the USA” began to play. I have always been thankful to be an American, but the words of this song struck within my heart and soul so profoundly that I had to stand up in reverent awe and a grateful heart that — for no credit of my own — somehow, I was born in America.

At that moment, filled with sincere, deep-seated gratitude, I was “proud to be an American,” and I still am today.

America is blessed because she has stood upon biblical principles and morals while recognizing an Almighty God from which every good and perfect gift flows — including our inalienable rights. If we want to see America revived and thriving, we dare not step away from our foundations of faith in God nor let go of those biblical principles regarding life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

The month of June contains events that deserve honor and recognition and should make every American thankful that they live in the good ‘ole USA. Let’s refresh our memory.

First is D-Day, June 6, 1944. It was a day when thousands of ordinary young men, averaging under 22 years of age, from all walks of life, rose above their fear of almost certain death and became the courageous heroes the free world needed them to be. Although they were “boys,” they stood like men and faced the tyrannical enemies of freedom with pride in their country, loving freedom more than their own lives.

Next is Flag Day, celebrated on June 14 (which also happens to be President Trump’s birthday). We can take pride in all that our nation’s flag represents — the sacrifice of brave Americans who fought for our freedom. Today, our most appropriate response is to stand up and defend all that our flag represents, realizing that it is our turn to do so.

June is a family-friendly month, too, when we honor the critical role of Fathers (Father’s Day, third Sunday of June) and the sacredness of unborn children (the overturning of Roe v. Wade on June 24). The two-parent home, protecting the unborn, and valuing children are the foundational bedrocks of any robust and enduring society. A father’s masculinity in the home, combined with a mother’s nurturing, guided by biblical principles, has always created the best and most fertile environment for children to grow and thrive. History reveals that when life is valued from the womb to the tomb, when even the weakest are protected, we become better people and a more just society.

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However, June is also a month where a small but very loud subset within our society (6 to 9% according to Pew Research and Gallup Surveys) of LGBTQ individuals and groups want to claim all 30 days of the month as “Pride Month” (originally “Gay Pride”). The most disturbing part of that is how unconcerned these supporters are about exposing children to a wide variety of sexual themes. These adult-themed parades can include varying levels of public nudity and scantily clad adults, all out in front of children.

“But wait, there’s more.” Currently, the annual calendar on one long-established LGBTQ organization’s website contains no less than 120 days over eleven months in recognition of some form or another of unnatural sexual acts or extra-marital relationships associated with LGBTQ. That equates to about 30% of the calendar year, including all of March, June, and October.*

So much for being a marginalized minority. More like that domineering friend or relative whose presence sucks all the oxygen out of the room whenever they are present.

Let’s stop for a moment and consider what they are selling. Their promise is that you will find your value, worth, and true authentic self by giving in to whichever wanton sexual desires burn within you, no matter how unnatural, including denying your gender. Honestly, how primitive and animalistic is it to tell others that their identity is solely defined by whatever surging passions and lustful feelings that arise within the human heart and mind? Is denying one’s biological reality the best preparation for life as an adult in the real world?

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And then we must challenge the amorality of our day by asking: Is there not a case to be made for distinguishing between moral and immoral desires, for natural and unnatural sexual acts? Can “consenting adults” also consent to engage in illicit behavior? Of course they can, and their consent to engage in sexual and moral depravity will not make it right or beneficial to the individuals or society.

And for those who point to the accomplishments of LGBTQ individuals, why does their sexual life matter? Why display that intimate part of one’s life alongside their deeds — (again), potentially in the view of children — unless the goal is to desensitize those children to a vast array of sexual acts that contradict all of nature and basic morality? We know their goal is the latter.

Public schools today are teaching elementary students content that is so explicit that the ordinary person would be arrested if they showed it to children in their neighborhood. So, I must ask: Where do we draw the line between sex-ed content and pedophilia-type porn?

(Above image of Sigmund Freud and C. S. Lewis, AI-generated)

Richard E. Simmons, III** addresses the futility of a life lived in pursuit of pleasure (sexual pleasure being primary) as the pathway to happiness and fulfillment in life. He refers to a book by psychiatrist Dr. Armand Nicholi, who taught at Harvard Medical School. Quoting from Simmons’ website, richardesimmons3.com, in an article titled “Sigmund Freud, C.S. Lewis and the Pursuit of Happiness”:

“Dr. Nicholi’s book contrasts the worldview of Sigmund Freud, an atheist, and C.S. Lewis, a Christian. Sigmund Freud believed in the pleasure principle, which posits that happiness is rooted in pleasure. Lewis believed virtue and character, rooted in the love of God, were the key to happiness.”

Dr. Nicholi notes that later in life, Freud saw how fleeting this source of happiness was and developed a “view of life [that] was dark, ominous and full of despair.” Then, he summarizes Lewis’s view in the following statement:

“Lewis asserts that the primary purpose of our lives — the reason for our existence on this planet — is to establish a relationship with the Person who placed us here. Until that relationship is established, all of our attempts to attain happiness — our quest for recognition, for money, for power, for the perfect marriage or the ideal friendship, for all that we spend our lives seeking — will always fall short, will never quite satisfy the longing, fill the void, quell the restlessness, or make us happy. Lewis explains that ‘God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn or the food our spirits were designed to feed on . . . God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from Himself because it is not there. There is no such thing.’”

It’s high time we raised the bar and realized there is a much higher degree of “identity” to discover than that promoted by the LGBTQ crowd and their allies.

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The Apostle John wrote that “…all who believed in Him (Jesus Christ), He gave them the right to become the CHILDREN OF GOD – children born not…(by any human’s will or act)…but BORN OF GOD” (John 1:12-13). Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “For HE CHOSE US in Him before the creation of the world to BE HOLY and BLAMELESS in His sight. IN LOVE, He predestined us FOR ADOPTION to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will” (Eph. 1:4-5). And as GOD’S CHILD, “your sins are FORGIVEN through Jesus” (1 John 2:12). [all-caps emphasis added]

In June, Americans have significant reasons to take pride in America, including the US Supreme Court’s reversal of the dreadful 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. However, the last thing anyone should be proud of is displaying, celebrating, and promoting sexual deviancy in such public ways that children are repeatedly exposed to these age-inappropriate themes over a period of thirty days (not to mention the potential of many more throughout the year, as I have already noted).

So, let us pray with compassion for the liberation and salvation of those trapped in these soul-destroying relationships. And let us pray and work even more diligently to protect our children from the unrestrained flaunting of morally depraved, age-inappropriate, sexually deviant subjects.

To those who think their identity is based on sexual passions and longing, I want to call you to something much higher and more fulfilling. You will discover who we are and why you are here when you give yourself to the One who is the very source of all life – God the Father, who “designed the human machine to run on Himself.”

In closing, I will quote a 2018 study from Harvard University (not known for the Christian beliefs that founded it in the 1600s). Quote:

Researchers found that people who attended weekly religious services or practiced daily prayer or meditation in their youth reported greater life satisfaction and positivity in their 20s—and were less likely to subsequently have depressive symptoms, smoke, use illicit drugs, or have a sexually transmitted infection—than people raised with less regular spiritual habits.***

The evidence is clear that children raised in a religious environment (to know the God who created them) have a significantly better chance of growing into well-adjusted, mature, and productive adults. So, lay off our children, and keep those “adult-themed sexual parades” and displays within secluded adult venues. Children cannot even enter a bar where people are drinking alcohol, so why would any thinking adult think it is fine to expose children to such age-inappropriate themes and images?

Let us take our children to a good biblical Christian Church so they can learn about the love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness of God. And while they are learning about the Heavenly Father of all mankind, let them be kids.

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[This is an edited/expanded version of my original “Pastors’ Perspective” Column in the June 2025 edition of the Stevens County Times, based out of Loon Lake, WA.]

©All rights reserved by Timothy White, author.

FOOTNOTES:

*LGBTQ Community Calendar | GLAAD

**Richard E. Simmons, III is the founding director of The Center for Executive Leadership, a faith-based ministry in Birmingham, Alabama, focused on counseling businessmen and professionals.

*** Study report: “Religous Upbringing linked to better health and well-being during early adulthood,” September 13, 2018.

Let me provide the basics, and as I do, please consider how the validity of the resurrected Jesus affects your outlook on life now and what follows death.

Foundation Truth over Fictitious Tales

The Bible, The Book of Mormon, and The Quran

First, let me establish two foundation truths. The evidence for the Bible’s authenticity rises above that of any major book of any other non-Christian religion. For example, the Book of Mormon and the Quran were written by one person in a short period (3 months and 23 years, respectively). By comparison, the Bible has over 40 authors, spanning more than fifteen centuries of human history. In other words, there is no comparison at all.

Moreover, these forty-plus authors wrote sixty-six books from three continents (Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa) and in three different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek). Despite the vast span of human history, the expansive geography, and various cultures, the Bible’s inner harmony and cohesiveness on the most crucial and controversial subjects is uncanny, speaking in human terms.

Regarding the authenticity of the Bible’s content, there exist over 24,000 ancient copies of the books of the Bible, some dating back within 100 years of the original New Testament documents. There are no – I repeat no – books of antiquity (religious or secular) with anything close to such an overwhelming volume of copies that support the accuracy of the accounts recorded in the Bible as we have today.

The Bible’s authenticity and evidence of divine influence, if not authorship, is unmatched by anything ever written in human history.

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The Historical Record of Jesus Christ

Second point: Regarding Jesus’ historical reality, non-Christian Roman historians such as Suetonius, Tacitus, and Pliny the Younger refer to Jesus as an actual historical figure. Most notable is Josephus (a non-Christian), born in Israel a few years after Jesus’ resurrection, who wrote about Jesus’ life, ministry, death by crucifixion, and resurrection (Antiquities, xviii, 33).

E. M Blaiklock, Professor of Classics at Auckland University, said: “…I tell you that the evidence for the life, the death, and the resurrection of Christ is better authenticated than most of the facts of ancient history…”

Jesus was a real person who predicted his death and resurrection in three days. Let’s look at some evidence that still only scratches the surface.

Evidence of the Resurrection

The Empty Tomb

The fact that the tomb remains empty says a great deal. To destroy Christianity in its infancy, all the enemies of Christ had to do was produce Jesus’ dead body. They never did – nor has anyone else. Furthermore, highly trained Roman guards stood in the way of anyone attempting to steal Jesus’ body, which lay on a cold slab behind a two-ton stone. It is ludicrous to think the disciples, defeated and confused as they were, and seeing the presence of a Roman guard, would even attempt to steal Jesus’ body.

The Martyrdom of All Christ’s Followers

Would you be willing to give your life for something you knew was a completely fabricated religious scam? No, of course not. Therefore, only one conclusion can be drawn from the fact that all 12 Apostles faced death, and 11 of them were executed without recanting their faith. Only the Apostle John, who stared death in the face more than once, died a natural death. For example, by supernatural intervention, the Apostle John was unharmed when Emperor Domitian had him put in boiling oil. Some regard this story as a legend, but it is a historical fact. More information here.

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There can be only one reason why not even a single one of Jesus’ closest followers and Apostles refused to die for their faith – and that had to be because He truly rose from the dead. Check out this link to learn about how they ministered and were martyred for their faith in the risen Christ.

The Miracle of the Graveclothes Left Behind

The account in all four of the “Gospels” (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) of the graveclothes left behind is miraculous in itself. The graveclothes were strips of linen with layers of fragrant herbs and oils applied between the many layers. This process created an aromatic shell of sorts, encasing the body, adding approximately 75 to 100 pounds (John 19:39) to His natural body weight. It would be exceedingly time-consuming and almost impossible to remove the body from the graveclothes. It is unreasonable to think the disciples would take the time to do so if they were stealing the body.

As the women and two disciples peered into the tomb, they saw what looked like a partially collapsed, cocoon-type object, missing a body. For the Apostle John, this sight was all he needed to believe:

John 20:6-8 Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally, the other disciple [John], who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (Bold added, NIV84).

Christianity Grew & Flourished From Jerusalem.

Amplifying the earlier point that a corpse was never produced is that the center from which Christianity grew and flourished, Jerusalem, was the one place where it could have been proven fraudulent, with just a short walk out of town to Jesus’ tomb. Moreover, all the main characters were there, and surely there would be someone willing to save their skin and deny that they saw Jesus’ resurrected body, as Paul and others wrote, forever discrediting the Apostles’ writings and extinguishing Christianity in its infancy.

Hundreds of Witnesses to Jesus’ Resurrected Body Were Still Living

After His resurrection, Jesus appeared multiple times over a period of 40 days (Acts 1:3) with a physical body that they could touch, and He even ate some food in front of their unbelieving eyes on the evening of His resurrection (Luke 24:39-43). The Apostle Paul speaks of over 500 people simultaneously seeing Jesus after His resurrection and comments that most of them were still alive when he wrote that letter (1 Cor. 15:6).

Eyewitnesses wrote these biblical accounts of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection in the time and region where they occurred, unlike the two aforementioned major religious books. Therefore, if Jesus’ resurrection and appearances were false, there would have been hundreds of witnesses who were still alive and could have come forward to discredit the biblical record, which would also have brought a quick end to Christianity in the first century.

The Final Analysis

The glorious truth is this: It did not end! Today, Christianity is the largest religion in the world.

The evidence is overwhelming: Jesus Christ lived, ministered, and predicted His own crucifixion and resurrection three days later. That Easter Sunday morning changed everything! When the angel came down, he rolled away the massive stone, not so Jesus could get out, but so all the world could peer inside and see that “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.” (Matt. 18:6).

There is much more evidence on these matters, “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31). And as Peter declared, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Act 4:12).

Make the Move From Facts to Faith

One does not need a religious faith in Christ to believe the authentic written accounts by eyewitnesses and secular historians about His life, ministry, resurrection, and His eternally empty tomb. However, to benefit from His gift of salvation through His substitutionary death in our place, you must take the next step and confess your sin and surrender the rest of your life to following the only One who gave His life so you “will not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Jesus Christ: eternally the Son of God; historically the Son of Man as recorded in Scripture; and the only One with the empty tomb.

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To dig deeper: “Resurrection Evidence” on Charlie Campbell’s website, “AlwaysBeReady.com”; Also, search “Evidence for the Resurrection, Josh McDowell” on “leaderu.com” as well as “The Resurrection: Fact or Fiction?” by Pat Zukeran. Two other links to resources are in the text.

[This is an edited version of my original column published in the Stevens County Times, Loon Lake, WA, for the April 2025 edition. © All rights reserved by the author, Rev. Timothy B. White.]

Something has shifted. Ever since Donald Trump’s historic election win, American institutions, corporations, and international relationships have had a seismic shift. It is intriguing that even before he took the oath of office, numerous companies, CEOs, and world leaders began shifting their policies, trade agreements, and practices to align better with Trump’s America First agenda.

In the last half of 2024, we began hearing encouraging reports of multiple corporations and some state colleges and universities closing their “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” (DEI) departments and returning to merit-based practices in hiring and student enrollment. Even Disney came out at the end of this last year, stating they want to return to their original focus – to entertain rather than make political stands. Who saw that coming – and so quickly?

From returning criminal aliens to their native country to criminalizing those who practice medical and surgical transgendering of children – the majority of people seem grateful and relieved to see “common sense,” actual biological science, and the rule of law returning to the forefront of society.

The Silence is Deafening - and Encouraging

As further evidence that most Americans are glad about these changes, one only needs to see what is not occurring – the wave of projected riots and protests has not happened as we saw in January 2017. The very opposite is actually occurring today. A growing number of people are cautiously optimistic that with Trump at the helm, our country may be positioning itself for what has been called “America’s Golden Age.”

The most recent protests happening in D.C. are rather odd - if you pay attention to what they are NOT upset about. Elon Musk and his young Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team are giving the taxpayers a truly transparent view of how our tax dollars are being spent - or should I say “wasted.” Reading the list, one is tempted to think it’s a Saturday Night Live skit or something from the Babylon Bee. But there is nothing comical about the unimaginable and insane ways our government has worked to waste our taxes.

For a sampling of the waste and abuse under the USAID, click here

What the Critics Are Not Saying

There is a corresponding seismic panic among the members of Congress (almost unilaterally, the Democrats) who are upset that ANY Government agency would have to be accountable for how it spends our money. Not a single Democrat in the most recent rally in DC even mentioned their disapproval of the ridiculous and inexcusable waste of our taxes! We can only hope and pray that their days of waste and fraud may soon be over in a big way.

Overall, Americans seem happy about all these changes and exposures. Even the NCAA has now barred men from women’s sports. It has not even been three weeks since the President was inaugurated!

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The news media and political pundits have labeled this phenomenon the “Trump Effect.” However, I believe something more significant and transformational is behind the so-called “Trump Effect,” and I would call it the “Truth Effect.”

The Common Sense Majority: Finding Our Voice

As an example, I believe a supermajority of Americans always knew there were only two genders. A majority of Americans have watched in bewilderment as respected institutions like the NCAA, the Olympic Committee, and professional sports deny reality as they let men compete as a woman. If you spoke up about the lunacy of this, they would cancel you, label you as a transphobe, and sometimes worse. This dictatorial demand for compliance with a lie extends into public schools. In one case, a school district expelled a grade-school boy for wearing a shirt that said there were only two genders.

As George Orwell once said, “In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” Most citizens were fed up, and their vote was a revolutionary act demanding that common sense and Truth be returned to government, public policies, and society. So, when President Trump declared on day one that the federal government’s policy was that there were only two genders, male and female, there was a collective sigh of relief among most people. Why would that be? Because we finally have someone saying the Truth we all know, and the lies are no longer welcome in a free society.

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They say that “courage is contagious,” and I agree. Our President’s clear-minded courage to lead from the foundation of self-evident Truths is a powerful catalyst for the frustrated masses who are adding their voices to the symphony of truth-tellers and freedom-lovers. More and more people are speaking up and refusing to tolerate the insanity that allows grown men to be declared “real women” as they steal the awards in women’s sports and then prance into their locker rooms to feast their eyes on our daughters and granddaughters.

The Power of the Truth Effect

I could go on to address the blatant racism of “Identity Politics” or the absolute failure of every false prophecy of climate gloom and doom over the last seventy years, but let me get to the most crucial dynamic being witnessed in our nation. People feel safer when the Truth is welcomed and embraced because common sense is common again, and our society is better positioned to flourish.

The “Truth Effect” brings calmness to society because the “forgotten” citizens experience a sense of relief and joy when someone finally speaks the truth they know to be true. Trump was the only one courageous enough to call out the lies and deception. The people embraced him because he spoke from a point of common sense that had been sorely lacking over the last four years.

The most potent aspect of the “Truth Effect” is its lasting impact on individuals throughout their lives. Jesus, who is “ the way, the Truth, and the life” (John 14:6), said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32). Knowing the Truth of Scripture and using it to direct your life (Ps. 119:105) will protect you from many inherent traps of sinful desires and humanistic ideology that rejects God.

Most importantly, the Truth of Scripture reveals the tender mercies of God toward a lost humanity and directs the listening soul to forgiveness, salvation, and freedom from guilt, shame, and bondage to sin. The Psalmist gives us a wonderful mental picture of this freedom Jesus spoke about when he declared: I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.” (Psa 119:32)

What a word picture! Are you ready to put on your “freedom sneakers”? Many things in this life bring discouragement, anxiety, etc. Still, amid all that, Jesus calls us to a more profound freedom of heart, mind, and soul for all who humble themselves, confess their sin, and surrender the rest of their lives to following Him.

Jesus is calling; will you answer His call? Feel free to contact me if you have questions or are ready to learn more about what it means to follow Christ. You will not regret it.

[This article was originally in the Stevens County Times, Stevens County, WA, by Pastor Tim White for the February 2025 edition - © all rights reserved by the author]

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Ever since we arrived home from the morning service (12/15/2024) and enjoyed lunch with a wonderful couple, I have been unsettled in the center of my chest (that seems the best way to describe it – I’m trying to avoid the typical “Christian-eze” lingo and represent it as best as I can). I have felt this way at times when I didn’t feel like I “hit the mark” all that well in my sermon that morning, and today was one of those days, partly due to realizing that one of my pages was missing while I preached, and this threw me off a bit.

However, several other things are going on that are troubling. We who seek to “understand the times” recognize that the elites who control the Democrat Party and corrupt members of the Republican Party (and unelected operatives and financiers) do not want Trump to take office and are already engaged in efforts to sabotage the agenda of our President-elect and his incoming Administration. We also know that the rule of law means nothing to them, and they will lie and do whatever evil deeds they think they can to keep power. They care nothing about what is best for the American people but only desire to retain their power and the incredible wealth that comes with their current positions.

If you attend TCCC, you know I do not preach a verse-by-verse, chapter-by-chapter, week-by-week method through the Bible on Sundays. I ask the Lord what He is saying to us – I do my best to hear and respond. This afternoon and evening, I began to ponder the possibility that the Scriptures I have focused on over the last several months are what we need to take hold of with greater urgency than we have.

The most recent verses that have spoken so loudly in my heart is 1 Peter 1:13-19 (NIV84), with a primary focus on verse 13: “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.”In this passage, I felt a strong impression to emphasize the three parts of this verse, especially the first one: “Prepare your minds for action.” We have already been through a turbulent election season, but could the " King Herods " plan some coming " action” of our day?

Tonight, as I type this, my thoughts revisit the simple point I made this morning (evident to all who read Matthew 2) that King Herod would do whatever he needed to hold onto the throne that he bribed and schemed his way into. It would not be the first time the power-hungry monarch, King Herod, used all means necessary to eliminate his competition for the throne.

Herod was greatly disturbed when the Wise Men arrived asking where the one who had been “born King of the Jews.” Herod knew his “gig was up” unless he could find and exterminate this child king. Likewise, the King Herod-types of today within places of power and influence see their “gig is up” if Trump assumes office and carries out his pledge to “trim the fat and waste,” so to speak. Donald Trump, as flawed as he is, is the first real threat to dismembering the multi-armed leviathan “deep state” that has come to the White House in many decades (century?).

We know some want to eliminate Trump. After the Senate Committee hearings, we realize these assassination attempts appear to have been “allowed” by the way the Secret Service withheld the proper coverage and surveillance that should have been standard operating procedure. It was the prayers of God’s people and God’s divine plan that these assassins did not kill him.

Currently, disturbing reports have surfaced about nuclear warheads that disappeared from Ukraine and may have arrived on US soil (maybe only one) – to target an American city. Some government sources are telling us that those swarms of drones are “sniffing” for signs of a nuclear signature (dirty bomb?). Some are concerned that there are those so determined to keep Trump and his agenda from coming into office that they would be willing to allow one to go off somewhere in the USA and then blame Russia to justify war and thereby keep Biden in office under a particular war-time law passed by congress?

Whether these are true or not, with the ongoing reports of mysterious drones in many states and all across the internet and the universal distrust in most government agencies, fear and anxiety are spreading. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that we learn what it means to be “self-controlled/sober”—to be alert and watchful as people who have “set their hope firmly upon the salvation that will be revealed when Christ returns.”

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In times like these, Romans 15:13 becomes a pursuit as much as a prayer: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Remember, faith and trust in God are made for difficulty and crisis – so let us take hold of the concept that we serve and worship the “God of HOPE” who hears and “rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Heb. 11:6b), so we will not fear but know the joy and peace that comes from trusting the Father.

These realities bring me to the verses we have looked at in 1 John:

1 John 5:4-5 “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

OUR FAITH in the overriding authority of the Lord Jesus and God the Father enables us to overcome all this world, and evil bureaucrats attempt to cause us to fear and comply with their lies and falsehoods. Regardless of how things play out, any victories they may achieve will be momentary and fleeting. The victory belongs to the Lord.

Along that line, we have the assurance in chapter 4:4 that “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

These corrupt elements in places of power and influence are not done in their efforts to subvert the will of the American people – and that’s why we need to be interceding on behalf of our incoming president, his cabinet, and our country’s national security. We must earnestly seek the Lord to break up efforts to create any “false flag” events or similar national crises that could be used to keep Biden and his Administration in office beyond Jan. 20 for, supposedly, “our safety” and “for the continuity of power” during the crisis they manufacture.

We have God’s written Word to give us direction, insight, wisdom, and hope: Rom 15:4: “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.”

And we have the assurance from Jeremiah 29:13: “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with ALL of your heart.” This promise is from God almighty to any people, society, or nation who will turn to the Lord on His terms – with All of our hearts.

The urgent question to the Church today is: What will we say to those who do not know God or His Promises or Power should we experience a national crisis? How will WE respond to such a crisis? It is time to ask the Lord what it genuinely looks like to live according to these scriptures today. Then we will be a reassuring Light to the world, pointing them to the Only Hope of humanity: faith in Christ Jesus, the Lord and Savior of all.

If America ever needed Jesus’ Church to engage society – it is now.

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[All images are AI-created and royalty-free from the Pixaby website]

A Facebook friend (someone I thought was a friend until she blocked me; I’ll call her Barbi, not her real name, not even close) posted the following on her page right after Trump’s election: “America died. Freedom Died. Ethics Died. Healthcare Died,” and her distressing list went on and on. For her, Trump’s election meant a devasting end for America. And to top it off, while I was on her page, reading her “Chicken Little” doomsday posts, she changed her profile picture and the banner for her page to a black screen – nothing but black. Her friends were no better as they added their pathetic lamentations in the comments.

Some background: I was Barbi’s pastor before she returned to California about a dozen years ago. Therefore, because of our past congregational relationship, I felt it appropriate to respond to why she should not react this way. Well, at least I thought I could respond to her. I explained that those of us who voted for Trump were voting for safer borders, lower energy and mortgage rates, the rule of law instead of “lawfare,” and so on – it was “policy over personality.”

And, then there is this one thing I added: a “qualifier,” or maybe one would call it a “disclaimer” at the opening of my reply inferring my words may not make much of a difference – well, okay, I actually wrote, “This may be a waste of time…,” so that wording may not have come across very well. Apparently, it did not, because all I got back was a long, angry reply ranting something about diseases breaking out (Barbi is in nursing of one kind or another), and who knows what else because before I got the time to read it all, she excommunicated me from her social media world.

We would all agree that the recently concluded presidential campaign season has been exhausting on many levels. But then, isn’t that our usual reaction as elections come to an end? We are used to the flood of commercials filled with a constant barrage of slogans, promises, accusations, and mud-slinging.

Still, over the last eight years (maybe 12?), it is my observation that these campaigns have worked harder than ever to divide Americans, even equating “the other side” with murderous dictators out to rip up the Constitution. We all heard the fearful chorus of “Nazi” and “fascist” for the last several years, and now a mental health expert is advising Kamala supporters not to have family over for Thanksgiving if they voted for Trump – for their mental welfare. Pardon me, but that is pathetic. (Speaking of “pardons,”…well, never mind – for a later post).

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While the haters and fearmongers are actively seeking to drive us further apart through their made-up rage based on their equally made-up predictions of doom and oppression, there is some good news out there. According to a CNN poll (broadcast Nov. 25/26), most Americans (53%) are excited and optimistic about the incoming president’s agenda, and even more are in favor of his cabinet picks (over 60%).

But wait, there’s more! Trump’s decisive popular vote win showed growing unity in favor of common-sense solutions to bipartisan issues about the economy and securing our border. Then, we witnessed key public figures (including former candidates) crossing party lines to support proven policies that benefit our country, regardless of the presidential candidate’s party affiliation.

This sweeping victory revealed that the majority of voters refused to take the bait of hate and fear spewing from the liberal talking heads and instead voted for policies over personalities. In this past election results, I hear an America that longs to return to better outcomes experienced by all population segments during Trump’s first term.* Also, this election was a sound rejection of the nonsense of the woke ideology of the day, as found in DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) and the trans-madness that puts boys in girls’ locker rooms. America voted for a return to common sense and the traditional values of our grandparent’s generation.

Even corporate America and Academia are waking up, too. Over the last year or so, no less than 17 major retailers and corporations, Walmart being the most recent, have announced the end of their DEI programs, as are a growing number of Universities in several states.** The leftist media has been dealt a significant blow in their collapsing viewership to the point of one cable network possibly being sold off next year. THIS news about these leftist lapdogs masquerading as news reporters is “Good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”

My more significant point is this: if your candidate did not win, the reality is that you, too, will benefit from the conservative policies (if implemented by the incoming President-elect) that worked so well in his first term. As the economy improves over lower energy costs, our border is secured, and illegals are returned to their land of origin, everyone will benefit – regardless of who you voted for. And that is just the economy and safety in our cities and communities.

These leftist organizations, movements, and the leadership of the Democrat party embrace a racially divisive ideology of “identity politics” that cannot see beyond one’s skin color or sex (one of only two genders). On the other hand, the policies of the incoming conservative majority are founded upon biblical principles that open opportunities for all. Historically, the free market, limited government, competition, and a merit-based society benefit all. When these policies have been in place, it is “Good news of great joy for all the people” (regardless of race, color, or creed). That is, of course, only as beneficial to the citizens of our nation to the extent those in office apply them.

Biblical Christianity is the most anti-racist religion there is. Let me demonstrate with principles and teachings in Scripture: In Galatians 3:26, 28 (NIV84), we are told, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,… There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” All because “God does not judge by external appearance – He looks at your heart.” (See Gal. 2:6; 1 Sam. 16:7).

“But wait, there’s more!” As God, through Moses, instructed Israel how to set up their nation, He told them that there should not be a two-tiered legal system but that the foreigners among them were to be treated as the Jews in all matters of the law (Exodus 12:49). Furthermore, they were commanded not to mistreat or oppress the “aliens living among you” (the non-Jews) because “you were once an alien in a foreign land” (Exodus 22:21; 23:9). Racism, identity politics, and favoritism of one group over another was not to be tolerated in their nation. In this God-ordained form of government and society, everyone can benefit.

At Christmas, we recall that time-stopping “Silent Night” out in the fields around Bethlehem when the angel Gabriel appeared to the Shepherds. As the brilliance of the angelic messenger split the night sky, they were terrified, but the angel spoke calmly to them and said:

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for ALL the people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11).

Christmas brings a grander “good news of great joy that is for ALL the people,” far exceeding anything a political election could deliver. This good news is that God the Father sent His Son into our broken and sin-sick world, estranged from Him and in threat of eternal loss if left to ourselves. We needed a remedy, a redeemer, a rescuer from our lost condition—to find some way, or some One, who could “reconcile” us to our Father.

And so, the Father prescribed that remedy: “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem (rescue) those under the law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. (Gal 4:4-5). “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ… that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them…” (2Co 5:18-19).

When Christ died as our substitute for the crimes we have committed against the Law of a holy and righteous God, He did so equally for those who would reject Him as much as those who would come to Him in repentance for their sin. This good news is for all - the drug addict, the divorcee, the drunkard, the nerd or the goth, the teetotaler, democrat, republican, independent, communist, Marxist, white, black/brown, red, “olive,” and every letter of the “alphabet community.”

When the Lord looks upon this earth, He only sees human beings carrying His Father’s breath within them. And His heart grieves at the harm caused by those who have rejected His ways, yet the Father still calls even the worst to repentance. The “Good News” we celebrate at Christmas – that God sent Christ to rescue us from the coming wrath – is for all, regardless of their past, present, color, gender, family line, or economic status.

To each breathing being, He promises that “Everyone who calls upon the Name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:22). No matter your life situation, God’s gift for you is complete forgiveness and new life through faith in Christ through your repentance and commitment to Him. I encourage you: Be reconciled to God this Christmas – He’s already paid the price in full. If you are breathing – there is Good News that will bring Great Joy to you, too. Now it’s your move.

Picture at the beginning is a royalty-free image created by A.I.; *(“ The Trump Economy, Three Years In: What The Numbers Say,” by Maxim Lott, FoxBusiness.com, Feb 17, 2020); **(“Washington Free Beacon” website, “DEI Dies at Walmart: Retail Giant Ends Equity Trainings, Will No Longer Consider Suppliers’ Race and Gender,” by Matthew Xiao, Nov 26, 2024, online; AND, “High Ed Dive” website, “A Look At DEI Eliminations At Colleges Across The US,” by Laura Spitalniak, Sept 19, 2024, online - Respectively).

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We trace our annual Thanksgiving Day holiday back to the Plymouth Colony’s three-day Thanksgiving celebration in 1621, which included the surviving 50 Pilgrims and 90 American Indians to thank God for the abundant harvest and their friendship with the tribal people. However, another Colony preceded Plymouth by 13 years and had a very different story — the Jamestown Colony.

So, we could also call this “The Tale of Two Cultures” and note the role faith in God had in how the cultures of these two colonies developed.

A few similarities are that they both began with just over one hundred settlers and lost significant numbers during their first winters (almost two-thirds in Jamestown and half in Plymouth). Furthermore, they both settled on unoccupied land (that may surprise some, but this is true).* However, as time progressed, two very different cultures developed in the North and the South that tie directly to the purpose for which the settlers came to this New World.

Briefly, the colony at Jamestown was the product of a group of investors that formed the “Virginia Company,” authorized by King James I. Their purpose was to find gold and silver and new trade routes to the Orient — they came as investors looking to get rich. When the first slave traders arrived on the shores of the Jamestown colony in August of 1619, they purchased about 20 of the 50 slaves to achieve the goal of finding riches.

In the South, Jamestown had more conflicts and sometimes war with the Native American tribes of the region than those in the North. Their obsession with searching for gold caused conflict among the members of their colony because they failed to prioritize those things that would prepare the colonists to survive the winter (i.e., preparing crops, securing wells, and other resources).

However, the Pilgrims of the Plymouth colony were very different in purpose and outcome.

The same year the first settlers landed at Jamestown, the Pilgrims were chased out of England by King James I for not aligning with the Church of England, of which he was the head. Anyone choosing to practice their faith outside of the King’s official State Church was harassed, persecuted, and even put in prison. Therefore, due to such an oppressive climate, they immigrated to Leiden, Holland, to pursue religious freedom.

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However, even in Holland, the King of England was able to pressure them. Moreover, after 12 years, the leaders became concerned that the wickedness of the culture was seducing their young people, so after much prayer, they determined to sail for America. They had hoped for more than one ship, but these did not materialize, and their departure was delayed. Finally, only one ship was available, the Mayflower, on which just over 100 Pilgrims set off for the New World.

Once they arrived, but before disembarking the ship, they created a governing document for their new colony called “The Mayflower Compact.” It begins like this: “In the Name of God,” followed by their reason for seeking a place in this new land:

“For the Glory of God and the Advancement of the Christian Faith.”

Unlike in Jamestown, these Pilgrims came for religious freedom and with hopes of sharing their Christian faith with the land’s inhabitants, not for financial gain or to enslave any people (contrary to the erroneous “history” taught in Nikole Hannah-Jones’ “1619 Project”). The drastic difference between the Plymouth Colony and Jamestown created two starkly different cultures and outcomes.

For example, guided by biblical values, the Plymouth Pilgrims’ conduct and dealings with the native tribes produced much better relationships between the two groups than in the southern colony. Furthermore, the work ethic taught in Scripture moved them to prioritize their efforts appropriately. Prayer was often offered, and they saw God answer them in marvelous ways.

One example of God’s providential hand directing the Pilgrims was when they intended to go to Jamestown, but the winds pushed them off course, and they ended up in what we know as Plymouth — in December 1620. To their great joy and relief, they found an abandoned settlement with corn stored up as if someone (or, some One) knew they were coming. Sometime later, they would meet Squanto, who spoke perfect English and knew their customs because he had been trained in their country for several years before returning the year before they arrived.

Furthermore, as Divine Providence (i.e., God) would have it, the Pilgrims landed in the area Squanto’s tribe had occupied. Sadly, while he was in Europe, the rest of his tribe died from sickness, and when he returned, he realized that he was the only one left. Therefore, the land was vacated and available for the next arrivals, the Pilgrims. It is important to clarify that they did not steal land from the region’s natives, as some have tried to claim.

When Squanto discovered that the Pilgrims had settled on his tribal land, he chose the high road and befriended them. He invested much time and energy teaching the surviving Pilgrims how to farm the land and fish the sea, enabling them to provide for themselves and thrive in this new land. Then, at their first harvest in 1621, they were filled with deep gratitude towards their native neighbors and a thankful heart toward God for their abundant crops. And we all know what happened next - they organized a 3-day festival of Thanksgiving to God that included more “Indians” than Pilgrims (90 and 50, respectively).

Another departure from Jamestown’s choices (shaped by their culture) was witnessed when the first slave traders arrived on their shores in 1646. The people of the colony arrested the slave traders and set the prisoners free. David Barton comments that although the following years were far from perfect, it was in New England, and Massachusetts especially, where slavery was first outlawed in 1783 — a full 50 years before England.**

How did these two colonies develop so differently? I would say the answer lies in the overriding reason for their establishment. You could say it was what they worshiped - one came in pursuit of religious freedom and to share God’s message with the natives of the land, while the other settlers came in pursuit of great personal wealth. The former colony existed for God and the latter for themselves.

Jesus spoke about the inability of these two pursuits to share the stage in the individual life and society in His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:24 (NIV84)

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy about the harmful consequences of a life or society that pursues wealth above all else in 1 Tim. 6:10:

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

These two colonies were destined to be drastically different in culture, morality, and longevity because of the who or what they chose to serve. One chose God, and the other chose Money.

The Plymouth Colony illustrates the promise in Psalms 33:12, which declares, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” America’s true history reveals that our nation was founded upon biblical principles and faith in the biblical God. As a result, this nation flourished and has prospered like no other nation before or since.

Sadly, today, our nation is deeply divided on many levels and plagued “with many griefs.” Many, if not most, of our major cities are plagued with rising crime, broken families, fatherless homes, and increasing drug and alcohol abuse, even reaching our young ones. America’s mental illness crisis is evident in the growing rates of suicide, anxiety disorders, and deep depression, which negatively impact our communities, too.

Today’s sad realities should not surprise us when we learn that with each passing generation, we have seen a steady decline in Church attendance and belief in God - with - speaking very generally - the youngest generation less likely to attend a Christian Church than all generations preceding them (somewhere under 10%). This subject is multifaceted, and there are some encouraging statistics among some groups, but that will be for another post. The point is - in my opinion - that our national culture has shifted away from a biblical worldview to something more secular and humanistic in nature.

Since the Johnson Amendment in the 1950s that threatened loss of tax-exempt status for non-profits (Churches) for supporting political candidates, and the 1962 and ’63 decisions by the Supreme Court that took prayer and then Bible reading from our schools, respectively, on the premise of Jefferson’s words to the Danbury Baptists, “a wall of separation between Church and State,” Christians and Pastors have been told not to mix politics with religion — well, how has that been working for us?

History and Scripture reveal how America became the most prosperous and powerful nation in the world, and it also points to why we have seen the moral and societal decline today. The remedy is before us if we will pay attention. It begins by embracing our nation’s motto, “In God We Trust.” As King Solomon wrote in Psalms 127:1a, “Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” 

Jesus did not say His followers are the Light of the Church and the Salt of the Sanctuary. Instead, He declared that we are the “Light of the World” and the “Salt of the Earth.” He prayed for us in John 17:15, saying, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but to protect them from the evil one.” Jesus sent the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8, 2:4) so we would be empowered to engage our world and then “…having done all, to stand” Eph. 6:13.

Let us pray, work, and live so that this nation will return to faith in God and experience “a new birth of freedom” in our day and for the next generations as we seek to “Make America Godly Again.” The best place to start is in your local Bible-believing, Jesus-following, and God-glorifying Church. You will not find a perfect congregation or pastor; therefore, you should feel entirely comfortable joining in fellowship with people just like you.

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* Online Encyclopedia Britannica; **Wall Builders (and for more American History), see their website: www.wallbuilders.com

[This post was originally published in the November 2024 edition of the Stevens County Times, LLC, P.O. Box 12, Loon Lake, WA 99148, in my monthly column, “Pastor’s Perspective” - reprinted here with permission - mine included ;-) ]

Pastors, Congregations, and denominations need to get a backbone!

In Daniel’s day the government (King and his corrupt administration) signed a law that made praying to any person other than the King punishable by death in the fiery furnace - they hated Daniel and his people so the only thing they could do to stop them was to criminalize something connected with their religious freedom.

In the 1950s corrupt Lyndon B Johnson was being undercut by churches and other non-profits in his reelection bid for senate and so he wrote up the now infamous “Johnson Amendment” making it illegal for churches to support a candidate or party - and the punishment was to lose their tax exempt status. Here’s what one law professor says in the article linked below:

“Johnny Buckles, a professor at the University of Houston Law Center, agreed that the churches working with Turning Point are most likely violating tax law as interpreted by the IRS — though he sees the Johnson Amendment itself as a violation of free speech rights under the First Amendment.”

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This IS a violation of the First Amendment 100% and pastors and churches need to stop fearing the threat of the furnace of losing their tax exemption. I pray that Tr5mp makes good on his promise to end this discrimination against evangelical churches.

Furthermore, Why haven’t the liberal media talked about this the last decades as black (full of Democrats) churches have one Dem candidate after another in their pulpits during election years? Why only when the rest of Christian churches (predominantly conservative in their politics) get involved are they concerned about violating some partisan amendment that clearly tramples the Constitution and the first amendment?

Here’s the article from leftist media NBC:

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/turning-point-action-church-voting-pro-trump-tax-law-rcna178053

Are you tired of being told to “go to your room” by the leftists and liberals when it comes to addressing issues and engaging in the process from a biblical perspective? When darkness reigns the nation (our neighbors) suffer. Light shows the truth and that is the greatest fear of the godless amongst us.

“This little light of mine” I’m going to make it a search light - forget the “little light” metaphor - America needs 10 billion lumens of life transforming truth shared with Christ’s love, compassion, and mercy to a people who have lost their way and are searching for the truth.

Jesus said: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6 - He said it, and I believe it.

Time for a bold biblical backbone, Church.

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THE GREATEST POLITICAL COMEBACK POSSIBLY OF ALL TIME. Let's make something clear: it was not racism, misogynism, or hate that Americans of all demographics, ethnicities, skin color, and gender increased their presence in this presidential race by supporting Donald Trump. This election was a decisive national mandate from the people of this nation.

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Evidence of this mandate is plenty: Every swing state/blue wall state went to Trump, as did the popular vote. Americans did not see a woman versus a man or a light brown person versus a white one in this election - what we saw was a laundry list of failed and costly policies of the last 4 years. They compared them to the prior 4 years and decided they wanted to be "unburdened by what has been" since Jan. 2021 and "turn the page" BACK to the lower prices on gas, food, energy, mortgage rates, and inflation during Trump's first term.

Policies matter, and they (we) voted for the better policies - that is ALL! The only people pointing fingers at others and calling them (us) racists and misogynists are the racists themselves, who are incapable of looking any deeper than the thin layer of skin. And how can they accuse us of not wanting to vote for a woman when that party (including their latest Supreme Court Justice) cannot define what a woman is? We refuse to eat the toxic fruit from their tree of lies.

We are fed up with the lies about Project 2025, being accused of being Nazis, garbage, deplorable, fascists, and a threat to the existence of the country - and so much more. We want to be able to afford gas for our vehicles - and buy them too - food for our families, lower mortgage rates bringing home ownership back for the average family, a secure border that protects our cities and stops the flood of illegals and fentanyl - and so much more. We want the enemies of freedom around the world to know that they better not mess with the USA or our friends and that our children learn of the true history of our amazing country without the sexual indoctrination we see today.

Trump could have been a 4' 2" pigmy American with bue hair and acne for all we care - It is about executing POLICIES and Legislation that align with our founding principles and honor our sacred Constitution, protecting our God-given rights, and reducing the size of government in our lives - this is all we want. This is why so many changed their votes and joined the rest of us in putting Trump in office.

Now, let us pray.