part of my book..
Let me say early in this book I believe that man is woman's covering and he is the head of the home, yet this does not take away her right to tell the story of Jesus or do His work. This is not intended to deal with domestic responsibilities or duties of a wife. We all know that each one, who has personal Biblical responsibilities to teach different from this, would be going against the Bible. Yet when all things are said and done we still remember the words of
Acts 8:3-4 where Paul was persecuting christain men and women and committing them to prison. Like in all situations where people have tried to stamp out the gospel, God preserved witnesses and the scriptures go on to say they {men and women} went everywhere preaching the word of God. It is obvious that verse four speaks of men and women since verse three speaks of men and women and neither the context or story has changed from one verse to the next. A person would have to be very simple or biased to say otherwise.
I want you to know that the handmaidens of the Lord have gleaned in His fields everywhere for many years. Eternity is getting ready to reveal the rest of the story. Their value to the kingdom of God will be made known to all on judgment day. The Lord who is a righteous judge will reward them openly.
It is interesting to note that the main citation for the oneness people not accepting the trinity is the council of Nicea. But little is said that it was Rome that took the women out of the pulpits.
Speaking of Rome I feel one of our greatest problems is church structure and not per say “women preachers”. For if we study the first structure of the Acts church we will find the church operating without Roman rituals and rules
I am painfully aware that religious activities in Greco-Roman paganism included cult prostitution and shriek cries described as wild outcries. The Corinthian female dominated religious thought and practice. From the mother goddess Artemis to the women serving their time as sacred temple prostitutes and speaking messages from the gods, the male of Corinth was deeply dependent upon the female. Yet this has nothing to do with the gospel of Jesus Christ but sadly it has influenced the thinking of many people. Yet men like John of Chrysostom (who was no champion of women) called Priscilla a “teacher of teachers.”
So who are we to judge what God has spoken to someone else? Who are we to say what they feel deep in their hearts.
So many times in my life it would have been easier for the moment to deny the calling of God and be on the popular bandwagon but I fear God to much for that. For he has no time to waste on people who will not be true to their calling. I think of something I read in Foxes book of Martyrs about The First Persecution, Under Nero, A.D. 67.
This persecution was general throughout the whole Roman Empire; but it rather increased than diminished the spirit of Christianity. Another part says ,
"a noble army, men and boys, the matron and the maid," "climbed the steep ascent of heaven, 'mid peril, toil, and pain." Let me quietly mention a few that signed their calls in their own blood.
The Fifth Persecution, Commencing With Severus, A.D. 192
Perpetua, a married lady, of about twenty-two years. Those who suffered with her were, Felicitas, a married lady, big with child at the time of her being apprehended, and Revocatus, catechumen of Carthage, and a slave. The names of the other prisoners, destined to suffer upon this occasion, were Saturninus, Secundulus, and Satur. On the day appointed for their execution, they were led to the amphitheater. Satur, Saturninus, and Revocatus were ordered to run the gauntlet between the hunters, or such as had the care of the wild beasts. The hunters being drawn up in two ranks, they ran between, and were severely lashed as they passed. Felicitas and Perpetua were stripped, in order to be thrown to a mad bull, which made his first attack upon Perpetua, and stunned her; he then darted at Felicitas, and gored her dreadfully; but not killing them, the executioner did that office with a sword. Revocatus and Satur were destroyed by wild beasts; Saturninus was beheaded; and Secundulus died in prison. These executions were in the 205, on the eighth day of March.
Cecilia, a young lady of good family in Rome, was married to a gentleman named Valerian. She converted her husband and brother, who were beheaded; and the maximus, or officer, who led them to execution, becoming their convert, suffered the same fate. The lady was placed naked in a scalding bath, and having continued there a considerable time, her head was struck off with a sword, A.D. 222
The Eighth Persecution, Under Valerian, A.D. 257
Maxima, Donatilla, and Secunda, three virgins of Tuburga, had gall and vinegar given them to drink, were then severely scourged, tormented on a gibbet, rubbed with lime, scorched on a gridiron, worried by wild beasts, and at length beheaded.
(from Fox's Book of Martyrs, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
Time and space do not permit me to add more martyrs to the list but thousands of people sealed their testimonies with their own blood. The blood of both women and men has bathed the gospel that we hold so dear. Do not be caught up with the frivolity things of life. Presses on where he has put you in the body for all body members are needful.
I have felt the call of God on my life since a small child. It grieves me to see people waste precious time debating other people’s call. I have never tried to defend my call for what human can explain the divine?
This book is certainly no masterpiece for I do not have time nor claim the abilities to do such a work. It is only a desire in my heart to see every soul saved and every mouthpiece possible used to that end. Our endless shopping sprees would suddenly come to a halt if we could really realize the fate of the lost. Vacations would not have the same flavor if we could look on eternity through the eyes of him who uttered, “Look upon the fields, they are white unto harvest.” If calvary were to become as real to us as we say it is our little ego trips of who spreads the message would fade into obscurity as we look upon an agonizing Savior pointing us to go to the ends of the world proclaiming this life giving message. As the old song reminds us, if Calvary could talk it would tell us to go tell the lost.
Acts 17:11 “These were more noble...For they received the word with all eagerness, examining the scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” (RSV)
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