The Gripe with Christianity:

[nibbed]

“I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.” (1 Timothy 2:12)

You're going to hell nibbed :o

No, I'm not.

No man can pluck me from God's hand
once I asked Jesus in my heart.
God said I was graven in His hand.
I like to believe good stuff.
But your comment made me smile.
I thought of orange extension cords
and heavy garden hoses all dirty and tangled.


I love you shemthepenman.
I hope your day is lovely today.
The sky is wonderfully blue here
and there's these bright white billows
drifting, making room for new ones.

nibbed

Of course you love me, you're only human. 

Just to be sure, I don't really think you are going to hell. Nor would I wish that nonsense on anyone. And if there is a heaven, which I am almost entirely certain there isn't, I have no doubt you'll be going there. I was only highlighting the seeming contradiction of believing the literal word of the bible which states women should be silent and should not teach or have authority over men, while simultaneously talking quite a lot. Also curious how, being a woman and believing in the literal word of the scriptures, do you square all the blatant sexism in the bible? 

Namaste

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oh and I suppose I am obliged to say something about rowens' poem. I think it's a rule or something. Yeah good one rowens another load of old rambling nonsense. Keep up the same tired rubbish that was already an embarrassing cliche of literature 50 years ago.

Hare Krishna

Hi shemthepenman. I respect your feelings about your faith. The Scripture is very lovely and makes a wonderful guide book for a believer's life. I didn't want to explain why I disagreed with your comment yesterday because I didn't want to sound argumentative or sound remotely like a know-it-all, because I definitely am not. I have been trying to change the way I write to reflect my true self and often when I write I sound very uppity, stuck-up, or have a seemingly poop-tee-do and la-tee-da way about me, which is quite the contrary of who I really am. I am a very friendly, loving person (though not perfect) who is often misunderstood with my pen.

I held back from telling you the Scripture you were referring to was a portion of a letter written by the Apostle Paul to Timothy. This was at a time during the establishment of the early church when groups of believers were meeting here and there. There's a lot of history involved in this time, including a great deal of persecution and turmoil. There were troubles, divisions, and disorder among early believers. Paul himself, before his conversion, was involved in killing Christians. This letter was written by Paul after his conversion, to encourage the young preacher, Timothy. During that time some of the things that Paul discussed in his letters were a result of some issues arising in the early church. The words of Paul were given as a guide to that early church because uprisings, troubles, and issues were happening within the church body. I believe Paul's letters were included in God's Bible because of who Paul was, what a great change was made in his life, and how he walked with God. Also his words can be used as a guide to keep things that are happening within the church, in-check today. The words were written by a believer to a believer, about believers, to keep Godly order within the assembly of believers. As a believer, they are still important today. So the portion you shared were words given for believers to follow within the church of other believers. You are correct that I should not teach or usurp authority over a man, if he is a believer. I am given full authority to share the Gospel with a lost world, those without Christ. If you have ever heard the wonderful account of the woman at the well, it might better help you to understand. She was the first Christian Missionary. (John 4)

I hope what I have written has not offended you, or sounded bossy, that is not my intent. I wish I had words to describe what a loving Lord I have here, in my heart. How kind and gentle He is to me. How I can run to Him, especially when I have no one else to run to. How real He is. But I can't describe it, I just don't have the words. I just know what He did for me, what He is doing right now, and I am ever thankful. I'm bawlin' like a baby as I write this to you, because I am touched and He is so lovely.

I hope rowen has a better understanding of true Christianity for the poem that is being written. Often if I write about butterflies or plants or some other creation, I must do research, because I just don't know. The best information comes from seeing a butterfly in flight or observing the felt on the belly of a bumblebee before you can really write about it.

Best wishes to you, too, shemthepenman