If You Think You Are Spiritual

I Corinthians 14:34: “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.
35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.”

Of all the verses in the Bible, there are few that are despised by modern Christianity quite as much as these two verses. (Yes, there are some that are hated even more, but these are near the top of the list.) This command is not just flagrantly violated by the modern church; it is mocked, ridiculed, and laughed at. Women have stood up and said that they will not obey this command, and the church has backed them up on it. The modern woman has absolutely no intention of following God’s will for her life. She has her Own Plan, and that is what she is going to do.

Why are women preachers unbiblical? Well, for one reason, there are these two verses. Women can’t exactly do very much preaching if they’re not permitted to speak in church!

The reason I’m posting this is because I’ve made an interesting discovery. We all know what those two verses say. However, do you know what the very next three verses say? Let me quote them for you:

I Corinthians 14:36: “What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.”

Do you see that? These things are a test! If you are genuinely spiritual, you will acknowledge that these things are commandments of the Lord. If you reject them (as much of the modern church has rejected Paul), then you are not spiritual at all. You may claim that you are spiritual; you may go to church, and sing spiritual songs, and think highly of yourself; but you are just fooling yourself. You aren’t really spiritual at all. You are a fool.

There’s really no room for debate on this. Those who reject Paul are not spiritual; they are ignorant. Women who stand up and say they will absolutely not obey what the Bible has to say about their role are not spiritual either. They have willfully abandoned God’s will for their lives and are deluding themselves.

That’s the thing about God’s will: it’s not hard to figure out. God is pretty clear in His word about how He wants us to live and what He wants us to do. The problem with the modern church is that is has rejected God’s will, substituted their own will, and then pretended that God is happy with them.

There are very serious consequences when it comes to rejecting the Lordship of Christ. Those who shake their fist at God and say “Don’t you dare tell me what to do!” are in very serious trouble. This is what Christ had to say about it:

Matthew 7:21: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

There are many people (yes, the verse says “many”) who think they are saved, but are not. The litmus test is easy: those who do God’s will are saved, and those who don’t are lost. The people today who mock God’s commands and do their own thing may think they are saved, and may have many offices in the church, but God does not know them and will reject them on that day. You can do things your way, if you want – but the penalty is eternal damnation. There are no other options. Either plead for forgiveness and submit to the will of God, or else do things your way and face an eternity burning in the Lake of Fire. That is your choice.