Questions
Which is the correct way to confess your faults one to another: openly or speak to the leadership and he says it for you? The latter I’ve seen done only in the majority “white” congregations.
Why is it right for a man to openly confess his faults, but for a woman, she has to speak to the man and he speaks for her? Where is this practice located in scriptures? In the majority of “black” congregations, this is not practiced.
Where is it that the 1st Christian church (men and women) openly confessed faults by going to the male? Where did this all start?
I’ve read that Walter Scott started ‘extending the invitation of the church of Christ’, which is a good thing (1 Thes 5:21), is there a scripture to support extending it?
“To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, it is sin.” James 4:17
Answers
Dear Willette,
Your questions are excellent. Your second question shows you have done some reading in “Restoration History.”
Many brethren misunderstand 1 Corinthians 14:34-35:
Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.
If Paul is forbidding women to speak at all in the worship assembly, then it would be sin for a woman to sing in the assembly, since that involves speaking (Ephesians 5:18-19), even though all, both men and women, are commanded to sing in worship (Colossians 3:16). Furthermore, brethren who will not allow a woman to publicly confess sins are quite inconsistent, for I don’t know of any who would forbid a woman to make a public confession of faith in the worship assembly before she is baptized.
Women are forbidden to speak in such a way that they fail to be in subjection (verse 34). Thus, a woman could not preach to an audience in which men are present (cf. Titus 2:15) or be the teacher over a class in which men are present. But simply confessing sin before the congregation or confessing her faith before the assembly does not necessarily make a woman out of subjection, although she would be if she took control of the assembly.
On your second question, I agree that extending the invitation is a good thing. But, just because you and I agree it is good doesn’t make it good. Unless a practice is authorized by the Scriptures, it is not good (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the church at all times invite sinners to come to Christ (Matthew 11:28-30; 2 Corinthians 6:1-2; Revelation 3:20; 22:17). Thus, it is good to take an opportune occasion to remind sinners of the call to salvation, including at the end of a sermon.
I hope this answers your questions. If you are ever stationed at Fort Drum, New York, we invite you to worship with us at the Tri-County Church of Christ, which meets about a mile from Fort Drum.
Brotherly,
Keith Sharp
