A Young People's Meeting: The Question Box: No. 1 Difference Between When Women Take Part

 •  4 min. read  •  grade level: 12
No. 1
Question: 1. What is the difference between the regular meetings held in the Hall, where women are not permitted to speak, and other meetings, such as the Sunday School and young people’s meetings, where the sisters do take part?
Answer: The meetings held in the Hall, with the exception of the gospel, and the Sunday School, are assembly meetings. These include the regular scheduled weekly meetings, such as the Breaking of Bread, Bible Reading, and Prayer Meeting, or special meetings called by the assembly, whether for open ministry, humiliation, or discipline. In all of these meetings, the assembly meets as such, gathered to the Name of the Lord Jesus, with Himself in the midst, according to Matthew 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20). “If therefore the whole church (or assembly) be come together in one place” (1 Cor. 14:2323If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? (1 Corinthians 14:23)). In these meetings, properly called assembly meetings, it is, not permitted to women to speak...“for it is a shame for women to speak in the assembly” (1 Cor. 14:34-3534Let 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. 35And 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. (1 Corinthians 14:34‑35)).
The gospel meetings and the Sunday School may be considered as activities connected with the assembly, but not properly assembly meetings. The assembly is certainly responsible for all that is carried on in the meeting room; but the ones who preach the gospel, either in the room or elsewhere, are directly responsible to the Lord, as His servants. They can surely count on the Lord’s being with them, as in Matthew 28:2020Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:20), but He is not in the midst, in a gospel meeting, as in Matthew 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20). This applies also to special meetings, when servants of the Lord may give addresses or lectures to Christians. The Sunday School bears the character, primarily, of a children’s gospel meeting. The one who is responsible for it may ask others to help—sisters to instruct the young children and older girls, and brothers for older boys. It would be unscriptural, according to 1 Timothy 2:11-1211Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. (1 Timothy 2:11‑12), for a woman to preach the gospel publicly, or to engage in public ministry, or prayer, should a brother be present. Her place is one of silence and subjection, and the reasons are given in the scripture just referred to (1 Tim. 2:13-1413For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. (1 Timothy 2:13‑14)). But instructing children, or other women, is surely within the legitimate sphere of her service for the Lord. The spiritual instinct of a subject, godly woman would soon manifest what was within her proper sphere, better than any cut-and-dried rules.
Our young peoples’ meetings are informal gatherings held in various homes. Neither the privileges nor restrictions of regular assembly meetings are applicable to such gatherings. We could not claim Matthew 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20), for instance. We could not execute discipline tonight, nor make an assembly decision, even if all the brothers, or even all the sisters, were present, for it would not be an assembly meeting. We could not receive to nor put away from the Lord’s Table. In Acts 18:2626And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. (Acts 18:26), Aquila and Priscilla invited a brother named Apollos to their home, and together they expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. The mention of Aquila’s name first, in this passage alone, would indicate the subject place taken by his wife, though perhaps the more spiritual and well-taught of the two. So tonight, we might say that we have been invited to spend the evening in this home, to speak together about the Lord Jesus, and His things, and to seek to help and encourage one another along the path. As gathered in this informal way, the sisters should feel free to ask questions, offer suggestions, or take part in any other way that would not be inconsistent with the subject place.
“When a little company has come together, not in an assembly meeting, but, say, to meet in a home, it is not correct to apply Matthew 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20) to such a meeting. You can count on the Lord to be with you, and to minister by His Spirit, but you can do nothing in the way of discipline. A good illustration is that of the House of Parliament. When they are convened in the proper place, and have the proper chairman in their midst, they can make laws; but if hundreds of them convene without their chairman, they could talk about laws, but could make none.”
(To Be Continued)