Sister's Part in Bible Reading Meetings

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 10
Question: 1. Is it permissible for sisters to ask questions at a Bible Reading, seeing it is not an assembly meeting?
Question: 2. May not sisters be asked to remain at an inquiry meeting, as though not allowed to speak or take part, they might help by prayer?
R.M.H.
Answer: 1. If the Bible Reading be of a private character there might be no breach of propriety in a sister asking a question (provided it be not done in the way of “teaching”), but where strangers are present or even many brothers, nature as well as scripture would seem to indicate the becomingness of silence on her part (1 Tim. 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)).
Answer: 2. It is a great evil where everything is brought into the assembly. Nor indeed is every brother even qualified to take up matters of investigation. Not all are spiritual or wise, or called to oversight or leadership (Rom. 12:88Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:8); Gal. 68For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Galatians 6:8); 1 Thess. 5:12; 112And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; (1 Thessalonians 5:12)
2But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. (1 Thessalonians 2:2) Tim. 5:17; Heb. 12:1717For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. (Hebrews 12:17); 1 Peter 5:22Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; (1 Peter 5:2)). We must remember that although it may be a necessary duty, occupation with evil is defiling. And it should be only when all other means have failed to restore, and the person is clearly proved to be a “wicked person” according to scripture, that the assembly is bound to act, and in this every brother and sister is concerned. Matt. 18:15-1715Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. (Matthew 18:15‑17) enjoins precedent action to the assembly being made privy, as we see also in the Epistles the various activities of conduct in dealing with what is wrong apart entirely from assembly action.