I am sure that you recognize the above words as coming from Paul. Phil 3:19, "Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things." Dr. MacKnight translates the verse as follows: "Of these evil labourers the end is perdition, because their God is their sensual appetites, which to gratify is the object of all their actions. Nay, so profligate are they, that they glory in things which cause shame to them, and mind earthly things only, without any regard to the other world: So that ye should not imitate them." W.E. Vine defines the word "shame" as follows: "signifies that which should arise from guilt." We see from the above, that the thought expressed by Paul is this: these people were engaged in things that were shameful, but they were glorying in that shame. A sad condition indeed. However, there are many religious people today that practice things forbidden by the Word, and glory in them. Let us notice a few.

"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. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a SHAME for a woman to speak in the church" (I Cor 14:34-35). Now that is plain enough isn’t it? Paul said they are commanded to be silent. But today in many religious bodies they glory in their women preachers. They laugh the Apostle of God to scorn for being so old fashioned. Some even brand him a "woman hater." And then with nothing but human reason and worldly wisdom as their guide they brush aside a divine injunction and GLORY IN THEIR SHAME. Paul said it is a shame for a woman to speak in the church, do you believe it brother? Hear him again: "Let the women learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence" (I Tim 2:11-12). From the above, does it befit anyone to glory in their women preachers and teachers? I will tell you brethren, if I belonged to a group of people who allowed women to preach in the pulpit or in some side room I would be so ASHAMED of my SHAME that I would do something about it. Some brethren try and evade the plain teaching of the Apostle by claiming that it does not apply today, or by saying that the elders have the right to give a woman permission to teach. If that be the case I presume an elder could give a woman the right to transgress any other plain command. No, a thousand times no! Brethren, wake up. You who practice a system that will allow a woman to do something Paul said for her not to do—change your ways, and return to the Bible. I will close this portion of my remarks with MacKnight’s translation of I Cor 14:40 "Let all things be done decently and in order in your religious assemblies: the spiritual men avoiding envy and strife; and the women being silent."

Next we would like to notice a scripture in I Cor 11:6 "For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered." If you continue reading you will find that the Apostle comes to these two conclusions 1—It is a SHAME for a woman to be shorn or shaven, and 2—It is a SHAME for a man to have long hair. This is a touchy subject, I realize. Some of my good brethren disagree with me on it, however, I feel compelled to mention it at this time. It has actually gotten to the point that some sisters in the church GLORY IN THEIR SHAME. It is amazing how many women cut their hair today and think nothing about it. Let me tell you, sisters, every time you cut your hair you disobey a divine commandment. It is a SHAME for you to do it. Here is something for you to think about:

In Cor 14:35, Paul said it was a SHAME for a woman to speak in church. In I Cor 11:6, he said it was a SHAME for a woman to be shorn or shaven. The word "SHAME" in both places is from the same Greek word and means the same in both places. Now, sisters, if you can cut your hair, tell me why you cannot teach????? Think about it. If it is a shame to do the one it is a shame to do the other. Don’t GLORY IN YOUR SHAME!

For our last thought let us go to Rev 3:18, "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the SHAME of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see." It will not be long now until summer, and with it people will start pulling off their clothes. May the Lord help us to learn that nakedness is a SHAME, and when people run around without enough clothes on it is shameful. But did you know, many people GLORY IN IT? In fact it appears that some see just how much they can pull off. Notice I Tim 2:9, "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array." May the Lord help us all to adorn ourselves modestly.

In conclusion let me say this: May we never be guilty of claiming glory from those things, that are actually a shame to us.—OPA 1961.

Other OPA Article Links:

Modesty
Christian Attire
Hair
Women - Teaching By

Ronny F. Wade  1997    OPA Main Page    HOME