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On the whole the author has a good take on things. We appreciate her recognition of the broader context of discernment, an understanding that is too often lacking in the ranks of the Doctrinal Police.
However, we have a couple of quibbles, which we will note below.
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Many Christians desire to have discernment, which is good. Many, however, maintain a narrow understanding of Biblical discernment, limiting its scope to simply calling out false teachers and/or identifying erroneous practices within the Church.
Biblical discernment most assuredly includes those activities, and we must never ignore the importance of exposing deception (Romans 16:17, Ephesians 5:11). (Let's quote the verses:
Ro. 16:17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.
Ep. 5:11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.The first verse is not about discernment per se. Here Paul counsels the Roman church to stay away from people who are divisive and teach things that don't agree with what they were taught.
The second verse is similar. Paul wants the Ephesian church to stay away from evil things.
Why are we making this distinction? Because the author will go on to mention Beth Moore and Joel Osteen. Since she is not a part of their ministries, she cannot keep away from someone who is already not associated with.
Paul's context is the local church. This means the author should keep away from people in her church who are placing obstacles in her way and are engaging in fruitless deeds of darkness.)
The second verse But in order to identify false teaching, we must first have a grasp of sound theology. Going after Beth Moore or Joel Osteen takes more than reading a few discernment blogs; we need to know Scripture well enough that we see their errors readily.
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Next, I need to remind any gentlemen who read my blog that I really intend to teach women exclusively. Unless you’re my husband, an elder at First Baptist Church Weymouth or a man vetting a handful of my posts to make sure they’re suitable for women under your leadership, this blog isn’t for you! The Lord has charged me not to teach men (1 Timothy 2:12), and I want to be obedient to His command. (We note a minor irony here. The author instructs men not to read her blog so that she won't be instructing men.
Let's quote the verse:
1Ti. 2:12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.The reader will note that this verse is part of a longer passage about proper order in the gathering of the saints. Therefore, the author is not teaching men even if men are reading her post, because she is not positioned in authority over them. The author is not violating proper order, because the verse doesn't apply to her here.
Further, we have postulated elsewhere that this verse does not actually mean what we might think it means. The Greek word for "woman" and "wife" is the same word, as is the word for "man" and "husband."
We would therefore suggest that the verse might not be properly translated. Here's our rendering:
1Ti. 2:11-13 A wife should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a wife to teach or to domineer over (or take charge from) the husband; she must be silent. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve.Given the context of the passage, this rendering solves some important problems. The reader may wish to follow the link for a full explanation.)
The limitation of my writing to women is especially important when I present actual Bible Studies. Guys, I’m flattered that so many of you appreciate my writing (why couldn’t I get so many men to follow me when I was single?), but please don’t put me in the position of violating Scripture. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. (It is not possible for the author to violate Scripture by someone reading her article. This is just silly.)
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