The Almighty Worship Hour

"The primary distinction that led...to silencing women was the view that any public speech by women was forbidden or indecent. Consequently, it was not simply that it was 'leadership' but rather that it was 'public leadership.'"

"And 'public' may have received more stress than leadership originally. For example, Lipscomb and Harding both thought women should participate in small, family or home settings but that it was different when the assembly was 'public.'"--J. M. Hicks

In addition to a host of other misunderstandings about first century Christianity like the collection for the saints, the assumption of dualism that leads to hierarchy/oligarchy--clergy/laity behaviors, the origins of the public building and modern sermon--modern, institutional Christianity also exalts specific periods or 'hours' of life over others in order to control the masses.

One glaring inconsistency is "the Bible class hour" versus the "worship hour." Literally, women are allowed to speak in one assembly of Christians, but at the strike of the, evidently, 'almighty' clock and--even though they may have never left their seat--they are immediately forbidden to speak! It is similar to how we view the Lord's Supper. One may eat a 'common' meal only minutes after previously being forbidden to do so in a 'spiritual' meal during the 'worship hour.'

The Origin and History of the Modern Gospel Sermon

Frank Viola writes,

"The same person...giving an oration to the same group of people week after week, month after month, and year after year is not only un-biblical, it is counterproductive."1

"Is preaching and teaching the Word of God scriptural? Yes, absolutely. But the contemporary pulpit sermon is not the equivalent of the preaching and teaching that is found in the Scriptures...."2

For example, notice how the following translations of Acts 20:7 properly translate the biblical concept of "preaching" as a dialogue--not a monologue.

"On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them..." (ESV).

"Now on the first day of the week, the disciples being assembled to break bread, Paul was discussing with them..." (English Majority Text Version, EMTV).

Notice also from the larger contexts of Acts 8 and Acts 2 how "preaching" is conducted by more than one Christian and dialogue is also found to be the "preaching" style of Philip and Peter: