Welcome to another “potpourri” edition of The Mailbag, where I give short(er) answers to several questions rather than a long answer to one question.
I like to take the opportunity in these potpourri editions to let new readers know about my comments/e-mail/messages policy. I’m not able to respond individually to most e-mails and messages, so here are some helpful hints for getting your questions answered more quickly. Remember, the search bar (at the very bottom of each page) can be a helpful tool!
Or maybe I answered your question already? Check out my article The Mailbag: Top 10 FAQs to see if your question has been answered and to get some helpful resources.
This was a wonderful article. I was curious how the question about women translating sermons would apply to people who translate the Bible into a new language. Usually they are in a team. But if a lady was working as part of a team would she not have to discuss Scripture with men and theology and doctrine in discussing proper word use? Would this be preaching to men and therefore not a job allowed women?
A very thoughtful question! It is always good to think about various applications of God’s Word.
I want to start my answer with a simple exercise that I hope will help all of my readers to distinguish “preaching” from “not preaching”. Assuming you attend any approximation of a doctrinally sound church, I want you to picture what your pastor does when he steps in front of the congregation during the worship service on Sunday morning. What does it look like? Is he holding a private small group discussion about doctrine or other biblical topics? Is he writing a blog article? Is he sharing the gospel one on one with a lost person? Is he posting a Bible verse on social media? Is he being interviewed? Is he recording a podcast?
No (And yet, women have been accused of “preaching to men” for doing all of these things). He is standing there, alone, exhorting, proclaiming, and teaching (hopefully expositorially) the written Word of God to the assembled local church body.
If you ever wonder whether someone is “preaching,” compare what he or she is doing to that mental picture of your pastor. Does it look basically the same? If not, it’s probably not preaching.
Let’s put a woman working on a Bible translation team through that grid. She’s working in some sort of office-type setting, using Bible translation software on her computer, doing research, interviewing native speakers, meeting with colleagues for discussions about various words, passages, etc. Does that look like what your pastor does on Sunday morning? I hope not, because that’s not what a pastor is supposed to be doing on Sunday morning. He’s supposed to be preaching the Word to the assembled local church.
The Bible prohibits women from pastoring, preaching to men, instructing men in the Scriptures, and holding authority over men in the gathering of the Body – the church – not in collaborative, non-preaching, situations like this outside the local gathering.
In fact, we have an example of this in Scripture, in Acts 18, where Priscilla and her husband, Aquila, took Apollos aside privately and “explained to him the way of God more accurately”. Priscilla is never rebuked or spoken negatively about in Scripture for having done this. In fact, Paul commends her and gives thanks for her as a helper to him and the church in Romans 16.
Are there some positions in Bible translation organizations that only qualified pastors should hold? Probably. Are there situations in which a doctrinally sound, biblically qualified pastor should make the final decision on doctrinal issues that may arise? Most likely. But generally speaking, most of the time there’s no biblical problem with a woman serving on a Bible translation team. And if there is, it’s not because Bible translation equals preaching.
I recently tried to leave the Word of Faith church, but experienced tough demonic problems. I have realized I have a spirit (not the Holy Spirit) moving in me. Are there any non NAR deliverance resources you can point me to?
I have read the Bible 12 times cover to cover, just to share with you I am not a brand new believer and am familiar with the Scripture if you would like to share something in there.
Yes, a doctrinally sound local church. I’m not trying to blow you off or oversimplify your problem. I’m telling you that when you experience problems like this, God’s solution is for you to go to your pastor for counsel, not to some parachurch “deliverance” ministry (even if it’s doctrinally sound, not that there is such a thing). Your pastor is responsible for shepherding your soul. Your pastor knows you, and he and your church family can walk with you through this situation 24/7.
Your pastor can also help you understand what the Bible says about what you’re experiencing. I have no doubt that you might be experiencing some sort of demonic oppression or harassment, but no one who is genuinely born again can be possessed by a demon because she is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. And reading the Bible does not equal being a Believer (I’m not saying you think it does.). There are plenty of atheists who have read the Bible numerous times. So, to come straight to the point, either you’re not genuinely saved and you might be possessed, or you are genuinely saved, and you’re misunderstanding what’s actually going on with you, spiritually. A good pastor can help you sort that out according to Scripture.
If you aren’t already in a doctrinally sound local church, find one today at the Searching for a new church? tab (in the blue menu bar at the top of this page) and make an appointment with the pastor. Explain your situation, and ask for help.
Additional Resources
What does the Bible say about demon possession? at GotQuestions
Am I Really Saved? A First John Check Up (Bible study)
Deliverance Deception playlist by Doreen Virtue
I am struggling with brain fatigue/fog and wonder if you have any advice to help me and others suffering from this frustrating problem. When I sit down to read the Bible, I can’t read more than a few verses before I feel the fatigue, and I remember nothing. It is affecting my quiet time with God. I would appreciate what Scripture has to say about this and how I can work around or overcome it.
I have a short stack of Christian books I want to read. My issue is that I have very poor reading concentration and comprehension which turns an otherwise leisurely and enjoyable pastime into a laborious and frustrating trial. I would appreciate any Biblical insight into how to overcome this disabling problem so I can enjoy reading.
I thought it was interesting that I received these very similar questions from two different readers within just a few days of each other.
This is really less a theological question than a practical one, so let me offer you what I’ve got, and then, readers, leave your tips and suggestions of what has worked for you in the comments section:
- If your issues are neurological, ask your neurologist for help and suggestions.
- Eat right, and get plenty of rest and exercise.
- Cut way back on your TV and social media time. TV and social media train your brain to have a short attention span and to be distractable.
- When it’s time to focus on Scripture or your book, get alone in a quiet room with no distractions. Turn off your phone, music, TV, etc. Use a white noise app or video if you need to.
- Use the audio option on your Bible app or listen to Justin Peters or Gabriel Hughes read the Bible to you.
- Find the audio book version of the book you’re trying to read.
- Once you’re able to build up your focus as you listen to the audio version of your Bible or book, try reading along for a certain portion of that time. You might want to start with a goal of 5 minutes of reading along, then increase it by a minute every few days or so.
- When you’re able to read along with the audio for 15-30 minutes, gradually start weaning yourself off the audio a few minutes at a time.
- Set small, achievable time limit goals for your listening, listening/read along, and reading, and gradually increase them.
- Take notes as you listen. The quality of the notes doesn’t matter when you first start out. Listening for something (anything!) to write down will help you focus.
- Memorize Scripture and meditate on it throughout the day.
- Write Scripture. Just find a passage you like and copy it down word for word (handwritten) as many times as you like. It will help you memorize Scripture and also keep your focus on reading it as you’re copying it.
Readers, any other suggestions that have worked well for you? Comment below.
If you have a question about: a Bible passage, an aspect of theology, a current issue in Christianity, or how to biblically handle a family, life, or church situation, comment below (I’ll hold all questions in queue {unpublished} for a future edition of The Mailbag) or send me an e-mail or private message. If your question is chosen for publication, your anonymity will be protected.
Michelle Lesley 
Although I haven’t been diagnosed with ADHD nor do I have difficulty in reading comprehension, I have always struggled with my mind wandering while reading. The suggestions you gave are great! Another thing that works for me is to read aloud whenever I cannot use an audio recording of whatever I want to read. I have been a Sunday School teacher of various ages from children to senior adult women and this technique has helped me to absorb the materials that I use to understand God’s word.
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I had a small stroke (or stroke-like episode, the doctors cannot decide) in 2007. The most difficult challenge I face since that time is brain fog/malfunction. Some days my brain does not want to work. On those days, I recognize that I cannot tackle tasks requiring my brain to work very hard (some times it does not want to work at all). The more I push the situation, the worse it gets.
Having a regular schedule of when I go to bed and when I get up has been helpful. Establishing this schedule was not easy and took several months–I did not have a problem with getting up at a specific time, but being able to go to sleep at a set time was tough.
If you are taking any medications, ask your doctor or pharmacist about possible brain fog side effects. For example, Benadryl is shown to affect cognitive abilities and not just because it makes you sleepy.
Give yourself some space. Perhaps you can only read one verse. Start there. Same with reading a book. You do what you can when you can.
Consider working with an occupational therapist. They can help you develop strategies to deal with issues like brain fog. I work with one and she has helped me a lot.
Have a few close friends and family members who are aware of your situation. My older son is good at coming along side me and can recognize when I am getting into problems, such as making poor decisions because my thinking is not what it should be.
Cling to the Lord. Although I do not like having problems with brain fog, the benefit is it drives me to the Lord because He is the One who knows me and looks out for me and cares for me.
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I attend a lively weekly Ladies’ Bible study, which leads to related individual study. It helps me focus and gives me direction. My husband and I also read a Proverb every day, coinciding with the date. We look up the chain indexed verses together. Even after years, we find new insights!
Prayer beforehand helps a lot too, to focus and soak in the Word. I find the best time of day is early, before I get too busy or preoccupied. Hope this helps! Such a privilege to read God’s word!
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Your words have a profound way of stirring the soul and igniting the imagination.
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Thank you. You’re very kind.
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