Controversies Quieted by the Sword

By Belinda B. Dickerson M.A.

The author gives a diligent and careful investigation into the history and teachings of the Christian faith and church as they relate to poignant and timely contemporary controversies and issues facing modern-day Christianity. From questions about the role and place of women in the church and of the church itself, to issues related to homosexuality and the nature of the spirit world, the author provides a detailed and well-refined study that should pique the curiosity of believers and help guide them towards God's true answers to these complex theological and doctrinal questions.

Inasmuch as Christ, Peter, Paul, and the prophets taught in the simplicity in the Word, some topics they taught were hard to understand or controversial to the traditional reader. The purpose of this book is to shed light upon a few of those controversial subjects in hope of expounding unto the reader the way of God more perfectly.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Oct 21, 2015
• ISBN: 9781512715149

Belinda B. Dickerson M.A.

Belinda Butler Dickerson is a lifelong resident of Virginia. She grew up in a family with a zealous love for the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. She and her family had a strong relationship with their local church and much of their religious work included singing bluegrass gospel; however, as she began to grow as a mature Christian, she, by the unction of the Holy Spirit, began to realize there was much more to Gods Word than she was being taught. Knowing the first principles/milk in the Word of God, she yearned for the strong meat written in Gods Word. As her spiritual eyes began to be enlightened by the Word of God, she realized what the hope of her calling was: to plant seeds of truth from Gods Word that set people free from the traditions of men.

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Copyright © 2015 Belinda B. Dickerson, M.A..

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Taken from Shocked by the Bible by Joe Kovaks. Copyright © 2008. Used by permission of Zondervan.

www.zondervan.com. All rights reserved.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

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ISBN: 978-1-5127-1515-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-1516-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-1514-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015916717

WestBow Press rev. date: 11/25/2015

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1 The Church: Its Residence

Introduction

Definitions

The Household

The Kingdom

Storehouse

The Building

The Tabernacle/Tent

Sanctuary

Temple

Assembly/Congregation

Church

History

Jesus’ Whereabouts from Twelve to Thirty

Church Instruction

Conclusion

Chapter 2 Ministerial Roles That God Allows to Be Filled by Women

Introduction

Biblical Roles and Provoking Thoughts

Mother

Servant

Teacher

Prophetess

Deaconess

Minister

Pastor /Shepherd

Judge

Ministry

Ministry of Change

Conclusion

Chapter 3 Innate or by Choice: Homosexuality Is Not to Be Exercised in the Christian Church

Definition

Homosexuality’s Beginnings

The Infiltration/Breakdown

The Debate

Consequences

Statistics

Parenting

The Bible and Homosexuality

Change Possible

Testimonials

Conclusion

Chapter 4 A Study on Angels/Fallen Angels

Angels’ Food

Angel’s Hand

Angel of the Lord

Two Angels at Sodom (Get to Know Them)

Jesus—Spirit and Spirit Body Mass

Nature of Angels

Critical Point—Angels

Sons of God/sons of god

Angels Defined

The Fallen Angels

We Shall Judge Angels

Conclusion

Bibliography

Acknowledgments

How does one acknowledge the goodness of those who have shown favor except to just start producing the words that are hopefully exercised to place the deep emotion of gratitude before them and before you, the reader?

Thank you!

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 15:57)

It is through the King James Version of the Scriptures that I share with you, the reader, for it has allowed me to go to the roots of many words using the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. For this I am truly thankful for the published version by The Old-Time Gospel Hour. It was the gift from my mother’s parents that enabled my daddy to present us, as a family, with a deeper understanding of the Word of God. The memorable statement of There has to be more to it (the Word of God) than that! made by my momma through the years has definitely been an addition to how God has drawn me deeper into what I truly believe is the inspired word of God. It is with great pleasure I am able to look back through the years and recognize how God used them both to bring me to the place I am today in participating in the investigation, evaluation, and contribution shared within this book.

In memory of my daddy, Harmon Butler, and in honor of my momma, Frances Butler. Thank you both for your love and dedicated teachings to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord, my Father in heaven.

I am from a family of seven. Just as the parents participated, so has each sibling shared his or her gifts in my maturity. The credit for my educational background goes to a dear brother Don Butler, who planted the seed of encouragement needed for my educational success. My sister Violet Butler gave generously of her time in helping me gain insight into the writing, which I missed during the middle school and high school years of education. My brother Robby Butler who is always a shining light providing the ever so gentle mischievous smile, welcoming with acceptance each of my hugs and kisses offered, and always, always uplifting my spirit. And in special memory of my brother Clay Butler, who went to be with the Father in November of 2011. He is always remembered for his gentle sensitive and intuitive nature, showing great care and concern, always making those he came into contact with feel important and providing a smile of encouragement to all daily. To each I sincerely give thanks for their love and individual gifts of support.

Many thanks go to my knight in shining armor, Tim Dickerson. He has continually encouraged my pursuit of education, love of singing, and many hours of Bible study. His continued support has greatly strengthened my respect in honoring him truly as a husband who knows how to love his wife as Christ loved the church.

I also want to thank those who God placed before me to help out in this venture—Mary Fields for editing the first draft and Sandra Hawkins of Perfect Creations Photography for helping create the very vision given for this book.

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. (Phil. 1:3)

Note: All Scriptures shown within these pages are from the King James Version Bible.

Extracts from the Authorized Version of the Bible (The King James Bible), the rights in which are vested in the Crown, are reproduced by permission of the Crown’s Patentee, Cambridge University Press.

Introduction

Why would I write a book? Why would I take the time to research the Scriptures in such depth? We know what the Scriptures say, or do we?

Growing up in the church atmosphere and attending church on Sunday mornings and evenings, Wednesday night prayer meetings, and Thursday night visitation did not provide the answers to questions I had as a child or as an older patron of the church. The elders/pastors/teachers were at a loss as to how to answer any of them. There were responses that I was not to question God or I was too deep, and many times I received just a blank stare.

As fate would have it, I found myself in the position to search diligently the Scriptures as 1 Peter 1:10 advises: Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you. I chose to search diligently in the Word of God, within the King James Version, for God’s truth, not only the sincere milk of the Word but the in-depth meat of the Word, in faith knowing it would provide the answers I sought.

I began to read the Scriptures, chapter by chapter, line by line, and verse by verse and found that it helped me in keeping with the context. I gained pieces of the puzzle that seemed to fit perfectly with the times and people of history. Upon learning to put some things on the shelf within my mind, I eventually found solid, truthful answers that closed the holes left through the teachings of my youth and middle-aged years. Finally, those questions were being answered, and with such ease, through the inspired Word of God itself. Many answers have been found that are often overlooked or that had not been understood because people failed to read the Scriptures chapter by chapter and line by line.

The enclosed research papers/essays stemmed from those childhood questions, which have been brought to the forefront in these times as controversial in the church. The controversies mentioned within this book provide a deeper and more sincere response to the earnest search of God’s truth, and they are founded on the process of having a better understanding of the historical, philosophical, and biblical Scriptures that have truly defined with clarity the following topics: The Church, Its Residence, Ministerial Roles That God Allows to Be Filled by Women, Innate or by Choice Homosexuality Is Not To Be Exercised in the Christian Church, and The Study of Angels, Fallen Angels.

It is my prayer that you, the reader, will take the time to pray, open the Bible, and read the informative Scriptures to seek out the revelation for yourself. The results will surely confirm Controversies Quieted by the Sword

Chapter 1

The Church: Its Residence

Thesis: The research will acknowledge the true residence of the church and what is recognized as the house of God. Documentation will be given from scholarly and authoritative works and the King James Version Bible.

Introduction

Church is the place of worship and fellowship, where sanctity is often sought, where many seek refuge for the soul and spirit and the wisdom of the heavenly Father—or is it? It is often found occupied and is where people perform funerals, marriages, dedications, and ordinations. It’s generally seen as an institution or place of familiarity. Many members of a church carry the mind-set of attending church to fulfill their rightful place according to their upbringings. For others the church is a place to seek out the interests of their members or neighborhood people. There are also others who strive to identify hypocrites or those who, because of their positions in the community, feel they must attend to uphold their status. Finally, there are those who seriously seek the meat of the Word of God in order to fulfill their life’s purpose.

The Word says, Then there shall be a place which the Lord your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the Lord (Deut. 12:11).

In recent years, there seems to be a falling away from the church as prescribed in 2 Thessalonians 2:3.¹ Hosea reveals, God’s people are destroyed for their lack of knowledge (Hos. 4:6). Is