BOOK REVIEW: WHY SALLY CAN'T PREACH by Jacob Tanner

 WHY SALLY CAN’T PREACH by Jacob Tanner a book I purchased because I do not believe women should hold positions of authority in the church and a Pastor that I listen to recommended it. The bottom line: I do not recommend this book despite my decision to not read the entire book. 

1 Corinthians 15:11 (KJV) 

11  Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed. 

Why did I not like the book? Let’s begin with the title and go over two definitions: can’t and preach. 

CAN’T- “can’t is a contraction of two terms can and not, can being a verb and not an adverb; it indicates an inability too

PREACH- The term “preach” is a verb and it means to proclaim.

The title of this book indicates that Sally is unable to proclaim. Yes I am being technical because his book is an attempt at being technical. Unless, Sally is a mute she is able to proclaim the word thus the title of the book becomes an indication of the tone in which this author will take. 

This book is ONLY 89 pages yet I struggled to read much of it. I read his statements and biblical justifications and then had to retreat and pray. 

At the end of chapter one on page 30, the author states: “Woman has a rank.” Are we talking about a home, a church or the military? He added: “Man has a rank” and he determines that the ranks were given by God. 

I skimmed through a few more pages and gave myself permission to stop reading this foolishness.

I believe that women should not have positions of leadership in the church and believe this is God’s way of establishing order in the church. He, God the Father, also set Jesus as the Head of the Church not man, yet he washed the feet of His disciples. The church is not about rank but purpose; the home is not about rank but maintaining order.

 If a woman stands in the pulpit and proclaims God’s word is up to the church, you don’t need a title to speak the truth. If a man wants to listen to a woman, that is his business. Yes, I believe Scripture is clear about men and their positions in church however to ignore the fact that there were many women of influence in the old and new Covenants and declare them to complete silence, except in taking care of children and talking to other women, is a misrepresentation of the word. 

Sally can preach if she wants to she does not need to be a Pastor, Bishop, or Elder to do so. If Sally’s husband says it is OK, and her church leader says it is OK, then Sally can stand at the pulpit and proclaim God’s word. She is still under authority and that is what, I believe, Scripture requires. 

Judges 4:4-6 (KJV) 

4  And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. 

5  And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. 

6  And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? 

NOTE: Years ago I read this book entitled: Ten Lies the Church Tells Women, I wouldn’t recommend that one either. 

Written by Marsha L Floyd

THE AMERICAN FRUGAL HOUSEWIFE by Lydia Francis Child

 

THE AMERICAN FRUGAL HOUSEWIFE by Lydia Maria Francis Child; published in 1833 is now a public domain book meaning there is no copyright protections on it.  I downloaded this  ebook for 99 cents  from Amazon because I am interested in how our ancestors lived, particularly women. 

I am interested in how women managed money, how women dressed, how they maintained the household and so forth.  Not many women today care how they did it back then because, in their eyes, women did not have equal rights- I beg to differ. If you study Scripture and you think about the contents written in this book the reader will understand  how very equal women were- equal but with different task to perform. 

THE AMERICAN FRUGAL HOUSEWIFE contains tips for the young wife on how to manage her household, particularly if you were not wealthy. 

In the 1800’s there was a need to properly preserve foods. This book would have been an asset to the young lady whose mother had not taught her the ins and outs of running a household.

The book contains such recipes as: Egg gruel, Gruel, and Calf’s foot Jelly! None of these things seem appealing to me but it is clear that the theme of the book is: let nothing go to waste! And as you read you will discover this is a true assessment.

In the introduction the author presents her no nonsense approach to running a household, many mothers and fathers today would object to her writings:

“Nothing should be thrown away so long as it is possible to make any use of it, however trifling that use may be; and whatever be the size of the family, every member should be employed either in earning or saving money.”

Continuing in the introduction Lydia Maria Francis Child writes: “A child of six years old can be made useful; and should be taught to consider every day lost in which some little thing has not been done to assist others.”

I could go on and on about this book. Many people would read it from a historical perspective, I think people should read it from a now perspective. One of the last two chapters are: HOW TO ENDURE HARD TIMES and there is also HOW TO ENDURE POVERTY I want a hard copy. Once upon a time in America people did not have the government to help them I believe we were better because of it. 

THE AMERICAN FRUGAL HOUSEWIFE by Lydia Maria Francis Child is both a historical look at the life of a woman in the 1800’s and the transfer of wisdom as many of us try to return to our GOD designed attributes. 

You will not appreciate this book if you are in pursuit of breaking the glass ceiling. You will love this book if you appreciate all things female.  - written by Marsha L F Randolph 

FEISTY & FEMININE by Penny Young Nance

I chose to review FEISTY & FEMININE by Penny Young Nance because of the title. I think it is time women begin to embrace who they are as females of strength and character and not good looks and non-aggressive demeanors. Far to many women, of all political persuasions, focus on appearance in addition to skill. That said no one can deny that the author is a beautiful woman, let’s get past that.

FEISTY & FEMININE A Rallying Cry for Conservative Women is a book about what it should mean to be female but because of liberalism womanhood has been maligned. In sharing her philosophy on what it means to be a “Conservative Woman” the author actually describes the normal life for a female once was before labels and political correctness became the standard.
There are ten chapters in this book: “The Devaluation of Women,” “Sexual Assault of Women,” “Marriage and True Tolerance,”  “Abortion and Sanctity of Life,” “The Real War Against Women,” “The Rise of Islamic Extremism and the Need to Fight Back,” “Beyond Our Borders: Why Israel Matters to Christians,” “Seasons: Work,, Family, Life, and the Art of Balance,” and “A Vision for the Future;” these are nine of the ten. Each chapter is important not just to womanhood but to humanity.

Since the beginning of time women have been strong and independent, in the process of time  definitions were manipulated and many women believed they could not succeed because they were female. In accepting the glass ceiling theory and then blaming the problem on Republican men the liberal agenda was promoted and Conservative women who chose not to accept the stereotypes were ridiculed. FEISTY & FEMININE by Penny Young Nance is a reminder to us all that strong and independent characteristics do not stop a person from being feminine.   This book is an informative read and I recommend it.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”