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COLPORTEURS.

While colporteurs may be specifically employed to sell religious books and tracts, those administering spiritual things should do so without any form of material or monetary gain. As examples of this, please read 2 Corinthians 11:7-9 NEB and 1 Thessalonians 2:9. There is, however, no scriptural directive for women to preach or tell the "good news" from house to house or publicly in any way. (1 Tim 2:12).

In Revelation 9:3-11 the apostle John's vision reveals Christ's anger and stinging retribution upon the spirits of apostate men during the "Lord's day". Using the allegory of men's faces with women's (long) hair, the vision reveals heavenly disapproval of the unGodly allowance that unsealed men have given women with long hair to teach. For their evil activities these unsealed men are tormented for having allowed women such authority and is why these "locusts" had faces "as men's faces, but they had hair as women's hair." Such men will be 'stung' for usurping and exercising authority over anointed sons of God, as this is a "lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God". (2 Cor 10:4,5). That these "locusts" have lion's teeth makes manifest the devouring anger of Christ Jesus of the tribe of Judah against unsealed 'elders' usurping the authority of his anointed brothers in congregations.

PIONEERS.
A pioneer is described as someone who is among the first in new fields of enterprise, exploration, colonization, research, etc. We may infer from this that in a spiritual sense a pioneer is a minister sent forth by God to new territory, but not to territory that has been worked for some time. Scripturally, and in obedience to the Spirit of God, they would be members of the sanctuary class in the household of God. (Eph 2:19-22).

Spiritually qualified men, who for no material gain voluntarily give of their time in service to Jehovah to preach publicly from house to house, are pioneering in the hearts of unbelievers. Christian wives may give such men their support. How? See Proverbs 31:10-31. In addition, when spiritual brothers minister publicly to unbelievers from house to house, the company of a baptized sister may be very encouraging, not only to Christian brothers, but also to unbelieving women engaged in personal Bible study with a brother. (Proverbs 31:30). When asked, a sister may certainly give the reasons for her faith, but she is not permitted to teach by verbal argument spiritual things pertaining to God from the Scriptures. (1 Cor 14:35). A congregation of the Lord is when he is there in their midst. (Matt 18:20).

Sometimes a woman being taught may want to discuss something private with another woman. She may not feel comfortable discussing her private concern with a man, a concern which may be barring her progress. In such a case, while confiding in a baptized sister may help but not relieve her anxiety, on a future visit the spiritual brother will be better informed and know how to assist the woman. (2 Tim 3:16. Matt 10:16). A baptized sister's presence also eliminates unnecessary risks when brothers conduct private Bible studies with women, for obvious reasons. (Gen 39:7 20. Matt 26:41).

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