Issue of Blood

In the council of Nicea they made a decision that women in their menstral cycle must worship separate from the congregation. This was based upon Old Testament principles of blood issues and worship in the temple.

It seems however that this violated Christ's idea of acceptance and the separation of the Old Law and New Law.

Mat 9:16  No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.

Mat 9:17  Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

Jesus made it clear principles of Old and New must be kept separate.

The woman with an issue of blood was connected to the wineskin application.

Mat 9:18  While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.

Mat 9:19  And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.

Mat 9:20  And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

Being touched by a woman with an issue of blood would have violated some old testament principles, but Jesus applied this differently than an old testament Pharisee might expect. Jesus did not separate her from others who practiced their faith.

Physical problems do not separate us from God when we practice faith.

Mat 9:22  But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

There are lessons here other than Christ's miracle, Jesus wanted her to be free from anxiety and to realize her acceptance. She was a daughter, not a castaway. During her years with the issue, God did not cast her away because of her physical ailment.

The Council of Nicea seems to have gone against Jesus' applications. It wasn't inspired on their part. Though Elders may regulate the worship service to order it, there is no application where they may separate the faithful.