I realize this could be considered a secondary issue, but it is a very important one. If I am correct, many churches today are in rebellion against the Word of God.
I recently had to start looking for a new church home, and
this was one of the minor reasons we left our previous church. While searching
for a new church, I was surprised by how many churches today list women as
pastors or associate pastors on their websites. Many of these churches list a
husband and wife as pastors of the church.
At first, I thought this was just a wording issue and
nothing more. But the more I investigated, the more obvious it became that it
was not just a wording issue. Feminism and inclusiveness have become major
influences in today’s church. I wonder if the modern church believes that, in
order to stay relevant, it must reflect the culture of the world.
The only thing we need to be reflecting is Christ.
So, here's my take on women pastors and teachers.
Women Pastors and Preachers
I’ve have heard 2 Timothy 1:5 used to defend women as
pastors and preachers. The problem is that this verse has nothing to do with
being a pastor or a preacher; it is entirely about parenting and raising your
child in the ways of the Lord.
Proverbs 22:6 (ESV)
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not
depart from it.
In contrast, we do have these scriptures that make it quite clear regarding
women teaching or preaching.
1 Corinthians 14:33-35 (ESV)
For God is not a God of
confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, the women should
keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be
in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn,
let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in
church.
I’ve heard some argue that this was simply an issue within
this church, where women were causing problems. However, it states, “As in all
the churches of the saints,” so this wasn’t limited to one church—it applied to
all the churches. Additionally, we see this addressed in 1 Timothy 2:12-15.
I know a lot of people have problems with where it says “keep silent in the
churches. For they are not permitted to speak” this looks like it is talking
about when the pastor, shepherd, or elder is speaking to the main body of
believers in the church. Paul did not want the pastor to be interrupted and
disrupt the flow of the service. I Can see where it says “let them ask their
husbands at home” quite possibly is referring to a smaller gathering much like
our Sunday school classes today where they would not be disrupting the service.
I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority
over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam
was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not
deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she
will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and
holiness, with self-control.
Again, I’ve heard people argue that this was specific to the time and culture
they lived in. However, Paul stated that it was because Adam was formed first,
then Eve. Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a
transgressor. I don’t see how the message could be any clearer. Yet, we still
try everything possible to justify women as preachers and teachers.
Now, I will add that there is nothing in the Scriptures that
says a woman cannot teach a child or other women. 2 Timothy 1:5 shows us how a
grandmother and mother should raise their child in the ways of the Lord. If
you’re a woman with a youth ministry or a women’s ministry, I see nothing wrong
with that, nor can I find anything in the Bible that speaks against it. In
fact, I believe the Bible supports that role for women. I have heard this
scripture used several times in defense of women pastors and preachers.
Acts 2:17 (ESV)
“‘And in the last days it shall be, God
declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;
But then again, this verse does not say women can be pastors
or preachers. It says, “and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,”
I like this from Bible.org. Prophecy is not identical to
preaching but involves both forthtelling and foretelling. The reason women may
prophesy but not teach or preach to men is that the message that the prophet
gets from God is not filtered through the interpretive process—that is, it is
directly mediated by the Spirit. Hence, in effect, prophecies are ‘tamper-proof,’
whereas teaching is not.
Why do we have a hard time believing what Paul is teaching
here? Why do people bring up stuff that is very vague and try to say see it's
alright for women to be preachers and pastors? We need to remember use the
Bible to interpret the Bible so when we have scriptures that are black and
white and very clear we need to use them to interpret what is not so clear in
the scriptures.
He thinks it should say “when you will sin”. To me it looks like they think Paul and John just got it wrong.
So why do we struggle so much with what Paul teaches? Why do
we try to find reasons to go against his teachings? If Paul was wrong about
this, what else might he have been wrong about? Do we truly believe the Bible
is the inspired Word of God?
Posting what I believe on Facebook has gotten me into
trouble recently—lol. You don’t have to agree with me on everything, and that’s
okay. You’re welcome to tell me why you think I’m wrong, but please make it
biblical and include your scriptures. Simply saying, “So-and-so is doing great
work for the Lord,” and using that as proof doesn’t cut it.
Voddie Bachman has said it would be easier to make a
biblical argument for polygamy than for women preachers.
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