WOMEN IN THE MINISTRY
Some say that things have changed, that women can teach, be pastors, etc.; because it is a man’s custom from old that held them back. If this is so; then Paul was wrong in the things that he wrote, or some of the bible is not God’s word, or God’s word is not eternal? Is God a changing God, or is he the same yesterday, today, and forever? Is it truly a custom of man, or a desire of God, set forth in His word? Does one’s opinion hold a higher position than the written word of God? I think not. God has ordained the work of every part of His body, and the body functions best when God’s way is adhered to. The man can’t effectively accomplish the role of a woman, and vice versa. The amount of knowledge possessed by a person has no bearing on one’s role, but wisdom keeps one in line with the desire of God; and thereby make the best use of that knowledge.
JUSTIFICATION OF WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP
ROLES???
NEITHER MALE NOR FEMALE
Gal
(These verses are
about being heirs of promise, not works while in these flesh bodies. It does not give license to ignore our gender
in spiritual or physical actions. If
this verse applies to spiritual works, then it must also apply marriage, which
is a spiritual work; what God has joined together let no man put asunder. If one applies this verse without lining it
up with other verses, then one can say that homosexuality is also ok. We know that it is not ok because of other
scriptures, just like women’s role in the church. Again, I must rely on what Paul said if He
knew what he was talking about. Don’t
use this scripture to justify your own opinions and desires, but keep it
in context with the rest of scripture.
Even if one could read it as all being equal, it still didn’t say that
all have the same duties. Each part of
the body still has a job as designated by the lord.)
WOMEN LABOR IN THE GOSPEL
Phil 4:3 And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow laborers, whose names are in the book of life.
(Women are shown
here to labor with the man, but in what capacity? It is not manual labor because another word
is used for that; but the work put forth must still line up with scripture.)
DIFFERING OPINIONS (IMAGINATIONS)
2Cor 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ
(Verse 4 speaks of
strongholds. This would seem to indicate
that the imaginations are strongholds in our own minds. To cast them down, one must line up with the
word of God and not add to nor take away from it. Pride would hinder this through rejection of
the truth and thereby exalt itself against God and His word. God will never speak to anyone a word that is
in opposition with His established truth.
Knowledge of God comes from scripture.
Truth is eternal and does not change.
If ones opinion doesn’t line up with scripture, then it is an
imagination, not truth. Eve had this
problem in the garden, but her desire was given to Adam whether she liked it or
not.)
Rom 8:7 the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
(If one seeks God
about this, he will find that God still says that we are subject to the
law. We do not have the right to go
against God’s law because we are in Christ.
We are, however, saved by grace and not the law. Jesus even said that He came to fulfill the
law, not do away with it. The New
Testament was written by men of God who knew the Old Testament. They would never speak or write anything in
contradiction of it. They said many
times “you know the scripture”, and the New Testament wasn’t written yet.)
WHAT DOES GOD SAY???
SPEAKING IN THE CHURCH
1Cor
(It must be
established here that Paul does not say the law no longer applies, but rather that
we must submit to it in obedience and that it backs him up in what he says. He speaks it to set things right in the
church. It has been fulfilled, but it is
still in effect. One can’t say that it only
applies when not apposing their personal desires. Either it always applies, or it doesn’t at
all. Even the sacrifices still apply;
the difference is that the sacrifice of Christ is in effect, and is not to be
done again and again. The law still applies
however, or the death of Christ would not count either.)
1Cor
(Men are to teach
their families when there is question concerning what God desires. He is
to do it through the word of God.)
WOMAN’S LABOUR IN THE GOSPEL
1Tim 2:7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
(Paul said that he
speaks the truth in Christ and then went on to say the following.)
1Tim 2:9-10 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
(Again, works are
not physical. They are given in verses 1:
I exhort, therefore, that, first
of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men and 8: I will therefore that men pray every
where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.)
1Tim 5:9-10 Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, 10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
(These are good
works for the women, being spoken.)
OLDER WOMEN TEACH
TEACH THE YOUNG WOMEN
Titus 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
Titus 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed
YOUNGER WOMEN LEARN SO THEY CAN TEACH WHEN OLDER
1Tim
(After they have done these things according to the will of God, then they become elder women able to teach the next generation of young women to do the same. If the women don’t do these things because they think it too menial; then who is to do it, the men?)
NOT TO TEACH IN THE CHURCH
1Tim
(It is shown here
that the woman is to learn from her husband just as Eve did, and that she is
not to teach in the church which would put her in the roll of teaching the
men. This is not to put women down, but
rather to stay in God’s divine order and teach where they are appointed as
shown above.)
WOMEN ASK AT HOME
1Tim
1Cor
SUBJECTION
1Pe 3:5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:
EXAMPLE
Lk 11:27-28 And it came to pass, as he spike these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. 28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it
(A woman raised
her voice but didn’t help in anything that Jesus was teaching. It was off the wall. Not all women speak off the wall, but emotion
is their blessing and it gets in the way of sound hearing or speaking. The Holy Spirit guides women, when doing the
teaching according to the plan of God.)
Samaritan woman at the well Jn 4:27 She gave a testimony to the men, but Jesus taught them
Mk 16:9 Mary saw Jesus first and told the disciples of the resurrection but Jesus taught them
GOD’S ORDER
1Cor 11:1 God to Jesus to the man to the woman
DEFINITIONS:
SILENCE: 1Cor silence through voluntary refusal or indisposition to speak;
SILENCE: 1Tim stillness, i.e. desistance from bustle or
language
SPEAK: To talk, i.e. to utter words;
Why do so many people, men and women alike, desire to hold the title of pastor? Is another duty in the body below their self proclaimed qualifications? It is obvious that there are too many people behind the pulpit that don’t belong there.
WHO STANDS BEHIND THE PULPIT AS SHEPHERD???
The following verses reveal that the Lord puts who he will in any given position. If it isn’t ordained and anointed by God, then it is out of order.
These verses are mainly about the shepherd, Jesus, and how he died for the sheep; but a closer look at them reveals an underlying meaning. There are many layers of understanding to scripture; and below I have presented another view, beyond the obvious.
PASTOR: POSITION BY NAMING AND CLAINING, OR DIVINE
APPOINTMENT???
Jn 10:7 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
Jn 10:2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep
(Jesus is the good
shepherd, but he is also the door and the appointer of tasks and gifts. Positions given will always line up with the
word.)
Jn 10:1 He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber
(If one claims a
position on their own, without the will of God, then they have entered some other
way. Many go to bible school to become a
pastor, which is another way; because going to bible school does not make one a
pastor, the lord does. Some claim the
position even though it is contrary to scripture, also being another way.)
Jn
Jn
(These will not
stand for truth if it could be hazardous to them. They will also water down the word rather
than teach the meat, because it could hurt their income. Some love the praises of men more than the
praises of God.)
Jn
PASTOR: QUALIFICATIONS OF THE POSITION
1 Tim 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
1 Tim 3:6 Not a novice
1 Tim 3:8 Likewise must the deacons
1 Tim
1 Tim
1 Tim
Titus 1:5 For this cause left I thee in
Titus 1:6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife
Titus 1:7 a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled
Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught
Titus
(It’s obvious what
is being said here, leaving nothing to doubt.
A deacon is the first level of becoming a pastor/bishop. They are men who hold truth without
compromise, and after being proved, they attain a position of elder and
pastor. This leaves women in the
position of pastor out of the question.
When they seek this position they have three counts against them: 1. They are not men, 2. They do not hold truth without
compromise, and 3. Because of this they become selfwilled in their desire, not
adhering to scripture.)
WHO IS THE HEAD OF A BODY OF BELIEVERS???
1 Cor 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ
1 Cor 11:2 remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
(Paul gave some
ordinances that seem to be against women, but God knew what was best, and
directed Paul in giving them. Why would
people rather fight the word, than go along with it for the best of all
concerned?)
1 Cor 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
(When a woman
stands behind the pulpit, is she still in this divine order, or has she exalted
herself to be over the man? I am not
speaking of those women of God who stand before a group of women, as Joyce
Meyers, speaking from a pulpit.)
1 Cor
1 Cor 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
1 Cor
1 Cor
I ask you: Do women, who desire to teach from behind the pulpit, think there aren’t enough men to do it? Is God wrong in what he has put forth as his will? Has he decided that he can’t do his work behind the pulpit without going against his word to ordain women pastors and teachers? If women are to stand behind the pulpit, then are men to be the custodians at home, which scripture says the women are to be? I am not putting women down, but rather standing on what scripture says; believing that God knows what he’s doing. I believe that women have a very important job in the home, and in the teaching of young women. Men aren’t able to do these things as well as women, it isn’t in their makeup. I can imagine the thoughts of a young woman who is being counseled by a man to be in subjection and obedience to her husband. God has set and order of things because he has placed differing emotions and attitudes within the male and female. If we stand by what God has ordained in the body, we all benefit; when we step outside His will, we all lose. Do we trust God, or do we go according to our own wisdom, and begin to compromise His word through the excuse that these times are different than those when the word was written? When we begin to change God’s word because it doesn’t fit our own desires, we open a can of worms that has potentially hazardous results. If we stand on exactly what God has said, we can never go wrong, he has promised to stand in where we fail if we do all things according to his will. We can’t pick and choose which scriptures are now in effect; that is what every false religion in the world is doing today. How can we say that we are standing in obedience to his word, when we ignore even one of them? I understand that the interpretation of some scriptures causes differences in the body; but when the word says something that can not be misunderstood, how can we justify disobedience to it? Are we more concerned with the desires of those women who would say, “has God said”, or with what God has said? Remember, Eve thought she knew more than Adam when the serpent beguiled her, and then Adam believed her because he didn’t see the repercussions from his act. It was only after the man obeyed the woman rather than God that the fall came. It was Adam’s job to keep Eve in her place through love, but he failed her and himself. Will we fail women today as he did in the garden?