God cares for women as much as He does men. Yes, women are as
significant to the home, church, and society as men are. In Christ, women enjoy equality in
spiritual position and blessings before God as men do. This does not mean, though, that
there is to be no difference in men and women in their appearance and responsibilities.
There is the reality which needs to be obvious in the church and society today: Men and
women were obviously created by God differently!
KNOWING HER RIGHTFUL POSITION
Men and women were created for different roles. The Bible affirms that
men are to be the leaders in the home, church, and state. Women were not created to rule
these divine institutions; men were. Even the five-fold ministry of Ephesians 4:11 was so
designed in the Scriptures for men, and not for women.
In the beginning, man and woman were co-equal in their position before God. But
when Eve fell in transgression when she listened to the serpent, the covenant was changed.
The woman was now to be under subjection unto the man as evident in the succeeding
scriptures:
I TIMOTHY 2:14-15 - “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being
deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing,
if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.”
GENESIS 3:16 -”Unto the woman He said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy
conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire [shall be] to thy
husband, and he shall rule over thee.”
EPHESIANS 5:22-24 - “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as
unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the
church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto
Christ, so [let] the wives [be] to their own husbands in every thing.”
The prophet Isaiah was condemning Israel when he said that women ruled
over them (Isa. 3:12). The prophet Elijah was also condemning Ahab because his pagan
wife Jezebel was overpowering him. Samson was turned out of the will of God because
his wife Eve.
AN ISSUE OF USURPATION OF AUTHORITY
In the church, according to the Bible, no woman is qualified to be a pastor or a
deacon or in any other leadership position over men. Who says that? God Himself said it
through His New Testament mouthpiece, the Apostle Paul.
1 Timothy 2:11-15 clearly states: ”Let the woman learn in silence with all
subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man,
but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived,
but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall
be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.””
1 Corinthians 14:34-37 states: ”Let your women keep silence in the
churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but [they are commanded] to
be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask
their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.”
How could a woman possibly be a pastor of a church when she is
forbidden to teach or to have any authority over men?
Women can only become pastors if churches willfully and openly reject the Bible’s
teaching. Unfortunately, churches today, even the Pentecostals, are often infected by
worldly temperament. Women Liberation has invaded the churches. Thus, the rebellion of
women in the world is provoking similar problems in the churches, and we find women
desiring and demanding leadership roles in many churches.
God is a man, and the church is a woman. Therefore, the woman ought to be
under subjection to the man as the church is under subjection to Christ, and not vice versa.
WOMEN IN THE 5-FOLD MINISTRY?The MAIN ISSUE can be summarized as follows: “Can a Woman be
ordained to the pastoral ministry?”
If you believe the Bible, the answer is a solid NO!
The Bible speaks very obvious on this subject leaving no room for
speculation and confusion, or even, debate. The problem is that churches today too
often are looking to sources other than the Bible to justify their vain convictions. The result
is an intoxication of ideas that reject the authority of Scripture.
Though women may serve in the church in various capacities as long as those
capacities do not violate the principles of authority and order and male leadership, then that
is all right. Women may be in spiritual authority over other women and children but not
over men.
I do not negate the fact that there are many women that have great abilities. But it
is important to remember that this issue has nothing to do with worth or ability. It has
everything to do with order and authority. God has placed the family unit, and the very
Church Itself, in proper order.
1 Corinthians 14:40 states, “Let all things be done decently and in order.”
Hebrews 13:17 “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they
watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with
grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”
Women may serve with great results in the church however not as Pastors,
Elders or Deacons. Jesus chose twelve men to be the foundational leaders of His Church,
and the apostles were bid to choose seven men also to be deacons.
To ordain women as Pastors/Elders/Deacons is a violation of the Word
of God and due to either a lack of scriptural understanding, or simply an attempt to make the
Bible say what meets man’s carnal desire. We must not allow cultural pressure or political
correctness to dictate to the Church its authority structure.
Since the qualifications listed in 1 Timothy 3 also state that a deacon must be
“the husband of one wife” (1Tim. 3:2), it is therefore clear that the office of a deacon should
be held by males.
A very important scripture concerning who is to be an Elder or Pastor is the
following one; 1 Timothy 3:4-5 “One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in
subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he
take care of the church of God?)” This passage clearly links the authority of a man in his
home to the authority of men in the Church. It is clear that God also put men in charge of
His Church. God has established his authority structure and has clearly place men in
leadership over women.
Source: The HANDBOOK
Comments
Post a Comment