To start off our discussion on the possible differences between men and women, we will start with an old favorite - Should Women Be Allowed to Preach in the Church?
This oft-debated topic has its share of proponents and detractors, both groups quoting their own favorite scriptures. So who's right? We may never really know, however, I'm going to add my own voice to the fray in trying to resolve this matter.
Do I think women should be allowed to preach in the church? In a word - yes. Why, you ask? Here are five reasons why:
1. (And this is my favorite) God never said that women shouldn't.
Preach, that is. There are no scriptures directly prohibiting a woman from preaching, prophesying or ministering in any fashion in the church.
2. The Bible tells us that tells us that God is no respecter of persons and all are considered the same in Christ.
Peter, in Acts 10:34 (see below) tells us that God is no respecter of persons. Peter learned this valuable lesson prior to being sent to lodge with a Gentile (which was considered abhorrent to many Jews at the time). If God could accept Gentiles, then why not women?
Paul, in Galatians 3:28-29, tells us that God doesn't consider the religion (Jew, nor Greek), status (bond nor free) or gender (male nor female) of His children - all are one in Christ.
Scripture References:
Act 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
3. Israelite women were placed in leadership roles and were called upon to prophesy.
Deborah was appointed as one of the judges of Israel (Judges 4:4-5). In this position, she judged all matters of contention between the Israelites. And, not only was she a judge, she was a prophetess as well! In Joel 2:28, God speaks through Joel to his people and tells them, among other things, that their daughters would prophesy.
Scripture References:
Jdg 4:4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
Jdg 4:5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.
Joe 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
4. Women were with the Apostles when they received the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room.
After Jesus was resurrected and had ascended to heaven, the Apostles, along with a number of women, gathered in the upper room. During their prayer (and when they were on one accord), the Holy Spirit descended upon all of them and and all of them spoke in other tongues. God did not differentiate between the men and the women who were present in the Upper Room.
Scripture References:
Act 1:13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
Act 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5. Women were only specifically directed to remain quiet in one instance.
For those who often quote 1 Corinthians, where Paul admonishes the women to keep silent in the churches and to ask their husbands questions in the privacy of their home - this scripture refers to one particular situation, one particular church and one particular instance. Reportedly, the women in the Corinthian church were being disruptive, and speaking out of turn. So, this admonishment was more about order than a general rule to be applied across all spectrums. God may not be a respecter of persons, but He does expect His people to be orderly!
Scripture References:
1Co 14:34 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.
1Co 14:35 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.
I would love to hear your opininon - for and against. So let me know what you think!
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47 comments:
Sonya, thanks your kind words on my series! I deeply appreciate it!
I did a series on this very subject. In fact I wrote a book on it in NaNoWriMo (the throw caution to the winds and write like crazy contest which everyone who writes 50,000 words or more wins :)
I came to a conclusion which I am just not totally sure of... it doesn't settle in my spirit well. But, the mainstream admonishment for women to be silent is absolutely NOT Biblical. There are too many Bible women in leadership roles. Don't forget the woman at the well. The first woman missionary who led an entire village to Christ!
Anyhoot... I sent off a query to a publisher for my book and was told he was most definitely was interested in my subject but his board was not. He had 10 books on his shelf on that same subject... sigh.
Sorry this comment got so long!
Thank you so much for this piece! It is well needed.
I attend an AME Chruch, and women are allowed to preach. In fact, we have women bishops.
I think that when we look at the biblical references to women being silent, we have to frame it in the context of what was going on in the church at that time. I've heard many times that when that passage was written there were women in the church who were asking their husbands questions during the service and interupting the service.
Christ is not a respector of persons, and speaks many times in the new testament about the use of our gifts to magnify God, and spread the good news.
I'm certian the debate will continue, but I think you've helped shed some light on an interesting subject.
BTW: We're linked on my blog!
Read 1st tim chapters 2 and 3 it clearly deffines the role of women in the church and leadership is not one.
Hello Anonymous:
I've been researching the scripture you mentioned - in 1 Timothy 2:12 - and it's been an interesting experience. There are many interpretations of this scripture, from literal to figurative. After looking at the original meaning of some of the words, I have to agree with another article that says this verse is more accurately referring to the relationship of a wife to her husband and not of women to men. I do feel that God calls women to preach and that women are clearly shown in leadership roles in the church. I also believe that women are blessed with the same spiritual gifts as men. And, lastly, I tend to read Paul's letters closely, because he is also the one who espouses the joys of singlehood to being married, indicating it was the 'preferred' state and if a person was unmarried, he or she should remain unmarried. I personally believe Paul was quite happy with single-hood and living in a male-dominated society, because most of his writing reflects this point of view. But I also respect him as a teacher of God's Word, because he is the one who informs us that there are no genders or religious denominations in God. I'd love to hear you expand on what you feel are a woman's role in the church.
I am soooo confused can she or can't she play a prominent role in the church?
i dont mean any disrespect, but do you think that we can kill people because when God commanded it, He might not have meant it in a literal sense?
I think we focus to much on who can or can't preach God's Word that we forget or the real message slips pass our infinite minds. If we read Ephesians 4:1-13 or further if you like it does not call a specific gender into action it simple says And he gave not male or female. The word is true if he can make a donkey talk I trust a God who can call whom ever he wants to. Be Bless and except the Word from whom ever as long as it is the Word. Let try and stay "Focus".
I am very sad to hear you quote scriptures that you don’t
understand – Galatians 3:28-29 is talking about faith. Both of these scriptures are referring to the church. 1 Timothy 2:11 – Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. – 1 Timothy 2:12 – But I suffer not a woman to tech, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to in silence. If a woman preaches, then she is instructing people in the word of God, therefore she is teaching. It’s not that women are not capable of teaching and preaching, the problem is that God didn’t tell them to and there are no real example in the bible of women preaching. Please stop fighting the word of God - 2 Peter 3:16 - As also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as [they do] also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
are you a man or womsn? Consider this, if someone male or female tells other people what Jesus said under His influence, then did that person say it or did Jesus?
I think I understand where you are coming from, because I sort of grew up in that background, but in order to rightly divide the word of truth, you must consider the whole of scripture.
If I'm wrong, pray the Lord show me.
I attend a church where my pastor wife and other women including my teach and preach. I have been a "member" for 16 years. But after searching the Scriptures, God has had order. Not that one, man or woman, is better than the other. I have asked the pastors wife why did Paul write what he said in 1st Corinthians 14 34-40 and 1st Timothy 2 9-15. The answer to these has always been it was for that time. So now, some of the New Testament is now Old. If you change what the Scripture says about women teaching in "The Church", then you can also change the qualifications of a Bishop(Pastor). I am writing this comment to say this, I am not against women, nor am I against men, but God has an order. Not all pastors are called of God, meaning, they have not met the qualifications of the Scriptures. This holds the same for women teaching in "The Church". What has happend to the elder women teaching the younger women how to be discreet, chase keepers, of the home. Teaching them how to love their husbands. To the "world" this seems Old, but to us who are born again, it is Life, because it is what God has said. Last thought, let's not compare ourselves with the world and its standards, they are totally opposite and against what God has said.
Love you all,
Poppa.
Not to say that anyone is right or wrong about this topic, but if you were to look at the history and time in this area where Timothy was located. Paul was actually writing Timothy about the present Laws of the time and what to hold as law and what not to hold as law. He wanted to warn Timothy to keep these laws in effect for the protection of the women and children of God at the time. It no longer has any meaning in today's society. If you read the entire scripture before this Paul is talking to Timothy about all the laws in which he must obey to keep his people safe from dying.
Wow such differences of beliefs ~ when one actually wants to understand the true root of the Word of God one must get away from the "Western Understanding of words"...If a person would search out in the origin Hebrew language you will find that God is not interested in the sex of the being ...he refers to us as "man" .. We need to get away from the "carnality of our thinking" the male being is in Hebrew roots,called "essh man" > which is "fire man" and the woman which came forth from the "eesh man" is "eeshaw " < please forgive my spelling at this moment > This takes us back to where our origin was and that was in the loins of God " stones of fire"...we were first a spirit and soul that took upon flesh. Check out Satan walked up and down the stones of fire, mankind! we came to earth to make HIS NAME KNOWN ... Adam male and Adam female were one clothed with God's Kabode Glory ... when he separated them, they were called " Adam male and Adam female " this was before sin entered in and she became Eve.
The Woman was first commissioned to go tell...Missionary Teacher Preacher of good news...it is the blindness of deception that brings one to think God would not allow a woman to preach his Word! Deborah yes was a warrior mighty warrior and is a type and shadow of today's woman .... only we fight spiritual wars today....
I do not mean to offend anyone or their belief but only as others posting what I have come to know as TRUTH from the origin Hebrew language which has changed a lot of my wrong doctrines of man and devils that was preached to me.
Then God said "let us make human beings in our image, to be like us they will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth and the small animals that scurry along the ground."
So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Then God blessed them and said be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky and all the animals that scurry along the ground." Genesis 1:26-28 (NLT) Gods orignal plan was for man and woman to have dominion on the earth. No where does it say in the begining that Adam was to have dominion over the woman. When women was created she was also made out of the side of Adam, not out of his foot so he could walk on her. It was not until after they sinned did God say your Husband will rule over you. Genisis 3:16 Well you might be saying right now that those scriptures are old testament but lets look at Mathew 19:1-9, Jesus said in verse 4 "havent you read the scriptures?" They record that from the beginning 'God made them male and female.'
Jesus came to bring us into right standing with God, to bring us back to the beginning where human beings had a real realationship with God not just religion and rules(If you dont believe me, and you think that rules and laws are more important then you need to read Galations and Romans again). If you look at the times of when Paul wrote these letters also you would find out that woman were treated like property and they did as they were told. And in Romans 13:1-6 Paul does say you must follow the governing authorities. So Paul in those other scriptures
1 Timothy 2:9-15 and 1 Corinthians 14:34-40 was stating to the women just because God sees everyone the same (Galatians 4:28) they still needed to respect the laws of the lands. But like I said Gods plan from the beginning was man and woman had dominion together. We were brought back into right standing with God because of Christ, lets not get caught up in debates over laws. Romans 5:12-20; v12 says "when adam sinned, sin enter the world. Adams sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned."
v18 " Yes Adams one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christs one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and a new life for everyone."
v19 "Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God , many will be made righteous."
Like I said Jesus brought us back to the begining. Galations 3:3 says "How foolish can you be? After starting your christian lives in the spirit, why are you now trying to to become perfect by your own human effort?" (NLT) So why are you? You were saved by grace! We are all sinners. You know who made Jesus mad? it wasnt the sinners, it was the religious people. I thank God that I was saved by Grace, Not by my own human effort but by faith in the Son of God Jesus Christ. Amen
Have you heard of Dr. Cho or Pastor Kong Hee Or maybe Pastor Brian Houstan? They are from South Korea, Singapore and Australia and I know of churches in South Africa that all preach the same message it's not just America and Eroupe. Just for informational purposes for you. What happened to not judging or condemning or if your in Christ love fulfills Gods law? Do we not have Galatians or Romans in are Bible anymore? Or is the church to caught up in our differences to just focus on whats important and thats getting people saved through Christ?
And we are talking about woman preaching not wives submitting to there husbands. Wives should submit to there own husbands and husbands should love there wives like Jesus loved the church and he gave himself for her. Are you able to sacrifice yourself, your selfishness, your wants and desires for your wife? Thats what Jesus did. He didnt want to die but he did because of love and doing what the father willed. Its a circle. You may be the head but the wifes the influence or the neck thet turns the head. If you dont believe the wifes the influence then why did Adam eat the forbidden fruit also?
1 Timothy 1:4 (New Living Translation)
Don’t let them waste their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees. These things only lead to meaningless speculations which don’t help people live a life of faith in God.
I hope you love me now because eternity is a long time.
Romans 10:9
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Pastor Kong Hee actually doesnt make any money from his church, he is a business man and owns a few busnisess and his wife is a popular singer he doesnt need to take money from the church. Just F.Y.I. Anyway I am not going to argue about pointless religous views your either in Christ or not and our job is to get people saved and make disciples of all people. So God Bless you and I hope and pray the church (the body of christ) will put aside our differences and relize we are in spiritual war right now and we need to bring people out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. Let God do the judging about whos right and whos wrong.
From teaching I have heard there is no office in the church that women aren't capable of such of teaching and preaching. Its that the God spells out the roles that men and have in a specific way within the church just like the roles that God defines in marriage. Yes, a woman is allowed to prophesy but that is not teaching nor preaching. I don't think the scriptures are emphasizing what women can't do, but more what men SHOULD DO in their marriages and in the church. The point is that God's role for them is in other much needed areas. I wish it wasn't that way because I don't have a strong conviction either way, but I can't deny what the scriptures do say. I know that is not popular with many churches, especially women who tend to get angry when someone says no, you can't preach or teach. They see it as anti-women and I know women pastors who come undone when they hear of a church that doesn't ordain women. But its better to follow scripture in this area.
Jesus said, Peter do you love me? Peter said yes, Lord. Jesus said "If you love me, feed my sheep." He didn't say, if you are a man and you love me feed my sheep, or if you are a woman feed my female sheep and non-male and non adult sheep. Jesus said if you love me "Feed My Sheep" well, I'm a sister in the Lord and I love Him and I KNOW He wants me to feed His sheep. Why would He put His annointing on a sister's speaking if He did not want her to speak.
I John says that God is love. So what is love? 1 Cor. 13 does a great job of explaining what love is and isn't.
It is easy to discern those on here who are writing with an attitude of dissension. That makes this discussion much easier to discern because what's in a man or woman comes out of their mouths.
Be encouraged Sonya. I am a 21 year old senior in college and I believe in the whole Gospel.
It's understandable for those who want to keep the Word of God in pure form, but many times that's not a person's motive. Most of the people preaching against women would do the kingdom a greater service by going out into the highways and hedges, to the lost and hurting, to preach Jesus and Him crucified.
Anyways, my grandmother is a great woman of God. She has been an evangelist since age her teenage years and has lead 1,000's to Christ. Is that sinful??? Of course not. Jesus is so in love with his creation why would he put a constraint on the ministers of the GOOD NEWS!?
Jesus had nails driven through his hands and feed, after his back was turned into what looked like raw hamburger meat. I think after that Jesus would do whatever it takes to get the Gospel out to the lost.
I love you all and truly hope everyone on here discerns God's Word for the purpose of falling into a deeper, more intimate relationship with our Lord and Savior.
God Bless,
Joshua
Hi Sonya,
I recently got married to a great man, he is a devoted Christian and we both love God alot but we've come up with issues like this that has really caused alot of indifference. You see my husband came to know Christ listening to John Macarthur's messages and I know John Macarthur is truly a man of God but most of his teachings are about the same topic being discussed. Apart from other things I do not agree but God's word says to retain whats good and push away what's bad.Many say that believing how you and I believe is unbiblical but it what God says that matters. I've had people's life changed through the messages the Lord has given me. (Men and woman, young and old)God uses whom he pleases too, who are we to limit God. I undertand if a woman goes up there and gives some giberish message and shows no example of a Godly life. Then I would say it's wrong but when a woman goes up there with an annoiting, fullfilling message then who are we to say it's not from God.
May God bless you sister and may his word be continual in your mouth. God is doing something amazing in my marriage in aspects to this, we still have things unclear but we are learning as the days pass by. God bless
Hi Sally:
I too agree that it's what God says that matters. I also believe that it is easier for some men to believe that women are not allowed to teach because it is the safer road to take. Women have been marginalized for a very long time and at this place in our history, have finally begun to come into our own.
I also must echo the sentiment that God has used His word (through me) to do some miraculous things, including draw people to Him and make miraculous changes in their own lives. I have seen the evidence for myself and know that God can use women equally as well as He uses men to spread His word.
I know and have seen God use women to do His will and am thrilled that you have been able to see Him move in your own life.
The final questions I ask to many detractors of women preachers is this: If God has not annointed women to preach the Gospel, why do so many women feel this call so strongly on their lives? What do you make of all the women preachers, pastors and ordained ministers? If this was not of God, would it not all fail?
Please feel free to share your thoughts on this important topic...
i am a 13 year old kid my mother is a pastor and my grandmother but how is it that i know that in joel 2:28 it says that there will come a time when i will call my sons AND my daughters to prophesy
To the last commenter. You seemed to leave your opinion in question form. Well prophesying is very different from usurping authority over a man. I hope you understand the difference.
There is a big difference between God using a woman to win the lost, operate in the gifts of the spirit, and pastor a church.
See here is the problem, people today handle the Bible out of emotions and in doing so they become reckless with their theology. You must compare your beliefs with historic christianity and most importantly the Bible.
Another thing, to say that this portion of scripture was written to a certain culture and that it only applies to them is flat out heresy. That is to deny the very truths in which we base our lives on (the Bible being the Word OF GOD).
If we were to say that then I would take a stance on Romans 1 and claim that homosexuality, witchcraft, fornication, lying and murder were all for the roman culture and have no bearing on my American Christianity.
You must understand that in the last 60 years here in America we have traded the truth for a lie and filter the word through our culture instead of filtering our culture through the word.
I do not condemn women preachers but if they are usurping authority over men then they are in error.
I hope this was helpful to you. If you have any questions feel free to email me with any questions at honglee333@yahoo.com . It is not my goal to be confrontational but to bring the truth of Gods word out in Love.
I would think that in the year 2010 with so much opposition we have against the chuches now, the topic of if women should be allowed to preach or not seems TOO Simple-Minded!!! Mary was the first CARRIER of The WORD, and since then we have been carrying The WORD every since then. Come on people of God, the enemy has given us enough to fight, let's not fight each other.
Wow. I find it very sad that we're all suppose to be Christian, yet we're arguing with each other about who's right. Yes, I think this is a very complicated topic. I just want to remind everyone that we should be believing what we read and NOT reading what we believe. The best way to find the answer to this o-so-debatable topic is to ask God to reveal it to us. This is one of those mysteries that don't make sense to us but the bible clearly states "To you it has been given to know the serets of the kingdom of God..." Luke 8:10
So lets just ask our father for an answer as we keep our hearts, mind, and souls open to what he has to say :)
AMEN !!! TO THE LAST COMMENTER!! =]
Scriptures clearly states that a Women should not teach!
They should learn in submission
1st Corithians (NKJV) 34 Let your[a] women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. 35 And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church. 36 Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached?
1st Cor. 14:33b-36 NIV)."As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached?" (1 Cor. 14:33b-36 NIV).
So in conclusion Scripture teaches us that a women can Prophecy & Pray but can not teach and from a personal point of view i feel that preaching is a form of teaching beause that person who stands in front of the pulpit is creating education and awareness of the Gospel.
What a poorly written article.
This is so confusing...Personally, I've preached some "sermonette" type deals in my FCA, and have been told that I've done very well. I never gave any creedance (sp?) to the whole "women can't preach" thing until recently, for reasons I won't get into. I don't really feel called to preach as a vocation, just specific words when called...I fully believe in the submissive wife, and that the head pastor of a church ought to be a man...but I don't have to pastor to preach. And I'm so puzzled by Timothy...I feel like I have to speak or I'll explode while I'm waiting for someone who's male to get ahold of that particular word, but this seems to tell me so directly that I cannot. I don't mean that I make a disturbance or anything, I just have a great desire sometimes to speak. I'm really confused. I don't know if I'm misinterpretting the meaning there, or if I'm insisting on being rebellious if I insist on speaking...I so confused :( I don't want to be decieved, one way or the other :(
I do believe there is a prophetic word and a preached message. Are you talking about God giving you insight on the direction of your church through a message ( A.W. Tozer was like this as well as David Wilkerson)?
My suggestions;
Find a place to speak into womens lives. If you have a small womens group attend and pray that God would give you a place to pour out what the Lord has given you. Also find the younger women in your church and disciple them, this will help feed that flame in your bones.
Preach on the street before the pulpit. This is what I tell young people who tell me that they are called to preach. Seriously, if you are called to preach do it on the sidewalk or in a the slums. This fire is not for an audience but for the lost, you cannot want the pulpit you have to desire the lost. Learn the gospel and preach it in the streets.
Thats only my advice.
This is to the woman that is confused. The meaning of asurp is: To seize and hold (a position, office, power, etc.)My pastor, on a few ocassions has asked me to bring a message to the church on a particular day. He never does anything unless the Lord ask him too. I equip myself in the word and prayer, just as a man does and I give the word God has given me to share. You see man look at the sex of the person. God looks at the Vessel that is willing to be used by him. Going back to the meaning of usurping. By doing this, I am not seizing nor holding power or position in the church. Woman can preach in the church but she should not be pastors of Church. The man should be the overseer not the woman but if she so desires to preach, with the approval of God and pastors then why NOT!
GOd bless you sister!!!!
And ask God to show you the freedom of his word.
Wow I am truly blessed by this! I've just had so much to read by all the bible references and everyone's comments helped me in the bible study I was having this morning. None1221, be richly blessed. Please also respect the contexts when you want to debate over scriptures. 2 Corinthians 8 speaks of generosity. Now building a $48 million doesn't mean one's not being generous. Some other scriptures you quoted as well we're taken out of context. You definitely need to keep your researches and study but also make sure you don't just take the word from one's box called the human mind. Even if that means yours. And also for the lady previously speaking of bringing back Eden is one's life, well I can give you many testimonies that this can happen when you are diligent at doing God's purpose for your life. And also, there's no need to go on and be mad. Without love we are nothing. My dear brother, realize that you might not hold all of the truth. We have limited peanut brains when looking at the majesty of God's truth. Everyone, let's not think we know anything and everything.
and as many commenters mentionned: let's keep the main thing the main thing. In spite of our differences let's be ONE as Jesus prayed we'd be, ONE in HIM as He is one with the Father...
Much love to all and have a gracious blessed day! :)
I think the argument that men preaching during biblical times was just because of the culture of the time is completely false. In fact God mentions leadership in many different parts of the bible in a man leading the woman. This does not mean that the man is any more important to God than woman, but has been given this role by God. Genesis 3:16 shows God's direct commandment for men to lead marriage. But this does not mean he decides every decision for himself, but does what is best for his wife.
Though this is based on marrital relationships, I think it can still be related to preaching. However I believe women can and do have vital roles in the church in speaking to women and in leadership of services etc. But the bible says in many places, (most have been mentioned) that men are the ones to preach, not because they are better but because that is their role. I also believe that the argument that important parts of the bible are not to be taken literally is ridiculous. This takes away from the idea that the bible is the authority and God-breathed.What would be the use of any of those supposed "figurative" parts of the bible if they were not relevant today? it would be merely history which takes away from timothy 3:16 which clearly says that "ALL scripture is God breathed and is useful for TEACHING,REBUKING and TRAINING in righteousness".
Please read Paul's opening words
(1 Tim 1: 1)
Paul an apostle of CHRIST JESUS' BY THE COMMAND OF GOD our savior and Christ Jesus our hope.
I do not want to be arrogant or rude but wish to share the gospel. Please don't take me the wrong way for I love you as I love myself but do not want you to be deceived!
(1 Tim 2: 1-14) I urge you to read this yourself but will write it for you.
A woman should learn in quietness and in full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or have authority over a man; she must be silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one who deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and become a sinner.
Please don't be deceived Eve' daughter. I say this not for argument but truth in Jesus' name.
Good to see a lot of interest on this subject. I fear that our culture has so distorted the roles of gender and caused issues like this to become issues of pride for some people. 1 Tim 2: 1-14 says what it says, and it doesn't say this is for a particular time and place, but something that Paul believed was different in the nature of man and the nature of woman. Nowhere is better or worse implied, but different. Our modern culture has taught women to feel insulted by the idea of submission (and men to fail in many other ways). I literally experienced a wonderful church torn apart over this issue, but I never saw anyone actually address the scriptures, just their opinions. I'll pose this question. If the scriptures do intend that women are not to teach, would you be offended by that? If so, you've fallen under the influence of the culture and need to prayerfully take the matter to God. I for one don't have a personal problem with a woman teaching, except that I believe the scripture admonishes against it. It's not a pride issue for me, anymore than the fact that as a male I am not called or equipped to birth children. My role is my role and that's OK. I also wholeheartedly agree with other posters admonishing against deciding which scriptures are true and which aren't and which were true but are no longer relevent. That's a slippery slope brothers and sisters.
Sorry women are not allowed to be pastors in a church......
I am a woman and God is calling me to preach/teach.I had a difficult time with this forever and would not admit to it because my family does not believe in women preachers.The scripture in the Bible where it says women should be silent means that from Hebrew translation that men were more educated in the 1800's and women sit on one side of the church and men set on the other side.If the women did not understand something they would get up and go ask their husband what it meant.And it would disrupt the service so that was why Paul put that in there about Women being silent.No one can read one scripture and decide that,
Women are not allowed to preach or pastor a church. I won't go into detail about why I believe this as the verses that show this have been shown ad nauseum. If you are a woman and you believe, after reading scripture, that you are allowed to preach and pastor, then I don't know what to say to you. If the Bible doesn't convict you, I certainly won't convince you.
But the blame is not yours. It is men who have allowed this type of teaching to start and flourish. The woman is the weaker partner (1st Peter 3:7) Don't we want them to serve God? Of course!!!!! But we have let them be taught heretical teachings.... and in their desire to serve God... they have believed them. I believe that the VAST majority of women who are serving in their churches as pastors or preachers, are doing so with a right heart. But that does not make it right. And the men in this country, and starting around the world, are to blame. Men are becoming weaker because men are becoming more and more selfish.
hie every one i hear your comments then what do usay about me i was in a congregatoin that was preached by a woman i got born again i recieved christ and till now m happy as a christian enjoying goodness of our God and i feel there are many more to be saved let us not allow Luccifa decreasing our goals that we must take for Christ .remember the harvest is plenty but lebourers are few
Peter said.....
You are very correct Armon . We men are the product of weakness and laziness for some decades now allowing the pushy womens worldly agenda to infiltrate the church .
The Word is the inspired word for guidance for all time - start to finish.When strong men and women know their places we'll see some wonderful powerful life in our assemblies and homes.Stand up men - you're missing your call.
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