PART ONE- WOMEN IN THE MINISTRY1.G. Is It Confusion To Have A Married Woman as a Pastor Over Her Husband and the Congregation? Okay, let's start at the beginning, and get some definitions, and some scriptures down for our foundation... Strong's reference number: 1249 Strong's reference number: 2233 Strong's reference number: 1247 Strong's reference number: 2634 Luk 22:25 "And he said unto them, The kings of THE GENTILES EXERCISE LORDSHIP over them; and they that EXERCISE AUTHORITY upon them are called benefactors. 26 But YE SHALL NOT BE SO: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is (chief = S#2233 to lead), AS HE THAT DOTH (SERVE = S#1247-act as deacon). 27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that (serveth = S#1247 act as deacon)." 1Pe 5:2 "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, NOT BY CONSTRAINT, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 NEITHER AS BEING (LORDS = S#2634 controls) OVER God's heritage, BUT BEING ENSAMPLES TO THE FLOCK." Heb 13:7 "Remember them which have the (rule = S#2233 lead) over you, WHO HAVE SPOKEN UNTO YOU THE WORD OF GOD: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation." Heb 13:17 "Obey them that have the (rule = S#2233 lead) 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." Rom 13:1 "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the (minister = S#1249 deacon) of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for HE BEARETH not THE SWORD in vain: for he is the (minister = S#1249 deacon) of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil." 1Ti 3:8 "Likewise must the (deacons = S#1249) be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 And let these also FIRST BE PROVED; THEN let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless." Now, the Bible says that the leaders must be servants to ALL, and these servants (deacons) will be the chiefest of all. But to say a woman can't be a deacon, it would stand to reason, is the same as saying a woman can't be a servant (minister, deacon) to all, which would include her husband. After all, a deacon is supposed to be the servant, and if your contention is that a deacon can only be a man, therefore you would be saying that the wife should actually be exercising the authority over her husband, since she can't be the deacon (servant). Do you see what confusion is made in not allowing a woman to be a "servant" (deacon or Pastor)? :-) If a woman, as an example of holiness, is PROVEN TO BE a servant to all, including her husband. And if that same woman is also able to exhort from the scriptures, including to her husband, not by constraint, but willingly. How is this confusion? My brother, I pray you are taking a good look in the mirror through this- for by your attitude you have not been bearing the cross of Christ- "I am among you AS HE THAT SERVETH" -Luke 22:27 But you are attempting to force the worldly view of an overlord on the servants (deacons and ministers) of Christ- Luk 22:25 "...The kings of the GENTILES EXERCISE LORDSHIP OVER them... 26 But YE SHALL NOT BE SO: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, AS HE THAT DOTH SERVE." You have made yourself likened to a Gentile in your desire to have the pastors "EXERCISE LORDSHIP OVER them..." Furthermore, in ACTUALITY, you have also unwittingly forced your women to take a place where they can be more blessed of God than your men!!!... Mat 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." While you yourself have taken unto yourself the deeds of the Pharisees (which you KNOW are hypocrites!)... Mat 23:2 "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: 3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe (i.e. to submit yourselves one to another?), that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for THEY SAY, AND DO NOT. 4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on (wo)men's shoulders; BUT THEY THEMSELVES WILL NOT MOVE THEM WITH ONE OF THEIR FINGERS." Mar 9:35 "And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all..." "To restrict a woman to spiritual positions available to man, because of the curse of the fall, is to deny, or somehow to diminish, the fact that women also have been freed from the curse of the law." -Tom R. Do you who deny women in the speaking ministries deny you do this? Try telling a Trinitarian he really believes in three gods, and watch HIS reaction! :-) He won't admit it either! He'll tell you that you misunderstand him, when you know full well the opposite is the truth! Women HAVE BEEN REDEEMED from the curse. It was the curse ONLY that put women in subjection to men. You still have women in subjection. You don't allow that they've been redeemed and are "joint-heirs" with (at the side of) man, just as Jews and Gentiles are equal. You have women holding a "different" (lower stature) type of equality rather than total equality- which is to say that you are a respecter of persons! "Gal 3:13 "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree"" 1.H. Has It Always Been God's Plan To Use Men As His Main Instrument To Reach This World? No I cannot agree with that. If it had been said that God used men much more often in the Bible, that I would have to agree with. In the beginning, God saw that it was NOT good that the man should be alone, and therefore he made a "help-meet" for him. Do you know what that term means, and it's applications? Strong's reference number: 5828 The same word is also applied in reference to God's aid toward man, for example- Exo 18:4 "And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help (ezer), and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:" Deu 33:29 "Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help (ezer), and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places." Psa 33:20 "Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help (ezer) and our shield." Psa 70:5 "But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help (ezer) and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying." If it was God's plan originally to use man as his main instrument, why was Eve called a "help meet" in the same way God was spoken of? Also, explain to me, if the woman is the type of the church, how come Christ put the whole job of speaking to "reach this world" into the mouth of His bride- typified specifically by the woman, if it has always been God's plan to use men as His main instrument? 1.J. Why Are There More Men In The Bible Than Women? (And Other Assorted Questions) Just as there are any nmber of scriptures that Trinitarians refer to that seem to "imply" that God is a Trinity of persons, there are any number of questions which have been raised that may, to some, seem to imply that no women are to be allowed to hold ministerial positions. Here are some examples of some that have been raised... 1. Is there any significance in regard to women ministers in the fact that Adam was created first? Let me ask this- Why then was woman created from Adam's side, and not his foot??? I have explained this previously- Eve was created as a help-meet. In scripture God has also been called by that same word- help-meet. Is God also, then, subservient to man? Some people seem to think so, but that doesn't make it so, scripturally. 2. Is there any significance in regard to women ministers in the fact that the 12 Apostles were men? Is there anything scripturally stated about this? NO. It is an example of an interpretation, or "proof" based on what is nothing more than implied, and NOT stated. Keep in mind, the Bible has shown female members in other positions of the five-fold ministry. 3. Is there any significance in regard to women ministers in the fact that Jesus was a man? Jesus was a man because He is the SON of God, not the daughter! However, in Jesus' case, there are reasons that He was male, as we shall see later. (Actually, there is much more to all of these points, that I'll get to later.) 4. Is there any significance in regard to women ministers in the fact that there are more men in the Bible than women? Why does the Bible mention "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost" together so many times if they aren't a Trinity? That's something Trinitarians use as their evidence, also, you know- the mere fact of numerous mentions. What have Trinitarians proven? Merely that they don't understand the scriptures! 5. Is there any significance in regard to women ministers in the fact that Biblical genealogy was traced through the men? Prejudice? Tradition? Convenience? It had to be one way or another? Now, you do know that Jesus is actually descended from David through his mother's line, right? And you do know that the prophesy of Gen. 3:15 is about the "seed" OF THE WOMAN, correct? So tell me, if this isn't an argument from what is merely implied, what scripture states anything about point #5? 6. Is there any significance in regard to women ministers in the fact that there were no priestesses in the Old Testament? Now here IS a point that I will be getting back to! I must here admit I have not really answered these questions, which I will attempt to answer, hopefully thoroughly, in Part 2... Please continue with Part Two - Women, Priests, And Tabernacles Return to the Table of Contents for Women, Priests, And Tabernacles |