Female Pastors
Good day to each of you reading this column on a subject that may be controversial yet very prevalent in our churches today which is having a female preside as a pastor.
Let’s look at this subject biblically and use the Bible as our guide and 1 Timothy 2 as our text. Please remember that the Bible is the final word as shown in 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NIV) And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.
Before we address the subject above, it’s that time for some humor from https://godslittleacre.net/funnies/.
01. HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY?
You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming. – Alan, age 10
No person really decides before they grow up who they’re going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you’re stuck with. – Kirsten, age 10
02. WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?
Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then. – Camille, age 10
No age is good to get married at. You got to be a fool to get married. – Freddie, age 6
03. HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids. – Derrick, age 8
04. WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
Both don’t want any more kids. – Lori, age 8
05. WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough. – Lynnette, age 8
On the first date, they just tell each other lies, and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date. – Martin, age 10
Great job kids and great honesty—Just what we need when we face the world daily.
Now on to the subject at hand which is having a female pastor in a church.
Let’s examine 1 Timothy 2:11-15 as a basis– 11 A woman[a] should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man;[b] she must be quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15 But women[c] will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.
Paul is, in no way, diminishing the role of the woman whether it be in the church or her daily duties in life. In fact, in 1 Corinthians 11:5 Paul acknowledges that women publicly prayed and prophesied.
The Bible shows us that women in the Bible assumed various duties which included being a judge, prophetess, military leader, wife, midwife, queen and influencers, but being a minister or pastor is never mentioned.
Paul makes it clear that a woman is not to teach or assume authority over a man. This is a very strong statement to which I refer to the Wycliffe Bible Commentary which says in verse 11 & 12 of the official relations of women in the church. These two verses must be taken together: women are not to assume leadership or the teaching office in the church.
We know that God, our God is the God of order as read in 1 Corinthians 14:33 and he uses the example of Adam and Eve as to what was happening in the Ephesian church at that time.
The correlation is as Eve was deceived in the Garden of Eden, so were the women in the church being deceived by false teachers. Adam, being the first human created by God, then men in the church of Ephesus should be first to speak and teach as they had more training.
Another view of this passage is that Paul is saying that this is God’s design for his created order and that he, God established roles for both the man and woman in the church and as a family.
As one reads the above scripture, maintain the thought that God is the God of order in all things and all matters which included all facets of his worship.
Each facet of worship is God appointed structure form the time we walk into the church, then we prepare our hearts and minds on worshipping him. This structure includes every jot and tittle of the service as well as who prepares the message, the message itself, the tithes and offerings and the songs sung to God.
Please form your thoughts as to whether you wish to sit under a female preacher or not—Reading the Bible, shows no evidence that there are any female pastors, only male pastors.
Does this lessen the role of the woman in the church? By no means where Paul is commending Priscilla in (Acts 18:24-26) for explaining the way of salvation to Apollos, Phoebe’s work in the church (Romans 16:1) and Mary, Tryphena and Tryphosa as the Lord’s workers as shown in Romans (16: 6, 12).
This is how God works and not man for God is sovereign in all his ways and God is the final word. Our world may not agree, but there is no evidence in the Bible that shows of any female pastors.
Let us look to God for He is the final authority. Examine yourself, as you go to church and if you are sitting under a church that has a female pastor, then leave for this is not Biblically correct.
Remember, what may be politically correct is not the way of the Lord and one day our Lord will ask of each to give an account which will include being a part of a church which has a female pastor.
It would be so interesting to ask the male pastor his thoughts and the basis of why he has a female pastor. Then to ask where, in the Bible, it is correct to have a female minister.
