Now, this is an interesting topic, isnt it?
Ive 2 best friends who belong to different churches which both have a woman as the pastor.
Is this biblical, .....unbiblical?
Is this heresy or "out of order"?
Well, im an evangelist and a teacher and a minstrel, and ive been to seminary and ive studied the word for a long time.
I know what it says about this issue, but, im someone who would not condemn a woman if she felt called to be a pastor.
I would not encourage her to do it, because i can find no scriptural evidence to support this position as given by Paul.
As far as i can tell, Paul is pretty negative specific about women even being teachers in the body of Christ.....but on the other hand, i have to realize that Paul was also a jew, a pharisee, who was steeped in a very deep jewish theocracy which did not accept the liferole of a woman to be anything other then a baby maker or ministry helper, pretty much..
Maybe by now, had Paul lived another 2000 years, he would have softened his positioned a bit about woman being "teachers", as he said it was "him" who didnt let a woman teach, ....he never said this was a revelation from God he was sharing.
Did you notice this???
Would Paul in 2012 say that a woman cannot be a Pastor?..........yeah..
And the bible says clearly that a pastor/bishop is to be the , "husband of one wife"...
So, im pretty sure that eliminates a woman as a Pastor/Bishop..
So, unless you are a transsexual/transgender-minded girl you are not going to qualify for that scripture and if you are a transsexual/transgender-minded, you probably should not try to qualify, as a matter of fact, im certain you should not.
On the other hand, a woman can be in the ministry as any of the other 4 fold ministers.......she can evangelize, she can be an apostle, a teacher, (tho Paul might argue with this one)...
Certainly she can be a missionary, tho missionary/apostle are the back and front of the same coin.
She can do everything but be a pastor or perhaps a deacon, and yes there are some who are Pastors/deacons, however, this is not supported by Paul or the scriptures.
Does God allow it?........yeah, but this is not the same as him condoning it or approving it....tho he might bless it. (tho I really cant answer that one.)
Would i go to hear a woman preach?.... Sure, i would go hear Joyce Meyers if she came to Israel, however, Joyce does not claim to be a pastor., and this is because she understands God's perspective.
Would i go to hear the women pastors who i mentioned that pastor my 2 best friends?.... Sure i would..
However, I would have a problem with joining their church.
And if ither of the those women asked me my opinion about their position, i would just tell them what Paul says...
I would say........."are you a male by birth husband of one wife"?..........well, until you are, next subject please......"
However, i would not try to talk them out of their situation.
And the reason is......i think that (if they are really born again and have their NT doctrine in order) they are doing a good work, even if the work they are doing is not completely in alignment with Paul.
After all, Jesus himself said that if someone is not against us they are for us, and certainly a woman pastor who has given her life to the Lord is not against him.
Maybe she is out of >order, but at least she is on the right side.
K
As a believer the Apostle Paul taught that in Christ their is no male or female.
Christ taught that when he returns men and women will no longer marry but be like the angels.
When I think of the fact the Spirits power and the presence of the Spirit in a man or woman does not make them unequal otherwise it would lessen the Spirit in a woman than in a man to act.
Paul spoke to Gentiles who believed women to be the lesser in the sexes.
Deborah was a judge over Israel chosen by God and doing the job most thought only men did.
We have to believe that Gods free gift to men and women has no difference. That the Spirit makes all of them one and equal in the body of Christ.
It is not man who guides the believer it is the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is the same for everyone.
But the gifts are given according to the Spirit who is doing Gods will.
Is he really to be prevented from giving the gift of preaching to a woman because of her sex?
Understanding the way of God means we are not lead by mans teachings but the teachings of God.
We have an high priest Jesus Christ, and we are all priest a royal nation of them.
1 Peter 2:9
King James Version (KJV)
[sup]9 [/sup]But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
We are not priests like those chosen by Moses the line of the "Levitical" priesthood. We are priests by the new covenant which is unlike the first covenant made through Moses and noted especially in Jeremiah 31:31-34.
Ordination is a manmade way for believers to serve here in the world. But the way of Christ was simply about being born and chosen by the truth and the presence of the Holy Spirit. No theological colleges, these men were not priests or from priestly families and had no training in the Temple. They were men who knew the Word of God in their scriptures and lived life as fishermen and other professions. But when chosen by God their lives were transformed by the truth and their abilities to speak were given them directly by God and their authority. No manmade church or rules can give a man the power to speak for God.
God himself teaches his own people and by the power of the Holy Spirit they speak according to Gods will.
Examples are:
Stephen Acts 6.
[sup]10 [/sup]And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
Acts 8.
[sup]29 [/sup]Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
Acts 11.
[sup]12 [/sup]And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:
Today is the day to realise that each should live according to the truth that God leads us in.
A love of truth is essential just as listening to what God is saying through the Spirit.
It was not a manmade teaching or the will of a man which brought us to God. It was Gods will through the truth about Jesus Christ
that brought us to God. The one teaching Christ is clear about is that we must all be taught by the Holy Spirit.
If you do not have the Spirit then you do not belong to Christ or God.
So these are not important issues because a woman in Christ is no different to a man in Christ if lead by the Holy Spirit.
Only the Holy Spirit can empower them and give them the gifts. We really need to remember the foundation from whence we came. That truth is the heart and love of the way we live. That Christ has given us a much better way and one which time and rust cannot decay.
We should not think that being a vicar or a pastor means you belong to Christ. Spirit are truth are the only markings of a true believer and they are all that is required to be a child of the most high God and a royal priesthood and people member.
Do not lose sight of the truth and that we are individually responsible by our own lives only.