I think it all comes back to the roles that God has laid out for us. I do not believe that women should be pastors, but this is not because women do not have wonderful insight, it's because God has called us to spread that insight in other ways. We are to mentor other women, to nurture children, outreach within the community and of course always be the helper of our own children and husband. These jobs are so important to the very groundwork and backbone of a community, church and family. Woman should not look on these tasks God has given us with disdain, wanting to job and role of men....the role of helper and supporter is an amazing role. The Holy Spirit Himself has been labelled as 'helper'...and just remember the wonderful things He does in that role.
Women should speak at seminars, write books, guide other women, study and learn...many many things! But I do not think God condones them being behind the pulpit...for a couple of reasons, but mainly for this one: Men are to be the head of women, just as Christ is the head of the Church. This is not a demeaning order...Jesus gave Himself up for the Church! But what happens to that God ordained order when a woman is pastor? The Pastor is supposed to have Biblical authority over the Church member (and in turn be under authority of the elders, so that their is no 'lording it' over everyone unrighteously)...so suddenly that woman Pastor is the head of the other men in the Church, even her own husband in Biblical matters! That totally turns God's order on it's head. It leads to confusion and disharmony.
I think when it really comes down to it, women should stick to the roles and jobs God has given us...there are heaps to keep up busy, and every single one a worthy task for the Kingdom. We shouldn't have the time to go looking into taking man's role away from him....let's face it...that's what Eve did in the garden, and what most wives have done ever since...and the divorce rates prove that it just doesn't work too well. God's way is always better.
Amen! Very well said Rach!
It's not about hierarchy, men make a mistake when they take it like that and Lord it over women, being dominant. But it's about order. The feminist mistake I find (in the church) is to see a fault, men using hierarchy, and then going on to break both hierarchy AND order because they don't like the one part. It's the typical 'splinter in your eye, log in mine' mistake.
It's easy, on one side, you have hierarchy and order, in the middle you have order, and on the other side no hierarchy and no order. Human nature sees one end happening, and jumps to the other.
When a woman humbly takes her place, God moves! He moves in the men too, if they are out of place. Let God be the one who corrects, and then things happen!
I actually can say this goes both ways, I learnt it in my marriage recently. My wife was not satisfied. She might of had valid reasons, but her attitude was not right, there was an unyieldingness. And it really wasn't that bad. It was minor. But it was there. I was tempted to correct her sternly and to show her she was out of place. But I saw that doing that would only drive her into her emotions more, and would make matters worse. So I resisted the temptation, I loved her and gave her to the Lord. She spoke to an elder and then one evening it was gone! I asked her what happened and she just told me that 'the Lord had put her back into her place' :lol:
Then it also freed me up to love her, and our relationship has been better since. We allow each other to use the freedom that is in the Spirit and we trust the Lord to lign us up. She had to submit. But I had to love!
It's a beautiful order... If only we can find it!
