Women in Ministry
Scot McKnight at The Jesus Creed begins a new series on "Women in Ministry"
. . . as long as everyone behaves. Some of these will pertain to specific issues women face who are in ministries, some will be about biblical texts and themes, and yet others will be about theological issues. The number of issues we could converse about is so vast that I'm not sure how even to begin. What I chose to do was begin with someone who ministered: Mary, mother of Jesus.His conclusion
If we take Mary as an example of "ministry," we would say women are:I'd like to say more, but I don't want to give away all my secrets.
- Empowered by God to speak prophetically in the power of the Spirit,
- Expected to teach their children the ways of God in this world as a result of their own grasp of Scripture, and they can
- Establish direction in the Church by bearing witness to what God is doing through them.
Posts
One wonders what you think about the discussion.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, I do not know.
ReplyDeleteMy wife does not have a problem with women teaching; but has a problem with women being the senior pastor - or main shephard - of a church. I have no problem with either.
That said, I think the scriptural witness is mixed. I think Scot's take on Mary seems to be right on - but I frankly have never given the general topic much thought. This is because I have never been a member of a church that struggled with the issue of women pastors.
Paul's comments about women teaching men came from him (by his words) and not God - and Paul was pretty good at making that distinction. It was obvious that folks like Priscilla led churches; and that Paul respected them as leaders. Paul could have been dealing with particular problems in particular churches.
I am really kind of standing back watching this discussion
There are so many fabulous Women evangelist and Christian authors now days. It is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI had a woman senior pastor once and it turned out very badly. She had an affair with another pastor from another church. She never repented of it, in fact they divorced and married. It was a horrible experience for the entire congregation and the church split and fell apart.
Yes, that could have happened with a male pastor as well, but I do think a woman should have a strong husband who really covers and supports her.
I think some of the best are when both husband and wife pastor together. I mean, usually the wife is a strong person behind her pastor husband and keeps things running smoothly.
In the Bible there are some amazingly strong women, Lydia, Debora, Mary, ...
This should be an interesting study.
Ah. So you think Paul was wrong when he said,
ReplyDelete"1This is a true saying, ...2A bishop then must be ... the husband of one wife...4One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)"
and
"34Let 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.35And 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.36What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? 37If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord."
And you think that he wrote:
12But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13For Adam was first formed, then Eve.14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
Instead of the reason he gave about Adam and Eve?
(I disagree, obviously :)
Ooops. That one sentence should have read. "And you think he wrote... because of some particular problem in some particular church instead of the reason he gave, about Adam and Eve?
ReplyDeleteI may hold that the Scriptures are inerrant, but would never say the same about my typing :)
I think some of the best are when both husband and wife pastor together. I mean, usually the wife is a strong person behind her pastor husband and keeps things running smoothly.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, the Scriptures clarify this as the command, with "A bishop then must be ... the husband of one wife...4One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)"
If we look at Proverbs 31 we see the kind of wife that makes it possible for her husband to 'sit in the gates of' (ie, rule) the church.