Should women be speaking in churches? Assume leadership? Rule over men?
Should christians follow the desires of their hearts rather than the commandments of God?
Is God really unfair?
Churches are originally assemblies according to the Old and New Testament.
Speaking in the assemblies is referring to making of speech; commanding the audience.
This is the taking of leadership. Not just talking to somebody.
The Apostle Paul forbids that women should exercise power and authority over men in assemblies.
For those who believe in the Divine inspiration of the whole scriptures, the words of Paul is as he declared, the commandments of Christ. They are of Divine authority.
Any woman christian who abides with the whole of the Bible in spirit and in truth, in practice as well as in belief would humble/lower herself, not to take up commanding position even as to speak in church.
Recently, in the 20th century, women have risen up in christian circles/assemblies and institutions to take power and control; ordained as pastors, priests, vicars, bishops, and possibly becoming archibishops one day, assuming supreme human authority in church organisation.
This movement is significant.
Believers are claiming to read and discover from scriptures what christians did not see for over 1,900 years. Not even the apostles and disciples of Christ found such doctrine.
This is, therefore, a revolution and a rebellion from the truth once delievered to the saints.
The revolutioners claim that there are scriptural bases for their deeds.
1) There are women leaders and judges in the book of Judges.
The book of Judges is describing a Dark Age of Israel's religious and political history. Are we claiming to be in a Dark Age now?
Seeing so much corruption today, there is indeed some ground that we are living in Dark Age, sinful times now.
However, these advocates are not claiming very action in very times. They simply are affirming that it is alright to have women in authority.
In the book of Judges, just as in the whole of the Bible, there is no provision or mention of women priesthood. The sons of Levites do not include women in office. No anointing of women into priesthood.
Certainly there is no woman High-priest in the history of Israel. However, women are assuming the position of High-priest as Bishops which are priestly office above the vicars who are acknowledged priests in their office.
[I am not saying these offices of priesthood is in reality scriptural. They just exist.]2) God created man and woman equal. The 2 of them form mankind.
Gen 2 v21 - Woman was depicted as fashioned from a rib of Adam. She was part of Man.
Gen 1 v27 - Man was made first, and mankind(adam) according to the image of God.
Gen 2 v16,17 - God talked to Adam first.
Eve was given to Adam.
3) Phoebe was a female christian amongst the apostles, therefore she is an apostle amongst the apostles(circle of apostles). And if a woman had the highest human authority in leadership, then women could also be pastors and bishops ruling the churches in highest human authority.
It is not of certainty that being with the apostles means being an apostle.
A loyal minister amongst the governors does not necessarily mean a loyal governor.
There is certainly no anointing of women as priest, apostle, or overseer, or elder mentioned in scriptures.
Paul never mentioned the position/office of female elder and overseer.
Every christian is supposedly an evangelist working out the great commission (Mark 16 v15). An apostle is someone who is sent by the church or by God/Christ. Evangelists are often sent by local churches. Being sent by the church does not necessarily entitle any person to supreme power over any local assembly.
4) Julian was female name.
No certainty here. Julian, like Julias can be name for both male and female. Even names like Hillary and Evelyn and Fred have been used for both sexes.
It is wrong to hinge doctrine on uncertainties as if they are certainties.
5) Priscilla counselled with her husband Aquilla.
Counselling is not assuming leadership over men, and over her own husband. They worked as a couple.
Priscilla was not an elder or overseer. She worked with her believer husband, even though she was most probably the more able one of the couple.
She was not recorded as having spoken in churches.
Women holding some offices, such as being evangelists and teachers, does not equate holding supreme authority over men, as to represent Christ (who is not female physically and mentally).
Pastors are most often the top of the hierarchy of local assemblies.
6) Women scholars nowadays got their doctorate theses and degrees on women authority approved by trustwhorthy conservative Theological Institutes, such as Westminster Seminary.
Their findings are scholarly accepted.That does not equate Divine acceptance.
Does this not hint the corruption, deviation from scriptural principles, and inadequacy of such institutions?
Does this not speak of the arrogance of the advocates?
Obtaining academic degrees are not a Divine requirement for serving the truth. Faithfullness is.
Te truth has not first appeared in university, institutes and seminaries.
In fact, Clement of Alexander, the first headmaster of the first christian Theological Institute is a known heretic. So much for a firm foundation.
7) So far women in leading position are serving the Lord as pastors and priests(vicars and bishops) even better than some men.
At least women are just like men.
Some people, including christians, find it easier to discuss certain problems with women. Pastors who are women can help them better.
God does not see things as men do.
God may use any body for/to His service. He used Pharaoh, Chaldeans, Pilate, Judas and many others who are not even christian nor do they follow the God of Israel.
God never expressed that leadership are for the most capable people. He loves the most faithful ones. To obey is better than sacrifice.
We must walk by principles according to the truth, rather than by sight.
8) Let God decide.
If it were left to the decision of God, women would have waited until the Lord has personally ordained/anointed women with the pledge of the Spirit.
Actually God has spoken from Moses down to Paul and John and made clear the leadership of man, and subjection(not just submission) of women to men.
9) The word used to describe the woman companion of Adam is helper |5048| - azaq (in Gen 2 v20); the same word used to describe the relation of the Holy Spirit of God with man. The stronger assisting the weaker.
So woman is in her making stronger than man. Woman may lead man.
The verse described woman as suitable/comparable to adam, not stronger / more able than.
In Gen 2 v18 - God said that it is not good that man should be alone. Not that man lacks protection, strong assistance or domination. The purpose of making a companion was that man should not be alone.
Dictionaries should not make doctrine and teaching alone. Doctrines and teachings may make dictionary definition.
Meaning and reasoning comes before the compilation of dictionaries/lexicons.What did Paul write? Who being deceived led man to sin? Who fell to temptation first?
Woman being the helper of man was not in most ways as strong as the Spirit being the helper of mankind. The word itself does not make the two relationship compettible.
Who is depicted as the weaker vessel? Did Paul get his understanding of the words wrong while under Divine inspiration?
Where is the female Elijah? Female Samson? Begotten Queens?
Where is it mentioned the Queen of Israel? Any desire for a Queen of Israel?
No prophetess was inspired to write scripture.
God has a father figure in the trinity, and God can be mother like in His care; but not a mother figure.
The Father begot the Son without the entity known as the Mother.
1 Cor 11 v 3. But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. -ASV
Paul was inspired to teach that the head of the woman is the man. They do not have equal office, position, interchangable jobs in the assemblies of God.
Women assuming overseeing positions above men dishonor their heads, both men who was made to lead, and Christ who revealed the intended relationship.
1 Cor 11 v 10. for this cause ought the woman to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels. -ASV
Paul tells of the need for woman to viel her head as a sign of authority on her head (1 Cor 11 vv8,9). Man is not required for vieling (1 Cor 11 v7). This expression tells of the lowering and submission of woman to man as well as God.
The modern day unvieling of women's heads do away any sign of authority in the hearts of believers in such congregation.
Our problem today comes from a seemingly small, insignificant step of unvieling in the past; a small shift of doctrine and Theology, a signficant and decisive step of action today.
There are many position of service in the body of Christ; such as teaching, evangelising, judging, caring, visitation, praying, catering, counselling, research, transportation, nursing. Forcing oneself to the top for positions unintended by God is by no means a good way to serve Christ and His church.
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