On Women In The Ministry

I have a friend I work with who is adamant that the majority of the issues we face in our churches today can be traced to denominations permitting women to have positions of leadership over men.  He takes a very paternalistic, almost misogynistic view of Scripture.  He points to the classic passages in the Old Testament, as well as Paul’s admonitions in the New Testament, speaking against women having any form of leadership over men and extols the “weaker vessel” view of women.  It is God’s will, he believes, that women play a lesser role in Church leadership due to the way they are created and because of Eve’s failure in the Garden, being the first to be deceived.

Here’s my take on this matter…

In His Beatitudes, Jesus consistently stated, “You have heard it said…but, I say unto you…”   He took what was popular “religious” requirement and elevated it to the point of absolute simplicity and essential spiritual truth, based on one criteria….love. 

Using the same criteria of simplicity and love, I believe it is clear in Scripture that God would say to us that women have equal place in the Kingdom of God, where there is no longer male or female…but, we shall be as the angels of heaven (Mk 12:25).

In the last days (which I believe we are in) Scripture tells us that God will pour His Spirit out on all flesh, male and female alike, and that our sons and daughters will prophesy (Acts 2:17; Joel 2:28).  If you look at Paul’s writings about the ministry gifts, prophesy is second only to the calling of apostles, and well above pastors/teachers (Eph. 4:11).

Paul, who is often quoted by the misogynists in his writings about women being silent in the church (1 Cor 14:34), is also the same apostle who stated that in the Church there is “…no longer male and female…” (Gal. 3:28).  How do we explain this seeming contradiction?

Just as aspects of the Law were accommodations for the weakness and sinful bent of mankind (see Jesus’ discussion on divorce in Matt. 5), so rules regarding the lowered state of women in the church were, in my view, accommodations for a paternalistic, misogynistic culture of the day; as well as a response to various voices causing disorder in church gatherings (note: Paul also commands “tongue speakers” to be silent in the public gatherings). 

I believe the goal of the Holy Spirit, for the Church, is to elevate it out of this kind of “cultural” view to a spiritual “kingdom” view, that recognizes the equity and impartiality of the Holy Spirit in bestowing, on ALL FLESH, the gifts and offices He deems fit for the Kingdom…not what paternalistic, misogynists would permit.   I believe part of the purification of the Bride (Eph 5:26-27) is the removal of all forms of inequity, including a disparity between the sexes and restrictions on their ability to serve.  And isn't that the more "loving" way?

We are too late in this world to be arguing about the legitimacy of someone’s ministry because of their sex.  This is what Paul would call “carnal thinking” and he warned us specifically against such reasoning (Rom. 8:7; Col. 2:18).  We need to grow up in our view of the Kingdom and learn to see all aspects of church ministry and gifts with spiritual eyes, recognizing that we are all, male and female alike, equally able and equally responsible.

God bless you all, as you seek to be obedient to your call and respecting the gifts and ministries given to others, impartially and without respect to sex, age, station or status and, thus, honoring the Giver of the gifts and calling, humbly submitting to the authority of the Holy Spirit.