Thursday, 23 July 2009
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Women Pastors: Yay or Nay?
The photo on the right is of Joyce Meyer. To many, she is considered a preacher, while others view her as more of a motivational speaker
than a preacher.
Women serving as pastors or preachers has always been one of those highly debated issues. While this may seem like a men vs. women issue... it isn't. There are women on both sides of the issue as well as there are men on both sides of the issue. This is not an issue of chauvinism or discrimination. It is an issue of biblical interpretation.
The Basics of the Issue:
The Nays
- Women are not to preach and teach according to 1 Timothy 2:11-14.
- 1 Timothy 3:2 says "husband of one wife."
The Yays
- Women today are more educated than those in Paul's day.
- It was a cultural custom which no longer applies today.
- There are plenty of examples of women in authority in the Bible.
- First century churches met in the homes of women, which means they lead the church.
- There are many gifted women who might very well do a better job at preaching and teaching than many men.
- We are all one in Christ.
What are your thoughts on women as pastors or preachers?
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- From: BarryDadof3@xanga
- Name: Barry
- About Me: Hey There, I am a father of 3 children and husband to my wife (Kristenmom0f3). I am a Christian who enjoys sharing Adonai's word with others. I made this blog to become an outlet for my thoughts and feelings on being a father in this world in which we live May Elohim Bless You All Shalom BarryDadof3
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Comments (121)
Never. We should stay in the safety of our kitchens and let our husbands tell us what we should think. The outside world is way too scary.
Is this even a serious question? I'm not even Christian and I immediately think of it as un-Christ like to tell a woman she cannot preach simply because of her sex.
Woomin r to stoopid sow dey shudnt..... just kidding. I say yaaay :D Good pastors are good pastors- men and women alike :)
yay.
i thought we were living in the 21st century, not the 3rd century or whatever.
I know of many people who could add many more "nays" to your list.
I was raised to believe women should never ever be pastors, but I don't believe that anymore.
Any good,basic hermeneutic principles applied to the passages that supposedly "prohibit" women as pastors or preachers ought to lead anyone to the realization that it's not a bad thing.
i don't see why they shouldn't be.
I disagree that it was a cultural thing. You take 1 Timothy 2:11 out of context. Go back and re-read the next three verses. That does not sound like a "cultural" thing to me.
Someone can flame me for this all they want - but it's just been my experience that women tend to often be less logical, less even headed, more manipulative and more controlling than men. :) Personally I am not decided on this at all, but my instincts make me more comfortable with a man leading than a woman. Of course, men have their issues as well.... ;)
Men and women have their own gifts when it comes to giving advice, especially when the topic has special significance and relevance to the nature of their gender. Example: I would feel a lot more comfortable getting godly dating advice from a woman who has been there, because as much as men can empathize, they will still never know what it's like to be a Christian woman in a secular dating world, where the pressures are completely different. Likewise, women may never understand how much different the male sex drive is from the female one, which is why men are more notorious for struggling with lustful thoughts. So it might be more beneficial for young men to talk to their male pastors about this sort of thing rather than a female.
Ohhh..Woman Pastors?!..ever since I begin to listen and admire some Pastors speakers. I do had some of this thoughts in my mind that someday i will also in the polpit and preach God's word..Until this sunday i was invited to give a personal testimony of specific word passage and at last i get my long prayer of waiting...it's good especially if you share and bring God's word to people..I know that in my church women should not do it..but it's an opportunity God given to me..so i just obey HIs will!..it's like that also if your calling is to be preacher and a woman Pastor..go for it!..God will lead you and as long as you do it for the glory of GOd!..
Nay.
And all the "yay"-ers are not addressing what the bible has to say. They are simply talking about modern culture and the way it is. The Bible is also very clear on its views of following the "culture".
My opinion is that God put men in an authority position over women at the start of creation. That doesn't mean that men are better, smarter, or whatever, but it just means that men are meant to be the leaders. So in this case, men are called to lead the Church.
Just like the fact that God the father is in authority over God the Son, men are called to be in authority over women. This doesn't make the party in authority any better, we are equal, we just have different roles.
It is very risky to take our cultural perspective and use it to interpret a Biblical passage.
Yay to women pastors. Nay to Joyce Meyer.
I'll believe you are truly against women in church leadership when you put a man in charge of the nursery and every Sunday School class. Babies are people too, and if women are not worthy to be preaching to the grown-ups, they're not worthy to be preaching to the toddlers.
Notice that as long as women are in "simple" positions of authority or
non-theological positions of authority, it's okay. Authority with the
food and with the cleaning, etc.
The idea that God wants women to lead in the raising of children, the
cooking, the cleaning, and most other manual labor - everything but the
complicated thinky stuff - is silly, archaic and sexist. If that is
what your Bible teaches, then I don't believe your Bible.
I find it funny that we're blaming the idea that women and men can do
the same jobs on "culture." As if, at some point my wife has to work
and I stay home and babysit it's "culture's" fault. It has nothing to
do with common sense or a better understanding of what makes us all
human.
The bible says - "Let bishops or pastors, be the husband of one wife."
I don't know why, but something turns me off about women pastors. I personally wouldn't do it. I'm more of a listener and observer.
Nay.
Not because women don't have the ability or the intelligence to be pastors, but because women are biblically not suppose to be pastors.
Not to hate on my own gender or anything.
Scriptures in context will reveal a
movement toward an egalitarian attitude and community in which there is
no male nor female distinction outside the obvious. As far as roles in
a community/church go there are no universal or transcultural
limitations that would lead us to believe women have a limited place in
church leadership/authority.
Though, there may be times women should not be in leadership (just as
there will be times men shouldn't). The Spirit must be the leader and
the community must be faithful.
A fantastic read: Slaves, Women & Homosexuals by William Webb
(Joyce Meyer isnt a pastor as much as a peddler)
@musterion99@xanga - What do you think about a celibate (perhaps a eunuch) or widowed man being a bishop/pastor/elder/deacon?
@musterion99@xanga - "Let bishops or pastors, be the husband of one wife."
or does it say they should be the husband of one wife?
@MusicologyNut85@xanga - I disagree that it was a cultural thing. You
take 1 Timothy 2:11 out of context. Go back and re-read the next three
verses. That does not sound like a "cultural" thing to me.
Don't forget to read the proceding verses...
So "nay" to braided hair, gold and pearls... nothing cultural there?
@Strong_Protector@xanga -
Nay.
And all the "yay"-ers are notaddressing what the bible has to say. They are simply talking about
modern culture and the way it is. The Bible is also very clear on its
views of following the "culture".
Actually, I would say the opposite.It is very clear that the passages addressing women's roles in the Church are simply addressing past culture and the way it was. I think it is arguable that that is what the Bible has to say.
We can take from it that we should be sensitive and relevant to the culture around us in how we conduct our Churches. We shouldn't compromise God's truth for the sake of culture, but there are no Biblical truths regulating gender roles in Church, only descriptions of how it was approached in light of a certain culture and the gender roles already in place.
@TheGreatBout@xanga - That's a good question. Not sure. Maybe it means that he can't have more than one wife which would make it ok. What do you think?
@subSacred@xanga - Let bishops or pastors, be the husband of one wife."
or does it say they should be the husband of one wife?
How do you see it and how would that change whether a woman could be a pastor?
@musterion99@xanga - Well, I see it as a husband of ONE wife, meaning not having multiple spouses or sexual partners or open relationships etc. In the culture of the time it was assumed and expected that those in official roles of religious leadership were men, so of course Paul would have only said "husband of one wife" and not add "or wife of one husband". In that light, his statement does not prohibit women from being pastors, it is simply an instruction for those who were likely to be pastors at the time, and they were all men.
I see it as him either clarifying that Church leaders didn't have the rights to a heirum of ladies or simply reminding that Church leaders should be an example of monogamous marital faithfulness.
Here is a website that answers this quite logically and relatively well.
Women In Ministry(answers this question and many more)
http://www.carm.org/apologetics/women-ministry
To me I will stick to 1 Tim. 2:12-13 and Titus 1:4. I am not against women leading in activities in church but when it comes to leading the church, the responsibility lies with the men..with the women's help of course. Each has their own role to play..both equally important.