Pastor John,
I have another task before me and maybe you can give me some insight on this subject.
“Women place in ministry” do you believe women to be in position as pastor, bishop, apostle etc.. I can not really find supporting scriptures. but there some commentaries that speak otherwise. Please give me your view of this subject.
Thanks
“Lets do it Again in 2010”
Acts 4:31: “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”
Bishop Elect G. E. M., Sr.
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Dear Sir:
Greetings in the precious name of Jesus.
We know that the apostle Philip had four daughters who prophesied, and we know that both Priscilla and her husband Aquila ministered to the great teacher Apollos, to bring him into the true faith, and that they held meetings of the saints in their home. In the Old Testament, too, there were women who functioned as judges (e.g. Deborah), as wise counselors who gave saving counsel to men of God (e.g., Abigail when she met David on his way to do an evil deed), and as prophetesses (e.g., Huldah, who spoke for God to the righteous young king, Josiah, and Anna, who met Mary and her holy infant in the temple).
It should settle the issue for us all just to know that the Spirit can and has used women throughout history, to minister, to judge, and to give godly counsel to God’s people.
Confusion concerning women in the ministry comes when men start trying to decide whether THEY will use women in THEIR religions. God made His decision a long, long time ago.
Pastor John
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Pastor John,
I have always for along time thought it was not proper to have a woman as the head of anything, but by this e-mail it sounds like (to me) that it is ok ????
Steve
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Hi Steven.
I don’t see how anyone could think that a woman being moved by the Spirit is functioning as the head of something she’s not supposed to be the head of. There is no Scripture anywhere which tells us that a woman cannot be the head of anything. We are only told that she is not to be the head of her husband, just as the man is not to be head of Christ, nor Christ to be the head of God.
Women are well suited to be head of many things in this life. They certainly can be wonderful teachers of children and administrators of households, just to name two. The description of a godly woman (Prov. 31) given by king Lemuel, Solomon’s wise friend, is not one of a belittled, battered female curled up some dark corner of the house, afraid to speak unless spoken to. She is diligent at much and varied kinds of work; she is gifted with both insight and foresight; she is caring; she is responsible and shrewd in business; she makes wise purchases; she is a major reason that her husband enjoys a good reputation in the community; she is honored by her husband, her children, and those who work for her. None of those wonderful qualities means that she is her husband’s head, but she unquestionably knows how to run the home and how to handle people and possessions wisely.
It always, eventually, proves to be disastrous when women and children occupy places of authority that God reserves for men. The phrase from Isaiah 11:6, “and a little child shall lead them” is often used, kind of romantically, to point out that little children can guide adults. And, truthfully, God will use little children sometimes to speak to adults. He has spoken through little children to me. But that Scripture from Isaiah is talking about little children leading animals, not their parents or society. God’s order, the only order that brings peace, does not allow for children to be their parents’ head. Homes where children are in charge of the agenda, or in charge of the general tone of the house, have very little peace.
For women and children in Israel to be leaders of the nation was a sign that God had cursed the nation (Isa. 3:1-12). I believe that is the case in any nation, not because women are incompetent to manage or too stupid to make good decisions but because God will not bless man’s re-arranging of His order. Please note that although God’s displeasure at a nation can be shown by His placing of women and children in positions of authority where men ought to be is not to say that women are never to be head of anything! There are many places in this life where women function extremely well as the head, and many other places, such as marriage, where their counsel and deeds can lead to much peace, financial stability, and happiness — if the husband isn’t so hard-headed that he refuses to follow his wife’s advice. And you and I both know by experience that such is the case.
I hope this clears that issue up for you.
Pastor John