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| Evangelist John Bosco |
Should women teach from the pulpit? Should women be ordained as pastors? Is it a right for women? Do they have equal right on the altar of the Lord? How should women behave in the Church of Christ? What are their roles in the Church? These and more questions of the same nature have been ignored or misunderstood as if they (women and the other pastors) have not read what God's words teach.
First of all, to be frank, there are women who are powerful in the words of God with a high profile of prayers and healing miracles e.g. Joyce Meyer is one of the women I know, she is surely a heat to bear. We have so many! That is not bad, the problem is using the pulpit or altar and leading men in the Church, on what ground can we justify that she obeys and does God's work?
I don't have problems with whatever a gifted woman does outside the house of God, until it is inside especially where men are.
Let's turn to 1 Timothy 2:9-12, (9. In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair, or gold or pearls or costly clothing. 10. but which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. 11. Let a women learn in silence with all submission. 12. And I do not permit a woman to teach or have authority over man, but to be in silence. 13. For Adam was formed first and then EVE. 14. And Adam was not deceived but the woman being deceived fell into transgression. 15. Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self control)
In this chapter verse 9, women were first given instructions on how to dress during worship; they should adorn themselves with modest apparels, they should be modest in behavior, they should not put on gold or costly arrays or materials, But should always be ready to demonstrate godliness and good work.
In verse 11, women are instructed on how to learn; they need to learn in silence, they need total subjection.
In fact, they need not to lead prayer when men are around, but in silence from their hearts can talk to God, they need a TOTAL SUBJECTION, total here means complete without compromise. This could also apply to leading even songs in Church of God according to instructions given to Timothy as an evangelist/ young pastor.
Paul didn't only end here but even said women are not to teach, usurp authority over men but to Be in Silence. Vs 12.
Paul, as a servant called by God, gave reasons supporting his stand.
First of all, he referred the church to understand the creation of man, he said, " For Adam was first formed, then Eve." Vs 13.
Therefore he is saying that women must respect the status quo of man, the authority given to him, if a woman wants to do something, she must inquire the man first.
Here the channel remains without compromise.
Secondly, the Church is reminded of how sin entered into the world in 14 (Gen 3:1-7). It is through the weak judgement of woman that is why we live in transgressions. Therefore Paul believed that the same characters of woman deceived thousands years ago still the same to the woman of today and in fact nowadays it is easier for them to be deceived. (Believe me, use money today, you won a woman heart- very cheap!)
To avoid this repetition, woman should not have a lead in the church.
Ask me, what about the deaconesses talked about hereafter in this same book and the book of Titus 2:3-5?
Simple, they are to;
1-Teach the young women of how to love their husbands
2-Teach or care for children
3-Maintain cleanness
4- Leaving exemplary life so that the Word of God may not be blasphemed
5- Teachers of good things.
These roles don't only apply to deaconesses but a general duties of women both at home and in the Church.
Now, if this is how it is, should women stop preaching the Gospel? Certainly I say no!
From the preceding explanations, all the duties of women is a gospel by living. They could witness to Gospel through their living characters and even act as messengers to those who are not in the church where men are not reachable for the Gospel.
To put it clear, no woman is stop from preaching the Word unless where there are men. In another word, if there is no man who can preach the Gospel or where there are only women in a gathering, a woman responsibility is not limited! But when a man appears, she has to come done in respect of what God designed.
In summary, if it means Gospel let it be Gospel, we have no authority to add or subtract to His directives (Rev 22:18,19) through his Anointed Ones.(1 Peter 2:9)
Our only problem in this world is a "compromised sins," even if the truth is plain, most of us especially pastors or the CALLED ONES tend to cover up, but Jesus said, we ought to make the light in us shine.
Others do this in the name of Human Right or Women Right that started a century ago. Yes, you (woman) can do what I can do but you can't do what I must do as a man.
We all duties and responsibilities to perform given our nature and distinguished caliber. Your right in this context is an abuse to your duties to God that is why you shall never preach from this chapter.
Just saying the Truth.
Choose that which is right and enshrined in His word
God blessing and wishes from the Called One of God. Amen.
(All texts are from KJV unless indicated)
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