Women Pastors and Preachers

I’ve have heard 2 Timothy 1:5 used to defend women as pastors and preachers. The problem is that this verse has nothing to do with being a pastor or a preacher; it is entirely about parenting and raising your child in the ways of the Lord.

 2 Timothy 1:5 (ESV) I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

Proverbs 22:6 (ESV)
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

In contrast, we do have these scriptures that make it quite clear regarding women teaching or preaching.

1 Corinthians 14:33-35 (ESV)  
 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.

I’ve heard some argue that this was simply an issue within this church, where women were causing problems. However, it states, “As in all the churches of the saints,” so this wasn’t limited to one church—it applied to all the churches. Additionally, we see this addressed in 1 Timothy 2:12-15.

1 Timothy 2:12-15 (ESV)

 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.

Again, I’ve heard people argue that this was specific to the time and culture they lived in. However, Paul stated that it was because Adam was formed first, then Eve. Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. I don’t see how the message could be any clearer. Yet, we still try everything possible to justify women as preachers and teachers.

Now, I will add that there is nothing in the Scriptures that says a woman cannot teach a child or other women. 2 Timothy 1:5 shows us how a grandmother and mother should raise their child in the ways of the Lord. If you’re a woman with a youth ministry or a women’s ministry, I see nothing wrong with that, nor can I find anything in the Bible that speaks against it. In fact, I believe the Bible supports that role for women.I have heard this scripture used several times in defense of women pastors and preachers.

Acts 2:17 (ESV)
 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;

But then again, this verse does not say women can be pastors or preachers. It says, “and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,”

I like this from Bible.org. Prophecy is not identical to preaching but involves both forthtelling and foretelling. The reason women may prophesy but not teach or preach to men is that the message that the prophet gets from God is not filtered through the interpretive process—that is, it is directly mediated by the Spirit. Hence, in effect, prophecies are ‘tamper-proof,’ whereas teaching is not.

I have heard it said they believe the Bible is God's inspired word but then go on and to say they think John got it wrong in 1 John 2:1 (ESV) My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.
They think it should say “you will sin”. To me it looks like they think Paul and John just got it wrong.

So why do we struggle so much with what Paul teaches? Why do we try to find reasons to go against his teachings? If Paul was wrong about this, what else might he have been wrong about? Do we truly believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God?

Posting what I believe on Facebook has gotten me into trouble recently—lol. You don’t have to agree with me on everything, and that’s okay. You’re welcome to tell me why you think I’m wrong, but please make it biblical and include your scriptures. Simply saying, “So-and-so is doing great work for the Lord,” and using that as proof doesn’t cut it.

Voddie Bachman has said it would be easier to make a biblical argument for polygamy than for women preachers.

 

Becoming Radicalized for Christ
People will be lovers of self

Godlessness in the Last Days

2 Timothy 3:1-5 (ESV)
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

 

This is truly sad this is not talking about the people of the world this is talking about people in the church people putting on the appearance of being godly. Unfortunately, we have these people in the church today. We can see this with all the high-profile preachers that have been caught in their sin. It's not just the preachers, it is the people in the congregation, even deacons or board members. We have become afraid of calling out these people because we don't want to judge, or is it because of sin in our life? We have become so in love with ourselves that we do not want to die to self and keep on living for self and praying that God will give us our desires. Are we so worried about our standard of living that we do not care about others? Why do we need a big fancy church when we could have a warehouse stocked with food and set on bags of beans or rice when we have church and then we give the food to the needy? Would this not be a better use of Gods money?

Matthew 7:5 (ESV)
You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

We must become willing to die to self and purge that log out of our eye so that we can help others.

 

Becoming Radicalized for Christ

Does God revolve around you?

 2 Timothy 2:20-21 (ESV)
Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

Does God revolve around you, or do you revolve around God? Think about that.
Are we so caught up with ourselves, we think everything revolves around us?
We think that God is just about us, and we forget His righteousness, His holiness.
We are here to praise Him and to give Him glory. We are to throw ourselves down at His feet.
We must cleanse ourselves in His righteousness, giving up our dishonorable self and be a vessel for His Holy use, ready for every good work.

 

Becoming Radicalized for Christ
The Advance of the Gospel

Philippians 1:12-14 (ESV)
I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Wow what a testimony this is. This is what I want my faith to be like. Right now, here in America we don't have to worry about going to jail or prison because we worship the Lord. Right now, our biggest persecution is being mocked and ridiculed and in extreme cases maybe losing our job. I do foresee a time we might be rounded up and put into a reeducation camp. Right now, in Britain in Ireland they are threatened with jail time for just standing and saying a silent prayer or even charged with hate speech for reading the bible. I do fear this is coming to the United States in the not too distance future. If this does happen, will you be ready to stand like Paul for your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and still bring glory to His name.

Becoming Radicalized for Christ
Do Not Be Anxious

If you really want to be Radicalized for Christ here’s a start. It is a hard start but one we must do and understand. This is hard for me even though I know how God has looked out for the Pickens homestead it’s still gets hard not to worry. Sometimes I must sit back and remember what God has brought us through and has done for us. I must be ready to give it all up if God ask me too.

To read the rest of the story Click Here

 

Becoming Radicalized for Christ

WOW do an internet search for becoming radicalized for Christ and see what you get.

Southern Poverty Law Center
Holy Hate: The Far Right's Radicalization of Religion

Quillette
The Josiah Effect: How Moderate Religion Fuels Fundamentalism
From Quillette:
“It soon occurred to me that my church, precisely because it was moderate, was failing to adhere faithfully to Christ’s teachings. What was needed, I thought, was a return to the fundamentals. And that was my first step down a potentially dangerous road. It was entirely logical — after all, if you really have a divine book on your hands, you’d be stupid not to devote yourself to it.”

The Atlantic
How Politics Poisoned the Evangelical Church

The Christian Century
A curriculum for radicalization | The Christian Century

To read the rest of the story click here.

 

Nothing happens by chance.

God has laid out a plan for our lives, our biggest problem is free will—we often get in the way and resist God. We were born in the time and place where God wanted us to be. God does have a plan for you, though you may never fully know what it is. That’s why we must truly die to self and allow God to move us to where He wants us to be, and to be a reflection of Christ here on earth.

For the rest of the story click here.

To see my YouTube video of this story click here.