Women As Pastors 2

To continue from last week.

I'm not talking about women being subhuman or useless or inferior.
I'm talking about a way God wants His Church to be run.

1 Corinthians 14
34 The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says.
35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.

Why? Why were they to keep silent? Well, read the whole chapter. He's talking about tongues. He's talking about interpreting. He's talking about prophecy.

He's talking about who is leading the church service.

And the context is that he's telling them to keep it from being a food fight! Everyone yelling and being out of order.

He's talking about the women "subjecting" themselves so there can be an orderly church service. If they have a question about doctrine or the Bible then that husband of hers is supposed to be a "Priest" is his home and train his family.

There is a hierarchy going on here. A "chain of command".
Is this so hard for us to understand?

Ever been in the military?. Most of us were enlisted. Are we "inferior" for being enlisted?
Perhaps some officers think so but all of us know that objectively that's just not true.
We're just in a "different" order of things. We cannot be the Commander or the Air Force Cheif Of Staff but we're not useless or inferior or subhuman.

We know about "subordination" and we "subject" ourselves under those appointed over us.
We have a Chain Of Command in the military.
We have a Chain Of Command in our homes...

1 Peter 3
1 In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives,
2 as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.
3 Your adornment must not be merely external braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses;
4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.
5 For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands;
6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.
7 You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

And we have a Chain Of Command in Christ’s church...

1 Timothy 3
1 It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, ("episkope" -- Bishop, Pastor), it is a fine work he desires to do.
2 An overseer...("episkope" -- Bishop, Pastor), then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.
4 He must be one who manages his own household well, ( and I refer you to 1 Pet 3:7 and Eph 5:25-33 to know how to do that)... keeping his children under control with all dignity
5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),

And, I ask, how can he manage his own household at all unless he's a man?!?
As dictated by 1 Peter 3 and Ephesians 5:22-33.

1 Timothy 3
6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.
7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain,
9 but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
10 These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.
11 Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things.
12 Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households.
13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
14 I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long;
15 but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.

So... A "pastor"... An "overseer"... The person up there running the service when the body of Christ assembles to worship and learn...

must be above reproach
temperate
prudent
respectable
hospitable
able to teach,

And a man..."the husband of one wife"

It's clear to me that a woman may serve, be a deacon, and if she is not in "authority" over men, even teach but she may not fill the office of Overseer, Bishop, the "Pastor" of the church body. That office is exclusively for a man to do.

A woman coming in to fill the office of Overseer, Bishop, the "Pastor", is unscriptural and wrong.

I've been told, "Well, in 1 Timothy 2:12 that's just Paul saying that he didn't allow it. Maybe some body else does."

Paul was an Apostle. Moved by the Holy Spirit. Writing to Timothy at Ephesus to teach him how to run a church. And what apostles taught and dictated had clout.

Ephesians 2:20
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

Acts 2:42
They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

And Paul was one of them...

Romans 1:1
Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

So when Paul writes to Timothy dictating mandates from the Holy Spirit to His church we're to take them seriously and obediently

Between you and me, what I personally think Gods point is with all this is not, "You women need to learn your place. Shut up and get in that kitchen!"

But rather, "You men need to learn your place. Shut up and grow up and start leading this family, this house, this church."

Isaiah 3:12
O My people! Their oppressors are children, And women rule over them. O My people! Those who guide you lead you astray And confuse the direction of your paths.

Lemme tell you. You don't run it, she will. She won't be entirely to blame if she does.
Your family, your house, your church.
There are some things that we have to accept as God’s rules and live with it.
He has His reasons and we need to trust Him.

But I’ll close on this note.

This is a rule for this world.
There will be no exclusive roles for men and women in eternity...

Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Men as head over their wives in their family and their church is a picture that we will see for real one day.

1 Corinthians 13:9-11
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

When the Bride is living at home with her Husband the picture will no longer be needed.

Be patient ladies.
You’re being told to be a portrait not a punching bag.

Some day our Prince will come.