Ordination Of Women Pastors; How Do We Respond?

            Could a woman be ordained as a [senior] pastor of a church? Is it biblically right or wrong?

            The Christian community is divided over this sensitive matter. Some say yes, others say no.

            Why?

Yes

            “Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing is a senior vice president with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries and Joint Director of the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics.”¹ She also pastors in a church, “Based in Oxford, England, where she pastors at Latimer Minster with her husband Francis…”²

            Regarding the view that there are ‘silence passages’ in the Bible wherein women are instructed to not be authoritative over men, Amy, while speaking with Eternity News, said:³

Even Paul, who is often seen as a key obstacle to women’s progress in the church, accepted that women could teach and prophesy, she points out.

“What’s interesting in 1 Corinthians where Paul mentions about women being silent in the church, two chapters earlier he’s talked about how women should behave when they prophesy, which means get up and speak in front of everyone.

“So obviously, when he says be silent, he doesn’t mean all women for all time should never say anything. He turns to a specific group of women who are disrupting services and he’s asking them to be silent, but in general he’s saying when women do teach or prophesy in the church they should cover their hair. And the reason he says that is your hair was incredibly seductive; it would be like saying don’t wear an incredibly short skirt when you get up in front of people in church today. He’s not saying ‘don’t get up in front and prophesy.’”

She said this is a classic example of people taking a verse out of context and applying it to everyone for all time.

“It’s absolutely clear if you read the letter in its entirety that it doesn’t mean that,” she says.

No

            Norman Geisler advocates for male church leadership (Emphasis Mine):⁴

…when understood in context, the “silence” passages are not negating the ministry of women, but are limiting the authority of women. Paul asserts that women were not permitted “to have authority over a man” (1 Tim. 2:12). Likewise, he follows his exhortation to “keep silent” by reminding them to be “submissive” (1 Cor. 14:34). Of course, men too were under authority and needed to submit to the headship of Christ over them (1 Cor. 11:3). Indeed, the ultimate proof that there is nothing degrading about being submissive is that Christ, who was God in human flesh, is always submissive to the Father, both on earth (Phil. 2:5–8) and even in heaven (1 Cor. 15:28). That male headship and leadership is not simply a cultural matter is evident by the fact that it is based on the very order of creation (1 Cor. 11:9; 1 Tim. 2:13). Thus, elders are to be men, “the husband of one wife” (1 Tim. 3:2). This, however, in no way demeans or diminishes the role of women, either in the family or in the church. The fact that men cannot have babies is not demeaning to their humanity or their role in the family. It is simply that God has not granted them this function, but a different one.

            Wayne Grudem is also of the opinion that women should not be pastors, “My own conclusion on this issue is that the Bible does not permit women to function in the role of pastor or elder within the church.”⁵

            However, Wayne Grudem endorses the role of women in the various ministries of the church as long as that role precludes ruling and teaching functions. A woman can be a deacon (provided there is a pastor in that church), a treasurer, a counselor etc.⁶

Why Not?

            There should be no doubt whatsoever that Jesus Christ elevated the status of women in the society:⁷

1. Although Jews would have no dealings with the Samaritans, particularly the blatant sinners among them, Jesus engaged the Samaritan woman in conversation because HE cared about her spiritual condition (John 4).

2. Jesus commended the woman with hemorrhage who touched the edge of HIS cloak for her faith (Matthew 9: 20-22).

3. Mary and Martha were among Jesus’ closest friends.

4. A woman anointed Jesus at Bethany (Matthew 26:6-13) would be remembered for her act of devotion whenever and wherever the gospel was preached (vv. 10-13).

5. Mary Magdalene was the first person to whom Jesus appeared following HIS resurrection, and HE instructed her to tell HIS disciples that HE has risen (John 20: 14-18).

            This list is partial.

            Women stand on the same footing as men in the sight of God, as far as salvation is concerned (Galatians 3:28). The context of this verse is the issue of justification by faith, the individual’s status before God in terms of personal righteousness (v. 27).⁸

            Women have played a significant role in the kingdom of God:⁹

1. Miriam assisted Moses and led the Israelite women in singing and dancing after their escape from Egypt (Exodus 15: 20-21).

2. Deborah was the judge of Israel. Esther saved the Jewish people from destruction.

3. Women were seen at the cross (Luke 23: 49), they sought to anoint Jesus’ body (Luke 23: 55-56), they discovered the empty tomb, heard the message of the two angels, and conveyed the news to the apostles (Luke 24: 1-11).

4. Women were given the gift of prophecy (Isaiah 8:3; Acts 21:9; Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17; 1 Corinthians 11:5).

5. Paul commends Phoebe’s leadership (Romans 16:2). He speaks of Priscilla and Aquila as his ‘fellow workers’ in Christ Jesus (Romans 16:3-4). He speaks of Mary, Persis, Tryphena and Tryphosa as having worked very hard in the Lord (Romans 16: 6, 12). 

            The fact that both men and women are created in the image of God should not be forgotten (Genesis 1: 26-27, 5: 1-2).

            The virtuous woman in Proverbs 31 is adorned because she promotes the welfare of her family, does not constantly remain within the confines of her home, and she is engaged in trading and business affairs (vv. 18, 24).¹⁰

            The Bible says that the woman was created to be a ‘helper’ to man. This does not relegate the woman to a position of insignificance or subservience. Rather the helper is thought to be as a co-worker or enabler.¹¹

            Having said this, let’s contemplate this matter from another angle.

            Would God be unhappy or angry if the church ordains women pastors?

            Would God not bless the church that has a woman as a senior pastor (cf. Psalm 145: 9; Nahum 1: 3; Matthew 5: 45; Luke 6: 35)?

            It is God who calls a person to be a pastor (Ephesians 4:11). So if a person, even if it is a woman, has that calling, who are we to say no?

            When we argue that a woman cannot be ordained as a pastor, are we claiming that God will not give that gift to women? Can we second-guess the sovereign God?

            Are we going to claim that since God’s word explicitly mentions that the overseer/pastor/elder ought to be a man, God will not contradict HIS words and hence not offer the spiritual gift of the pastoral office to a woman?

            The description of an overseer/elder/pastor is not a command from God; rather it is a guideline/teaching for the church governance.

            So to contest God’s sovereignty even in light of HIS written word may not be a good choice (cf. Romans 9: 15-26 & ‘Cessationism’). (Contesting the ordination of women pastors and thereby peacefully agreeing to disagree is one thing. But to contest the ordination of women pastors and dividing the church of Jesus Christ is entirely another thing altogether.)

            When a church ordains women pastors, it is not sinning against God. A woman who pastors in a church will not lose her salvation.

            If the woman in contention is a sincere disciple of the Lord, Spirit-filled and has the calling into the pastoral office, why should she not be ordained?

            Significantly, the doctrine of a woman pastoring a church is not an essential doctrine of Historic Christianity. If some churches ordain women as pastors, and if these women live up to their calling, then so be it.

            Why quarrel and divide the church over a theme that is non-essential? We have much bigger matters to be concerned about e.g. Science vs. Religion, Effects of Postmodernism and New Atheism, etc.

            So then, should I be a legalist and not espouse the ordination of women into the pastoral office?

            I would rather err on the side of grace than on the side of the law.

Endnotes:

¹https://www.rzim.org/speakers/amy-orr-ewing

²https://www.rzim.org/read/rzim-global/is-christianity-bad-news-for-women

³Ibid.

⁴https://defendinginerrancy.com/bible-solutions/1_Timothy_2.12-14.php

⁵Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology (An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine), p. 937.

⁶Ibid, p. 945.

⁷Millard J. Erickson, “Christian Theology,” Second Edition, p. 564-565.

⁸Ibid, p. 565.

⁹Ibid, p. 565-566.

¹⁰Ibid, p. 564.

¹¹Ibid.

Websites last accessed on 9^th October 2019.

Is The Music Ministry Destroying Other Ministries In Your Church?

            “How was the worship at your church?”

            “Oh, it was awesome! The worship team was amazing!”

            “Wonderful…how was your personal worship experience?”

            “Very powerful indeed; the worship leader is certainly anointed!”

            Ask any young person about their worship experience, and I am so sure that a vast majority of them would, innately, refer worship to singing in the church. In today’s church parlance, singing means worship and worship refers to singing.

            Thus the dilution of “worship” raises its ugly hood in the church. This then is one of the many problems prevalent in the church today!

Glorified Music & Marginalized Worship

            There are churches that do not allocate more than 10 minutes for preaching or the exposition of the Word of God. Scripture reading would never exceed 5 minutes, even on a day when long passage(s) are read! But their singing would go on and on for more than 30 minutes. Why this imbalance?

            A pertinent point emerges to the forefront when the local church glorifies the music ministry more than the other ministries. When preeminence is bestowed upon singing, and when music ministry is glorified beyond conceivable proportions, at least a few of the other equally important ministries in the church tend to be ignored or marginalized.

            A glaring example would be the absence of the ministry of Christian apologetics (offering a rational defense for the Christian faith) in the churches today. Apologetics would generally be a non-existent ministry in your church, and a good number of church leaders tend to think that apologetics refers to offering an apology for the Christian faith!

            Dr. William Lane Craig speaks of this malady in the local church, albeit from the perspective of the church ignoring the need of a seeking mind, which leads to an intellectual impoverishment of a sincerely-questioning-Christian-mind, “I think the church is really failing these kids. Rather than provide them training in the defense of Christianity’s truth, we focus on emotional worship experiences, felt needs, and entertainment. It’s no wonder they become sitting ducks for that teacher or professor who rationally takes aim at their faith.”¹

            I am not saying that the music ministry is eating up other ministries. But I am indeed claiming that the churches are ignoring equally pertinent ministries, such as the ministry of Christian Apologetics. This is a sad existential occurrence because the church leadership invests all its efforts only into a few ministries.    

            When churches ignore the ministry of Christian apologetics, and when apologetics is not intricately woven into the fabric of your church ministry, your church would be grossly ineffective to answer the questions of a seeking Christian or a non-Christian. Some pastors even have the audacity to claim that the questioning mind is a stupid mind. Little do they realize that they are the stupid one, for not having an answer for the hope that they have in Christ (cf. 1 Peter 3:15).

            Why do churches ignore the ministry of Christian apologetics?

            “The great revivals of the 18th and 19th centuries brought with them an emphasis on quick conversion of individuals to Christianity without sufficient attention to instruction in biblical doctrine.  The Christian life became more about the experience than the intellectual assent to the teachings of Christ and the apostles.  Without intellectual grounding, many Christians fell prey to the rising philosophical views alleging that only empirical evidence can support truth claims.  Higher criticism began to cast doubt on the inerrancy of the Scriptures.  Darwinism challenged Christian teachings on the origins of man.  The evangelical church largely responded to these challenges by abandoning rational inquiry altogether.  Philosophy, as a whole, became rejected by the fundamentalists, who stood by the truth of the Scripture.  Mainstream denominations, on the other hand, accepted modern philosophy and rejected the inerrancy of Scripture, viewing it as a spiritual guidebook only, not propositional truth.  Instead of engaging the secularists, the fundamentalists retreated to the margins of society.  As a result, the church has largely adopted a blind-faith position regarding the knowledge of spiritual truth.  Rather than faith being seen as a response to reasoned evidence of the truth of Christianity’s claims, it has become contrary to reason altogether.  It amounts to believing despite all the evidence. Ultimately, the absence of apologetics in the church has to do with intellectual laziness, which is sometimes made a virtue in the name of “faith.”  The effects of anti-intellectualism in the church have been disastrous,”² says an article in Carm.org.

            Ignoring the ministry of apologetics is synonymous to ignoring the intellectual needs of the young people. When pertinent ministries are consciously ignored by the local church, the worship experience is meticulously diluted.

True & Effective Worship  

            Every mature believer understands that worship in the church includes singing. Singing praise and worship songs are as important and pertinent as the reading of the Scripture, preaching of the Word, offertory, and even the announcements. Everything that happens during the worship service is an act of worship.

            True worship does not merely refer to singing, “The apostle Paul described true worship perfectly in Romans 12:1-2: “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable, or well pleasing and perfect.”...in the passage is a description of the manner of our worship: “present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice.” Presenting our bodies means giving to God all of ourselves. The reference to our bodies here means all our human faculties, all of our humanness—our hearts, minds, hands, thoughts, attitudes—are to be presented to God. In other words, we are to give up control of these things and turn them over to Him, just as a literal sacrifice was given totally to God on the altar. But how? Again, the passage is clear: “by the renewing of your mind.” We renew our minds daily by cleansing them of the world’s “wisdom” and replacing it with true wisdom that comes from God. We worship Him with our renewed and cleansed minds, not with our emotions. Emotions are wonderful things, but unless they are shaped by a mind saturated in Truth, they can be destructive, out-of-control forces. Where the mind goes, the will follows, and so do the emotions. First Corinthians 2:16 tells us we have “the mind of Christ,” not the emotions of Christ.

            There is only one way to renew our minds, and that is by the Word of God. It is the truth, the knowledge of the Word of God, which is to say the knowledge of the mercies of God, and we’re back where we began. To know the truth, to believe the truth, to hold convictions about the truth, and to love the truth will naturally result in true spiritual worship. It is conviction followed by affection, affection that is a response to truth, not to any external stimuli, including music. Music as such has nothing to do with worship. Music can’t produce worship, although it certainly can produce emotion. Music is not the origin of worship, but it can be the expression of it. Do not look to music to induce your worship; look to music as simply an expression of that which is induced by a heart that is rapt by the mercies of God, obedient to His commands.

            True worship is God-centered worship. People tend to get caught up in where they should worship, what music they should sing in worship, and how their worship looks to other people. Focusing on these things misses the point. Jesus tells us that true worshipers will worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). This means we worship from the heart and the way God has designed. Worship can include praying, reading God's Word with an open heart, singing, participating in communion, and serving others. It is not limited to one act, but is done properly when the heart and attitude of the person are in the right place.”³

Conclusion

            Ask yourself this question today. Does your church excessively glorify its music ministry? Does this excessive glorification hurt the other ministries of your church?

            Is there a ministry of Christian apologetics in your church? If not, why?

            May all our faculties be sensitive to hear and follow God’s voice, now and always.

Endnotes:

¹William Lane Craig, On Guard: Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision, (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2010), 20.

²https://carm.org/apologetics-in-church

³https://www.gotquestions.org/true-worship.html

Websites cited were last accessed on 11^th October 2017. 

Faith Expressions of a Christian

            If a spiritually relaxed Christian (Chillin Christian) is one who relaxes much after receiving blessings from the Lord, then, I submit to you, there is another - an ignorant one.

            An ignorantly chillin Christian is the one whose faith expressions are obligated attendances to a weekly worship service of a church, daily prayers aimed to please God and receive blessings, and a self enforced participation in Godly activities to receive heavenly brownie golden points. Please allow me to elaborate.

            If going to church makes us a Christian, then going to a garage should make us a car is a bizarre yet humorous quote (paraphrased)! Regular attendance to a church worship service is not salvific. Sadly many Christians live in this quicksand belief to constantly drown themselves and their protégés into ignorance. If a gentleman believes he is saved by virtue of regular church attendance, then he is yet to study and integrate God’s Word in this context. But let us be gentle with this gentleman! Many church leaders intently dump this notion into minds only to have a full show in their church. A packed church whose worship is an unbiblical perfunctory performance is catastrophic. Today, a packed church is considered a spiritual church – a juvenile thought (Cf. Matthew 18:20)! A well decorated, regular church attendance where the body is stationed inside but mind either drifting into unconsciousness or unmindful of worship amounts to zilch.

            "Jesus did not give the Lord’s Prayer with the intention that it would be repeated mindlessly" said R.C. Sproul. Many fall into this sinful and mindless pothole! There are prayers ranted and raved as a frightened ritual, as if God would pour HIS wrath if we did not pray. Then there are prayers splitting the heavens with ocean-load of petitions to satisfy one’s hedonistic tendencies for the present and posterity. Oh, but let us be gentle with this group as well, for there are church leaders who delude people with their greed-centered enticements. They play mind games with their members through veiled threats and enticements to pray more to give more (Cf. Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9; Galatians 6:7b)!

            A few years ago, I heard a very famous evangelist advertise for finances by prayerfully promising donors a place in his golden tree - the more one prayerfully gives, the higher his placement in the tree. A friend once humorously quipped that the pastor who prayerfully preaches material-prosperity gospel is the one who elevates into material prosperity, whereas his abundantly generous and prayerful congregation will plunge into material obscurity!

            Are prayers meant only as rituals to receive material blessings? If your honest answer is yes, then your Bible study needs to roll on the right track, else you will continue your stroll deep into Christian wilderness.

            Every Christian is graciously given spiritual gift(s) (Ephesians 4:7-13 et al.) Unfortunately many of us do not realize that the graciously given gift is to build God’s people for works of godly service. Some assume this gracious gift as a lottery for self-aggrandizement. They use spiritual gifts to build their own kingdom instead of God’s, and wax eloquent about their spiritual successes. Some serve in church programs with blinded arrogance implying God would suffer in their absence. Their motive is to delight God with their competent service because they are so full of themselves. In their distorted fullness, they think their service scores heavenly golden points for a greater reward. Must we not be foundationally involved in Christian ministry out of sincere love for God and man?

            These spiritually gifted Christians strive to erase Luke 17:10 through their vain boast. Instead of unworthiness and servant-hood, they proclaim sole ownership and lordship (Cf. Matthew 20:25-27; 1 Peter 5:3). The body of Christ (church) becomes their playground, Christians their primary victims; thus Christianity morphs into a godless and heartless tyranny!

            We live a lie if our church attendance, our prayers, and our service to God and man are as above. The question is, “where is our heart?”

            But, this is the truth. We regularly attend church worship to worship and glorify God in the community of saints by sharing God’s love and grace. A church worship encompasses preaching and practicing of the glorious “unity in diversity”, and souls are enlightened of God’s presence and activities. Vertical (God-man) and horizontal (man-man) relationships are strengthened in the church, and the community of believers learns and strives to obey the commands and commission of the Lord. The believer grows in holiness so to be presented holy and blameless in the Father’s presence (Cf. Colossians 1:22; Jude 1:24). If our church worship actively integrates these components, then our presence and worship is indeed in spirit and in truth. Our heart should crave for the Lord.

            Worshipping in spirit and in truth is a 24-hour pursuit. Prayer is an integral component of our worship. Thus, prayer is a constant endeavor (1 Thessalonians 5:17); prayer and worship cannot be compartmentalized. We pray to glorify God (Psalms 50:15; John 14:13) and to commune with HIM always. Prayer is an act of love, a desire of our soul to align ourselves with God’s will for our life. We pray in all circumstances for we (are to) love the Lord with all our life. Our heart should yearn for the Lord and HIS will for our life.

            Money is essential for existence, but greed is sinful (Cf. Matthew 6:24; 1 Timothy 6:10; Hebrews 13:5). Giving to a godly cause is a blessing, but giving to receive more is business! We are not called to transact business with God. The Bible preaches sacrificial giving (2 Corinthians 8:1-7). I shall share my thoughts on this subject later.

            Love is foundational to serving God and man (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18 et al.). We serve God only to glorify HIM, but as unworthy servants in utmost faith and cognizance that HE will sustain what HE has begun in us. We serve as empty vessels filled by the Spirit and power of God, knowing all glory and praise is due to HIM alone. As we serve HIM and HIS people, our constant and conscious endeavor is for us to become lesser and for HIM to become greater (John 3:30). We serve as mere donkeys carrying our Lord Jesus in our body, which is HIS temple. All accolades poured out are for the Master but never for the donkey (Matthew21:1-11). We serve for our heart loves God and man.

            Therefore, let us not mindlessly chill, but may we be donkeys on fire for the Lord, this we ask in Christ’s name. Amen.