This is a subject I’ve studied and wrestled with for years,
but one I’ve avoided writing about before because I don’t want to offend anyone.
I’ll admit up front that I’m biased by the fact that my grandmother was an
ordained minister. She was never the hired pastor, but she worked alongside my
grandfather and filled the pulpit for him on occasion. She was well-respected
and humble. My own educational background of Bible college and seminary led me
to believe that women can have any and all of the same spiritual gifts that men
can have. And from a purely personal perspective, I know the feeling that
arises when someone says “You can’t do that because you’re a woman.” Call it
pride or rebellion if you like, but for many people that’s a reality that is
not easily dismissed.
On the theological
side, I’ve read all the arguments for and against women in particular ministry
roles. There are highly educated people on both sides, and it’s not my
intention to say who is right and who’s wrong or to debate with anyone. (A few
resources are listed below.) It’s an area that is far greyer than many people
would like. The relevant Scriptures have been interpreted quite differently by
each side with what usually appears to be logical support. God could certainly
have inspired Scripture differently if He wanted this issue to be clear cut.
(As a side note, for those who claim “The Bible is our only
rule of faith,” do you have deaconesses, trustees, a church board, property and
facilities, and denominational structures? In many cases it seems like church
governance is determined more by historical precedent than Scripture. So we’re
carrying a double standard before we even get to the debated questions of
deacons and elders, pastors, or women in ministry.)
Having said all that, I still find conflict within myself on
the roles of women in the church. When the local Methodist church announced the
new female pastor who was arriving, my first thought was, “I’m glad I don’t go
there.” I would be uncomfortable sitting under the pastoral authority of a
woman as a preacher or as a counselor. (I would have trouble being Methodist
and accepting their denominational structure too, but that’s another issue.) What
it boils down to for me is that while I think women can hold the same positions as men, that doesn’t mean they should do so in all circumstances. Every
church body is different, and what works in one place may not work in another. I
would also be uncomfortable attending a church where the pastor has visible
tattoos and wears cut-offs while preaching, though he or she has the right to
do so.
“‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things are helpful.
‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own
good, but the good of his neighbor” (1 Corinthians 10:23-24). This is where the
rubber meets the road. There are many people on both sides of the issue who are
so adamant about their position that they’ve lost sight of the reason the
Church exists. The purpose of the Church is not to espouse women’s rights or to
subjugate women. It’s not about proper dress code or obeying the letter of the
law. (Jesus had some choice words for the Pharisees in that regard.) The Church
exists to spread the good news of Jesus Christ so that as many as possible may
come to saving faith in Him, thereby glorifying God for eternity. God can use
men, women, children, sunsets, and starfish to draw people to Himself.
The question we should be asking is not whether a woman
should ever be allowed to preach, but whether our church body is prayerfully and
humbly seeking God’s guidance as to how we should minister right now to the
people and situations He has put on our doorstep. That’s probably enough to
keep us busy until the Second Coming.
“Do nothing from
selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than
yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the
interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).
Beyond Sex Roles, Gilbert Bilezikian
Women in Ministry: Four Views
Women, Authority & the Bible, Alvera Mickelsen
