Women in the Kingdom of God
Introduction
This post is the second in a series on God’s kingdom women. Each post will be deliberately controversial. I hope that readers will weigh in with their comments. Please join the conversation.
My contention is that those who hold a hierarchal view of gender (men must lead; women must submit) base their claims on grounds that are biblically inconclusive, historically inaccurate, theologically incoherent, philosophically inconsistent, and ethically irresponsible. In the following weeks the posts seek to answer the well-founded questions that are raised by those who observe the inequity between men and women in the church.
- If men are superior to women, then why doesn’t God say so in his word?
2. If men are in charge, then why have women gotten the blame historically?
3. If men desire to rule by privilege and domination, then why did Jesus become a servant?
4. If men are essentially equal to women, then why are women still forbidden to serve in leadership positions?
5. If men are effective leaders, then why is there still so much abuse in the church and the home?
God has always called and gifted women for service in his kingdom. Christians believe that God’s Word is eternal. I believe that what God has to say about his children is of the most importance, so we will look at what the Bible has to say about women in ministry first. The principles that it contains are timeless so we will look at history. Since God is in control of history, we should expect to find evidence of the fulfillment of God’s plan for women throughout history. Since God gives understanding, we should expect theology to conform to God’s design. Since God give wisdom, we should expect to discover that philosophical pursuits will agree with God’s Word. And since God created men and women to love and serve in his kingdom, we will find that not following Jesus as our example will lead to ethical problems.
Throughout this series, we will illustrate the problems with a view that only men may serve God in leadership positions in the church by relating the stories of women who were clearly called and gifted by God for service.
Last time we related a story about a woman who was so gifted for her service that the male leadership let her do all of the work while their only responsibility was to meet once a month and decide how to spend the money. She was undoubtedly doing the work of a deacon. At her church, only males were allowed to be called deacons, since titles were for men only. She continued to serve faithfully without a title. She did not seek one; she was too humble and only wished to serve.
This week we will look at the true story of a woman who faithfully served on the mission field for over thirty years. Her only desire was to bring the joy of Christ to others. On the mission field she was allowed to serve in many ways. As soon as she returned home however, she was constrained. She wanted to share her testimony and struggled to do what was right only seeking God’s will. Along with me, she had to ask the question:
If men are superior to women, then why doesn’t God say so in his word?
Those opposing women in leadership positions in the church cannot prove their claims conclusively from the Scriptures. They mishandle God’s word not only in the misinterpreted verses, but by leaving out the rest of the Scriptures that support God’s calling and gifting of women for his service.
The Holy Spirit gifts men and women in the church for service, not for themselves but for “the common good”. Paul does not say that the Spirit gives some gifts to men and different ones to women. All believers are gifted and called to a service.
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gits of healing by the one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body – whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. (I Corinthians 12:4-13)
Barbara – Called to Serve
I met Barbara at an Evangelical Theological Society annual conference. We were attending a debate on Women’s Leadership in the Church. During the break we had a chance to chat. Barbara told me her story.
“Ever since I was a child,” she told me, “I was fascinated with the missionaries who spoke at our church. I’ve known since I was five years old that I would be a missionary when I grew up. In high school I studied several foreign languages. I attended every missionary conference at our church or in our community. I made connections with men and women who were serving in various places all around the world.
“I went to college and got a degree in cultural studies, graduating with honors. Then I went to seminary where I studied missiology. During this time I felt a strong call to go to Africa. I was so excited when I was invited to join a group going to Uganda who would oversee my practicum. My experience confirmed my calling, and I joined the group permanently after graduation. This was over thirty years ago. I have been very happy serving in Uganda.
“There is always more work to do than there are people to do the jobs. There are also twice as many women in our group as men. Because of that I have served in every position from janitor to bible study leader, to schoolteacher, to mentor, to preaching. I do charitable work in the community including handing out food and medical supplies. I visit the sick in hospitals and in their homes. Our group has regular fellowship times where we encourage and support each other.
“We have been privileged to see many hundreds of Ugandans come to Christ. We provide discipleship programs for them. We try to get them involved in church activities as soon as they are willing. In spite of the fact that I am a white woman, they have all accepted me and treat me with respect. The truth is that it is the gospel that is important. Our relationship with Christ is paramount. No one worries about gender or color. The new converts are eager to learn more about the bible and are happy that I am there to teach them. When I preach on Sundays we have a wonderful time of fellowship and discussions about the word of God afterwards.
“Last month the mission sent me home for a long-overdue furlough. I was looking forward to telling the churches about the number of lost souls who were being saved. I wanted them to rejoice with me over so many new brothers and sisters. Yes, I was also hoping that they would continue their support of the mission. They had shown as a church that they were serious about the role of the church in obeying Christ’s instructions to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. Not everyone is called to foreign missions. They had been generous in supporting those who would leave their families to serve in other countries.
“I told the pastor that I would prepare a talk with slides of the work. He said the people would enjoy that. I asked if I could speak in the Sunday morning service in order to reach the whole congregation. I was more than disappointed when he said that that wouldn’t work. There were two problems – women were not allowed in the pulpit and Sunday morning was only for his sermon. I would have to speak on Sunday evening and I would have to stand down in front of the altar area. ‘Of course,’ he explained, ‘that was the biblical order. Women should not speak to men in an authoritative position like the pulpit.’
“Mary,” she wept as she told me, “I don’t understand. Why was it ok for me to preach on the mission field but not here in the United States?” Barbara wondered if she was sinning in Uganda. She told me that another man had said that he thought that she got a special dispensation to speak in Africa because it was an emergency situation since there were no men available. But if it is intrinsically wrong for women to teach men then it is always wrong.
We both had several questions. If it is a sin for women to teach men and God cares about the people in Africa, then why doesn’t he provide more male missionaries? We agreed that we cannot blame God. Where are the men then? Why do they only comprise one-third of the mission force?
As we looked around the room and saw only white people, we also wondered if women get a pass preaching to black people in Africa because black believers, male or female, are not as important as white male believers. Are we saying that here in America we must have a proper white male in the pulpit and that In Africa maybe a woman will do. Is there some sub limital racial discrimination going on?
Barbara and I agreed that the problem was not with God. The problem is with a poor reading and understanding of God’s word. We have developed some bad cultural habits. We need to base our understanding of women in leadership positions on what God has to say about it, not on tradition.
Just as I had pondered questions raised in Dorothy’s situation as un unacknowledged deacon, I began to ponder questions about women in preaching or teaching positions.
Though she had been teaching on the mission field, why was Barbara not allowed to teach in her church in America?
Is it a “sin” for women to preach? Patriarchalists would say that women are forbidden to ever be in authority over a man. Do we not find some women in the Bible whom God put in positions of leadership?
Biblical Teaching on Leadership in Ministry
“Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them … (Genesis 1:26-27).
This is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall be in the last day,’ God says, ‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on My bondslaves, both men and women, I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit and they shall prophesy’ (Acts 2:16– 18).
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).
Is the body of Christ divided into greater and lesser members when men are permitted to do some tasks and women are forbidden to use their gifts for service? Are those who insist that everyone is a member but there is a necessary hierarchy based on gender correct? If one of the greater gifts is prophecy, and Paul said to “eagerly desire the greater gifts” (I Corinthians 12:31) are women with the gift of prophecy excluded because they must not be in a position of instructing men?
What is preaching? Is it not bringing the word of God to the people? Should we look at what the Bible says about true prophesy (another type of preaching/teaching)? The test of a true prophet is found in Deuteronomy 13, 2 Peter 1:21, I Corinthians 14:4. True prophets turn people to God, not away from God to false teaching. Hulda, Jeremiah, Stephen, and Jesus were true prophets. Anna and the daughters of Philip were true prophets. Should those biblical women have been forbidden to give their prophecy if there were men in the room?
What about preaching to African Americans? Barbara shared with me that some black churches in Africa would invite white ministers to speak to them, but the Reformed church in her area would not invite black speakers. Does this not show the same hierarchical thinking to say that men can preach but not women?
What does it mean that the gifts of the Spirit are given for the common good? Are women not allowed to participate in the common good?
Barbara and I decided that the church needs to take seriously what God has to say in His word about women in ministry.
Dear readers please weigh in on this discussion.
God’s Kingdom Women – Calling
Women in the Kingdom of God
Introduction
This post is the second in a series on God’s kingdom women. Each post will be deliberately controversial. I hope that readers will weigh in with their comments. Please join the conversation.
My contention is that those who hold a hierarchal view of gender (men must lead; women must submit) base their claims on grounds that are biblically inconclusive, historically inaccurate, theologically incoherent, philosophically inconsistent, and ethically irresponsible. In the following weeks the posts seek to answer the well-founded questions that are raised by those who observe the inequity between men and women in the church.
2. If men are in charge, then why have women gotten the blame historically?
3. If men desire to rule by privilege and domination, then why did Jesus become a servant?
4. If men are essentially equal to women, then why are women still forbidden to serve in leadership positions?
5. If men are effective leaders, then why is there still so much abuse in the church and the home?
God has always called and gifted women for service in his kingdom. Christians believe that God’s Word is eternal. I believe that what God has to say about his children is of the most importance, so we will look at what the Bible has to say about women in ministry first. The principles that it contains are timeless so we will look at history. Since God is in control of history, we should expect to find evidence of the fulfillment of God’s plan for women throughout history. Since God gives understanding, we should expect theology to conform to God’s design. Since God give wisdom, we should expect to discover that philosophical pursuits will agree with God’s Word. And since God created men and women to love and serve in his kingdom, we will find that not following Jesus as our example will lead to ethical problems.
Throughout this series, we will illustrate the problems with a view that only men may serve God in leadership positions in the church by relating the stories of women who were clearly called and gifted by God for service.
Last time we related a story about a woman who was so gifted for her service that the male leadership let her do all of the work while their only responsibility was to meet once a month and decide how to spend the money. She was undoubtedly doing the work of a deacon. At her church, only males were allowed to be called deacons, since titles were for men only. She continued to serve faithfully without a title. She did not seek one; she was too humble and only wished to serve.
This week we will look at the true story of a woman who faithfully served on the mission field for over thirty years. Her only desire was to bring the joy of Christ to others. On the mission field she was allowed to serve in many ways. As soon as she returned home however, she was constrained. She wanted to share her testimony and struggled to do what was right only seeking God’s will. Along with me, she had to ask the question:
If men are superior to women, then why doesn’t God say so in his word?
Those opposing women in leadership positions in the church cannot prove their claims conclusively from the Scriptures. They mishandle God’s word not only in the misinterpreted verses, but by leaving out the rest of the Scriptures that support God’s calling and gifting of women for his service.
The Holy Spirit gifts men and women in the church for service, not for themselves but for “the common good”. Paul does not say that the Spirit gives some gifts to men and different ones to women. All believers are gifted and called to a service.
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gits of healing by the one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body – whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. (I Corinthians 12:4-13)
Barbara – Called to Serve
I met Barbara at an Evangelical Theological Society annual conference. We were attending a debate on Women’s Leadership in the Church. During the break we had a chance to chat. Barbara told me her story.
“Ever since I was a child,” she told me, “I was fascinated with the missionaries who spoke at our church. I’ve known since I was five years old that I would be a missionary when I grew up. In high school I studied several foreign languages. I attended every missionary conference at our church or in our community. I made connections with men and women who were serving in various places all around the world.
“I went to college and got a degree in cultural studies, graduating with honors. Then I went to seminary where I studied missiology. During this time I felt a strong call to go to Africa. I was so excited when I was invited to join a group going to Uganda who would oversee my practicum. My experience confirmed my calling, and I joined the group permanently after graduation. This was over thirty years ago. I have been very happy serving in Uganda.
“There is always more work to do than there are people to do the jobs. There are also twice as many women in our group as men. Because of that I have served in every position from janitor to bible study leader, to schoolteacher, to mentor, to preaching. I do charitable work in the community including handing out food and medical supplies. I visit the sick in hospitals and in their homes. Our group has regular fellowship times where we encourage and support each other.
“We have been privileged to see many hundreds of Ugandans come to Christ. We provide discipleship programs for them. We try to get them involved in church activities as soon as they are willing. In spite of the fact that I am a white woman, they have all accepted me and treat me with respect. The truth is that it is the gospel that is important. Our relationship with Christ is paramount. No one worries about gender or color. The new converts are eager to learn more about the bible and are happy that I am there to teach them. When I preach on Sundays we have a wonderful time of fellowship and discussions about the word of God afterwards.
“Last month the mission sent me home for a long-overdue furlough. I was looking forward to telling the churches about the number of lost souls who were being saved. I wanted them to rejoice with me over so many new brothers and sisters. Yes, I was also hoping that they would continue their support of the mission. They had shown as a church that they were serious about the role of the church in obeying Christ’s instructions to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. Not everyone is called to foreign missions. They had been generous in supporting those who would leave their families to serve in other countries.
“I told the pastor that I would prepare a talk with slides of the work. He said the people would enjoy that. I asked if I could speak in the Sunday morning service in order to reach the whole congregation. I was more than disappointed when he said that that wouldn’t work. There were two problems – women were not allowed in the pulpit and Sunday morning was only for his sermon. I would have to speak on Sunday evening and I would have to stand down in front of the altar area. ‘Of course,’ he explained, ‘that was the biblical order. Women should not speak to men in an authoritative position like the pulpit.’
“Mary,” she wept as she told me, “I don’t understand. Why was it ok for me to preach on the mission field but not here in the United States?” Barbara wondered if she was sinning in Uganda. She told me that another man had said that he thought that she got a special dispensation to speak in Africa because it was an emergency situation since there were no men available. But if it is intrinsically wrong for women to teach men then it is always wrong.
We both had several questions. If it is a sin for women to teach men and God cares about the people in Africa, then why doesn’t he provide more male missionaries? We agreed that we cannot blame God. Where are the men then? Why do they only comprise one-third of the mission force?
As we looked around the room and saw only white people, we also wondered if women get a pass preaching to black people in Africa because black believers, male or female, are not as important as white male believers. Are we saying that here in America we must have a proper white male in the pulpit and that In Africa maybe a woman will do. Is there some sub limital racial discrimination going on?
Barbara and I agreed that the problem was not with God. The problem is with a poor reading and understanding of God’s word. We have developed some bad cultural habits. We need to base our understanding of women in leadership positions on what God has to say about it, not on tradition.
Just as I had pondered questions raised in Dorothy’s situation as un unacknowledged deacon, I began to ponder questions about women in preaching or teaching positions.
Though she had been teaching on the mission field, why was Barbara not allowed to teach in her church in America?
Is it a “sin” for women to preach? Patriarchalists would say that women are forbidden to ever be in authority over a man. Do we not find some women in the Bible whom God put in positions of leadership?
Biblical Teaching on Leadership in Ministry
“Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them … (Genesis 1:26-27).
This is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall be in the last day,’ God says, ‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on My bondslaves, both men and women, I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit and they shall prophesy’ (Acts 2:16– 18).
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).
Is the body of Christ divided into greater and lesser members when men are permitted to do some tasks and women are forbidden to use their gifts for service? Are those who insist that everyone is a member but there is a necessary hierarchy based on gender correct? If one of the greater gifts is prophecy, and Paul said to “eagerly desire the greater gifts” (I Corinthians 12:31) are women with the gift of prophecy excluded because they must not be in a position of instructing men?
What is preaching? Is it not bringing the word of God to the people? Should we look at what the Bible says about true prophesy (another type of preaching/teaching)? The test of a true prophet is found in Deuteronomy 13, 2 Peter 1:21, I Corinthians 14:4. True prophets turn people to God, not away from God to false teaching. Hulda, Jeremiah, Stephen, and Jesus were true prophets. Anna and the daughters of Philip were true prophets. Should those biblical women have been forbidden to give their prophecy if there were men in the room?
What about preaching to African Americans? Barbara shared with me that some black churches in Africa would invite white ministers to speak to them, but the Reformed church in her area would not invite black speakers. Does this not show the same hierarchical thinking to say that men can preach but not women?
What does it mean that the gifts of the Spirit are given for the common good? Are women not allowed to participate in the common good?
Barbara and I decided that the church needs to take seriously what God has to say in His word about women in ministry.
Dear readers please weigh in on this discussion.
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Don’t be afraid, because a kind providence is watching over you, and – you’ll see – everything will work out in the end.
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