Recently it has become more and more apparent to me that it is probably not a coincidence that there are no female pastors at my church. The more I looked at the pastoral staff, and even at the Sunday school staff, I noticed that there were no women teaching to a group that consisted of both boys and girls in the entire church! In fact, the sole woman on the pastoral staff is not referred to as the "women's pastor", she is actually called the leader of the ministry to women. There seems to be a restriction on the role that women can play within the church.
Now, I feel that I should say that I respect this point of view and the people that hold it. The fact that I do not agree with the pastoral staff at my church on this issue does not mean that I doubt their calling, capability, and leadership skills. They are all good men who have a deep passion for God, and daily seek after new ways to glorify Him. They are men of great Christian heart who are desperately seeking and working towards the Kingdom.
I have been reading Paul's letter to Philemon. I love reading this letter because I feel like I am peeking into Paul's personal e-mail account. It is a public letter that is worded very intimately. Within the body of his letter, Paul focuses his attention on the broken relationship between a master and his slave, Philemon and Onesimus (respectively). It seems that Onesimus was not a very good slave, and may have been mistreated by Philemon. So, it is believed that they had a falling out of some sort and Onesimus somehow ended up at Paul's side. After spending some time with Paul, Onesimus became a Christian. After his conversion, the role that he played as a slave is drastically changed. And in this letter Paul pleads this case to Philemon. Paul desires Philemon to hold no grudge against Onesimus, and to accept him back as a brother in the body of Christ.
Slavery does not carry the same imagery to a person based within a 1st century Graeco-Roman context that it does to us. When we think of slavery we think of American abolition, the Civil War, and racism. To a 1st century Jew or Roman, however, slavery was based more around debt than racism. If you were born into slavery it was because your father, or your father's father owed your master something. Even then, most slaves would be released either after 7 years, or when they turned 30. They were, however, still considered to be property and "less than human". Aristotle referred to slaves as "human tools", and that is the mindset concerning slavery that has continued on even up until today.
When Onesimus became a Christian his identity changed. While social position was still that of a slave, his position as a human being had radically changed. Paul says in verse 15, "Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother -- especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord." How shocking it is that a man who was once a slave to Philemon is now his brother. The entire relationship dynamic between a slave and his master has changed. When Onesimus joined the body of Christ he became a brother in Christ. Sure, to the world he was still a slave. But to the Church he was now an equal member within the body.
To Paul there is no distinction within the church. It does not matter that Onesimus was or even still is a slave. Now that he has joined the church he is a Christian before anything else. Within the body of Christ all barriers are broken down, and people are free from the bondage and oppression that is placed upon them by others. Paul says in Galatians 3:28, "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." To me this means that no one should be put in a box, especially if that box is based around their gender, race, or social status.
This brings me back to women and the church. It is my belief that women should be able to take any role that they are called to. Whatever restrictions were put on them by the world, by society, or even by themselves are lifted off by Jesus. The Spirit leads us all in different and wonderful ways.
What do you think of what I have said about the role of women in the church?
What is your opinion?
What do you believe the Bible says about the role of women in the church?
9 comments:
Hey Jimmy (I have the uncrontrollable urge to say both "eat world" and "neutron" after your first name). I just found your blog because I'm a facebook stalker, and oddly enough, the mega-church I'm currently attendign has the same...belief (I almost said problem!). I live in Lancaster County, Pa., so its easy to see that conservative streak as mainstream and acceptable, but it's also a church of nearly 8,000 people, and it surprises me how many either don't realize or don't care that all leadership is male, women do not have the title of "pastor" and, unless in an emergency, women can not teach, in any capacity, a group including men. I strongly disagree with this, particularly because of the way Jesus taught women and praised them as leaders, and particularly because of the point you bring up. I am, also, a women called to youth ministry, and so it rubs me the wrong way :) So I agree with you, good scriptural exploration all around.
~Holly White~ (previously Flint)
Hey Jimmy
well done - I could not agree more. This is one of the primary reasons I chose to join the Wesleyan church. T Paige would be proud.
Jimmy, I love Philemon and have done a few studies on it and even preached from it (you should hear the muffled "Where's that?" when ask the congregation to turn to the letter). So, I was thrilled to read of your love for it and the application you drew.
That said, I am in agreement with you that "women should be able to take any role they are called to." There is an ongoing discussion about this in Christendom. I haven't done enough research to approach it from a biblical aspect, although I think there are nuances in the Greek that allow for a woman to be called to a leadership role, like pastoring. Romans 16 apparently indicates that Junias, a woman, was an apostle. If I can recall it correctly, I remember something about the early church having women in leadership roles.
The only problem with your assertion that Paul sees no distinction within the Church relevant to ministry occupation is his letter to Timothy in which he appears to state explicitly that he does. You haven't made your case until you find a way to integrate the entirety of the Scriptural witness. The "other side" will just quote their verses back at you.
Thanks for all the comments! I'm excited to see some chatting.
Thanks for the feedback, Dave! I was hoping someone would talk about the OTHER things that Paul says concerning women. Perhaps I should explore those verses in a future post? My question for you, Dave, is what do YOU think?
Nope, you can't simply read the verses that support your position while ignoring scripture that differs with your opinion. It's like "shopping" for a church because you don't like the scripture you are being taught at your current church. Perhaps you are being taught because it is what you need to hear. Peter also calls upon wives to be submissive. I would find it difficult to be led by a female pastor who is fully aware of Paul's teachings and chooses to ignore them.
The fact that God created the male and the female as equals can be overwhelmingly proven in the now misrepresented, inaccurately interpreted garden word. Emphasizing the reality of the Hebrew inconjuction with exalting God alone and not the pride and arrogance of man, very shocking discoveries are made not only confirming the equal creation but also that by way of confession and reward as given by God it was she that surpassed him in the garden. The Church is full of tradition.
Please visit my website: http://gettherealskinnyoneve.wordpress.com, check out:realskinnyoneeve on Twitter and my book entitled: The Real Skinny on Eve available @Amazon.com and Booksurge.com.
God did not design us to be beneath, to be subjugated or to be lied to by the male creation! The only point of the garden word among humans was not rooted in the flesh but in proven acts of righteousness and for fallen beings the confession of Genesis 3:13, even as honored by God was the trump card. It is a hypocrital thing to preach confession for forgiveness of sin and yet as a church exalt the model of a fallen but confession-less Adam. This is to the glory of men, not God - God ain't pleased with an offering so poor. God bless.
Hi Jimmy, Congratulations you made your old mother do some thinking. First I thought about Genesis, man was formed from the dust of the earth and woman by the rib of man, but both return to dust after death. God does not make a mistake because men and women are different and I don't care what anyone else says. I didn't say one is better than another I said we are different. I thought how all the books of the Bible are written by men. Jesus was a man, the disciples where men. But there is Deborah in Judges, a married woman who was the judge of Isreal. A woman was the last at the cross, first at the tomb, first to proclaim the resurrection, first to preach to the Jews, attended the first prayer-meeting (but did not run it) first to offer hospitality to missionaries. Women were also the high priestess (the spiritual leader) during the terrible time of Israel's rebellion, the ones to prostitute themselves and then offer their children as sacrifices to a fertility god, thousands and thousands of babies burned alive. So my point is James 3:1 "Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly." I have to tell you that scares me, watch your tongue because you will be judged, ladies and gentleman.
Based on the fact that I'm a Wesleyan, I firmly believe that women are called by God just as men to lead and serve in any way He chooses. I heard someone (a
Wesleyan pastor) recently say that he thought God only called women into vocational ministry because there aren't enough men answering the call God places on their lives. My jaw hit the floor.
Also, I think I read somewhere that when Paul says in Galatians 3:28, "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." that this is the first mention in human history the idea that "all men are created equal." I love this this idea originated with the church, and was inspired by the holy spirit.
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