THE PASTOR AS…
THE WOMAN IN CHARGE
But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 1 Timothy 2:12
The above scripture was written by the Apostle Paul. And yet, women and men, will deny that this scripture has any relevance for us today. They will say to you that Paul was an arrogant, woman hating, discriminating and culturally suppressive apostle of Christ and that not all of what he says can be taken literally for us today.
And what is it that these men and women are declaring?
ONLY THEIR OPINION
It is not based on fact. It is not based on anything scriptural. It is not based on God-given revelation. It is all based on personal opinion. No where in Scripture is a woman given an authoritative position over a man, especially within the church. Nowhere! Sure there are instances of prophetesses, and even deaconesses, but no place in scripture does it have a woman in the leadership role of a church as an elder or as a bishop. In fact, the Apostle Paul tells us that the Corinthian church was basically the only church that was allowing women to lead services and he says that it should not be like this. In fact, look at how he is writing to them…
What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? 1 Corinthians 14:36
The Corinthian Church had done many things in a disorderly fashion. Several people were up standing and talking at the same time, many people were speaking in tongues (languages) without an interpreter, women were speaking, teaching and leading and Paul had to remind the church of the ways of God. He reminded them that it was he (Paul) who brought the Word of God to them. It was he that told them how to conduct a service. Paul was disappointed at how far the Corinthian church had fallen. So, in the book of 1 Corinthians, chapter 14, Paul is teaching the people, once again on how to conduct a service. As you read the following verses, keep all of this in mind how Paul is redirecting their focus and attention on doing things the Lord’s way.
For God is not [the author] of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. V. 33
Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but [they are commanded] to be under obedience, as also saith the law. V. 34
Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire [shall be] to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. Genesis 3:16
From the very beginning, God had ordained that the man was to be over the woman. This counts for the home as well as in the churches. And yet, many women and men, will make the excuse that this is Old Testament and the law went out when Jesus came. The only problem with that argument is that the Apostle Paul who was ordained of God (in the New Testament era), is the one who continued the tradition set forth by God after Jesus ascended up to heaven. The Apostle Paul taught in all of the churches that he was responsible for, that the women were not to be in a leadership role. The other churches had no problem obeying this command, and if they had, the Apostle Paul would have dealt with them on this issue as well.
And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. V. 35
On the same note as it is a shame for women to speak in the church (in a leadership role over men), it is also shameful if the man is not taking the leadership role over the women in the church as well as in the home. Any man who is subservient to his wife in church, or any man who is subservient to a women in church, is going against the Word of God and following after the lie (created by the devil). The man is to be the spiritual leader in the home as well as in the church. The above verse does not deny that women were used as prophetesses, or as deaconesses, but rather denies the woman the right to have a leadership role (pastor or bishop) of a church.
What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? V. 36
The Corinthian Church was in disarray. Things were not being done in an orderly fashion. Confusion was rampant in the early Corinthian Church. Paul is mocking them to the point of – “you are not doing the things I taught you in the beginning. The other churches are orderly, but you are not. You have people speaking in different languages with no interpretation; you have women all leading services, which ought not to be. Did God give you a different revelation that what I had given you from God?” The answer is NO! Remember, God is not the author of confusion.
If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. V. 37
And yet, many women and men, will deny the very things that Paul is writing here. For those people – DO NOT GO AROUND SAYING YOU BELIEVE THE BIBLE IS THE INSPIRED, INERRANT WORD OF GOD. DO NOT GO AROUND SAYING YOU BELIEVE IT IS GOD BREATHED. Because to do so and yet deny that the words Paul is teaching here is biblical, is to call God a liar. The Word of God is not in you. You would rather follow after a man than follow after the true words of God. If Paul wanted to please the desires of man’s heart, he could have let the women preach in church. But to do so, would have been to go against the Word of God. The Apostle Paul was a man of God. And yet, many people who have grown up with the lie, are not willing to give up the lie in order to be right with God. They have lived their whole life following after the deceitfulness of the devil and they are not willing to give it up. This is how the churches become corrupt in the eyes of God. This is how deceit, contempt and outright disobedience infiltrate the churches today. When people ignore scripture, when they ignore God’s Holy Word and decide to follow the teachings of man, they will inevitably fall to the wayside (as in the parable of the sower).
In 1 Corinthians 4:1-21, the Apostle Paul is speaking about himself and his fellow servant, Sosthenes. Compare how the apostles are viewed by the world in comparison to how the Corinthian Church is view. When you read the “we” it is talking about Paul and Sosthenes; when you read the “ye” it is talking about the Corinthian Church.
Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. We [are] fools for Christ's sake, but ye [are] wise in Christ; we [are] weak, but ye [are] strong; ye [are] honourable, but we [are] despised. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, [and are] the offscouring of all things unto this day. 1 Corinthians 4:8-13.
The Corinthian Church had brought in pagan activities as part of their church service. Paul is using irony as a way of pointing out how different they are to the apostles. Everything that Paul is pointing out is a sign that the Corinthians were accepted by the world and not in any way different than the world. God has standards that the church must uphold. Now, as the comparisons between Paul and Sosthenes to the Corinthians church is exposed, it is obvious there is something wrong. As a Christian, you WILL be persecuted. The devil will attack you as he does not want anyone to be faithful to God. Take a look at what Paul says in verse 14.
I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn [you]. Verse 14
Do you still want to ignore the Apostle Paul as being a person who discriminates against women? As a person who hated women so much that “he” would not allow them to preach in church? The Corinthian Church had fallen prey to the deceitfulness of the devil. Paul was trying to correct the errors of their ways.
For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet [have ye] not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Verse 15
The church was following after so many different types of teachings that it had caused them to go away from the truth of God’s Word. Paul is desiring that they get back to the way he had taught them in the beginning.
Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. Verse 16
People will quote the above verse over and over again and yet, when push comes to shove, they will deny the very words they speak. They will deny the words spoken of by the Apostle Paul.
But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 1 Timothy 2:12
Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but [they are commanded] to be under obedience, as also saith the law. V. 34
Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire [shall be] to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. Genesis 3:16
If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. V. 37
The same scriptures are quoted that this chapter began with. Are you prepared to deny the Apostle Paul’s words and teachings as not being biblical? Will you say that the very man that Jesus Christ himself set apart as an apostle to reach the Gentiles; the very man responsible for starting the churches in all of the outlying areas as being a man “not” ordained by God? He was persecuted for his faith and he showed boldness beyond measure (by man’s standards). This is not about personal opinion. This is about the Word of God. It takes discernment when it comes to God’s Word. Many people will be angry and will be prepared to fight over this chapter. The biggest problem is, they will have no weapons or ammunition to use to back up their claims. Why? Because it is…
ONLY THEIR OPINION
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