Women Pastors

[Shelby]

You know I just posted this in another thread but I think it pertains here too.  The question was:  Why do Christians believe differently?

We are human. Born into sin and only saved by grace. All we can do is live for Christ. Sure I disagree with people pn here, but I think that the basic things that are necessary to salvation we all agree on.

1- God came to us in the form of Jesus

2- Who died on the cross for our sins and rose again.

3- We must repent of our sins and dedicate our lives to the Lord

4 - We must live a daily life dying to self and glorifying God as best we can by reading the scriptures, praying and fellowshipping with fellow believers.

The rest is semantics. God will deal with those other minute issues later. He spells it out really well. God will convict those of the sins in their life that are hindering their walk with Him. If that person chooses not to listen then it will be dealt with at judgement. But God will judge us by the sins we commit physically and in our heart that we have let get in the way.

We will be judged by what we know. I know that God has called me to be a minister and I followed that will. He has called us to so much more though. And to get hung up on semantics and scripture picking is only taking the focus off God and onto ourselves to prove ourselves right. God will allow His spirit to work in all of us and convict and move in our lives in a way that will compell us to do away with sin, especially perpetual sin so that he may draw us closer.

If God has laid it upon your heart to become a pastor again, then I say go for it.  I have always told my husband and friends when they come to me for advice, walk in a direction that you feel God is leading you, if that is not what he wants for you pray that he will close the doors, and if it is to open them.  You will get your answer.  God will deal with the hearts of others.  People will be touched by your humbleness and servanthood to Christ, and I believe this will be a non-issue. 

PLUS - That is one verse in a chapter and book of many more.  Context my friend.  Pray, pray , pray, it will never hurt to just take it back to the Lord every moment that you feel it take ahold of your mind.  I know the struggle.  I am a woman, I am an ordained minister.  I have never questioned my call, it has never been an issue for me or anyone in my church.  But I came here and there is such a controversy, but the controversy doesn't sway me, If it happens, it will be Christ.  He has only confiirmed this calling of rmy life over and over through all of the discussions on this subject. 

God will give you the words you need.  He will provide you with the road to walk down.  I say start moving in a direction back to pastorhood, and if it is God's will it will happen, and if not, he will have something even better for you!

I do believe that!  GBU

No teaching in Christ is semantics they are part of remaining in Him.

Semantics: to achieve a desired effect on an audience especially through the use of words with novel or dual meanings .

Is not of God. That is what I meant. Picking and manipulating other peoples words to break down the conversation. It happens alot on these boards. But that is not the issue once again.

Tess,

I wrote so much more a moment ago, but my computer froze and I lost it all. the gist is, you are young. It is a good thing, but all the preparation in the the world could not get you totally ready for marriage. It is different than any relationship you will have in your entire life. I am still quite young, and I have been with my husband for 8 years, and married for 5. It is still a daily learning process to be married let alone a submitting wife.

GBU my dear, but you cannot know the full spectrum, and I am glad you are getting ready. It isn't a bad thing though. It is great. I do not have children of my own yet, I have raised a beautiful young girl for the first 5 years of her life, but she wasn't mine. So it doesn't offend me when people tell me it is like nothing I have ever felt, and that I will not know how to deal with things until I am a parent myself. It isn't a jab at me, or my not having children, it is truth.

[naomi3]

Vs 14; The spiritual reason is much more important. The woman was deceived and in the transgression. Satan did not go after the man. He knew the man was "built" to be the covering for the woman. A covering he could not penetrate directly. This scripture is replete with doctrine about the need for the Godly order in society, the family, and the church. I know most won't accept this but women are more easily deceived than men. On the other hand men are more willfully disobedient. We will all give an accounting.

I think it is funny when men talk of this like Eve started this whole thing. If you really look at it God told Adam about the tree and it was Adam's responsibilty to share this with Eve. It is obvious that he did not comunicate this corectly because when Eve was tempted she said 'we can not touch the tree'. God never said you can't touch it. So she was the one who was attacked because she did not receive the complete truth of the Word from Adam so which made her more able to be deceived. Many people bring this verse up like Eve is week because she was deceived but it was Adam's responsiblity to make sure she wasn't and he didn't. He was even standing right there while she was being tempted and never corrected the serpent himself which shows he was being deceived as well.

I just think it is funny that many men are not willing to look at these verses as there are and they like to just quote them and say look what women do that is wrong. But the first problem was Adam not clearly giving the command to his wife.

Sorry, know that was a little off subject but it gets tiring to see so many woman bashing verses when it really is both parties that are as guilty. I actually see this that Adam was the first to not take care of his responsibility. JMO.

[Shelby]

And since then has been our demise! LOL jk

Great thoughts. I don't know if Adam was standing right next to her. Where did you get that from?

[naomi3]

Genisis 3:6

She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.

verse 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened.

This shows that they were together because their eyes were opened at the same time.

[Shelby]

Thanks, sorry I am at work, and couldn't grab my Bible right away.

[papasangel]

I have a question for everyone here. Jesus chose his apostles (12) all men. Wouldn't you think that that would set a precedent here? The apostles were to teach (preach). Why didn't Jesus chose a woman too if He wanted women to preach. Maybe because our role is different, although no less important? Please keep comments kind because this is a real question in my mind.

[Orr v'emet]

I have a question for everyone here. Jesus chose his apostles (12) all men. Wouldn't you think that that would set a precedent here? The apostles were to teach (preach). Why didn't Jesus chose a woman too if He wanted women to preach. Maybe because our role is different, although no less important? Please keep comments kind because this is a real question in my mind.

I actually find that to be an interesting question as well and would like to hear some thoughts on it!

[Shelby]

Papas Angel,

I think first when he chose the original 12 that it was the culture also that constituted some of his decision as well. But think of the story of Martha and Mary. They were basically having a teaching session from Jesus in Martha's House (which it doesn't say she was married, and it says "Martha's House". She was Lazarus's sister, but it doesn't say Lazarus's house as would be the custom for her brother to take care of her if she ended up single, it says MArtha's house. So Jesus held a Teaching time in a single woman's house with her sister there. Odly enough it also never mentions if Lazarus is there during this part of scripture.) So I picture all of these men around. And then there is Mary. She knows that this is a once in a lifetime chance for her to learn about the scriptures since she would not be allowed to go to temple and learn as the men do. So she sits at Jesus feet and just basks in His glory and wisdom. Martha, trying to make everything perfect inher house, and wanting to do the customary thing, feed her guests, is in the kitchen getting so frustrated that Mary was not helping. I think this is why Jesus responded in kind when she implored that he make Mary help her. He wasn't discounting Martha's need to be a hostess, but helping her to see that Mary was taking advantage of an amazing opportunity. I can imagine that the converstation was much longer than is recorded.

Then lets flip to Mary Magdalene. Later it speaks of 70 some odd disciples. I think that women were included. M Mag was with Jesus the entire time practically. I don't beleive she had any ties to any of the disciples, nor was she married to any of them. I think later she was a disciple. I think those who picked up everything and followed Jesus was a follower. We just don't have the names of all of them.

Also to mention, it was the women who stayed after the crucifixion. The disciples left. I think Jesus did try to help women become a part of his ministry as well. But the culture of the time, wouldn't have recorded it that way, nor would they have thought it to be proper. But there are instances that show Jesus did push the ticket for women. Many instances.

I think that him orginally picking 12 men just shows the human aspect of himself. He NEVER excluded women from any of his teachings.

Something to ponder. The whole Mary Martha situation I have spent long and hard studying. I am a hostess. I love it, but for a while I felt jaded because of how Martha was gently put into perspective, but I totally understand now.

GBU I hope this was a gentle response. I am having so much fun delving in to this study, and I do get a little excited.

[Kabowd]

Tess,

I wrote so much more a moment ago, but my computer froze and I lost it all. the gist is, you are young. It is a good thing, but all the preparation in the the world could not get you totally ready for marriage. It is different than any relationship you will have in your entire life. I am still quite young, and I have been with my husband for 8 years, and married for 5. It is still a daily learning process to be married let alone a submitting wife.

I know that i am young, trust me .... how could I forget when the ppl on this site remind me of it almost daily? I do get what you're saying about marriage being unique and that I haven't experienced that yet. However, I disagree (to an extent) that it is not something you can prepare for. Of course, you can't be 100% prepared, but preparing for things (such as callings and destinies) is biblical. Much of the New Testament is for the purpose of equipping the saints. The primary role of parents is to train and prepare their kids for adulthood (which would hopefully include serving God and for some it will include marriage). What I was saying above is, though I don't know what it's like to have a husband ... I am already being trained to understand, recognize and respect authority. I have already begun practicing obedience (I mess up quite a bit, but I'm still learning). I guess I get frustrated that some tend to dismiss me because of my age and automatically disqualify me from offering anything to a discussion. To me, this violates the encouragement in 1 Timothy 4:12 and denies that God could impart wisdom to anyone. But back to marriage and authority, this is something I've been taught:

The word "submit" in Greek is "hupotasso". It means to subordinate, to obey, etc. When it's used in the Bible, it refers to a position that's not voluntary. Meaning that a person in a position to submit is technically (because of their position) "in subjection" or "subdued" already. It's not optional. I'ts a commandment.

If we look, for instance, at 1 Peter 2:13a: "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men".

This clearly shows us that we are to be obedient to those in authority over us, does it not?

[naomi3]

Acts 9:36

At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas.