Women preachers

I feel like the bible in its current form would not have lasted as long as it has if not for God making it that way. The old testament is where the differences lie as to what books are included anyway. The new testament is the same for catholic and protestant.

Apart from all that, the doctrine of salvation is contained in books written by Paul so his writtings can not be seperated from the rest of christianity or you lose the core of what christianity is about.

 

As far as I know, Joyce Meyers is a teacher (by 'preacher', I'm assuming you mean pastor, or the head of a church).

 

For these passages to make sense, you must consider the setting in which they were written.

The territory in which Paul traveled and preached -- Greece, Italy, and the surrounding area -- featured mostly female-dominated religions. They worshipped multiple gods, and the female gods were among the most powerful and most revered. That being the case, when Paul came preaching about Jesus as Lord over everything (including all their gods), there was no small amount of objection from Roman and Greek women. It became disruptive, and a serious hindrance to the spread of the Gospel.

It wasn't that Paul wasn't open to objection -- he traveled all over the Mediterranean for decades engaging in endless debates with some of the most profound thinkers of his time. The problem was, he wasn't even getting a chance to be heard, nor were the men he left in charge of the churches he planted, because of all the disruption.

I believe these verses weren't aimed at women in general, but toward a specific group of women in a specific area and culture during a specific time. First and Second Corinthians were just letters Paul wrote to the church(es) of the city/state of Corinth. The Timothy books were letters written from Paul to his protege (Timothy), giving him guidance and encouragement to continue his ministry.

 

Joyce Meyer is a gifted teacher, and I agree that she should be allowed to make full use of her gift. One of the female staff members at my own church has a teaching gift as well, and I always enjoy her sermons. I have no problem with women serving in the church and in the community according to their spiritual gifting, which does include teaching, prophecy, prayer, and testimony, among other things. I think that's Biblical.

However, the one spiritual gift I don't think women are given is called 'shepherding', which is the primary gifting of a lead pastor of a church. The reason I say this is that the succession of leadership in the Bible (as far as I can tell) looks like this: Christ --> man --> woman.

Where I think things get uncomfortable is when the issue of authority is introduced into the equation. There is a big difference between authority and leadership, but some demominations have equated the two. Obviously, Jesus is the authority over everyone in the church. But it's my understanding that the Bible instructs women to yield to men only if an impasse is reached between them.

Granted, the primary example is within the marriage relationship, but I think the pattern holds true within the church as well. If God has given men the 'deciding vote', then by default, I think that places men in the major roles of leadership the Bible addresses -- i.e. marriage and the church.

That's my own interpretation of what the Bible has to say on the matter, and as always, I'm open to other ideas and arguments.

 

I have always been taught that women could teach sunday school classes and were welcome to speak in services in the form of giving testimony but they were not allowed to be pastors, preachers or deacons. I do not really care to argue the merits or lack thereof, I am just relating what I was taught. I will say most women preachers I have seen tend to have a chip on their shoulder, probaby because of resistance to their preaching, and that alone turns me off to them.

 

Just a thought......

If your daughter came to you and said that she had been called by the Lord to preach would you reject her? A question for all to consider.... I know that I would not.

Rob

 

Preaching, no. Pastoring, we'd have to talk about.

 

Billy Grahamm's daughter is a preacher.

 

I see no problem with a woman preaching, praying, pastoring or doing whatever you want to call it. Seems logical to me. Many of those 'traditions" barring women from stuff are not really from the religion, just the status quo from male dominated societies. Of course, that's JMHO.

 

Is she a preacher or a speaker?