Have you ever wanted to comment after reading a very well-written article but knew the space allowed for your comment would be insufficient? What if you disagreed with the author's perspective? What did you do?
I have the utmost respect for the author and therefore felt he was due more than a “with all due respect" preamble before an opposing point of view was listed in the comments. This article is a result of my respect for him and my steadfast, unmovable
Biblical Perspective on Women in the Ministry.
I have a ministry but it is not a ‘pulpit’ ministry. It is operational outside of the church’s walls but intricately woven into the fabric of Christianity. The ministry is a faith-based ministry, whose sole purpose is to provide a safe, loving residential setting for troubled teenage girls, who may or may not be pregnant. If they are pregnant and make the decision to parent their child, the same safe and loving care to their child is provided.
I come from three generations of women ministers. Naturally, they were not silent in the church. Apostle Paul’s first letter written to the Corinthians in Chapter 15, verses 34 and 35, is given from four translations: King James, Amplified, Contemporary English and Young’s Literal Translation Bibles.
1 Corinthians 14:34-35 :: King James Version (KJV)
34 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.
35 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.
1 Corinthians 14:34-35 :: Amplified Bible (AMP)
34 The women should keep quiet in the churches, for they are not authorized to speak, but should take a secondary and subordinate place, just as the Law also says.
35 But if there is anything they want to learn, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to talk in church [for her to usurp and exercise authority over men in the church].
1 Corinthians 14:34-35 :: Contemporary English Version (CEV)
34 The women must not be allowed to speak. They must keep quiet and listen, as the Law of Moses teaches.
35 If there is something they want to know, they can ask their husbands when they get home. It is disgraceful for women to speak in church.
1 Corinthians 14:34-35 :: Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
34 Your women in the assemblies let them be silent, for it hath not been permitted to them to speak, but to be subject, as also the law saith;
35 and if they wish to learn anything, at home their own husbands let them question, for it is a shame to women to speak in an assembly.
Does this mean that women should not speak in church services today? It is clear from 11:5 that women prayed and prophesied in public worship.
1 Corinthians 11:5 :: King James Version (KJV)
5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
It is also clear in Chapters 12-14 that women are given spiritual gifts and are encouraged to exercise them in the body of Christ. Women have much to contribute and can participate in worship services.
Further study reveals, in the Corinthian culture, women were not allowed to confront men in public. Apparently some of the women who had become Christians thought their Christian freedom gave them the right to question the men in public worship. This was causing division in the church. In addition, women of that day did not receive formal religious education, as did the men. Women may have been raising questions in the worship services that could have been answered at home without disrupting the services. I feel Apostle Paul was merely asking the women not to flaunt their Christian freedom during worship. The purpose of Apostle Paul’s words was to promote unity, NOT to teach about women’s roles in the church.
Christianity enhanced the role of women. Faith in Christ transcends these differences and makes all believers one in Christ. This is confirmed in Paul’s letter to the Church at Galatia in the following Chapter and verse:
Galatians 3:28 :: King James Version (KJV)
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
God shows no favoritism. Acts, a sequel to the Gospel of Luke tells us:
Acts 10:34-35 :: King James Version (KJV)
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
I submit, in Paul’s first letter to the Christians at Corinth, he was telling them that women must exhibit God's Holy character when they accept God's functional order with a quiet, respectful demeanor. Women are not to be muzzled in mute passivity. Women are to be receptive and teachable disciples. And the Holiness of God is not evidenced in women when they are brash, brassy, boisterous, brazen, head-strong, strong-willed, loud-mouthed, overly-talkative, having to have the last word, challenging, controlling, manipulative, critical, conceited, arrogant, aggressive, assertive, strident, interruptive, undisciplined, insubordinate, disruptive, dominating, domineering, or clamoring for power. These are not the characteristics of a virtuous woman or fruit of the Spirit.
And finally, we are God’s people, chosen to be part of his plan to reach the world. In love and by faith, we can have the Holy Spirit’s help as we witness or preach. Because of sin, there will always be the abuses of male chauvinism and clamoring feminism. God can work through any opposition but we must not be in opposition towards one another because of our gender differences. A man or woman of God must: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (II Timothy 2:15)
© Copyright 2007 — Avis Ward, Founder - GeoVi's Home for New Life
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