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We are ALL called to minister, to do good,and to bless those around us. In fact, God requires ALL PEOPLE, saved andunsaved, to lead holy lives, and to treat others as God would. But Godgives certain gifts, rolls, and positions to certain, select people, of HISchoice, not ours.
{While, in the absence of the appropriate person or specified gender, God willuse ANYONE in ANY position (God used the anti-Christ Caiaphas toprophecy the necessity of Christ's death for the salvation of all - John11:49 & 50) these special circumstances do NOT give everyone free licenseto assume any and all ministries and roles in any but extenuating circumstances).}
Broader than just certain individuals, God has given each GENDER its own rolesand responsibilities. God has specifically stated that MEN are to bethe leaders and teachers in the church, and to be those who speak out in theBody. I do not need to list these passages; they are available for thesincere to read. The challenge in all discussions such as this tends tobe in counteracting the heretical claims of the least obedient that somepassages in the Bible are not of God! As usual the disobedience of sometends to attempt the turning of the hearts of the obedient to unbelief anddisobedience, for the sake of justifying the sin of the disobedient. Just as, "Misery loves company," so, "Sin cravesthe support of others," as though truth can be established bydemocratic or mob rule.
God tells us, through Paul, "34 Let your women keep silence in thechurches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commandedto be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35 And if they will learnany thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women tospeak in the church. 36 What? came the word of God out from you? or cameit unto you only? 37 IF ANY MAN THINKHIMSELF TO BE A PROPHET, OR SPIRITUAL, LET HIM ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE THINGS THATI WRITE UNTO YOU ARE THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD. 38 But if any man beignorant, let him be ignorant.” - I Corinthians 12. God's New Testament commandments do not change;"Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever."
Peter writes that, "Paul's letters contain some things that arehard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do theother SCRIPTURES, to their own destruction." - II Peter 3:15-16 Obeying God, as He's revealed Himself in HisScripture, is a matter of exactly that: obeying Him. Trying to convincethe disobedient of the validity and value of Scripture is like trying to arguetheology with the unsaved: obedience to God is simply a matter of the heart,not the mind. "If ye love me, keep my commandments." -John 14:15 "By this we know that we love the children of God, whenwe love God and observe His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, thatwe keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome." I John5:3
So, in response to the question of whether a woman can be an elder in thechurch, the reply is in God's statement through Paul: "But I permit not awoman to teach, nor to have authority over the man, but to be in silence."I Timothy 2:12. The answer need not be complicated; it is givenhere. It's simply up to us to obey it. Whether it is or isn'tburdensome depends on whether we love God.
{While, in the absence of the appropriate person or specified gender, God willuse ANYONE in ANY position (God used the anti-Christ Caiaphas toprophecy the necessity of Christ's death for the salvation of all - John11:49 & 50) these special circumstances do NOT give everyone free licenseto assume any and all ministries and roles in any but extenuating circumstances).}
Broader than just certain individuals, God has given each GENDER its own rolesand responsibilities. God has specifically stated that MEN are to bethe leaders and teachers in the church, and to be those who speak out in theBody. I do not need to list these passages; they are available for thesincere to read. The challenge in all discussions such as this tends tobe in counteracting the heretical claims of the least obedient that somepassages in the Bible are not of God! As usual the disobedience of sometends to attempt the turning of the hearts of the obedient to unbelief anddisobedience, for the sake of justifying the sin of the disobedient. Just as, "Misery loves company," so, "Sin cravesthe support of others," as though truth can be established bydemocratic or mob rule.
God tells us, through Paul, "34 Let your women keep silence in thechurches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commandedto be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35 And if they will learnany thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women tospeak in the church. 36 What? came the word of God out from you? or cameit unto you only? 37 IF ANY MAN THINKHIMSELF TO BE A PROPHET, OR SPIRITUAL, LET HIM ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE THINGS THATI WRITE UNTO YOU ARE THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD. 38 But if any man beignorant, let him be ignorant.” - I Corinthians 12. God's New Testament commandments do not change;"Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever."
Peter writes that, "Paul's letters contain some things that arehard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do theother SCRIPTURES, to their own destruction." - II Peter 3:15-16 Obeying God, as He's revealed Himself in HisScripture, is a matter of exactly that: obeying Him. Trying to convincethe disobedient of the validity and value of Scripture is like trying to arguetheology with the unsaved: obedience to God is simply a matter of the heart,not the mind. "If ye love me, keep my commandments." -John 14:15 "By this we know that we love the children of God, whenwe love God and observe His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, thatwe keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome." I John5:3
So, in response to the question of whether a woman can be an elder in thechurch, the reply is in God's statement through Paul: "But I permit not awoman to teach, nor to have authority over the man, but to be in silence."I Timothy 2:12. The answer need not be complicated; it is givenhere. It's simply up to us to obey it. Whether it is or isn'tburdensome depends on whether we love God.
Wrong.
A woman can be an elder. Read 1 Timothy 3 and you will understand that, definitely, for this question, a woman CAN be an 'elder' in her church , and, with that role, to some extent, depends on who you talk to, DOES carry a measure of authority.
She is someone whom others look up to and she, therefore, HAS authority, in that sense.
Going into detail on the definition of 'elder' is what's next in question. And, to me, an elder is someone who serves in 'some' capacity for the church, they don't just attend the worship service as a woman (or man, for that matter). AN ELDER IS MORE INVOLVED IN THE CHURCH THAN A PARISHIONER, who just goes with her husband/wife and checks in at 11 and goes home at 12, after "potluck," that is