Hi. Here are a couple of questions. You can answer one or all. While I cannot prevent you from doing so, I do ask you keep your answers fairly short..not going on and on and on......
- Would you (or do you currently) attend a church that has women as a pastor, even as an assistant pastor?
- If you think it is not appropriate, can a man effectively lead an adult women's ministry?
- Should a woman lead a class or teach adults in any capacity?
- How high should a women be allowed to go in church leadership?
- How much decision making ability should a woman have in a church?
Thanks!
Paul walked by the rule (law) of love in Christ.
Reasonably then he had to consider the customs of his day in order not to stumble anyone unnecessarily from listening to the more important message of salvation through Christ Jesus.
Paul had clearly begun what he was speaking in chapter 11 about, as you can see by reading the last dozen or so verses of chapter 10, speaking about his concern not to stumble others.
Thus, even when it came to a woman wearing a head covering, Paul said, 1 Corinthians 11:16 "But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God."
Paul meant that his compelling a woman to wear a head covering was not a rule that was in place in the church but as even nature shows that it is acceptable, and since that is so, then it is a greater sin for a woman not to wear a head covering and so stumble the Jewish babes in Christ who being of the Old Judaism religion believed that for a woman to not wear a head covering was as sinning.
These things are important for us to understand as they communicate the understanding of how we can better apply God's love in our lives.
So then, what did Paul mean when he said, 1 Corinthians 11:10 "For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels."
He meant that the angels would not be happy with watching us go about stumbling others by using our freedom in ways that violate God's love toward any person among us unnecessarily.
Paul had these words of Jesus in mind: Matthew 18:10 "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven."
1 Corinthians 10:31-33 "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved."
Does this same rule of love apply to women being church leaders?
I do know they can be ministers but a minister is not necessarily a leader in the church.
Didn't Jesus say, Matthew 23:8-11 "But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant."
Now, that seems to me to be tellng us there are no leaders in the Christ's church but for Christ and God through Christ and the church is to follow God's lead even as Jesus son of man showed us the way.
Hummm, I will have to ponder this more. I still am lacking sleep and I am feeling tiredness nagging at me for now.
Peace and love to you and to all in the name of our Lord.