Hello,
I've seen the debate over whether or not women can be pastors/lead in the church many times, and have gone through many Bible studies in which this is discussed and examined. I also grew up in a church that did NOT believe women could hold positions of authority, unless it was as a deaconess to younger women in the church.
This is NOT meant to be a debate over whether women can be pastors at all.
Rather, I once read a post that addressed something that really sparked my interest, seeing as I grew up in Christian schools.
* If women are not allowed to speak or be leaders/teachers in the church, why are women relied on to teach Sunday School, vacation Bible school, and in Christian schools and colleges (such as what I grew up in)?
* Why do many of these tasks (geared toward children and young adults) seem to automatically be deligated as "women's work"? And yet, I would guess most parents in the churches I grew up in would not bring their kids to Sunday School if the entire Sunday School staff was all men.
I am certainly NOT saying ANYTHING against men who work in ministries that serve children--I'm just saying that when I've asked some parents how they would feel about dropping their kids off with an all-male Sunday School/children/teen church staff, they're don't seem to be entirely comfortable with the idea. But maybe this is only in the churches I've been in?
I have to wonder why it's so often thought that it's perfectly fine (even expected, and a spiritual duty) for women to teach and lead children, and young adults, but not full-grown adults? (I don't meant this as a debate or a criticism, but as an honest question.)
* Does that mean that once her students turn 18 (or 21, or whatever age is defined as being an "adult"), any spiritual leadership and authority she had over them the day before their "adulthood" birthday is now null and void, and does a male studen now automatically have spiritual authority over her, even if she's twice his age?
* If so, why are women allowed to teach at Christian colleges?
* And if a woman loses any spiritual authority over a man when he comes of age, what is being taught in churches to reinforce this? Are young men told that they now have spiritual leadership and authority over the women in the church once they turn that age?
* Will the men of the church tell their wives that they must follow and submit to the spiritual lead of any 18-year-old (or whatever the age of adulthood is seen as) on the ministry staff?
* Why is this topic never addressed whenever it's said that women can't hold positions of spiritual leadership in the church?
I would really like to see this discussed, as it always seemed to be glossed over.
Is a woman allowed to teach your male child/relative, but does he then have spiritual authority over her in the church once he becomes an adult?
Everybody is supposed to preach and teach, for Jesus commanded all people to do this.
God is the head of Christ, and Christ is head of man, and man is head of the woman, and women should have power on her head, which the Bible says that her hair is her covering, because she is above the angels, for people will have a higher position in heaven than the angels, which is the authority structure of the Church on earth, but this only applies when the saints gather together to worship God, and hear the word of God, that a man should lead the Church.
Like government, school, business, have an authority structure so things run smooth, and there is no fighting over who is in charge.
But in the Lord there is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile, and a man and a woman, and the bond and the free, for all are the same, and on an equal level.
A man does not have authority over the women in the spiritual realm, neither on earth, with the exception of the when the saints gather together, but even when they gather together a man and a woman are equal, but the man should take the lead, not because he is greater, but because it is the authority structure on earth.
God does not want the men and women fighting over who should be in charge, like many that fight in their marriage over wanting control.
A man and a woman are equal in the Lord.
A woman can teach men in her home, or on the street, or somewhere that the saints are not gathered together as a Church setting where the man should take the lead.
The Bible says that a woman should not usurp authority over a man, not that she cannot consider herself equal to a man, for she can consider herself equal to a man for the Bible tells us, but do not usurp authority above the man, but she is equal to the man.
Also when the Bible says the women should keep silent in the Church it means when the man in charge is speaking he has the floor, and if they are talking then they are disrupting the man, and the Church service, which then she is trying to have authority above the man who is in charge by disrupting the service with her talking.
But the men are to keep quiet also in the Church when the man in charge is speaking, but they must of had a problem with the women speaking in that Church so Paul addressed that.
In the Church the men and women are equal, but it should be a man to take the lead, and when he is speaking he has the floor and nobody should talk.
But if the man in charge wants he can have a woman come up and speak, for she is not trying to have authority above him but he gave her permission to do so.
Also anybody that asks for wisdom God gives to all people liberally, nothing wavering, which means a person can understand truth the same as the preacher, for God does not give him more wisdom that a common pew sitter in the back row, and a man and a woman can understand truth the same.
And women might know of subjects with more knowledge than some men, and shall we not want to hear it.
A man and a woman are equal in the Lord, and a woman or a man should not speak when the preacher is speaking, but a woman can speak in Church for she can give testimonies, sing praises to the Lord, talk to people, so the Bible means she should not speak when the preacher is speaking for then she is trying to have authority above him.
Also the Bible says when the saints come together that everyone has a psalm, a prophesy, a tongue, and things that edify the saints, for the saints contributing together in the Church service is a better benefit, which is both men and women for they are equal, and they learn more, than only the preacher contributing to the service.
For there can be much to learn from women like there can be much to learn from men, and God gives wisdom to all people the same.
If a woman is out in public, and has a conversation with a man, the man is not in charge of her, and not above her, for she is equal to the man, and she can teach adult men the word of God for some women know more about the word of God than some men, and we are all commanded to preach and teach.
A man and a woman are equal in the Lord for the only thing that separates a man and a woman is the flesh, the spirit and soul are the same, so when they put off the flesh they are equal, and when you have the Spirit the kingdom of God is within you so you belong to the kingdom while on earth so a man and a woman are equal on earth.
Concerning the marriage of a husband and wife the Bible says he has the authority, but the world does not comply to how it should be done as the men do not act the right way concerning that by acting in an arrogant fashion over the women.
The woman is a help mate and can contribute in the marriage and say what she wants to better the marriage, and if they are in the Lord they are equal, and if the husband is out of line she can correct him, and has to side with the Lord and not her husband if he does not act right.
The man should direct the marriage in the ways of God, so he has nowhere to glory for it is according to the will of God, and not his ways, so it is the Lord's ways, and should love his wife like the Lord loves the Church, which Jesus said he who is greater let him be a servant, which Jesus was a servant while on earth to both men and women.
But the world will not comply to the authority structure of God as men and women try to battle for control, and the men getting out of hand with the women because of their physical strength.