females in ministry... is it right or wrong?

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talitha

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hey guys help me out here ok.. the evangelical church i went to as a child did not believe that women should be in any position of ministry or leadership in church - where as now, i attend a pentecostal church and we have some great female leaders and preachers. i find it hard to believe that it is against the will of god for those women to be in the position they are, as they seem so anointed and in tune with the lord. yet at the same time i cant forget what i was told as a child, 1cor 14.34 help me! lol
 
Just for clarity, here is what that scripture says:

Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.

1 Corinthians 14:34-35 NIV
 
I've heard really great preaching from women over the tv and internet and through books and I think they make great preachers but I was not aware of that scripture until now. Makes me wonder if there is something wrong with having female preachers. My church doesn't allow it, but I never judged other churches that did.
 
That line was probably back when, in the old church pre-Roman era, woman were not well-versed in the scripture and therefore were considered inferior to men. There are certain parts of the "law books" that are somewhat outdated, and only really fit into the time and culture they took place in.
 
I do not agree with you FSUBoy966, yes parts of the bible do seem to only fit to those times but God does say that women should not hold authority over man. I do not think He meant that men should lord over women and make them their slaves but I do believe that God wants man to be leaders and the women should support them. Women can lead other women like in bible studies but I believe that God put men on earth to take charge.
 
You may be right, but to FULLY understand the Bible, you have to understand the cultural aspects that have slipped into the Bible. Many of the non-moral codes such as the dietary laws and hierarchy are very typical of any ancient middle eastern nation at the time. Woman in those places were, and for the most part are still, seen as inferior to men in all aspects, so it's no wonder this would be represented in law codes for worship.
 
Yes I agree but also, God did not say that the bible is open for interpretation. And i do not think that women are inferior to men. I believe that men are put on earth to lead and women to encourage.
 
Yes, there are definitely some things like cultural effects that have to be looked at, but there are also principles that transcend cultural (and time) boundaries. I completely agree with you, Sarah. The Bible doesn't say that women are inferior to men either, even though that was perhaps a norm of society then.
 
We can not pick and choose what is ment for there and what is ment for now. The Bible says what it means doesn't it? Paul wrote that line for a reason. Because women were doing that and paul talked against it! The Bible gives set principles and oridancs on how things are to be and its not up to us to pick what we like.
MEN ARE MENT TO LEAD.
It doesn't matter if someones good at something. It matters if its set in place by God
 
If we are going by what is written, then you have the answer before you. It says, "They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says." The law no longer says this. In this day and age women have equal rights of men. If you take the bible word for word, it also says an unruly child can be stoned at the city gates. That a brother shall take the wife of his dead brother. You go by the laws of the time you are reading it. That is what makes it a great read through the ages. Everyone finds something new to them.
 
lordsservant121 said:
If we are going by what is written, then you have the answer before you. It says, "They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says." The law no longer says this. In this day and age women have equal rights of men. If you take the bible word for word, it also says an unruly child can be stoned at the city gates. That a brother shall take the wife of his dead brother. You go by the laws of the time you are reading it. That is what makes it a great read through the ages. Everyone finds something new to them.
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Following that logic, it would make gay marriage ok because in some states the law no longer says its wrong.
 
I believe God does want Men to lead in His perfect will, but we can see from the Scriptures that Deborah was a Judge in Israel leading the people (man and women) with authority over them given from GOD, because a man did not step up to the task. God will use whom He will use if the people called to do a job do not respond. He even will use a donkey and make it speak if He has to!
Also don't forget that women can have ministries in and out of churches. There where several women mentioned in scripture, like Philip's 4 daughters who prophesied (not only over women but even over Paul himself!), Priscilla and Aquilla who were an evangelist couple, Priscilla also preached with her husband and is even named first in most of the scriptures!

As far as I understand the scripture of women being silent is about not interrupting the church service as some of them did back then, yelling questions throughout the room asking their husbands, that's why Paul mentioned it to ask them at home if they need to know something that was not clear to them...

Warrior777
 
People, I think we must know differences between culture, democracy, religion and kingdom. Customs are set by men in accordance to time, culture changes with time. Before, there were housewives but today there are househusband, which made some cultural believes null. In democracy people's opinion counts, actually people rule. They can vote for whatever or whoever. Religion is a way of men to search for God, following some ways, doctrines in trying to find God. But in the kingdom the king rules, there is no voting or ways of men. In the kingdom there are principles, standards set by the king, which no one can change. You bend or break. Jesus came to set a kingdom of kings and not suajects. If a woman is in the kingdom, she is given gifts (power, abilities) to work in building the kingdom, and also to destroy the forces of the kingdom of darkness. Understand this, every church have its own doctrines that are set according to the standard, background, behavior, etc. of its members which God allows so there can be order in the church. Apostle Paul had to set some doctrines to bring order in the church of corinth. When studing the word check these- who is speaking, speaking to who and why specificly to..., does it include you or affect you, because not everything in the bible includes us, but set an example for us.
 
Last year God gave me this prophetic word to women- God is bringing comfort to women (comfort for abuse, pains, etc. they went through) and He is taking women to greater highs (higher levels in leadership, financial freedom, higher jurisdictions, etc.). Many men have greatly disappointed God. Check around women are in power, but in all God stil expect women to submit to their husbands. If they fail to submit they prove themselves unworthy. Remember Acts 2v17.
 
TCChris be careful before you claim to be able to prophesy

Jeremiah 14:14
Then the LORD said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds.


I am not against encouraging people to do stuff, but please, don't claim to have The LORD speaking to you, if all you have is encouragement.
Iam not saying anything against you, but please respect GOD
 
Ministries are ok for women, but for women to teach on an ecclesiastical level to men is not advisable.
Not that women are not able to teach, (please understand I am not against women at all they do an amazing job in my church, but they don't teach) but that they are not able to teach in the assembly (there are reasons, not that women are less important than men, but there are reasons why women cannot teach men) They are allowed to teach other women, or children, but not adult men. Women are really important in the Church. Without them the Church would fail, but none the less they are not allowed to teach men in the assembly
 
I too belong to a Pentecostal assembly where women preach, some quite capably. But the question is whether it is correct for them to do so. 1 Tim 2:12-14 deals with the issue. "And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one decieved, but the woman being decieved, fell into transgression." Firstly, it should be noted that the reason given for the prohibition of women teaching men (Titus makes it clear they should teach other women and children) has nothing to do with culture. The reason is the order of creation and the fall. It has to do with God's established order.
Secondly, this is not a put down to women. My Pastor has a position and authority over me because God has put him there; it does not make him better than me or me a second class citizen. It simply means we have different roles and positions to fulfill in the body of Christ. In the same way, a woman has a role in the home and in the church that is different to that of a husband or man. It does not make them less important, just different. Both are necessary and there is plenty for women to do in the church.
To those who point to Deborah, it should be noted that this was judgement on the nation. Isa 4:11-12 "Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him. For the reward of his hands shall be given him. As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths." This is perfectly in keeping with the time of Deborah's ascendancy. "When Ehud was dead, the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD." Jdg 4:1
Such is the sorry state of my own nation, where moral corruption abounds, prostitution has been legalised and gay marrige is on the agenda....surprise, surprise....half the state leaders and the nation's leader are women. We are completely out of the Divine order.
 
zeroturbulence said:
Following that logic, it would make gay marriage ok because in some states the law no longer says its wrong.
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I can see your point but Jesus didn't pass judgement on anyone, HE just loved, so that is what I try and do. I know homosexuality is wrong but I know people that have that lifestyle and what I do is live my life, answer questions when asked and pray for them. GOD can decide to do what HE will but HE says that I should "love". But good point, I never thought of it like that. GOD bless.
 
demian said:
TCChris be careful before you claim to be able to prophesy

Jeremiah 14:14
Then the LORD said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds.


I am not against encouraging people to do stuff, but please, don't claim to have The LORD speaking to you, if all you have is encouragement.
Iam not saying anything against you, but please respect GOD
Click to expand...

I don't get this. Jeremiah was a prophet. How do you tell if a prophet is false? Why can't people talk to God? If the Lord really speaks how can you know its not 'delusions of their own minds"?

I've had visions of the Lord speaking to me and I want someone to tell me truthfully if its just delusions of my mind because it tells me due to demonic influence in a local church on a person of authority and everyone else turning a blind eye to her transgression some one will die due to neglect unless they heed this warning. That I was to speak to the elders and tell them the message because everyone had turn a deaf ear and blind eye to what was happening and the demon is running rampant in the church. I didn't want to believe in it. I don't claim to be a prophet. I don't know what will happen in the future, but I do know that there were child molestation charges which could have been prevented. I've seen unreasonable anger and the person scream out "the devil is attacking us" I would prefer it was just a deluded vision then I could sit back and do nothing, but what if it isn't? then what should I do?
 
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