Bible Question:
Rev Smith, I noticed you reply of 2 1/2 years ago that ended with your confusion over the role of women in church. I'm curious if in that time God has led you to a clearer understanding of just what is biblically endorsed? I hope you are still a part of this forum and willing to engage on this topic. |
Bible Answer: Interestingly, this is not an issue any longer. Not because of my role in the church, but because my husband fell away and left our marriage for another woman, a woman who is not a Christian at all. I don't feel that my role in our church at that time (of which I am no longer a member) had a thing to do with this--he was leading a sinful lifestyle which included pornography and other sins of the flesh. Today, I find myself between churches and in a quandary as to where I want to go spiritually. I feel led to start a Bible study; this is what I am trained for, and called to. The mixed-groupe Bible study (at a house church) which I have been attending for the past year is pleasant, and I enjoy the fellowship, but I believe I am stagnating there. Part of the problem, I think, is that the pastor is a woman. She was not always the pastor, she was the victim of a philandering husband as I was; but she remained and continued teaching the group (she always led the group, even when he was there). She recently remarried a good man, a fine Christian, who is not a strong leader; therefore, he defers to her during the study and in all affairs that relate to the group. This troubles me, and I have found my attendance falling off. Am I still confused? I don't know that I would call it confusion. I wrote that post a long time ago. I still believe in women's leadership in the church, and yet I don't feel comfortable with women having pastoring roles. I consider churches with women pastors too "liberal" for my taste. Yet I have personally experienced a great deal of spiritual growth in classes with women leaders. Personally, I prefer mixed Bible classes that are taught by men to mixed classes taught by women. Therefore, I suppose I can say I hold the view that I am in favor of limited women's leadership (as in women's ministries, guided by the pastor), but I do not favor women leading men or an entire congregation. It is not that I don't believe that a woman is capable of leading, because I do believe that God created women with equal intellect and ability; I believe it is part of the natural order in which He created us. Please write me at gmsmith101@yahoo.com if you wish to correspond. I do check this forum, but not often enough, I'm afraid. Thank you for opening this particular can of worms... It gave me something to think about... God bless you. |