Bible Question: I understand your answer. However, you stated that women were deacons in the NT church? Isn't a requirement to be the husband of one wife? |
Bible Answer: No. That is about pastors and elders. It is only stated ONCE in the NT. Deacons roles in those days, were to care for the needs of people in the church, practical, tangible needs. Elders were the "deacons" of spritual stuff. It's a complicated deal. For instance, here is a good one. Very good pastor, Godly man, committed to Christ ... wife goes nuts, runs off with another man, leaves her kids, her husband, her family, friends, church, you name it. Does that make him no longer the husband of one wife? No, he has never left her, nor has he rejected her, although she divorced him. It's more about the moral issues, not the paper issues. Look at Lois, also the woman written to in the books of 1 John etc. Women were constantly being praised by Paul for their work in the church, the kind we attribute to deacons today. I don't know what or how you decide what to call people in service in your church, in ours, deacons look after the tangible needs of the congregation, elders look after the spritual, as in call the elders of the church for annointing and prayer for illness. Bishop, would be pastor. Women are never to assume the role of pastor...this is clear. Otherwise it would be a gender neutral scripture, as in the universal meaning of "man". This one is clear...the "HUSBAND" of one wife, meaning no divorce and remarriage, divorce is one thing, and only allowed under very specific circumstances, and does NOT allow remarriage. Remarriage, is a whole other issue, and not one I wish to get into here. It is usually, and this is ONLY MY OPINION, allowed at the death of the spouse. THIS IS MY INTERPRETATION, no one else's....so please don't write me, telling me how wrong I am, as I do not prescribe my beliefs to others. I would feel morally bound to my spouse, regardless of paper divorce. We heard pronounced at our wedding, "till death do us part" and "what God has joined together...etc". Yes, I am divorced, I did not divorce him, but I am still morally bound to him, as I am a Christian, and that's that. I do not date, or whatever. As long as he is alive, I must be willing to reconcile, regardless of my feelings. As for the deacons who were women, check out a lot of the books after Acts. I think you will find many women, who were involved in this area of church work. Women played a huge role in the development of the NT church, and without them, there might not have been a very cohesive church. Everyone has their role, along with the instructions on how to do the job. The role of women is described, along with how they are to behave. The same is true for men. Let me know what you find. You are always interesting, and people may disagree.....I have no prob with that, just as long as people do their homework...What do you think? Kate |