Bible Question: 1 Timothy 2: 9-15... Is this saying women should NOT be pastors? |
Bible Answer: Dear AcquiescentAngel, I disagree with John (post #228122) when he writes, "...if a male teacher is more qualified, he should take the lead: otherwise the woman can do so..." Doing that which is right, the wrong way, is worse than simply doing wrong. (See Leviticus 10:1-3; 1 Samuel 15:22-23.) I agree with John that our God is sovereign. Therefore, if our King is not pleased to provide a qualified teacher, then God forbid that we should attempt to patch things up for Him! What presumptive hubris! Relative to your question: We generally avoid arguing from silence. Consequently, if the qualifications given by Scripture in 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1, and 1 Peter 5 use the masculine, why argue with it? I can venture a guess! Within the heart of each of us there is an inclination to work our way around the Scriptures in order to make them say things with which we are most comfortable. The entire egalitarian movement, for example, takes the equal value of men and women before God (Galatians 3:28), and tries to meld it into something palatable to modern values. When I talk to women who are adamant about their right to preach in the church, I ask them about Paul's instructions "Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored." (Titus 2:3-5 NASB) How are these women to walk out their God given role? Who are they to teach? What does it say they are to teach? What is the consequence of their failing to do so? For the woman who has fully achieved this command, then it might be time to discuss their ambition to stand in the pulpit. I have found that none of the women who want to be pastors, show any interest in this particular command. On the other hand, I have found that women who live according to Titus 2:3-5, lack any interest in taking leadership of a congregation. It is clear that we ought to walk in the central thrust of Scripture, rather than to try to force it into something that seems acceptable to this world. After all, men have done the latter through the ages to justify oppression, persecution, robbery, slavery, bigotry, etc. In Him, Doc PS By the way, if you are interested in the Biblical approach to gender based roles, the web site www.cbmw.org is very helpful. |