1 Timothy

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NASB	1 Timothy 3:1 It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.
AMPLIFIED 2015 2015	1 Timothy 3:1 This is a faithful and trustworthy saying: if any man [eagerly] seeks the office of overseer (bishop, superintendent), he desires an excellent task.

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Bible Question: My pastor is born again and Spirit filled I believe. We have had several discussions in the last 4 years about leadership in the church and what Elders jobs are and also deacons, however I am very involved in our church and do not see our leaders "doing" very much at all. When it comes to working with the outreaches, cleaning the church, handing out fliers or tracts, feeding the hungry or anything else that my pastor has explained to me that they should be doing they are always on "vacation"-"had to work in their yards"-"or couldnt get away from their families" or they show up just as we laymen are getting finished with everything.
I have been very involved in ministry since 1989, leading bible studies, food ministries, clothing ministries, doing much of the secretarial work in each church that I have attended (my husband has been transfered through his work a couple of times, thus the moves). The questions that I have are this.
1. How does a pastor evaluate who should be an elder or deacon? And what specifically are their jobs? (Please answer in detail)

2.And where in the bible does it say specifically that women cannot be pastors of a church and preach the Gospel? Both my Sr. Pastor and Associate Pastor rattle off a scripture or two that I have checked out rather thouroughly and I don't see it. Maybe it is written between the lines.

Bible Answer: Dear dmom,

Greetings in Jesus' name!

1) Any ministry, including pastor, should be decided by God. Therefore, the real question is "Can we know God's will on an individual, personal basis?" I believe that we CAN! God's 'general' will for all His people (those who have received and been embraced by the Gospel) is clearly written in the Bible. We are to bear much good fruit (of the Spirit). Then the Bible also gives guidelines for more specific adherence to His will, including situation and gender. Then the Holy Spirit provides direction directly into the heart of each person, with the balancing effect of local church participation and pastoral oversight. You cannot have balance without the church and shepherd! It is all too easy to mistake feelings for the Spirit. Now this is the ideal. If your church does not provide Biblical fellowship and shepherding, you are in a dysfunctional church.

2) This has been discussed at length, so if you use the 'Search' button and type 'women ministry,' you will find several interesting threads. No, it is not 'written between the lines.' For a woman to usurp authority over a man (or men) is not God's primary will. Can I ask you a few questions? How would we justify an unmarried woman to shepherd a flock and keep God's primary will? How about a divorced woman with or without children? How about an older unmarried woman? The only woman that *might* come close to holding the authority written in the Bible is (maybe) the widow of a minister. Even this, IMHO, is not a long-term answer. True, in Christ there is male nor female, but we are speaking of authority and responsibility, not salvation.

May I ask a personal question? Would you become a pastor, and hold authority and spiritual responsibility over your husband? If his job required another move, would you quit your 'job?' Shepherding is NOT a job! If it were a job, then women would probably be BETTER than men! :-)

Bless you, dmom, in Christ Jesus, charis

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1 Timothy

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