The issue of women in the ministry is one that is easier to feel for (or against) than it is to weigh dispassionately and with an open Bible.

Dear Mary and All:

I don't believe God makes a difference between men and women. We are all God's children.

These truisms answer nothing. Unbelievers make the same claim. How wide shall we make this particular circle?

WOMEN IN MINISTRY

BTW, the issue is not women in ministry. It is women in authority over men in the Church.

Author: George Potkonyak

Some time ago I saw Roberts Liardon's "God's Generals", a series of videos describing lives of some of the mighty people of God. Among them he mentions three women: Maria Woodward-Ether, Amie Sapmle McPherson and Kathryne Kuhlman.

The lives of two of these women, I would think, make poor ammunition for your cause. Nevertheless, this is not the issue either. What does God's Word say?

There was no doubt in my mind that these three women ministered with authority, I mean, God's authority. My first reaction was: look at this our God! He commanded us that a woman should not preach neither have authority over man, but He Himself is running around andappointing them to such callings. I thought that there was something wrong, either with God or with our understanding of His word. I quickly concluded that the first option is out of question, so I proceeded with looking at the second option: our understanding of the Scripture.

My conclusion was rather unorthodox: never heard anyone teaching along these lines. So, bear with me, it won't take long. I'll start with the following Scripture:

1 Cor 14:34-35

[34] Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

[35] And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

You may say: "You see, didn't I tell you!" It is apparently quite clear, without a shadow of a doubt, that a woman is simply not permitted to speak in the church. Well, perhaps - except for a little phrase:

"...as also saith the law."

1 Cor 14:34-35

[34] Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

[35] And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

From verse 34 "... but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also said the law", having in mind Numbers 30, talks about either a young woman in her father's house, or a married woman. Verse 35 is quite clear that the text refers to a married woman, she has a husband. In other words, this passage of Scripture refers to the marital relationship (even in the church) between a husband and his wife.

One may ask: "Why the Scripture doesn't say so?". Well, it does! There is one and the same Greek word for woman or wife, and also one and the same word for man or husband. The two words have been translated, not only in this instance, as man and woman rather than husband and wife, not necessarily because it was more accurate but because it lined up with our tradition.

This is silly. True, "gune" can mean either married or unmarried. The context decides. Very often the text spells it out clearly. What follows below is reading into the text.

The above text could have been legitimately translated as:

[34] Let your wives keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

[35] And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for wives to speak in the church.

By "silence in the the churches", Paul did not say that women could not speak at all, that they must be literally silent. Remember, at this time many of the churches, especially in Cenchrea and Achaea were house churches. and as such were more informal than our one pulpit facing thirty pews. Paul meant that the women could not preach or teach mixed audiences (men and women). This would entail having authority. The Bible is clear on this.

This is a hard subject to contend with because there are extremes on both sides. On the one extreme we have this post by Sharon that women are authorized to preach and teach in ANY setting. On the other extreme some insecure men - and confused women who go along with it - take the Taliban approach, saying women have No authority or no part in the service - or that women should not be their bosses in the workplace. Both extremes obscure God's teaching on this.

The phrase, "... for it is a shame for wives to speak in the church" looks to be a little bit harsh. But, what I believe, Paul was addressing some customs in the Corinthian church, and this particular portion might be connected with chapter 11 (which I will address later on), in which he said:

1 Cor 11:16

[16] But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

This is Scripture-twisting that is easy to discern. Please look at the preceding verses 13- 15 and find out for yourself what 1st Cor. 11:16 refers to. It has nothing to do with women speaking.

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1 Tim 2:11-15

[11] Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.

[12] But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

[13] For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

[14] And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

1 Cor 11:3-12

[3] But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

[4] Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.

[5] But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

[6] For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.

[7] For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

[8] For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.

[9] Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.

[10] For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.

[11] Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.

[12] For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.

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In conclusion: Ladies, if the Lord calls you to any ministry and gives you the authority necessary to carry out His work, go for it! Tough luck guys.

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This is part of the judgment that we are under at this very moment; We have women - And many men -preaching and teaching that received no call. They went but they weren't sent. It is tough luck - for all of us until we get back to what the Word teaches.

I want to respond also to a comment of Jim's quoting of Galatians:

Galatians 3:28

Those who oppose allowing women to hold positions of spiritual leadership must place contextual limitations on Galatians 3:28. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."

Think about this. No Jew nor Greek? At all? No, there are still Jews and Gentiles to this day. God does not want us to ignore the distinctions that culture and race had made in our lives. We are not to consider one race or peole better than another, but neither are we to blandly homogenize them.

"Neither male nor female"? Yes and no. In Christ Jesus we still have the distinctions of Ephesians 5 (Paul's teaching of the Christian family).

"Bond nor free"? Did Paul contradict himself? If he really meant, in an absolute sense, there is no bond nor free, why did he say that slaves should remain slaves (1st Cor. 7:17- 21)?

"Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.

Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised.

Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts.

Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him.

Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you — although if you can gain your freedom, do so. "

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The God of the Bible has "no respect of persons" (Romans 2:11; cf. also 2 Samuel 14:14; 2 Chronicles 19:7; Acts 10:34; Ephesians 6:9). He calls whom He will and gives gifts and ministries as He chooses; man must not put limitations on divine prerogatives. In Christ we are truly set free from sin and its curse, which separate from God and elevate or demean according to race, social standing, or gender.

First on that last sentence: Race and social standing May be the product of the Curse. Gender is the result of God's creative wisdom Before the curse. Do not put those three in the same group. By doing this you are cursing what God has blessed.