I've noticed that everyone here who is arguing that woman can be pastors does so with an appeal to emotion, but does nothing to actually consult the Word of God. When we do consult God's Word, we find that men and woman play different roles in the church. I'll copy and paste what one pastor had to say on this, since he writes it better than I'm going to.
A Lutheran pastor's opinion:
With the majority of Christendom, Lutherans never admitted women pastors until modernist and postmodernist thinking began to invade some parts of the church in the past generation. Orthodox, biblical Christianity still is firmly convinced for a number of reasons that women, although they might otherwise be eminently qualified, lack one thing: They are not men.
You included a number of Scriptures from your step-son in your question; Ill touch on them and some others as we study the issue. In
1 Corinthians 14:33-38, Paul tells not only the Corinthian church, but also others, what should be done. Before insisting that women keep silence, that is, not teach or preach, Paul says this is true in all the churches of the saints. (v. 33) That this is not his invention is clear from verse 36: Was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached?
Many who urge the ordination of women do so based upon Galatians 3:28, which would pit Paul against Paul. He writes, There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. But this verse doesnt teach that all differences are erased. Racial, sexual, and physical distinctions remain, yet all Christians have equality in salvation: All are equally sinful and equally saved by the work of God through Jesus Christ.
In Christ, God does not overturn all the previous distinctions, including those of Creation. The miracle of the Resurrection does not overthrow the mystery of the relationship or the marvel of the distinction between man and woman. Dr. Al Barry, former president of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, said, We believe that God has gifted men and women with different responsibilities and duties.... So also in the church, God has gifted men and women with different, though complementary, opportunities and responsibilities for service. (from
What about
The Ordination of Women to the Pastoral Office)
As well as the direct words of Scripture, the examples from the Bible point to a male pastorate: Christs first pastors, the apostles, were all men. If He had decided that women also should fill that position, why did He not say or do something at the time? Would that have been any more radical than anything else He did? The early Church followed Christs established pattern and placed only men as pastors.
Relating also to the maleness of the pastor is the idea of pastor as icon (image) of Christ. The male-female imagery of Christ and Church as Bridegroom and Bride (cf.
Eph 5:22-33) is shown also the example of pastor and congregation.
None of this deals with what has become a battle over superiority and equality. Anyone who thinks that pastors are somehow superior to the laity doesnt realize that these under-shepherds are servants of Gods Word. They are called to be the foot-washers. They are the ones who are on duty, day in and day out, to give, not to rule.
While Scripture calls a faithful flock to support, honor, and obey a faithful pastor (
1 Tim 5:17-18;
1 Thess 5:12-13;
Heb 13:17), even this obedience is not slavish. Hebrews says it is because they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. They surrender themselves to Christ and to His Church in order to feed His sheep and shepherd them safely home to heaven. The Church surrenders herself to them as they lead according to Christs Word.
Note that I dont even begin to go through the examples from the Old Testament. Nor do I quote the early Christian Church, which generally associated a female pastorate with sects and heresies. A full study of all these plus the New Testament would be the matter for a large book, not a short column.
Still, there is also the matter of your stepsons keeping the Commandment, Honor your father and your mother. His attitude and behavior do not necessarily do the best job of this. While he may not want to participate in a service he believes to be contrary to Scripture, the staring out toward the window shows open disrespect to the parents God gave him.
Because I agree with him that he holds the correct, Biblical understanding, I could not urge him to change his mind about women pastors. I do hope that when attending with you, he would act respectfully. He could honor his parents by sitting facing forward, not lounging or looking away, thus not making you and his mother so uncomfortable with him. Yet he could, perhaps, be true to his own beliefs by not actively participating. However, he must honor God above man. If he believes he cannot do so at your Methodist church, should you compel him to sin against his conscience?
Finally, I pray that you try to see that the things of the Church are beyond cultural relevance indeed, often counter-cultural. Many times our ideas of niceness, fairness, and equality run contrary to Gods Word and His order of creation. When this happens, we need divine help to move beyond our own desires and follow Gods will.
This was originally found on
this site.
