A person adding to another thread suggested we discuss other things in the Bible as well. A long time understanding was that women were not to be pastors. People sited passages like this:
1 Corinthians 14:33-35 - 33 As in all the congregations of the saints, 34 women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. 35 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.
In recent history - relative to the Church's life - some denominations have opened the pulpit to women siting passages like this:
Galatians 3:26-29 - 26 You are all sons (children) of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
What are your thoughts? Does the Bible address this subject in other passages?
In the United Methodist Church our doctrines are primarily illuminated by Scripture but interpreted through our mind, our experience, and our history.
Your thoughts?
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Ok. I am surprised that no one is touching this one. I believe that God calls women into the ministry and that they should follow that calling. I believe it is a sin for anyone (or church) to stand in the way of that calling.
I am blessed in my home church to have a female associate pastor. God has given her amazing gifts for teaching, administration, and ministering to the congregation. There is no way you can experience the Holy Spirit working through her and believe that it is contrary to God's will.
Anonymous wrote: "I believe that God calls women into the ministry".
Not saying I agree or disagree, but how do you deal with the passages Pastor Ray listed to start our discussion? Do you simply discard them or do you call them outdated or what?
How do we deal with Scripture we do not agree with? Doesn't this go back to the Homosexual question too?
Do we pick and choose what passages we believe or what?
I feel that women are called into ministry, but not into the ministry of preaching the Word. I once posed this question to a female Methodist minister who was a chaplain in a Methodist nursing home, and she was unable to answer:
In 1 Timothy 3, we are given the qualifications of a bishop as well as for deacons. How can a woman be a husband of one wife? In my mind, that pretty much wipes out a woman preacher.
I think that perhaps the other thing that differs is how we interpret scripture.
Do you believe the Bible is inerrant or is it the inspired word of God? Have we all truly studied the earliest texts and the culture of the time in which they were written so that we even understand what they mean?
There is a similar theme running through these and it seems to be the above in my mind.
I believe the Bible is the only text I have read that is as relevant today as it was when it was written. I also believe that it is entirely within God's power to send a different message to us through scripture than perhaps the writer was sending to those he addressed when writiing the text.
"Not saying I agree or disagree, but how do you deal with the passages Pastor Ray listed to start our discussion? Do you simply discard them or do you call them outdated or what?"
You read them with a cultural perspective.
the church that Paul wrote about was one where the men took an active part in the lesson, and the women were segregated behind screens, present but not participants. Of course, if they are not actively engaged, anyone in that situation is going to engage with each other!
Paul wrote the passage not to suppress women, but to encourage their involvement and engagement in church, a radical concept in his day. It's a pity that to some it's still a radical concept today.
With respect to the "husband of one wife" qualification, I see that again as a cultural requirement, translated today as someone (male or female) who is modelling a stable, loving monogamous heterosexual commitment.
I believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, infallible Word of God. It is only when we try to sooth our human condition that we begin to find error in it and try to explain away the truth found in it.
In the Truth Project's first session we have already been reminded to think about a Christian World View verses a Secular World View. It seems that many things the world sees as good, God sees as not so good. Issues of today are very much tied up in our world view. Two of today's issues (and there are many more)reflect the difference.
-Christian World View: Sanctity of life: God's view is that life is precious and in several places reminds us that He calls folks before and during the time in the womb. You do not call tissue but human beings
-Secular World View: Abortion should be available to all: used as gender selection, as birth control, or for any reason. A women should be able to control her own body and the "tissue" in them.
Unfortunately the choice is made when a man and woman lay with each other and do not wait for marriage or take precautions. There are NO unwanted children! Rape and incest account for less than 5% of all unexpected or unwanted pregnancies.
-Christian World View: Sexual purity: God created sexuality to be shared and enjoyed by a husband and a wife. It is meant for these married couples and for procreation. Marriage is clearly between a man and a woman.
-Secular World View: sexual impurity: If it feels good, do it. If you can conceive of it, try it. Homosexual lifestyles are supported as between two adults. What's next, beastality? Heterosexual persons are acting with impure sexual behavior as well, yet pornography, adultery, and other behaviors/practices are supported or at least not spoken against.
One more note and then I have to go to work (evening shift). It seems at times that the Secular World View spends more energy and money on protecting animals and animal rights than the unborn human babies of our society. I wonder how many great persons we have aborted over the years since Roe v. Wade was passed?
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