Strife Behind The Pulpit: An Examination of Women In Ministry:
Digging Deeper
Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior... 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
History alone is not the basis of the argument of gender in the pulpit. There are many doctrinal issues involved in the controversial debate over gender and the clergy. I think the first item of business that needs to be covered is that God loves and calls women to His service just as He does men. Women are no less meaningful to God as men are. Remember God is no respecter of persons, For there is no respect of persons with God. Romans 2:11. Please ladies if you don’t hear anything else in what I am saying hear this. God created men and women to do the same basic task, love God and love others. Each and every person is called to live a life of service. Let us take a look at the life and ministry of some great women in the first century church.
Paul’s Epistles give us a glimpse into the life and ministry of the early church. In the book of Romans he introduces to several godly women. These women served faithfully in the church day and night. They help an important place in the early Christian movement, yet many are quick to assume that just because of their mention and place that they were “pastors” or shepherds. If we are to hold to the Bible as our final authority and not superficial feelings and historical movements, than we ought to study out the scriptures for the answer and not the Women’s Liberation Movement. Many people would say, "Why even talk about this issue? It’s just not important; it’s not important to the gospel." Well, let me ask you a question. Is fidelity to the word of God important to the gospel? Yes it is. Is fidelity to the word of God where the culture is pressing against us, important? Yes, it is extremely important. And so, the real issue here is the authority of Scripture.
Phoebe
"I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea; that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well."
Not much detail is given about her nor is she mentioned anywhere else except in this final chapter in Romans. But she will always be remembered as the person who delivered Paul's epistle to the believers at Rome. What an amazing task this must have been. Travel was not easy nor safe, but she was given this great letter and sent to deliver it. With it came a personal recommendation from Paul, this tells us a lot about this lady. Paul told them that she was a servant of the church in Cenchrea and many assume that she might have been a deaconess or minister there. The word for servant, translated from the Greek means attendant and is used elsewhere to denote a Christian teacher, pastor, deacon or deaconess. We will deal later with the qualifications for Christian teachers, deacons and pastors. However the word was also used in the case of a servant or someone who did errands as a slave. Whether or not Phoebe was a deaconess or servant one truth remains, she was a great help to the many people. If a Pastor does not have the heart that Phoebe portrayed they were failing in the service.
Paul instructed this church to help her out in whatever means necessary as she also helped others. This is an important truth that illustrators the principal of reaping what you sow. Just knowing that she helped and ministered to others in their time of need would empower the Romans to assist her while in Rome and on her journey. This is why Paul mentioned it. He instructed them that she had been a great help to others and even himself, so in the same way they should assist her when possible. Jesus said, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" ( Luke 6:38 ).
This is one of the key principal how the Kingdom of God works, we will reap what we sew. So in helping others, others will be more likely to help us. Paul is advocating that Phoebe has earned their help and respect by the help she had given him.
The same holds true for us today, we are more likely to assist those who willingly help us and vice versa. Like Phoebe we are servants of Jesus and ministers to His church. We are tasks with helping and caring for our brothers and sisters when there is a need. Today, I pray that you become aware of those needs and step in and help when possible. Just like Phoebe, you will be remembered for your servant’s heart and for caring and ministering to the saints of God. May this truth bless you today as you walk in it! It is apparent the role Phoebe played in the early church was one of service not leading the church as the pastor or overseer.
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