Strife Behind The Pulpit: An Examination of Women in Ministry

Part 6: Debunking The Myths

There are several prevalent views today about women in ministry. One such view is taken from the writings of Paul we spoke of earlier in his letter to the Galatians. “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free,is there male and female,you are all one in Christ Jesus”. (Galatians 3:28) The argument that I have heard made time and time again is, in the Kingdom of Christ there is no difference between a man and woman. Catherine Booth, an early feminist and co-founder of the Salvation army wrote her commentary on this passage, ‘If this passage does not teach that in the privileges, duties, and responsibilities of Christ’s Kingdom, all differences of nation, caste, and sex are abolished, we should like to know what it does teach, and wherefore it was written.’ With this statement, Booth both captures and pre-empts much of the modern debate on this passage.

Since then scholars have argued over what Gal. 3:28 does teach and the extent of its application. On one hand egalitarians use this text to ‘prove’ that the New Testament abolishes all gender-based distinctions and treat it as a ‘control text’ for interpreting other texts. On the other, complementarians, like myself argue that Gal. 3:28 states that race, status and gender do not provide any barriers to salvation, but this doesn’t silence other Biblical passages that teach differences in responsibilities based on these distinctions, as I have spoken of previously. It has been my long held conviction that we must always take every verse in the bible and hold it in context of the entire scripture. A completely literal interpretation of this text would produce the idea that we are no more Jews, no more Gentiles, and no more gender at all.

In as much as our liberal media and Hollywood has tried to push off the homosexual agenda they still have not erased all elements of gender from our society. The egalitarian view of scripture reminds me of a science fiction series in which an alien race was discovered that had erased, or at least attempted to erase all areas of gender differences both physically and socially. As far fetch as my analogy may seem it is in keeping with the removed and science fiction type theology presented by the feminist movement. There are still men and women walking around today and we are still wired very different from one another. It is important that we be grounded in the scripture and not allow our mind to wonder off into theoretical space. When we are speaking in terms of the Christian life we are not simply dealing with empty concepts but we are dealing with the Words of our Creator and His words must be valued.

God does not go back on His word nor does he change what he says. In the beginning God created man to be male and female before the fall and he said it was very good. So in light of the fact that God created gender distinction in the beginning and set about certain roles for them, it stands to reason that if it worked in a perfect world it is still God's design for a fallen one. Remember God made man first than he made eve from the side of man.

In addition to arguing to the above argument for women in ministry, most egalitarians also quote Acts 10:34, “for God is no respecter of persons” This to is another tragic example of how we as fallen man are hasty to jump and make a doctrine based on one verse. Once again this verse is one of the most misquoted and used out of context. This verse is taken from a larger story in which peter realizes that God does not show favoritism. God views everyone as spiritual equals in regard to salvation. I would challenge anyone who is critical of my interpretation on this issue to examine for yourself the context of either passage and honestly ask yourself if this is referring to anything other than salvation.

Another not as common doctrine I have heard, is God calls women to pastoral ministry because they are often more gifted speakers or more capable of the task. I have very little to say in response to this. Because God very rarely if ever calls those who are qualified instead he equips those whom he calls. Take a look at the disciples (all of whom were men) they were fisherman, tax collectors and the like. Not your most qualified preachers. Look also at Abraham who when he was called was not even a god fearing man. Let us not also forget about Moses who was a fugitive on the run with a temper and a speech impediment who God used to free a nation. Time would fail us to explore all of the many things God did with David. Who went from being a ornery teenage shepherd boy to a giant slayer, to the greatest King of Israel. To say God used me to speak doesn’t really say all that much in light of the fact that God used a donkey to proclaim his message.