WOMEN HAVE ONLY RESTRICTED MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH

PASTORAL AND BISHOPRIC MINISTRIES OF WOMEN ARE UNBIBLICAL. If God wanted a particular woman to be a pastor, preach in church sing etc. she would have born as a man. It is as simple as that with God.

Bible does not teach that women can be entrusted with teaching functions in the public worship services of the assembled church. According to Bible Pastors, Priests and Bishops must be husband of one wife (1 Tim 3: 2:12, Titus 1:6, “It was the woman who was deceived and became sinner (1 Tim 2:14). Bible instructs both men and women to “submit one another out of reverence for Christ” (Eph 5:21)

The motive of feminist theologians in their claim for women assuming the functions in the church which are ordained by the word of God to be performed by certain eligible men only, is reversing the roles and projecting themselves as ‘role models’ and not preaching gospel. Both men and women are essentially equal. But they are functionally different. They have different roles to perform in family, church and society. The perverted perception of feminists lead them to conclude that women can be equal to men only if women perform the functions which men are ordained by God to perform.

ROLE OF WOMEN AND THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN IN THE CHURCH 

All are under some kind of authority. The God given structure of authority and order, in the church is, God, Christ, Man and woman. Woman was created to help man to serve Christ and thereby serve God. Woman is made for man to glorify God. Woman was created to assist man to attain a goal pointed by God. Woman was coregent with man. But she tried to dominate man.

Hence now feminism wants to reverse the God-ordained roles. They argue against the Bible. Their effort is against the revealed purpose of God.

Woman was sinful first because of her decision to decide against the will of God by the exercise of her free will without consulting her husband. She influenced her husband to do the wrong thing. Hence God cursed woman and gave to husband the authority over her. But when Christ is the way there is no tension between man and woman.

The first sin was committed because woman went independent of man. Devil took the chance. Hence now woman ought to be submitted to man. Symbol of this is the covering of head. Covering of head, not speaking in church etc. are not just the principles which are the product of culture, but timeless principles revealed by God to be applied in all times and situations.

Those who are frustrated at home or society, get ideologically self-equipped to defy the authority of a patriarchal God. They falsely presuppose that the noblest human relationship that human beings can have is with their parents, not with God.  Hence they project God as Mother Father God. Man’s relationship with God is of an altogether different and superior category and it cannot be confused in terms of the human relationships. Christ asked us to love Him more than we love any other human beings. They try to turn the established norms upside down to attain their interests. They are not against sin and the exposition of vulgarity that is going on in the name of aesthetics and entertainment, as much as they are against the Fatherhood God. (If they are really all embracing why not embrace the fundamentals also)

Ordination of women in the Church is a major ecclesiastical attack aimed at sabotaging the Christian faith from within the Church. Feminism steals the truth from the Bible. In accordance with the word of God written in 1Tim 3 and Titus 3 women are not qualified to be elders, pastors and deacons. There is no evidence in the Word of God according to which women can be ordained as elders, pastors or deaconesses.

According to the Word of God in 1 Cor 14:33-38, women are not supposed to exercise authority over men in the Church. According to 1 Tim 2:11-15, women are not supposed to teach men in the church. They must cover the head because of the angels: the fallen angels can influence and the angels would then be upset. Women better not teach men in the Church. They can take up works which are by nature repetitive not original and initiatory like teaching.

Feminism confuses the essence and function. Both man and woman are asked to submit to one another (Eph 6:21). Even though man and woman are essentially equal, they are functionally different. Mankind is created stronger than womankind. God created man and woman not for the purpose of one being recognized as better than another, but for the purpose of fulfilling different functional roles. Hence instead of trying to do those aspects of Church ministry which the Word of God does not encourage the women to perform, they should try to perform other aspects of Church ministry which are in no way less valuable for the edification of the Church.

The Word of God emphasizes on the functions and qualifications and not on titles and positions. But today the emphasis of people is concentrated around titles, recognition, respect, power, positions, status, impressiveness, external appearance and perks only. Hence there is much competition for ordination both among men and women.

LET THE WOMEN KEEP SILENT IN THE CHURCHES – WHAT DID PAUL MEAN?

DO NOT ADD AND DO NOT TAKE AWAY FROM THE WORD OF GOD. WE SHOULD RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD OF TRUTH. We should understand these verses in harmony with other verses of the Bible especially those in the New Testament.

CAN PRAY AND PROPHESY IF HEAD COVERED. In 1 Cor. 11:13 Paul writes that women should have their heads covered while praying and prophesying. Thus Paul does NOT stop the women from praying and prophesying aloud during church services, if head is covered.

MARK THE KEY CONTEXTUAL PASSAGE OF 1 COR. 12:1-3. Now concerning spiritual gifts brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the dumb idols, however you were led. Therefore, I make known to you, that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is accursed"; and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

We can surmise that some misguided persons, have disrupted services with false tongues and a false prophecy of "Jesus is accursed!" and the opposing true prophets have countered with, "Jesus is Lord!".

Paul goes on to explain and defend spiritual gifts, talk about love, and finally reprimand unlawful use of tongues and also women or wives who were causing disturbances.

WOMEN MUST KEEP SILENT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCHES AS WAS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT TIMES. 1 Cor 14:34-35 Let the women keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but let them subject themselves, just as the Law also says. And if they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home. For it is improper for a woman to speak in church.

PAUL CONFIRMED THAT IT IS GOD’S COMMANDMENT, AND THAT THOSE WHO DISAGREE ARE ESSENTIALY NOT PART OF THE CHURCH. 1 Cor. 14:36-40 Was it from you that the word of God first went forth? Or has it come to you only? If anyone thinks he (or she) is a prophet or spiritual, let him (or her) recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment. But if anyone does not recognize this he (or she) is not recognized. 

KEEP SILENT EXPRESSION IS USED ALSO IN THE CASE OF TONGUES WITHOUT INTERPRETATION. 1 Cor 14:27-30 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent.

SOME SHOULD KEEP SILENT BECAUSE - 1 Cor 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. 1 Cor 14:40= Let all things be done decently and in order.

THUS WOMEN ARE NOT PERMITTED TO TEACH OR HAVE AUTHORITY OVER A MAN.

1 Tim 2:11-12 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.

Titus 2:15 - Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

If and when women take over or to lead the class, and become domineering in any of our worship activities, then there will be a violation of the Biblical prescription. But men can do this. Titus could publicly speak, exhort, and rebuke both men and women with "all authority," but a woman is not authorized to do so "over a man", because Paul said that she was not "to exercise this authority over the man." But if she is a faithful Christian, she is as much part of the church as the men are. The only exception to this rule is that she is not to play a leading, domineering role which only men are authorized to perform.

WHAT IS BANNED FOR WOMEN IS EXHORTATIONAL PREACHING, TEACHING, ASKING QUESTIONS ETC IN THE CHURCH, WHICH WOULD SUBSTRACT THE GOD GIVEN AUTHORITY OF MAN, AS GOD KNOWING IT BETTER OFR THE REASONS THERE OF.

GIFTS OF HS ARE FOR ALL BELIEVERS – NO MAN WOMAN DISTINCTION IS SPECIFIED. BUT CHURCH SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS THE ONLY PLACE TO OPERATE THE GIFTS. If women are given gifts they can operate them ONLY subject to the specified broader restrictions. Hence women can pray, speak in tongues if interpreted, and prophecy in the church WITH COVERING THEIR HEAD.

THE FIRST REASON WHY WOMEN SHOULD NOT SPEAK IN THE CHURCH –THE ORDER OF CREATION

THE TWO REASONS FOR DIFFERENT ROLES ARE GIVEN IN 1 TIMOTHY 2:12-15. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.

The truths revealed in the first three chapters of Genesis must be faithfully and carefully considered. From the Creation account in Genesis, we know, that both male and female are made in the image of God, and that both male and female have dominion over the earth.

Genesis 1:26-28 - Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

In Genesis, Creation is described two times. In chapter one, there is a general account of the creation of everything. In Chapter two, there is more specific account of creation of men and women. THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED AT CREATION, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN THE ROLES OF MEN AND WOMEN TODAY.

IN THE CREATION ACCOUNT THE MALE IS CENTRAL IN THE NARRATIVE

The whole narrative in Genesis 2 is the story of how God created the man and provided for his well-being. The man is the central character through the entire account of the creation of mankind. All the events revolve around the man. He is the subject; all else is brought into the story in relation to him. Everything else, including the woman, has a supporting role. The male is the first to be created. The garden is prepared for him, and he is placed within it. The male, not the female, is given the name borne by the human race as a whole: "Man". God speaks to the male. He is the first to receive the divine revelation and instruction. The animals are brought for naming to the male, not the female. The woman is made from the man, not the man from the woman. The woman is also made for the man and brought to him. The man was not made for the woman. It is the man who speaks and makes a theological comment upon the woman's creation, not vice versa. It is the male who names the female, not the woman naming the man.

When God created the human race, He placed the man squarely in the center of His creative work. The other activities recorded in Genesis 2 are all relative to the man's existence, nature, and needs. This includes the creation of the woman. ALL OF THIS STRONGLY IMPLIES THAT THE MAN IS THE ONE TO TAKE THE LEAD IN THE COMMANDS GIVEN BY GOD TO SUBDUE THE EARTH.

THE CREATION ORDER IMPLIES MALE HEADSHIP. The feminists reject the Biblical view and argue that the animals were created before man, but they are not the head of man, and hence, man is not the head of woman. THIS IS NOT THE CLEAR TEACHING OF THE BIBLE.

THE FACT THAT THE WOMAN WAS CREATED FROM THE MAN IMPLIES MALE HEADSHIP. Man is the source of the woman; the woman is derived from the man. Genesis 2:22 - Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. The male headship becomes the clear teaching of the Bible because of 1 Corinthians 11:3-9= But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. In His decision to bring woman into existence out of the man, God established an appropriate and everlasting symbol of his intention for man to exercise headship over the woman and for the woman to exist in a relationship of dependence upon the man and submission to man.

But the Feminists rebel as usual and argue that man is from the dust of the ground. But dust is not the head of man. Hence man is not the head of woman. THIS AGSIN IS NOT THE CLEAR TEACHING OF THE BIBLE. When the feminists reject it, they are arguing against Paul, and ultimately against the Holy Spirit who inspired him.

MALE HEADSHIP IS ALSO IMPLIED IN THE FACT THAT THE WOMAN WAS CREATED FOR THE MAN. Woman was created from man and for man. The woman was created for the man; the man was not created for the woman. Moreover it was the man gave the woman her name. This is an indication of the roles of the male being the leader and the woman being the helper for the male. This is confirmed 1 Corinthians 11:9 and is given as a proof of male headship. 1 Corinthians 11:3 But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:9 For indeed man was not created for the woman's sake, but woman for the man's sake.

THIS NEW TESTAMENT TEACHING ON GENESIS 2:18 CANNOT BE EXPLAINED AWAY. THERE CAN BE EQUALITY (ONTOLOGICAL – NATURE OF BEING) BETWEEN THE SEXES, BUT NOT FUNCTIONAL EQUALITY (BIOLOGICAL OR THEOLOGICAL ROLES). THUS WOMAN IN HER ESSENTIAL BEING IS ON AN EQUAL PLANE WITH MAN. BUT IN CERTAIN ROLES, SHE IS A HELPER FOR THE MAN.

THE SECOND REASON WHY WOMEN SHOULD NOT SPEAK IN THE CHURCH – NOT ADAM BUT EVE WAS DECEIVED

THE TWO REASONS FOR DIFFERENT ROLES ARE GIVEN IN 1 TIMOTHY 2:12-15. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.

WHY WAS EVE, NOT ADAM DECIEVED BY SATAN? EVE WAS DECIEVED BECAUSE SHE WAS THE WEAKER VESSEL OR SHE BECAUSE A WEAKER VESSEL BECAUSE OF THE DECEPTION?

It is a fact that Satan chose Eve for this first temptation. Does this imply that women as such are spiritually weaker than men? Do they have some kind of inherent weakness that makes them more vulnerable to temptation and sin? Does 1 Peter 3:7 suggesting this? Is that what meant by the weaker vessel expression? 1 Peter 3:7 Ye husbands, in like manner, dwell with [your wives] according to knowledge, giving honor unto the woman, as unto the weaker vessel, as being also joint-heirs of the grace of life; to the end that your prayers be not hindered.

Paul wrote "it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being quite deceived, fell into transgression" (1 Tim. 2:14). Does it mean that Eve was deceived by Satan because she was more deceivable, more vulnerable than Adam? That is, was Eve the "weaker vessel" - emotionally or intellectually?

The fact that we do not know from the Bible why Satan chose Eve, does not negate the validity of 1 Timothy 2:14, which says that Eve's being the one who was deceived, does have something to do with the woman being prohibited from teaching man and having authority over man in the New Testament Church. The point is that, according to 1 Timothy 2:14, IT IS NOT THE TRANSGRESSION ITSELF BUT THE DECEPTION THAT IS BEING HELD AGAINST EVE. THUS THE FACT THAT EVE WAS DECEIVED BY THE DEVIL IS IN SOME WAY RELATED TO THE FACT THAT WOMEN ARE NOT PERMITTED TO TEACH MEN AND HAVE AUTHORITY OVER MEN IN THE CHURCH.

HENCE IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING INHERENT IN WOMEN'S NATURE WHICH MAKES THEM MORE VULNERABLE TO DECEPTION CONCERNING SPIRITUAL MATTERS. HENCE THEY ARE LESS QUALIFIED TO TEACH MEN AND HAVE AUTHORITY OVER MEN IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CHURCH. This view is consistent with Peter's description of woman as the "weaker vessel" (1 Peter 3:7). Peter does not explain the nature of this "weakness". But it might have to do more with her emotional rather than her intellectual nature.

THOUGH IT WAS EVE WHO WAS DECIEVED, IT WAS ADAM WHO OWED GREATER RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FIRST SIN, THAN EVE. BECAUSE ADAM WAS VESTED WITH THE AUTHORITY, NOT EVE. HENCE WOMEN CANNOT CLAIM EQUAL AUTHORITY IN THE RESTRICTED DOMAINS OF MINISTRY. Adam was already the appointed head of that two-member family. This is clear from the fact that following the sin, when God came to confront the humans, God specifically addressed the man. Genesis 3:9 Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?" As the God-appointed head, Adam bore the primary responsibility for their actions. Adam is held responsible for sin entering the human race even though Eve sinned first.

The New Testament confirms this fact. Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as THROUGH ONE MAN SIN ENTERED INTO THE WORLD, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned. SO, SIN SPREADS TO THE CHILDREN THROUGH THE HUMAN FATHER, AND NOT THE MOTHER, IN WHICH CASE JESUS COULD NOT BE SINLESS. EVEN THOUGH MOTHER MARY IS NOT SINLESS, JESUS IS SINLESS BECAUSE JESUS HAD NO HUMAN FATHER.

Romans 5:14-19 Nevertheless DEATH REIGNED FROM ADAM until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. And the gift is not like that which came through the ONE WHO SINNED; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. For if by the TRANSGRESSION OF THE ONE, DEATH REIGNED THROUGH THE ONE, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. FOR AS THROUGH THE ONE MAN'S DISOBEDIENCE THE MANY WERE MADE SINNERS, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

1 Corinthians 15:21-22 FOR SINCE BY A MAN CAME DEATH, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive.

WOMAN AND HER SPEECH PROVED TO BE MORE DECIEVABLE. THE DECEPTION WAS EXECUTED THROUGH WOMAN’S SPEECH.

HENCE IT IS POSSIBLE THAT WOMEN MORE SUBJECT TO DEMONIC DECEPTION. HENCE WOMAN SHOULD SUBMIT TO MAN, AND HAVE RESTRICTIONS ON SPEAKING. SO IT MIGHT BE THAT WOMEN SHOULD NOT SPEAK IN THE CHURCH AVOIDING OPPORTUNITY FOR FURTHER DECPTION OR AS RESTRICTIVE PUNISHMENT IN RETRIBUTION.

THE GOD GIVEN ORDER OF AUTHORITY ROLE IS: GOD-CHRIST-MAN-WOMAN

1 CORINTHIANS 11:3 BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THE HEAD OF EVERY MAN IS CHRIST, THE HEAD OF WOMAN IS MAN, AND THE HEAD OF CHRIST IS GOD.

MAN AND WOMAN – EQUAL BUT DIFFERENT - THE ISSUE OF ROLES

WHEN WE STUDY THE BIBLE, THE ISSUE IS NOT ONE OF EQUALITY, BUT OF ROLES. THE BIBLE TEACHES AN EQUALITY OF MEN AND WOMEN. BOTH MEN AND WOMEN: ARE MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, HAVE DOMINION OVER THE EARTH AND ARE JOINT HEIRS IN CHRIST. THE BIBLE CLEARLY TEACHES A DISTINCTION IN THE ROLES OF MEN AND WOMEN.

There is an equality in the inheritance of men and women but they do not have the same role. Even the men in the church do not have equal roles. There is a difference in the roles God ordained for men and women. All are commanded to submit to the rule of the elders.

The differences of roles are based on God's choice of creation. God chose to make men and women different and they have different responsibilities as they work together to serve God.

Galatians 3:28-29 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. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

1 Peter 3:7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

All should recognize the fact that men and women are essentially equal but functionally different. Hence they have different roles to perform both in the family and in the church.

Women are different from men, not inferior to men. Women should behave like women, and not pretend to be men. They are as important as men. They are partners both in family and church. Men and women are equally valuable in the sight of God. Man and woman owe each other’s loyalty. They are not independent of each other.

SOME HAVE A PERVERTED PERCEPTION WHICH PRESUPPOSES THAT WOMEN CAN BE EQUAL TO MEN ONLY IF WOMEN PERFORM THE FUNCTIONS WHICH MEN ARE ORDAINED TO PERFORM.It is the extension of the same perverted logic which leads to the recognition of the lesbian and homosexual marriages.Because in such cases, it is falsely assumed that women can perform the functions which men should perform and men can perform the functions which women should perform. Ultimately it all ends up in subtle systemic violation of the Word of God.

RECENTLY, THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE CHURCH IS TOTALLY CONFUSED WITH THE INFUSING OF MODERN FEMINIST IDEOLOGIES. THINKING TO BE WISE, MANY ARE BECOMING FOOLS.

THE BIBLE PATTERN REGARDING THE ROLE OF MEN AND WOMEN IN MINISTRY

RADICAL FEMINIST VIEW

“GOD JEHOVAH AND JESUS CHRIST DO NOT ENJOY DOMINATING YOU KEEPING YOU UNDER THEIR FEET. THEY ENJOY LOVING YOU. 
GOD DID NOT TAKE A BONE FROM ADAM'S FEET TO MAKE HIM A WIFE, BUT TOOK A BONE FROM HIS BOSOM TO MAKE MADAM EVE WHICH MEANS THAT YOU WILL NOT SERVE A HUSBAND UNDER HIS FEET BUT ENJOY LIFE WITH HIM AT HIS BOSOM”. 
 

“GOD CALLED EVE A HELPMATE, A CAMPANION---BUT NOT A "HELPSLAVE." JESUS DID NOT CALL MEMBERS OF HIS REDEEMED CHURCH "SERVANTS", BUT "BRIDES." WE HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO GOD AND JESUS. WE DO NO HAVE TO TALK TO JESUS WITH A SCARF OR HAT OF SEPARATION IN BETWEEN”.
 

MY RESPONSE - IT IS WRONG AND SINFUL TO MISREPRESENT THE IDEA OF SUBMISSION AND MAN WOMAN ROLES OBVIOUS IN THE BIBLE PATTERN. REGARDING THE ROLE OF MEN AND WOMEN IN MINISTRY, WE CAN FIND A PARTICULAR PATTERN THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE.

OLD TESTAMENT PRIESTS WERE ALL MEN. JESUS DID NOT CHOOSE WOMEN AS HIS APOSTLES. THIS WAS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE ROLE DISTINCTION FOR MEN AND WOMEN ESTABLISHED AT CREATION. 

ONE OF THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE ELDERS, RELEVANT IN THIS CONTEXT OF DISCUSSION, IS TO BE THE HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE. THUS, EXPECTATION IS THAT THE ELDER MUST BE A MARRIED MAN.

THE ISSUE IS NOT OF BEAUTY, ABILITY ETC. RATHER IT IS AN ISSUE OF GOD ORDAINED ELIGIBILITY TO DO MINISTRY IN HIS CHURCH. GOD IS SOVEREIGN AND WILL DECIDE THE AFFAIRS OF HIS CHURCH.