There is a divide in Christian leadership. A divide that should not be. It's been there for a while, sometimes more pronounced than others. It's a divide over authority, and surprisingly gender. Yes, after more than 40 years, people are STILL divided over this issue that is a non-issue with God.
Let me be the first to tell you that with one loving and supportive husband, five brothers, ten uncles, three god-sons, and numerous male cousins, and a novel series based primarily around strong, godly, male characters, I am unquestionably pro-male by providence, and then by choice. Though I have experienced abuse at the hand of a man, I have not allowed that to color my opinion on men in general. I respect the God-given purpose and destiny set forth. I encourage my husband daily by word, prayer, and deed to fulfill the complete purpose of God on his life. I can be a lioness when his ministry and profession is insulted, because I see him behind the scenes and can attest to the quality of service and excellent work ethic he abides by. So, I want to clarify that I have no interest in supporting the warped message that women are better than men or without them. It simply is NOT true. What I will say is that we are better TOGETHER in our God-given roles of dominion and co-rulership. What that rulership looks like in my home or church may look different from yours, but in the ministry, there are some strictly held notions that align in the Marriage Covenant that are not expressed in relation to ministry, particulary five-fold ministry.
Recently a prominent Pastor and Church Leader was asked, "Is it okay for a man to listen to a woman?" His response was. "He can listen to her, but it can become dangerous to make her the authority over his life as a Pastor. He would lose his masculinity." I could not believe that someone could think this way. I wondered, "What is he talking about?" The statement was disturbing and I continued in prayer for some days on it. As a result, I will share some things God spoke to me regarding this. You don't have to agree, but search the scriptures for yourself. I believe that we cannot afford to get this wrong if we are to minister to the next generation of leaders, which, by the way, according to population growth experts, will be women and those 18-30.
What the Lord spoke:
Maximizing Manhood at the expense of minimizing womanhood or Maximizing Womanhood at the expense of minimizing manhood is not the original order. Everyone who wants to return to the original order yet believe women are in subjection to men paint a paradise picture for men and one of subjection for women. I am coming to Maximize Humanhood. That can only be done when manhood and womanhood both submit to the Godhead (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). When the Godhead rests on your Humanhood, man or woman will begin to maximize their God potential, God purpose, and fulfill God's plan for their lives.
There is a strong notion in most traditional Reformations that a woman should not be a Pastor and God-forbid she claim to be an Apostle. I am looking for this assertion in Scripture. Ephesians 4:11-16, lays out the five-fold ministry plainly. I have seen women Teachers, Evangelists, and Prophets, and Pastors, and Apostles. I respect their ministry because I have never seen them attempting to overthrow any man. Most churches have no problem with women being teachers, or missionaries, or evangelists. But are not all these offices from God? Galatians 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither
male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." If we are all one, why are women seen as a separate class of Christians? Ephesians 5:22 "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord." is often quoted as basis for a woman not serving in a leadership capacity, but this is in the context of Marriage covenant. What about the widow? The single mother? The single woman? Let's look closer:
Ephesians 5: 21Submit to one
another out of reverence for Christ. This verse is rarely mentioned
when women being in subjection is the topic of the day.
Wives and Husbands
22Wives, submit to
your husbands as to the Lord. 23For the husband is
the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he
is the Savior. 24Now as the church
submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25Husbands, love
your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy,
cleansingb
her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her
to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish,
but holy and blameless. 28In this same way,
husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife
loves himself. 29After all, no one
ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the
church— 30for we are members
of his body. 31“For this reason a
man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will
become one flesh.”c 32This is a profound
mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33However, each one
of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect
her husband.
So, can a woman really lead? I would say based on scripture, if she is married, and following the principles of the Word, she could be a really effective Pastor as she maintains her God-set role in submitting to her husband and respecting her husband in the Marriage covenant.
Well, what about the single (woman)?
1 Corinthians 7 (NIV)
32I would like
you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s
affairs—how he can please the Lord. 33But a married
man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife—
34and his
interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the
Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit.
But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can
please her husband. 35I am saying
this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right
way in undivided devotion to the Lord.
Paul speaks this by permission, not by command, but the implication here is that if you can remain a virgin, and single, then devote yourself to the ministry God has given to you. Before I married, I was actively involved in ministry. I devoted myself to it. Now, I am even more devoted! I am married to a man who supports women, who supports women in ministry, who I reverence as Lord in my household happily and without reservation. He is my covering in our marriage covenant. I submit to a local church with the Senior Pastor as my covering. So, what am I saying?
The bottom line is this: If you cannot submit, you should not lead. Male or Female. Period. I asked God, "Should a man listen to a woman? Is there something wrong with her advice?What would happen to his authority? Is this assumption based on a few bad apples in the Bible (Jezebel, Eve, Delilah, Salome)? Could we not make the same assumption about "fallen" men who failed, yet are esteemed as heroes of Faith (Abraham, Jacob, David, Peter)?
This is how He answered:
Where would Barak be without Deborah who counciled him on military strategies?
Where would David be without Abigail who spoke wisdom to him regarding not killing a fool?
Where would the spies be without Rahab who gave them a plan to get out of the city in the midst of their 007 assignment?
Where would Manoah be without his wife who was approached by the angel reagarding Samson?
Where would Zecharias had been after his mouth was closed by God and his wife had to confirm their son's name (John the Baptist)?
What about Priscilla & Aquilla?
Where would the Jews have been without Esther?
We know what happened when Pilate didn't listen to his wife: He wound up as an accomplice to the Crucifixion.
I ask you to go back and search the scriptures through the eyes of God. He doesn't have to use a donkey to lead a man. He can and he will use a Woman, not because we are smarter, or better, but because we are all one in Christ Jesus. God is more concerned about accomplishing His plan in the earth than soothing our egos, Male or Female. He is looking not at gender, but willingness to be yielded and used for His praise, glory, and honor. The best prayer we can pray is, "Lord, use me. Do it through me. Include me in your plan." I believe He will hear you when you call.
Blessings!
