God's position on women in the Preaching Ministry, July 18, 2005
www.inspiredmessages.org

To my fellow Ministers and laborers in the Gospel
of Christ Jesus, and to all of my brothers and sisters in Christ .
I Minister Redmond would like to share a few things with you about
God's position on women, in the preaching ministry. In addition, let me say
this first, that God has blessed women with great gifts for the ministry,
however according to the Word of God, God has not called women into the
preaching or pastoral ministry.

Now as we enter into this debate, let us all agree first of all that all
Scripture is inspired by God, and that when God's Word is rightly divided
and interpreted rightly, it has binding authority on all Christians at all
times and in all places.

Secondly, the Spirit never contradicts Scripture, for if He did, He would be
contradicting Himself.

Thirdly, where Scripture is clear no further revelation is needed from the
Spirit.

Fourth, any part of Scripture must be understood in the context of the whole
to be truly Biblical. A text out of context is a pretext, to conceal the
true purpose and the appearance of the intentions is misleading.
The use of Gal. 3:28 as proof-texts to support women in the preaching and or
pastoral ministry is a classic example of this abuse of Scripture. Now let
us look at Gal. 3:28. Many have taken Gal. 3:28 out of context, to prove
that the Bible supports women preaching and pastoring claiming that because
we are all one in Christ and that because the Holy Spirit gives gifts
according as He wills and to whomever He chooses that all of us are
spiritually equal. And although it is true that we are all one and the Holy
Spirit gives gifts according as He wills and to whomever He chooses and we
are all spiritually equal, I Cor. 12:, Gal. 3:28 is not talking about
spiritual responsibility. If we rightly divide the Word of Truth and
interpret Gal. 3:28 in light of the whole chapter, Chapter 3 you will find
that Paul was simply explaining first of all that we are saved by faith and
not works. He also explained why the law was necessary, even though the law
could not save us. Paul also wanted the Jewish people to understand that it
doesn't matter what your race, sex, or social standard is, that when a
person accepts Christ as their Savoir thru faith, and are saved by the Grace
of God, that whatever race, sex, or social standard, that we are all one in
Christ. However, please understand that spiritual equality does not
eliminate spiritual responsibility. Gal. 3:28 is talking about spiritual
equality, not spiritual responsibility, When God made people spiritually
equal by faith, He did not eliminate ordained roles of headship in Society,
the Home, or the Church. Jesus Christ, though fully equal with the Father,
assumed a submissive role during His incarnation, Phil. 2: 5-8. Also,
consider 1stCor. 11:3 and I Tim. 2:12, which define distinctions in
spiritual service.

Another classic example of abuse of Scripture is how many have used Joel
2:28 to support their view that the Bible supports women in the preaching
and pastoral ministry. So let us look at Joel 2:28. If we take v. 28 by
itself, we may be able to use it to support women in the preaching and
pastoral ministry, however, to properly interpret the Scripture we must look
at the Scripture in light of what the writer is trying to say. First of all
the writer is speaking to Israel and he says their sons and daughters shall
prophecy, and this referred to the people of Judah, not the Church under
Grace. When the prophecy of Joel 2:28 is completely fulfilled, the
recipients of the Divine Spirit will exercise prophetic gifts. However,
please understand the prophecy of Joel 2:28 shall not be completely
fulfilled until the second coming of Christ. When we look at Joel 2: 28-31,
we will find that when he says, "in those days" v. 29, "I will pour out my
Spirit," and v. 31, "before the great and terrible day of the Lord come,"
and when we read v. 28-31 in context with the statements in v. 29 and 31,
and the description in v. 30-32, it is very clear that this prophecy points
to the end times and shall not be completely fulfilled until that time. Read
Matt. 24: 27-31, for a description of Christ's second coming. Therefore, let
us understand that when the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost in Acts
2: 16-21 that only partially fulfilled the prophecy of Joel 2: 28-32. Joel's
prophecy shall not be completely fulfilled until Christ comes the second
time to judge the world and set up His Millennial Kingdom. Notice again in
Acts 2: 16-21, Peter is speaking to Jewish people, and about the sons and
daughters of Israel. As the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost, we have
only a taste of what will happen in the Millennial Kingdom when the Holy
Spirit is poured out completely on all flesh.  As the Spirit is poured out
at Pentecost, we also
have further evidence that God did not call women to preach or pastor,
having authority over His congregation.
Notice that when the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost, only the
apostles spoke
2: 1-16. And we know this because "they", in 2:1 refers to the eleven
apostles, and Matthias, who makes twelve,  in 1:26. Also notice 2:13, the
apostles were being mocked, for the others who were there, to witness this
great event, accused them of being full of wine. And notice v13 they
referred to them as men not women. And then v14-15 Peter confirms that only
the apostles spoke and they are all men. Among the 120 disciples who were
there, 1:13-15, women were among them, but they only prayed together as men
and women should.

Note: During this transitional period in the Book of Acts, and throughout
all the letters Paul wrote to the many different Churches, there is no
indication in the Scriptures that any woman ever prophesied, preached the
Word of God or had authority over His congregation.
Let us also consider that as Christ began to set up His earthly ministry,
the main group were all men. We know Christ had many followers, who were
also called disciples and there were women among those followers of Christ.
However, there were only twelve disciples Christ Jesus specifically
handpicked and they were all men. Christ spent 3 years training them for the
ministry Christ set up in the earth so that after His death and resurrection
He would leave the responsibility of His ministry with these 12 men, 11
without Judas. Matthias and Paul, both men came later.
We also understand that as Christ rose from the dead, that a woman was first
to proclaim He is risen. However, that does not qualify women to preach or
pastor and have authority over God's congregation. All believers are
responsible to proclaim the Gospel of Christ, but not all believers are
called to preach even among men.

Let us also consider one of God's greatest servant's apostle Paul, who was
an
itinerant preacher, and went about setting up churches on the missionary
journeys he took. Paul had female helpers and they were doing the work of an
evangelist in which all of God's children are responsible to do.
Nevertheless, let us understand that doing the work of an evangelist is not
the same as holding the office of an evangelist. According to the
Scriptures, the office of an evangelist were only held by men, consider Eph.
4:11 where God gave gifted men to the Church for edification of the Saints.
Among these gifted men are the apostles and prophets who are mentioned in
Eph. 2:20 and 3:5, as the foundational gifts to the Church. The apostles
include the Twelve who had the office of apostleship, which also included
Paul. But the term apostle was also used in a more general way of other men
in the early Church, such as Barnabas Acts 14:4,14, Silas and Timothy 1st
Thess. 2:6 and Apollos 1st Cor. 4:6,9. This latter group are called
apostles of the Churches, rather than apostles of Christ. These men had the
gift of apostleship, but unlike the main Twelve apostles and Paul, they
never held the apostolic office Of, an apostle. Now there were also prophets
who had the gift of prophecy and were especially commissioned men in the
early Church. Since the apostles and prophets were foundational to the
Church their office came to an end w/the completion of the New Testament.
The two offices of apostle and prophets were replaced by the office of
evangelists and teaching Pastors. And as we shall later see there is nothing
in the Scriptures that identifies a woman as an evangelist, and neither are
pastor teaches identified as women. Scripture identifies pastor teaches as
men. The name pastor is interchangeable w/elder Titus 1:5-9 and bishop 1st
Tim. 3:1-7. The terms elder and bishop are also identified w/men. Now there
are those who try to use Junia in Roman 16:7 to support women preachers.
They claim that Paul identified her as an apostle. Well 1st of all no man
not even Paul can identify or call anyone to be an apostle, only Christ can
call a person to be an apostle, Gal.1:6, and Christ never called a woman to
the office of an apostle. When we read Roman 16:7 correctly you will find
that when Paul said that Andronicus and Junia the woman in question, were of
note among the apostles, Paul was simply saying that she had a good
spiritual reputation, having been in ministry w/Paul and possibly Peter and
other apostles before Paul was converted to Christianity. Roman 16:7 makes
it clear that Junia had note and that is to say she was very well respected
among the apostles, but was not an apostle herself.  Also, consider Acts
21:8 where Philip is identified as an evangelist. Philip is a man and no one
else in Scripture is called an evangelist and that is one who holds the
office of an evangelist. Evangelist is used in only one other place in the
Scripture, which is where Paul commanded Timothy to do the work of an
evangelist, II Tim. 4:5.

Now let us consider Aquila and Priscilla who were very well known in the
Corinthian Church. And because Priscilla the wife name, was mentioned 1st in
Acts 18:18 - Roman 16:3, Many try to use these scripture to support their
idea that God supports women preachers. And because they had Church in their
home, Roman 16:3-5 and 1stCor. 16:19 many also try to use these scriptures,
to support women preachers. They say that because Priscilla's name was
mentioned 1st, that she was the leader of the Church in their home, for you
see God does have priority in time as it was w/Adam and Eve, 1st Tim. 2:13.
And although this is true, let us understand, 1st of all Priscilla's name
was mentioned 1st , not because she was the leader of this husband wife
ministry, but because of her noble family background, she had a higher
social rank than Aquilla her husband, which may be why she seemed to be more
prominent of the two in the Church, which was in their home. And the Church
was in their home, because they opened their home up for worship, and at
this time Paul was living w/them, for they were not only servants of Christ,
but also tent makers, Acts 18:1-3. The fact that they opened their home for
worship and Paul was living w/them, more than likely Paul led the Church
even through the Church was in their home, for Roman 16:3 makes it clear,
that Priscilla and Aquilla were his helpers. According to the information we
have on this husband and wife team they cannot be used to support women
preachers.

Although Paul had women helpers they never held the office of an evangelist
and you will also notice that all the Churches Paul set-up on his missionary
journeys that as Paul continued in his journeys, like Christ who left the
responsibility of His church ministry to His disciples who are men, Paul,
following Christ example never left the responsibility of the churches to
any woman, he always left the responsibility of the church to men.
Now let us consider the foundation of the church, Eph. 2:20, Eph. 2:20
clearly states that the foundation, and that is the strength of the church,
is built upon the apostles and prophets of which are all men. Now let us
understand that these men were given divine revelation from God, which these
men authoritatively taught, speaking the Word of God to the church, before
the completion of the New Testament. Eph. 2:20 makes it very clear that God
used men, not women to set the foundation for His church.
In our world today, the church is following the world in opening the ranks
of leadership to women. If this trend is right the church should be leading
the world, but rather than make an impact upon the world, the world seems to
be making a greater impact upon the church.

Please let us understand that although it is very true that men and women
are equal in the sight of God that does not mean that our function and
responsibility is interchangeable.

Now as we continue this debate, let us all agree that God's original pattern
is the guideline for Christian behavior, and male and female relationships.
For Christ Jesus Himself and Paul referred to the Old Testament many times,
when teaching on Christian behavior, and male and female relationships.

And so as we begin let us look at Gen. 1:27. Gen.1:27 clearly show us
that men and women are equal in value. Men and women both bear the image of
God, to reflect God, in mind, will and emotion. Gen.1:27 is the 1st
statement about gender in the Scriptures and although Gen. 1:27 makes it
very clear that men and women are equal in the sight of God, this is not the
main message. If we compare Gen.1:27, w/God's creation of the fish of the
sea, the fowl of the air, the beasts of the field and every creeping thing
that creepeth upon the earth, Gen. 1:20-25, we will find that the emphasis
of Gen.1:27 of God creating man and woman in His image, is about the
similarity male and female have w/our Creator, and differences from all
other creatures.

Men and women are equal in the sight of God, but the roles of men and
women are not interchangeable. We have things in common Gen.1:27, being
created in the image of God. However we are made different, from a different
material, Adam came from the dust Gen. 2:7, Eve from Adams rib, Gen. 2:22.
Although the dust is common to all human creation, the origin is different.
Male and Female are also made for a different purpose and at a different
time.

Eve being made from Adam points to his incompleteness. Therefore God
gave him a help meet Genesis 2:18-20. Now the word Help does not imply
inferiority or identity, but God used the word Help to refer to support,
sympathy, strength and encouragement, not to substitute in his
responsibility. 1st Cor. 11:8-9 makes it clear that her primary function is
in relationship to him. His function was already established w/o reference
to her, Genesis 2:15.

God has priority in time, for the 1st born carries responsibility for
and authority over later arrivals 1st Tim. 2:13. Therefore the woman's
submissive role did not result after the fall, it was established as part of
God's original creation.

The Fall actually corroborates God's Divine Plan of Creation. That by
nature, Eve was not suited to assume the position of ultimate
responsibility. By leaving Adam's protection, and usurping his headship, she
became vulnerable and fell, confirming how important it was for her to stay
under the protection and leadership of her husband. Adam violated his
leadership role following Eve in her sin abdicating his authority and God's
planned roles for Male and Female are switched and the whole human race is
plunged into sin, because of Adam's sin. Adam was held responsible by God
for the Fall, for God gave Adam the command Gen.2:16-17, but he deliberately
disobeyed, but Eve was deceived 1st Tim. 2:14. Note: Gen. 3:17 - Roman 5:12
makes it very clear that God holds Adam and all men responsible for
leadership.

Male leadership is also seen in the authority God gave Adam in naming
animals and the woman, Genesis 2: 19 and 23. For in Scripture naming is an
expression of authority. Isa. 40:26. This is the foundation in a wife taking
her husbands surname after marriage.

In the New Testament the pattern for husband and wife relationship is
set by Christ Jesus relationship to His Church, His Wife, Eph. 5:25. The
emphasis in this analogy is the relationship of man to God, and female to
humans, the Church, which is none reversible. Husband and Wife, male and
female are no more interchangeable than God and man.

God reveals Himself in male terms. He is our Father, our King and our
Husband, not our mother, queen or wife. In some respects God is like a
mother, Isa. 49:15 contrast God to a mother, but this does not mean that He
is a mother. Goddesses have been worshipped, and many religions have
priestesses, but they are different from Christianity. A child who prays to
a mother in heaven, religious life would be radically and extremely
different from that of a Christian child. This is an indication of just how
much is at stake, especially when we consider that certain women who profess
to be Christians, who are feminists, try to say that because of Isa. 42:14;
49:15 - Matt.23:37 that God and Jesus in some mysterious way are bi-sexual.
These scriptures are of comparison and not definition. This ungodly
statement feminists make toward God and Christ Jesus, should help us to see,
how much danger our society is in, in trying to change the image of God,
into a reflection, of the sexual confusion of our secular ungodly society.
Women preaching is Satan's foot hole into this ungodly goal. A Church who
opens its door to this kind of liberal freedom to allow women to preach
God's Word, also open the door to other freedom like Homosexual's preaching
the Word of God, which is already taking place in many Churches, and is so
ungodly.

Now let us consider Gen. 3:. Why did Satan approach Eve 1st ? Was it
deliberate defiance of God's order, trying to temp Eve to take the lead and
adopt the masculine role?, which is what women preachers are doing today,
clamoring for authority. Or was Eve more vulnerable in some way?

1st Tim. 2:14, points out that Eve was deceived not Adam. She was more
vulnerable to being seduced in the mind and Satan is portrayed as a mental
seducer, being the more subtle Gen.3:1. Eve being deceived is why Paul
prohibits instruction by women. And so let us understand that when Paul made
this statement in 1st Cor. 14:34-35 - 1st Tim. 2:11-12, it was not just for
that culture and that time, for Gen 3:1 is the foundation of Paul's
statement against women preaching. Also notice the qualification for a
preacher or pastor , 1st Tim. 3:1-5 makes it clear a preacher or pastor must
be a man.

As a woman Eve was more liable to be misled and therefore more likely to
mislead. She acknowledge her deception, Gen. 3:13, and failed to recognize,
an outright denial of God's Word, and was fooled into a desire to be like
God, Gen.3:1-6. She took action based on her on judgement w/o consulting her
husband or God. Adam following her w/o argument, took on the feminine role,
abdicating and giving up his position. Any Pastor who allows women to preach
is abdicating the authority God gave him.

Please let us understand that God's plan is to plant on earth a
community of men and women, who will live as Adam and Eve should have, in
His creation order, except for their nudity. And the 1st community of men
and
women God called to His plan was the Nation of Israel. And just as it was
w/Adam and Eve, men and women were equal, but the roles of men and women in
Israel like Adam and Eve, were not interchangeable.

Now let us consider four periods, each w/a different category of
leadership:

1st The Patriarchs (Abraham to Joseph). God is the God of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob. And although He is the God of male and female, He does not
link Himself w/the names of Sarah, Rebekah or Rachel.

Inheritance passes thru the sons and the twelve sons of Jacob became
the twelve tribes of Israel, not the daughters. Of the twelve tribes God
would choose twelve thousand men from each tribe making 144,000 men to serve
and represent Him in the Great Tribulation Rev.14:1-4. Pay special attention
to v4 which identifies the 144,000 as men.

2nd The Prophets (Moses to Samuel) There were prophets before Moses
Gen. 20:7 - Jude v14 and after Samuel - Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah
Ezekiel, etc... But it was the period between Moses to Samuel that they held
the reins of national leadership. And if you will read Deut. 1:9-18, you
will find that Moses delegated His authority to 70 Elders all men,
continuing the Patriarchal structure.

Let us also understand that prophecy was a ministry of both men and
women, Miriam, Aaron's sister was a prophetess. However let us understand,
there is a distinction in authority inherited from God for the office and
responsibility of leadership, which men have inherited, when God created
Adam, and the Divine authority of a revelation which God gives to men and
women to speak and communicate to others, but for a women to pass on a
message from God as He has given it is not exercising leadership authority.
All people men and women are responsible to communicate God's message to
others, in witnessing.

When Moses numbered Israel, only men over 20 able to serve in the army,
were counted, Num.1:1-5. This is an example of male leadership in society.
This also emphasizes the fact that it was never God's intention that women
would have the responsibility to defend themselves or their families. God
set women under the protection of men when He created Eve from a rib out of
the side of Adam, Gen. 2:21-22. Because of sin everything is out of order in
the world, but the Church is not to follow the world, Roman 12:1-2 - 1st
John 5:19.

Now during the days of the Judges we have Deborah. Judges were raised
up to deal w/national defense, Judges 2:16. Judges had a moral and military
function. The moral function was to preserve internal holiness in order to
prevent external attack Judges 2:17-19 and this role of a judge was more
prophetic than judicial or authoritative. Their qualification was
charismatic and that is the ability to attract and influence other people, and they were
not agents of a centralized government.

In between averting external dangers, some judges settled internal
disputes, among them was Deborah, who judge Israel and she was also a wife
and prophetess, passing on Divine words which is not exercising leadership
authority. She settled disputes and was able to bring an inspired word of
wisdom or knowledge to bear on each case.

Unlike other judges, she did not lead, when invasion threatened, but
the Lord delegated thru her this task to the man Barak. Because Barak was
afraid he insisted taking her into battle, Judges 4;4-9. But notice in
Deborah's triumphal song she praised the Lord that the princes and ruling
men took the lead Judges 5:1. Also notice what she said to Barak in Judges
4:9 and then 4:14 and now 5:12. Judges 4:14 and 5:12, clearly show that
Deborah's attitude was maternal, like a mother in Israel, Judges 5:7, and
not matriarchal, even in spite of the shortage of strong men. Shortage of
strong men in our Churches, is no excuse, for any woman to serve God in an
authoritative position, 1st Tim.2:12. God shall raise up His own leaders,
1st Kings 2:1-4. There is no need for men or women who support women
preaching and women authority in the Church, to think or act as if they know
better for God's Church than God does.

3rd - Kings (Saul to Zedekiah). The most obvious feature in this
period, is the absence of queens. And although other nations, which were
ungodly nations, had queens, such as Egypt, for there was the Queen of
Sheba, God chose Israel to be a nation set apart from all the ungodly
paganistic, heathen nations, which also include Eqypt. Israel The Old
Testament Church under law and The Church today under Grace, have been
called to be God's special people, who would render special services unto
God. Israel is not to follow Egypt or any of the other ungodly nations, and
we The Church today are not to follow this ungodly world. We have been set
apart by God to be witnesses, and examples, to this ungodly world. Consider
Roman 12:2 - 1st Peter 2:9-10.

4th - Priests (Zerubbabel to Caiaphas). Although there were prophets
after the exile (Ezekiel to Malachi) and some kings, the continuity of
national leadership now lay w/the High Priests, and you will notice in your
study that all the Priests were men.

God set His program and plan for the leadership in His Church in
Genesis, when He created Adam 1st and then Eve. And if you would study God's
Word carefully, rightly dividing His Word of Truth, you will find that
although God used women in great ways, the continuity of male leadership
from Genesis to Revelation is unbroken. And God's Word is our example and
our guide.

Let us not be deceived when we see other Churches appearing to do well
w/women preachers and pastors. Many things look good on the surface, but we
cannot always know or see the underlying damaging affects. A good example of
this is Gambling, it appears to be very successful, they make a lot of
money, they make promises for the community, and people are having a lot of
fun. But many lives and communities have been destroyed because of gambling.

We cannot improve on what God has already set up. And let us never
forget; There is a way which seemeth right unto man, but the end there of
are the ways of death. Proverbs 14:12.

Sincerely with love Minister Darryl Redmond
In the name of our Lord and Savoir, Christ Jesus, Amen