Friday, February 16, 2007

No women preachers, plain and simple!

I just read an article written by a woman attempting to justify women doing what only God has ordained men to do: preach. NONE of the examples given proved her points and actually proved just the opposite. Sharing dominion over nature, Creation, is not the same as who has the right to preach. That is non sequitur and a dangerous leap in logic! God ordained men to be the head of the household and of the household of faith. It does not mean women are stupid or unable to be eloquent or a spiritual leader -- it's simply not their place and they're trespassing when they follow deceived Eve and try and teach Adam (who wimply went along, abdicating his God-ordained role).

Yeshua doesn't try and usurp the authority of the Father! (1 Cor. 15:24). Neither should women vainly attempt to usurp the God-given authority of men, any more than children ought to disobey their parents (Ephes. 6:1, Col. 3:19-21). Fathers are told not to unnecessarily provoke their children, and the same could be said about husbands concerning their wives, otherwise they'll become discouraged. God does have government structure and family order according to His purpose, even as He has called Israel before other nations -- not because we're better, but because He has chosen it to be that way in His infinite wisdom and Father knows best (Amos 3:2).

Satan is the one who coveted "equality" -- actually supremacy -- with and over the Father! He is the wicked one who thought he was being unfairly controlled by a domineering God, restrained, repressed, oppressed, held down and cruelly kept in his place (Isa. 14:12-15). Sympathy for the devil? Never! Such bitter attitudes and warped way of thinking cost him everything as he will ultimately be destroyed in the Lake of Fire "and the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, [God] has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day" (Jude 6).

Korah, Dathan and Abiram tried to force themselves into an office that God hadn't given them under the guise of "we're all equal." They added insult before their injury, accusing Moses and Aaron of being on a power-trip like misguided feminists today falsely accuse men who stand up for the biblical law and order as having big egos and wanting to "lord" it over women: "They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them [chanting the mantra of "we're all equal"], and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?" (Numbers 16:3). An earthquake swallowed their pride and their rebellion went down in history; The Beast will soon trespass on "the holy place" upon the Temple Mount and install some abomination in the Temple, besides being inducted into office there (Matt. 24:15, 2 Thess. 2:4). Both examples reflect Satan's discontent and idolatrous mindset, his "covetousness, which is idolatry" (Col. 3:5, Rev. 21:8).

Deborah wasn't a spiritual preacher -- she was a political Margaret Thatcher (Judges 4:4-5). Regardless, exceptions are not to be twisted as the rule. Huldah was consulted in private, she didn't preach or take the stand (2 Kings 22:13-20). Phoebe was a deaconess and served as such -- not as a minister (Rom. 16:1-2). Anna praised God and didn't preach in any official capacity, any ordained office (Luke 2:36-37). Same goes for Miriam leading the women (only) in praise - no official capacity, especially over men.

1 Corinthians 11:3
But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

1 Corinthians 14:34-35
34 Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. 35 And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.

Ephesians 5:22-23
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.

1 Timothy 2:11-12
Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

Titus 2:5
To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

The Word of God has been clear on this matter for centuries. It is only due to the spirit of rebellion in this degenerate time that this ungodly leaven has begun to rise again among some. Don't be misled like Eve who fell for the serpent's lies (Gen. 3:13, 1 Tim. 2:14). Don't let the plain and simple Scriptures be twisted to your self-destruction (2 Cor. 11:3). Everybody has their God-ordained place now and in the Kingdom-Family of God and we should praise God for what He has given us to do within that holy place - - not trespass on another's responsibility.

A deaconess shouldn't think she's an elder or a deacon think he's an apostle, or a Levite think he's a priest or an angel think he's God, or children think they're the head of household or employees think they're the employer, but all must remain subject to the Word of God and maintain humility and grace and grow in our proper office, our God-given station in life, so help us God (Rom. 12:3).

David Ben-Ariel is a Christian-Zionist writer and author of Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall. With a focus on the Middle East and Jerusalem, his analytical articles help others improve their understanding of that troubled region. Check out the Beyond Babylon blog.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Hello David,

I must have read the same article. It has been over a month and I have not finished yet finished my study and response to that deceptive article. I of course need to prove to myself through scripture why I believe it is deceptive. One sure sign is that it is very cleverly written with some glaring red herrings (e.g., Deborah). I have noticed that such writings contain major foundational fallacies, while positing some strong intellectual arguments.

I haven’t yet read yours response, but I am looking forward to gaining more ammunition for my study in opposition to the position of the woman’s article on female preachers.

Best Regards,

Ruth

Anonymous said...

What gets me is there is so much bashing on women prechers. Honestly it is between God and the individual. It is not man's business who God calls to do certain jobs. I don't have a problem with women preachers. I know a lot of women who are on fire for God. You can tell in between someone that is not called and someone that truly is called of God.God has given us the gift of discernment to be able to tell what is right and what is not.No matter what gender they are. God's sees the person's willingness to do the work and that is why HE calls them. It is not upto anyone to judge who is called and who isn't.

David Ben-Ariel said...

Anonymous, what gets me is how folks like you can read a biblical article that clearly condemns women assuming the position of pastors God has reserved for men alone and remain unrepentant, vainly attempting to justify such rebels and holding on to your idolatrous ideas rather than let the truth set you free.

God's Word clearly states gender is important when it comes to qualifications for being a pastor:

1 Corinthians 11:3
But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.


1 Corinthians 14:34-35
34 Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. 35 And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.

Ephesians 5:22-23
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.


1 Timothy 2:11-12
Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

Titus 2:5
To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.