... On Woman "Pastors"... (part 1)
A Pastor is the head of the local church like an under-shepherd is the head of the sheep...
What do I mean? I mean this - the undershepherd is appointed, hired, and paid by the shepherd. He does the shepherd's duty while the shepherd is away, and without the shepherd's consent in certain areas, the undershepherd is unable to "change" things at whim.
God is the head shepherd, and He has tasked pastors with keeping the flock while He is away. This task is rife with danger, seduction, and award. Several creep in unawares and try to convince the pastor (and the sheep) that they have been sent by the Shepherd. At every turn, the pastor and the sheep must turn to their guide-book - the Bible - and double-check to see if they (as the sheep) or their leaders (the pastors) are actually "sent from God." So, in this blog, I'd like to tackle the semantically-rich minefield that I would sum as "gender roles in the pastorate."
There are some bloggers and pastors (who are women, and sometimes who are men), who believe (and will cite seminaries, scholars, et al) that when Paul talks about "pastors being the husband of one wife" or other gender-specific pronouns, he is talking about character traits, and not gender. So, to quote a recent blog posting (actually written in response to my wife),
First of all, we must allow the Guide Book to be the guide book. (Wo)man's opinion doesn't matter here, neither does that of a seminary, scholar, or "well-meaning" individual. Let's take Scripture as a whole and see whether God intended women to fill the role of pastors or not.
So, let's tackle this...
1) Women are discouraged or outright forbidden from teaching men in the church.
This seems very derogatory toward women, calling them "deceived," and almost seeming to call for them to be put under the heel of the man. Whether that be the truth or not (it's not insulting women, I'm playing devil's advocate here), the clear instruction in this passage cannot be understated. Whatever the reason: "women [are not] to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man." Furthermore, they are to "be in silence" in the church.
Again, I have provided as much context as I deemed fit, so as not to be accused of skewing the text. Paul is writing to Timothy and the Corinthians and telling both that women are to be silent in church, and that if they want to learn anything, they should ask their husbands at home. The word "silence" here is the same word for someone who isn't currently speaking (in the case of several trying to speak in tongues). So whether attached to the context or not (in the case of Corinthians), both passages seem to show God's view of women becoming heads of the church - don't do it.
2) How do female pastors submit?
If a pastor is to be faithful to his wife (or spouse), and a wife is to be in subjection to her husband, what happens to a woman pastor when she feels she needs to lead the church one direction and her husband disagrees?
Just simmer on that one for a moment. I don't have time to dig into the whole "subjection" thing when it comes to husbands and wives. Look it up and study it out - wives are to be in subjection to their own husbands... so how does a female pastor submit to her husband when she's the leader of the church?
And how does a woman not usurp authority over a man, while simultaneously being a pastor (and thus, by very nature, be in authority over a man).
Ah! But the verse reads 'usurp,' which implies illegitimate power-grabbing!
Okay, bold type-face, you're on! Let's do a little reductio ad absurdum. If that verse were not referring to a woman taking pastoral or Scripture-taking leadership, and simply referred to a woman "taking over a church" when not ordained... then you'd be saying that it's okay for a man to do that. To this train of thought, I'd direct you to the story of Diotrephes in 3 John, who loved to have the preeminance. Clearly, usurping authority is all-around bad, but especially bad when a woman does it in order to take the rightful control of a church away from a man. (3 John 1:9)
Part 2 coming soon, in which place I tackle the "husband of one wife" verse itself.
What do I mean? I mean this - the undershepherd is appointed, hired, and paid by the shepherd. He does the shepherd's duty while the shepherd is away, and without the shepherd's consent in certain areas, the undershepherd is unable to "change" things at whim.
God is the head shepherd, and He has tasked pastors with keeping the flock while He is away. This task is rife with danger, seduction, and award. Several creep in unawares and try to convince the pastor (and the sheep) that they have been sent by the Shepherd. At every turn, the pastor and the sheep must turn to their guide-book - the Bible - and double-check to see if they (as the sheep) or their leaders (the pastors) are actually "sent from God." So, in this blog, I'd like to tackle the semantically-rich minefield that I would sum as "gender roles in the pastorate."
There are some bloggers and pastors (who are women, and sometimes who are men), who believe (and will cite seminaries, scholars, et al) that when Paul talks about "pastors being the husband of one wife" or other gender-specific pronouns, he is talking about character traits, and not gender. So, to quote a recent blog posting (actually written in response to my wife),
In the Greek it doesn’t actually have male gender assigned to the statement. It’s a phrase that speaks to being a devoted spouse. The whole list is actually about character qualities that should be observed before someone becomes an Elder, and not a checklist of things the way some groups in the modern church have taken it. For instance, the comment about the family isn’t about forcing PK’s to “look good” all the time in a way that drives many of them away from the faith. It is an admonition to look to the family, who knows the private person, and see how they respond to them. They will know if the person is a hypocrite or if they are worthy of respect.So I wish to tackle this idea. Does the Bible truly condone female pastors? Is it true that when it says "husband of one wife," it doesn't really mean "husband," or "wife," but rather it is stressing the "one" spouse, and the patriarchal society caused it to be translated as "husband," etc.?
First of all, we must allow the Guide Book to be the guide book. (Wo)man's opinion doesn't matter here, neither does that of a seminary, scholar, or "well-meaning" individual. Let's take Scripture as a whole and see whether God intended women to fill the role of pastors or not.
So, let's tackle this...
1) Women are discouraged or outright forbidden from teaching men in the church.
- Consider 1 Tim. 2, which says
9In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 11Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
This seems very derogatory toward women, calling them "deceived," and almost seeming to call for them to be put under the heel of the man. Whether that be the truth or not (it's not insulting women, I'm playing devil's advocate here), the clear instruction in this passage cannot be understated. Whatever the reason: "women [are not] to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man." Furthermore, they are to "be in silence" in the church.
- Consider 1 Cor. 14, which addresses the "speaking in tongues" in the church thing: To this, Paul says
29Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 30If any thingbe revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. 31For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. 32And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
34Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. 36What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
37If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 38But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. 40Let all things be done decently and in order.
Again, I have provided as much context as I deemed fit, so as not to be accused of skewing the text. Paul is writing to Timothy and the Corinthians and telling both that women are to be silent in church, and that if they want to learn anything, they should ask their husbands at home. The word "silence" here is the same word for someone who isn't currently speaking (in the case of several trying to speak in tongues). So whether attached to the context or not (in the case of Corinthians), both passages seem to show God's view of women becoming heads of the church - don't do it.
2) How do female pastors submit?
If a pastor is to be faithful to his wife (or spouse), and a wife is to be in subjection to her husband, what happens to a woman pastor when she feels she needs to lead the church one direction and her husband disagrees?
Just simmer on that one for a moment. I don't have time to dig into the whole "subjection" thing when it comes to husbands and wives. Look it up and study it out - wives are to be in subjection to their own husbands... so how does a female pastor submit to her husband when she's the leader of the church?
And how does a woman not usurp authority over a man, while simultaneously being a pastor (and thus, by very nature, be in authority over a man).
Ah! But the verse reads 'usurp,' which implies illegitimate power-grabbing!
Okay, bold type-face, you're on! Let's do a little reductio ad absurdum. If that verse were not referring to a woman taking pastoral or Scripture-taking leadership, and simply referred to a woman "taking over a church" when not ordained... then you'd be saying that it's okay for a man to do that. To this train of thought, I'd direct you to the story of Diotrephes in 3 John, who loved to have the preeminance. Clearly, usurping authority is all-around bad, but especially bad when a woman does it in order to take the rightful control of a church away from a man. (3 John 1:9)
Part 2 coming soon, in which place I tackle the "husband of one wife" verse itself.
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