02.25.10

Semantics and the Restriction of Women

Posted in Biblical Equality, Women in Ministry at 10:29 pm by Administrator

Statement: Preaching is not women ‘taking over’ it is just doing what we should…which is to spread the gospel.

My Response:

The problem lies often with simply semantics – most of those who deny woman the right to preach from the pulpit in their churches have no problem with women spreading the gospel through preaching – they see these two functions as separate entities (functions) which have different governing rules. They do not restrict women from preaching or teaching the gospel in the streets and do not restrict the sex of those to whom they may minister the gospel outside of the church. It is within the “church -walls” that they bring restrictions to close the mouths of women and to limit the use of their spiritual gifts.

They believe the Bible qualifies the preaching and teaching of women by where this act is carried out. These restricts blindly miss obvious facts concerning the 1st Century Church 1) no pulpit and no podium existed in the 1st Century Church, 2) they met in homes and not in church buildings 3) preach simply means proclaim or speak out as does the word prophesy in Acts 2. In Acts 2 men and women of the New Covenant Church received power to go forth proclaiming – preaching – prophesying – with no qualifications or restrictions of place.

Restriction of women preaching and teaching came into the church when these functions became associated with holding power and authority in the church through doctrines of hierarchy. The true function of these words was lost as the church began to cease to operate in true unity and love of the brethren Jesus commanded and instead established a hierarchy which separated the church into the clergy and the laity. In this hierarchy church system these functions (now thought to hold authority) were stripped from women and given to men alone.

Women became restricted from preaching and teaching through semantics – these functions took on meaning (power and authority over others) which Jesus never give them. The simple and pure meaning of “proclaim” has been twisted through semantics to now mean positions of power and authority. A patriarchal hierarchy church system which sees women as only a “complement” to man restricted these now supposedly superior authoritative positions to males alone.

It’s an up hill battle but as we join our voices together, semantics will no longer restrict the very women Jesus filled with power to proclaim – preach – and prophesy.

02.16.10

Why is this topic important?

Posted in Biblical Equality, Women in Ministry at 3:13 pm by Administrator

After writing a proposal for an interview on a topic important to women, I decided to share my proposal thoughts here.

I, of course, wrote a proposal to discuss the topic of women serving in leadership positions in the church.

I started off my proposal presenting how a “gender biased” interpretation of Scripture has been used for centuries to bar women from using their God given gifts and calls in the church.

Which lead to my next point – the Complementarian movement was birthed in response to women who no longer accepted the “no, you are not allowed to serve” and in response to the woman who were breaking through the “stain glass ceiling” in order to fulfill all God had placed within their hearts to perform for His glory.

I briefly spoke of the Egalitarian movement which was birth in response to the “oppression of women” voiced by many Complementarians.

What I really want to share in this post was my answer to the question “Why is this topic important?”

My Answer:

We may think this topic is simply a “church issue”, when in truth it has much larger ramifications. This issue, in fact, has the ability to affect all areas of society.

How So??

Many of those who purvey the Complementarian ideology espouse doctrines that have far reaching effects for all women.

Examples:

1) women should not be allowed to vote

2) women should not be allowed to hold ANY position of leadership or authority over men

3) gender roles were enacted by God – the woman’s God given role is to be a wife, mother, and a keeper of her home … and thus…

4) women are to remain at home as keepers of their homes – working outside the home is rebellion against the God given role for woman

5) men have the God given right of headship or rule over women

Many churches have unwittingly embraced Complementarian doctrine. They have done so based solely upon the issues of women serving as a Senior Pastor or Teacher and a basic agreement with the ideas of gender roles and headship of the husband in the family unit. They have not looked into, studied, or researched the deeper dark ramifications of this movements teachings.

I believe if they did they would be as appalled as I am at various facets of this ideology’s teachings concerning women.