02.25.10
Semantics and the Restriction of Women
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.
