Male Or Female

‘For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit’ 1 Cor.12:13

A number of people today, male and female, alike do not believe that women should be allowed to speak in church or be ordained into leadership positions or allowed to become lead pastors. As far as they are concerned scripture states that it is a shame for women to speak in church [1 Cor.14:34-36]. Again when Jesus chose his twelve disciples none of them was a woman so why are women now being allowed to step out of line? There are three schools of thought – Egalitarian, Complementarian, and Hierarchical. The hierarchical school of thought states that in the church a woman must not be in the position of authority over any man. In other words, if you have a department all the women in authority must be in submission to all the men in that department. And women cannot teach, preach, take offerings, or lead fellowships.

The complementarian school of thought states that a woman can rise to any office that God has called and anointed her for except the offices of the lead pastor, overseer, or bishop. The Bible says that the overseer or bishop must be the husband of one wife [1 Tim.3]. The Bible did not say that the bishop should be a wife of one husband. The egalitarian school of thought states that a woman can be anything she is able to be including lead pastor or overseer.

All three schools of thought have scripture references to back up their positions so there is no confusion. Yet if you look consistently into scripture you will discover that the place women could not attain God restored to them in Christ. So that’s why in Christ there is no male or female, there is no Jew or Gentile. Can a woman become a pastor and a lead pastor in church? By the grace of God yes, yet it has its challenges. I may not recommend it because of some certain dynamics. Again women have been known to lead ministries successfully and become all that God has called them to be. God will grace her to deal with people who think like this or those who might want to disrespect her because she is a woman.

Thought: Regardless of your preferences, give honor to whom honor is due.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, help me discern spiritual authority so that I will do God’s anointed no harm, in Jesus Name.