Hello Forum ,
i was reading the following in a ministry's statement of faith, and it raised a few questions.
i agree with this, but the underlined portion is where the question comes in at. i believe that when God chooses a mate for you, He EQUALLY yokes the 2 of you together so that your callings agree or complement each other. so i am inclined to agree with this statement, but what if the woman is not married or has become a widow?
at the ministry i'm attending right now the pastor recently died a few years ago, and his wife stepped up as overseer, (not pastor). prior to that, the structure was set up as it says in this statement of faith - she was ministering alongside her husband. she has stated many times that she is not a pastor and is not called to be one. but she is leading us right now, so in a sense she is actually pastoring us. she has said herself that she doesn't believe God calls women to be apostles or bishops. she believes that women who call themselves apostles or bishops have gone out of the will of God.
i understand why she said this, but at the same time i've seen some women apostles/bishops that were very anointed. but on the other hand, i know better than to judge by a person's gifts... the Bible says we'll know them by their FRUITS, not their gifts. and we must try the spirit by the Spirit to see if it's of God. so are these women in error? and if so, what about the people who are genuinely touched by their ministries?
in the case with my church, i believe God has given her grace to lead us considering the situation. i also believe that if a woman is leading a church, she is not leading according to her gender but according to the Spirit that's within her. so do you believe that's the case concerning widows? God will give them grace to lead until He sends another undershepherd?
this i most definitely agree with.
please note the question that is being asked. this is NOT a debate. i am not asking if any of these ministry gifts or spiritual gifts are in operation. obviously i believe they are. and i am not asking if a woman is allowed to preach, teach, prophesy, etc. i believe a woman can do all those things. i also believe that a woman can be called to the offices of evangelist, teacher, and prophetess (Eph. 4:11). the question comes in about the pastor and apostle. are women not to take on these roles in the church unless it's alongside their husbands? and if that is the case, what happens if their husband goes home to be with the Lord? should they seek some other covering?
what is your opinion on this topic? please provide Scripture! and please do not debate. i am not looking for a debate, and i'm not looking for extremes. i'm looking for that middle ground, which i believe is found in the Word of God and not any other place. so please provide Scripture.
i know StrongInHim is very good with this topic. maybe you can provide some insight?
Love,
~jazzy
i was reading the following in a ministry's statement of faith, and it raised a few questions.
We do not believe that Women can have authority over men, either in the home or the church. We do believe and agree that women can do anything in a church that men can do as preach, teach, prophecy, operate in the gifts of the spirit, but we do not believe that they can be an Apostle or a Pastor (unless along side their husbands, who is the main pastor of the church and final authority in all things). A woman cannot usurp authority or have the ultimate authority in a church or home when decisions have to be made because God is a God of order.
i agree with this, but the underlined portion is where the question comes in at. i believe that when God chooses a mate for you, He EQUALLY yokes the 2 of you together so that your callings agree or complement each other. so i am inclined to agree with this statement, but what if the woman is not married or has become a widow?
at the ministry i'm attending right now the pastor recently died a few years ago, and his wife stepped up as overseer, (not pastor). prior to that, the structure was set up as it says in this statement of faith - she was ministering alongside her husband. she has stated many times that she is not a pastor and is not called to be one. but she is leading us right now, so in a sense she is actually pastoring us. she has said herself that she doesn't believe God calls women to be apostles or bishops. she believes that women who call themselves apostles or bishops have gone out of the will of God.
i understand why she said this, but at the same time i've seen some women apostles/bishops that were very anointed. but on the other hand, i know better than to judge by a person's gifts... the Bible says we'll know them by their FRUITS, not their gifts. and we must try the spirit by the Spirit to see if it's of God. so are these women in error? and if so, what about the people who are genuinely touched by their ministries?
in the case with my church, i believe God has given her grace to lead us considering the situation. i also believe that if a woman is leading a church, she is not leading according to her gender but according to the Spirit that's within her. so do you believe that's the case concerning widows? God will give them grace to lead until He sends another undershepherd?
We believe that in all cases, the truth and what is right Biblically is in the middle between the two extremes that are represented. Like a train that runs on two tracks. Like Law and Grace. You cannot have all one without the other. Some want all Grace and you end up with a license to sin. Others all Law and you end up with pure legalism. Such it is with any issue or doctrine, even as the issue of women's roles in the church above. There is always a balance in scripture which is in the middle between the two extremes that men try to make.
this i most definitely agree with.
please note the question that is being asked. this is NOT a debate. i am not asking if any of these ministry gifts or spiritual gifts are in operation. obviously i believe they are. and i am not asking if a woman is allowed to preach, teach, prophesy, etc. i believe a woman can do all those things. i also believe that a woman can be called to the offices of evangelist, teacher, and prophetess (Eph. 4:11). the question comes in about the pastor and apostle. are women not to take on these roles in the church unless it's alongside their husbands? and if that is the case, what happens if their husband goes home to be with the Lord? should they seek some other covering?
what is your opinion on this topic? please provide Scripture! and please do not debate. i am not looking for a debate, and i'm not looking for extremes. i'm looking for that middle ground, which i believe is found in the Word of God and not any other place. so please provide Scripture.
i know StrongInHim is very good with this topic. maybe you can provide some insight?
Love,
~jazzy