Monday – June 27, 2016
It is Monday and time once again to engage the Word of God, chose to receive it, chose to prove it, chose to renew your mind with this Word of God, chose to speak this Word of God, and chose to act upon this Word of God.
I will be confronting an issue today that for some is controversial and for others is a settled issue, not all for, or all against, but on both sides. Clearly both are not right. That issue is the question of women as pastors or having other leadership positions. Let us see if we can hear what our Heavenly Father has to say, He is the Heavenly Father of the males on the earth that receive Jesus as Lord and He is the Heavenly Father of the females on the earth that receive Jesus as Lord. In the Kingdom of God; is there a difference?
With regard to the function of women and whether their function is different from men I will look at God’s original intent. What was the assignment of men and women before sin in the Garden of Eden? We are now after sin (Genesis 3:6) which brought perversion into the earth. However, we are also after Calvary. At salvation we were returned to our original state only now in Christ Jesus which is far better. The work is complete excepting our incorruptible body. Dominion (authority) in the earth has been returned to persons in Christ Jesus. Unlike Adam who had authority only in the earth we have and exercise authority in earth and in Heaven where we are seated at the right hand of God. The Blessing, the empowerment, of man has been returned in full force for each of us individually. We must renew our minds to the authority and power we have in Christ Jesus by faith, in love, focused on the hope set before us (led) by the Holy Spirit. We must be about the Fathers’ business as we await our immortal, incorruptible body.
First we will look at some conflicting writings by the Apostle Paul then we will go back to the beginning and find the will of God. The will of God is independent of culture or custom.
Colossians 3:9-11 (KJV)
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
The short take home message in the preceding passage is that in the eyes, the thoughts, the will of God there is no difference between peoples in Christ. What do you think the odds are that is only talking about male people? Seems to me about zero. Our text in Colossians 3:11 sounds a lot like another passage the Apostle Paul penned by inspiration of God to the Galatians.
Galatians 3:27-29 (KJV)
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Again here the Apostle Paul talks about those baptized into Christ. By the unction of the Holy Spirit the Apostle Paul says there is no difference in peoples whether they started as a Jew or a Gentile, bond (slave) or free, male or female. We are one in Christ and we are all heirs of the promise which is the Holy Spirit. So what about the Apostle Paul excluding women from leadership positions?
1 Timothy 2:11-15 (KJV)
11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety. (There is a similar passage in 1 Corinthians 14:34)
Is this brother Paul or is this God? Notice in our Colossians and Galatians text the word ‘I’ does not appear. Here it appears that Paul is talking on his own behalf and perhaps in a cultural context. In the preceding text what does verses thirteen through fifteen have to do with the topic? Seemingly nothing and is not consistent with the Genesis account. Let’s meditate the following Scriptures which bring great clarity.
Acts 10:34 (KJV)
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: and
Romans 2:11 (KJV)
11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
Now let’s look at the will of God from the beginning.
Genesis 1:26-28 (KJV)
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Gods’ original intent makes no difference in rank between the male and the female, both given the same authority, the same Blessing, and the same mandates (orders).
The answer to the question; CAN SHE OR CAN’T SHE? is; YES SHE CAN!
By Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
