What’s Wrong with Women Pastors?

I don’t agree with you about women pastors, either. In these last days, God is pouring out His Spirit upon all flesh. (Acts 2:16-18; Isaiah 61) He is no respecter of persons. (Gal. 3:26-28) I have seen women and their husbands together very effectively shepherd a flock. I have only one instance in my life of my attending a Church of God a few months where there was a woman pastor. We invited her over to our house a number of times and got to know both she and her husband. She wasn’t as effective a Pastor as she could have been because of Church of God beliefs, TBN, and her background that kept her bound and not free to be all she could be for God.

God Himself calls both men and women to ministry and to the use of the ministry and spiritual gifts listed in I Cor. 12 & 14; Matthew 7:11; Romans 11:29; Romans 12:6-8; Hebrews 2:4 (among other Scriptures). I believe Marilyn Hickey to have a real gift for teaching the Word, even though she is in “word/faith”. Her husband, Wallace is the Pastor of “Happy Church” in Denver.

Have a great day in Jesus!

In Jesus’ Love,

RESPONSE:

We have so much information in the bookroom on so many subjects. I sure do hope you look through the material we carry so that you, also, could benefit from all the research Pastor Worley and so many others have done.

Regarding the scriptures and women pastors…

I agree with you that God has called men and women to do His work, and that there are many examples of both men and women in the scriptures serving the Lord. I firmly believe that all of us have a calling, be it to prayer, helping others, giving of our time, efforts, and even being seen before men preaching, singing, to little things like cleaning the church bathrooms and supporting a brother in the Lord through grief. But I think God has different places, different callings for us all, and that we will function best where He places us.

Of course, these opinions of mine, my beliefs have to be based on something more than what I’ve experienced (ie: what I’ve seen in the church today)…they have to be based on something rock solid. Like I heard on the radio today, “Strong faith in a weak plank will get you wet. Weak Faith in a strong plank will get you across the river.” And we both know that this plank I’m referring to is the Word of God.

In your last e-mail to me, you wrote:

In these last days, God is pouring out His Spirit upon all flesh.(Acts 2:16-18; Isaiah 61) He is no respecter of persons. (Gal. 3:26-28)

Based upon these verses as well as a few others, you are stating that women preachers are acceptable to God. I’d like to show you some other verses in the Scripture…

First off, let’s take the first passage above. I’d like to ask you-when did the “last days” begin? It began in the same chapter you quoted from…Acts 2. Peter says in verses 16-17, “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams”. What “is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel”? What was Peter referring to?

He was referring to the behavior of the 120 in the upper room of whom the people of Jerusalem were wondering ” Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language..” (Acts 2:6) What had happened that caused these disciples to do this? If we go back to verses 2-4 of Acts chapter 2, we read, “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

So again I ask, when did the “last days” begin? What was Peter referring to? From the text, we can see that the moment Peter was speaking, some 50 days after Christ’s death, that this began the “last days”, the beginning of the dispensation of Grace, the beginning of the Christian Church, the outpouring of God’s Spirit upon all those who would believe. That in these days, God would pour out his Spirit on all Flesh. And hasn’t He? Before Christ died, the Spirit would come upon someone and then depart when the service to the Lord was completed. But Jesus said that “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you” (John 16:7).

My point is, that the “last days” is the days in which we currently live, a day that started when the Holy Spirit indwelt the first “believer” (ie: the beginnings of the Christian Church), and a day that will last until Christ’s second return. These are the “last days” and have been for nearly 2,000 years. So to get straight to the point, the “last days” began before the Bible was even written, BEFORE the following verses were penned by the inspiration of the VERY SAME Spirit that God has poured out on all Flesh:

“Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection” (1 Tim 2:11)

“But I suffer NOT a woman TO TEACH, nor to USURP authority over the man, but to be in silence…” (1 Timothy 2:11)

“And Adam was NOT deceived, but the woman being deceived was in transgression” (1 Tim 2:14)

“This is a true saying, If a MAN desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. bishop then must be blameless, THE HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach” (1 Tim 3:1-2)

BISHOP

An overseer, elder, or pastor charged with the responsibility of spiritual leadership in a local church in New Testament times. (from Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary) (Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

“(For if a MAN know not how to rule HIS own house, how shall HE take care of the church of God?)” (1 Tim 3:5)

“Likewise you husbands dwell with them according to knowledge giving honor unto the wife as unto the WEAKER vessel and as being heirs together of the grace of life that your prayers not be hindered” (1 Peter 3:7).

“Not withstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that WOMAN Jezebel which calleth herself a prophetess TO TEACH and to seduce my servants to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed unto idols” (Revelation 2:20).

Yes, God has poured out his Spirit on all flesh, and the Spirit inspired the Apostles to write down God’s Holy Word, the Word of God, the Word Incarnate:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

Jesus is the Word of God, and the Word of God, as pastor Worley puts it, “Since NO qualifications are given for female leadership, it is obvious that this is NOT intended for women…No matter how cleverly one may try to rationalize to get around these very plain statements, the Bible stands firm, even today. The church is a reflection of the home, and the order God directs for the home He also purposes for the church {in reference to 1 Tim 3:4 above–For if a Man know not how to rule his own house, how shall He take care of the church of God?}” (Witchcraft Working in the Church, Booklet #41, pp. 12-13).

So to use the Prophet Joel’s “In these last days, God is pouring out His Spirit upon all flesh” to justify women usurping the authority of a man to preach and teach, I would have to disagree with you. The “last days” have been here for quite a while, and this didn’t persuade Paul to change his attitude when he wrote 1 Timothy some 50-60 years after Peter’s words in Acts chapter 2.

If you mean to say that the “In these last days” means that things are different now in the 20th century than they were when the old fogies wrote the Bible in that foreign land where customs mandated God’s directives, this is a very dangerous belief. It’s dangerous because you’ve arbitrarily chosen to ignore at least 7 scriptures I’ve noted above, as if they don’t apply any more. As if God’s Word can be changed to meet our fads, ideas, customs, or opinions. Remember, the Women’s Lib thing didn’t come around until 1900 years after Christ’s death. God does not change, people change.

“Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away” (Mark 13:31). Now did Jesus not know that our American customs 2,000 years later, man’s new ideas about women’s equality, would be in conflict with the Holy Spirit’s teachings about women preaching and teaching? I dare say that God did not know that this day would come when women would want to preach. Now either Jesus was telling the truth when He spoke “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away” or Jesus lied.

“…let God be true, but every man a liar” (Romans 3:4). And how many other places in the Bible do we now have to exclude because it doesn’t meet this generation’s preferences? Picking and choosing based on our opinions or customs is a very dangerous thing. It quickly degrades to a “different gospel” because it contradicts the Gospel of Jesus Christ in many, many places. I truly believe that you have taken this scripture out of context, entirely out of context, to justify your opinion concerning women preachers.

I hope I’m not beating a dead horse to death here.

And the other passage at the beginning of your e-mail which you referenced was: “He is no respecter of persons. (Gal. 3:26-28)”.

Again, in context, Galatians 3 was written to the Christians who, at one time, had lived under the freedom of Grace, had turned again to serving the Law. Paul was explaining to them that, “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith” (Galatians 3:11). He explains how the law led us to Christ, to bring us to Christ, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (Gal 3:24). Paul then goes on to say that because we have believed on Jesus Christ, by faith, we have all become children of God (verse 26). In verse 28 he further drives home this “ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” by stating, “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.” And he concludes in verse 29 that we are also Abraham’s seed, just as the Jews, when he says, “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Now I fail to see where one can derive that women should be able to preach based on your reference of Galatians 3:26-28. This scripture passage is referring to the fact that it doesn’t matter whether we are male or female, Jew or Greek, bond or free, that by faith in Jesus Christ, we ALL are children of God. This gives NO indication as to our function and service to the Lord. It gives every indication to our common SALVATION. To the Jew, “salvation” was by the Law…you had to be in the lineage of a Jew to be a child of God. To the Christian, salvation (becoming a child of God) is given freely to all who believe on Christ, regardless of gender, lineage or social status. The principle of our common SALVATION cannot be appropriately applied to the office of a pastor, elder or deacon and their God specified functions. This is gross error to try and force “office and functionality” upon this upon these salvation scriptures.

And at the same time, women have functions in the church that are VERY necessary and VERY significant. Pastor Worley put it very well when he states, “Women can serve and worship God, testify, witness, pray, prophecy and cast demons out like everyone else. Wives, mothers and single women dedicated to the Lord fill a VITAL and NECESSARY part in God’s program. In Proverbs 31 there is a significant scripture speaking of the value of a virtuous woman. The word virtuous might be rendered as a “warring soldier” woman! Often people confuse the meaning of submission or subjection. The Bible says that Jesus was equal to God the Father and could claim to be God, yet not rob His Father of anything. Jesus said, ‘I and my Father are one.’ However, although equal with God He willingly took the place of a son, acknowledging His Father’s position. Submission is merely the finding of your proper place. Scriptural commands to wives to be in subjection to their own husbands literally means that she is to come under the protection of her husband. To be able to find one’s place in God’s work and to be submitted to it is to discover the highest and best thing after salvation. This is for both men and women” (Witchcraft Working in the Church, Booklet #41, p. 16).

Do women have the intellectual capacity to preach? Sure they do. Do certain women have the charisma that certain men have in presenting information to a crowd of people? Sure they do. Is it possible that some women might be able to present scripture better than some men? Sure it’s possible. But then use the same line of thought in an extreme example: do men have the capacity to have sex with more than one woman? Sure they do.

Does this mean they should just because they can?

Why not? Because God’s Word forbids it. Yes, there are societies in South America and Africa where “free sex” with anyone is an acceptable practice. Does that mean because people do this that we should ignore God’s Word regarding fornication and adultery? Sin is sin to God. Women preaching is sin just as fornication is sin. God sees no level of sin. Sin is sin which separates us from God. And sin is only called sin because the Bible tells us it’s called sin. Can a woman preach if she want to? Sure she can, but she would be violating Scripture, and be in error. Can a man sleep with anyone he wants? Sure he can, but he would be violating Scripture, and be in error. Do both of these things happen every day? Sure they do. But it doesn’t mean that God approves of either.

So, do I believe Marilyn Hickey has the capacity to preach? Yes, I think she has the capacity to. Do I believe that Marilyn Hickey is called of God? No. Not for a moment. Her name recognition cannot supersede the Word of God.

Do I accept her “pastorship” because her husband approves? No, I don’t, and I believe that her husband is in grave error to let her do it. Do I believe YOU have the capacity to preach and teach? Sure…you went to a Bible school. You may know more about the scriptures than a lot of people.

But I think you would be in direct opposition to Scriptures to do so, just as I would be if I chose to violate the fornication passages.

That’s my interpretation of the Bible.

It’s funny that you bring this subject up. It was this booklet, “Witchcraft Working in the Church, Booklet #41″ by Win Worley that really turned me on to Hegewisch Baptist before I ever even visited the church. To hold to the “woman pastor” belief, is to deny certain sections of the Bible, to believe that they “don’t apply” to you. The same technique is used by the “Prosperity Teachers” who avoid the scriptures of Jesus suffering, Paul going hungry, “take up thy cross and follow me.” The same technique is used by the “Seed Faith” preachers who avoid the scriptures that verbatim describe the “seed” as the gospel, the Word of God and that seed in the Bible never refers to money. The same technique is used by the Homosexual “Christian” Churches who avoid the entire story of Sodom and Gomorra, Romans 1, and Ephesians 5:5. I could go on and on.

Yet these are all “prospering” UNDER A FALSE GOSPEL. God won’t bless that because it violates His Word. Who would bless that then if God’s not fueling it?

Win always said that he could prove out of scripture that you should commit suicide and do it quickly. It says that Judas went and hanged himself. Jesus said, “do likewise” and “that thou doest, do quickly.” It doesn’t line up. It contradicts Scripture, in my opinion. But besides all this, men who are called of God to preach, truly called of God, should be weary to do so. To teach is not something to take lightly.

“Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly” (James 3:1).

I would highly recommend that you seek the Lord about this, that you study the scriptures in context, that you read material that is opposed to women preachers, and weigh it against the Scriptures to see how well it lines up. Being judged more strictly doesn’t sound like a pleasant thing to me.

“Remember, that there are NO female pastors, apostles or other leaders mentioned in the New Testament…Paul specifically forbade that women be placed in positions where they assume authority over men.” (Ibid., p 12)

“This is not to suggest that men are to manipulate, control or dominate as some sort of merciless dictator. It simply means God has ordained that males bare the burden of leadership and offer a shield of protection over the home, the church and the nation. With this provision God has designed the male with all of the necessary strength and potential abilities to do the task but these must be developed. A father is given abilities to be a leader in his home which are not available to his wife. Talents, gifts of leadership, wisdom and knowledge to be the leaders and protectors are allotted to males. These are not given to females for they have other vital roles to play. Even if a woman assumes leadership, these special gifts are still not given to her. What God has set down in His Word is TRUE. To be valid, truth does not require the endorsement of mere human beings, for it will eventually triumph, even if NO ONE believes it! Certainly it does not depend on what leaders of the contemporary church are teaching and/or practicing….Some would object, pointing out that many men are not fulfilling this kind of role. Their failures do not change God’s purpose and plan” (Ibid., pp. 12-13).

Remember that this function and role thing began before men were even created:

“Lucifer, the archangel was created and designed to be the anointed cherub who would guard the holiness of the throne of God. He was given many other attributes, powers and gifts unique to him. These were to bring glory to the Creator. In spite of this he abdicated his high position, prostituting his gifts in a vain grab for power. He became Satan, the dragon, the serpent, accuser of the brethren, etc. As a consequence he is under judgment for his foolish failure to fulfill God’s purpose and plan for him. So it is with every man who missed the high and holy calling for which God designed him” (Ibid., p. 14)!

And I would interject here, that it would be same for every woman who missed the high and holy calling for which God designed her.

So, these are my thoughts. I’m sure God has a purpose and plan for you, too. I’m sure that to God, and in the end, they will be just as important a task as the task of preaching and teaching men. We all have a purpose–Romans 8:28 tells us so: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” I pray that you’d find that purpose, and in your zealousness, do not “run ahead of God.”

From your past e-mails, you sound like a woman of God, one who holds His Word close to your heart. Please at least think about some of the verses and explanation I’ve quoted and typed here between now and Sunday night when you’ve been asked to preach and teach. Hegewisch Baptist is a place where we take God’s Word as needing no alteration or modification. It is the Holy Word of God. Be careful.

Thanks for taking all the time to read this. I know it’s a long e-mail.

I’ll talk to you soon.

Love in Christ,

HBC

Tags: FAQ

By Admin in Questions on October 14, 2011