Response:

Thanks for writing.

You do raise a valid point by stating that many men are refusing to follow God's calling in their lives. I agree with that. I also believe that many women have been motivated to step into the leadership void because of the failures of men to do what they should. However, that doesn't make it Biblical. For example, suppose a man fails to lead his home the way he should. Does the wife now have the right to usurp his authority, and take over the leadership of the home? Not according to Ephesians 5 and I Corinthians 11. Two wrongs don't make a right. The failure of men to respond to God does not allow a woman to overstep her God-given boundaries.

I do not think that I need to go back over the Biblical arguments, for in your question you state, "Your argument has valid points from the Scripture." The Scripture, not circumstances, must be our authority. I Timothy 2:11-12 states,

"Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence."

I Timothy 3:1-2 states,

"This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach..."

The word "husband" used there is the Greek word "aner", which refers specifically to a male, as opposed to a female. It is not the word "anthropos", which, while often translated "man", has a reference to all of mankind. Bishops, or pastors (the words are both used for the same office) must be male.

You are correct when you state that Christ sent us the Holy Spirit. However, the Holy Spirit does not lead or empower in opposition to the teachings of the Scripture. John 16:13-14 states,

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you."

The Holy Spirit's job is to guide men into truth. What is truth? John 14:6 says that Jesus Christ is truth. John 17:17 says that God's Word is truth. Therefore, the Holy Spirit leads men towards Christ and towards the Scriptures. Jesus and the Word of God are never contradictory towards each other. II Peter 1:21 is a verse dealing with the inspiration of the Bible. There Peter writes,

"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

The Holy Spirit led men to write the Bible, including Paul's writings in I Timothy. Therefore, since the Holy Spirit's leading is not going to contradict the Holy Spirit's inspiration, we must conclude that it is NOT the Holy Spirit Who is leading these women to take leadership positions in churches and over men.

How then can we explain the apparent success of some women preachers. I believe there are a couple factors involved. First, we should attempt to determine whether or not they (or any man's ministry for that matter) are really having success as defined by the Bible, or are they just getting a group to follow after them. For the purposes of this response, let me say that I am not familiar with all the women that you listed, and I disagree with some of the doctrinal positions of those women that I do know. However, for the sake of argument, lets say that I agreed 100% with the teachings and practices of these women, and that they were really producing Biblical results. It still doesn't mean that they are doing what is right Scripturally. If a woman is teaching the Bible, the Bible still has authority regardless of who the speaker might be. Hebrews 4:12 states,

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

This is true regardless of who delivers it. Isaiah 55:11 reads,

"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."

Therefore, the power of the Word is evident regardless of the character or obedience of the one delivering the message. So, a woman preacher could see results based upon the message, and yet still be disobedient to God because of her disregard for His Scriptures. Let me give a different type of example. Recently, a pastor of a large Baptist church was accused of child molestation, dating back several decades, and apparently he confessed to it. Throughout his ministry, many folks were saved, churches were started, and much good was accomplished. However, that does not excuse his pedophilia, and I don't believe that a child molester has the power of God on his life and ministry. The Word of God still has power, regardless of the qualifications of the messenger. We are not responsible for the results ( 1Co 3:7 - "So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase"), we are responsible to obey.

In conclusion, may I say that there are many ways that women can serve in the local church. They can have teaching ministries, as long as they are not in leadership over men. They can be witnesses. They can serve in a variety of vital areas. They simply can not be placed in positions of pastoral leadership, or in positions where they have authority or teaching responsibility over men.

By Pastor Dr. Mark Montgomery Ambassador Baptist Church 1926 Babcock Blvd Pittsburgh, PA 15209 (412)477-3210