| Tradition: a word that brings comfort to some, but to others it means nothing more than endless repetition and constriction to keep things the way they have always been, and always will be. Everyone has traditions of their own and within their families, whether it be Sunday chicken after church, the family fishing trip every summer, or the way shoes are tied. Traditions are a part of every culture; they serve as a foundation, as a common ground that can bring people together. Even our churches have traditions. When asked to describe the average Christian church, most people think of stained glass windows, glossy wooden pews, and a middle aged man standing at the pulpit up front. This is the perfect description of the average church, the “traditional” church. What happens when this tradition is broken and a woman walks up behind the pulpit to bring the message? Do we support her, and allow her to do so? Or do we say, “No,” and not allow this privilege to women? Many churches have been forced to face this issue, and what is their reaction? Many do not recognize women in leadership roles, while a few do support women in the ministry. This is not meant to be a discussion supporting feminists and equal rights between men and women as the world would view it, but, rather, a deeper look into whether or not women should be allowed to lead and be considered equal when it comes to the things of God, and the results of viewpoints from both sides of the issue. The Bible seems to contradict itself when it comes to answering the question of allowing women to lead a church. In a few places it speaks of how women should be kept silent, while in others it states that there is no difference between a man and a woman when it comes to the things of God. Rest assured that the Bible does not contradict itself. There are a few surface contradictions, but they are only there to make the reader dig deeper and find the real answer. It is also important to keep in mind that, while reading scripture, the context in which it was written plays a vital role in its actual meaning and interpretation. There are two key passages found within the Bible that most churches and religions use to support their viewpoints and doctrines on why women should not be allowed the privilege of a role of leadership within that particular church. These scriptures are found in first Timothy chapter two and first Corinthians chapter fourteen. Within both of these chapters, a common instruction is given: keep women silent and in their rightful place, beneath the men. However, the context that goes hand in hand with both of these scriptures shows us the reason as to why the Apostle Paul, author of both letters, would write such a thing. As it turns out, the letter that Paul wrote in the first book of Timothy was actually referring to a group of people who had just converted to Christianity from worshiping the goddesses Artemis and Diana. One can only imagine all of the doctrines and teachings that this church would have to clear up so it could effectively switch over to the gospel of Christianity. Since their old religion focused primarily on women, who were the object of admiration and worship, Paul was trying to correct many teachings that conflicted with Christianity. The main promotions of these heresies just so happened to be women. Paul was attempting to put them in their place. The scripture in Corinthians is also referring to a similar situation. There was much disorder in the church that needed to be dealt with. In that time and place within this specific culture, there were many traditions that were followed during worship services. For instance, men sat on one side of the sanctuary while women and the children sat on the other. So, when Paul tells the women to keep their children silent, we have a pretty good understating as to why. Also in that time frame, only a handful of women were allowed the privilege of an education, so it can be assumed that they had plenty of questions when it came to the things of religion. However, asking these questions during the middle of a service would undoubtedly be disruptive , so Paul suggested, in order to keep the peace and order during services, that their questions should be saved for when they were at home (I Corinthians 14:35). Even though he may have told these women in both cases to keep their silence (I Corinthians 14; I Timothy 2), he was not referring to all of the women of the world in that present day, or as future leaders, but, rather, to a certain group of women involved in specific situations that needed some strict guidance. By taking these important scriptures out of context, many churches have justified their doctrines of not allowing women to pastor or preach to any congregations. What they do not realize, however, is what they lose because of this. Needless to say, much like men, women have their own viewpoints when it comes to just about any subject. The opinions that they also bring to certain subjects are unique and oftentimes refreshing. By restricting and quieting women in all things concerning the church, we are actually missing an opportunity for growth and maturity in wisdom. Not only this, but much hope is lost for many women who, therefore, see their faith as less important and their relationship with God as insignificant. However, other scripture indicates that, in God’s eyes, spiritually speaking, women are just as valuable and just as much an asset to the kingdom of God, as men are. When the doctrine of restricting women in the ministry is supported, it is also important to point out verses in the Bible that contradict this. Where there is contradiction, there is sure to be division, a problem that no church wants to encounter. If the Bible cannot say one thing and support it through and through, can it then be trusted as a book of Truth? The answer to that is a simple, “No, it cannot,” which is why context plays such an important role when it comes to setting Biblical standards. When context is left out, scripture is muddled and cannot be taken for the point it was actually meant to portray. In the book of Galatians, Paul, the same man who just told those women to keep silent, states, “There is no Jew nor Greek, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). Paul understood and was able to see the consequences that would arise if the people were to forget this simple fact: that there is no difference when it comes to the spiritual aspects of a man or woman. Many other times throughout the word of God, women are uplifted and encouraged, even by Paul, to keep up the work they are doing and for others to see the great example that their lives have given. Notice that scripture does not say their examples, and wisdom, were only meant for other women and children to see and learn from. Instead, it is there for all, both men and women, boys and girls, to embrace, learn from, and love. By overlooking this and taking scripture out of context, we then lose sight of just how valuable the testimony of a woman’s life can be. Another problem we then face is that women are not properly encouraged to grow spiritually, and their full potential is then restricted, not allowing them the closeness to God that men seem to be privileged enough to have. By doing so, women are not able to answer the call that they may be felt they are given, to lead and to teach. Both the books of Joel and Acts state, “And it shall come to pass… I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy” (Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17). Both Joel, author in the Old Testament, and Paul, author of more than half of the New Testament, show us that women can be given the same message as men who are called to preach and reveal to people the truth of God. These spiritual gifts and callings are not just limited to men. When limitations and certain boundaries are placed on what the women can and cannot do within a church setting, the true message of the scriptures is then restricted as well. When women are allowed the spiritual freedom that they deserve, and are given through the very Word of God, amazing things are then able to happen. There is more of a balance within that specific church. God’s whole image, the one that mean and women were both created in (Genesis 1:27), is then reflected through that congregation, and they are no longer lacking in that area. This freedom also allows women to grow in numerous ways and gives them the same chance to be just as knowledgeable and useful in the church as men. no longer having restrictions, or men telling them what they can and cannot be in God, women are free to seek and become whatever it sis they feel led to be. Although our traditional view of a church should be is changing, it is important to realize that, because something is traditional, does not necessarily make it truth or the right way to go about something. A church should be led by whomever God chooses. After all, Christianity does believe that it is His church. Who does and does not get up to preach behind the pulpit on Sunday morning, or caters to the needs of the congregation, whoever is called to fulfill these roles should be up to God, not the mere tradition of men and their own personal viewpoints on the matter. By allowing the doctrine –of women not being allowed to lead within a church congregation- to be erased, a church will then no longer be limited to their own small thoughts and little minds. It will, instead, be allowed to have unlimited access to the wisdom and power of God. |
