Biblical Manhood and Womanhood Part 2...

In the year 2003, over 45% of associate pastors within the PCUSA were woman, nearly 30% of active ministers were women, and nearly 20% of pastors/co-co-pastors were women. As the figure reveals, there has been a dramatic increase of women ministers within one denomination in the last 20 years, not counting the many other denominations that have ordained women. Why this sudden increase in women ministers? Egalitarians would assert that Christians are beginning to discover the true biblical teaching regarding female authority in churches. J. Lee Grady, an egalitarian himself, writes that, "through the centuries church leaders have distorted the Bible to deny women the right to preach, teach, pray publicly, pursue ordination, or serve as chairpersons of missions commitees." I pose the question, "Has the Bible really been distorted? Have we failed to realize that women do indeed possess the right to be ministers and teachers in the body of Christ? In order to answer these questions, it is essential that we look at some of the reasons egalitarians use to legitimate their claims.

One passage of Scripture used by J. Lee Grady is Luke 8:1-2 where it is noted that Jesus included women in His band of follwers: "The twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits." In an attempt to prove that women have the biblical authority to occupy the role of pastor, Grady mentions that women in the Old Testament were given roles of significant responsibility. Some of these women include Miriam, Esther, Deborah, Huldah, Phoebe, and others. He argues that women held positions of authority and leadership; therefore to conclude that women cannot hold positions of authority is to disagree with the Scriptures, which testify of female leaders. Is Grady's reasoning faulty? Complementarian Wayne Gruden would certainly think so. In discussing Luke 8:1, Grudem states that although women ministered with Jesus, "the specific ministry engaged in was not preaching the gospel but providing financial resources so that Jesus could carry on His ministry." In discussing the appearance of female leaders in the Old and New Testament, complementarian Thomas Schreiner writes that prophetesses and other female leaders did not excercise authority in the same way that men did. He notes that female leaders were to serve in such a way as to acknowledge male headship.

Both arguments seem plausible, but when we carefully look at egalitarian reasoning it becomes apparent that their position is at odds with the clear teaching of the Bible. First, the passage in Luke says nothing whatsoever about the authority of women in teaching. On the contrary, it merely recognizes that women were included in Jesus' band of followers. It can't be assumed that because women followed Jesus, they taught others also. Second, the recognition of Old and New Testament female leaders to prove the point that women should possess the authority to serve in the ministerial position is an argument that crumbles when one closely looks at it. Deborah was a judge, Esther a queen, Huldah a prophetess, and the women in the New Testament were not pastors.

I don't mean to oversimplify the egalitarian position by only using these specific passages. There are indeed other passages they will use to legitimate their claims, and I will try to adress them in my next posts. A biblically sound theology of manhood and womanhood is eminently practical. The fact that an egalitarian mindset is slowly creeping in among our churches is a sad commentary, and a fearful prospect. We must get this issue right because if we don't, we will soon reap the intellectually rotten fruit of this rotten and unbiblical theology of egalitarianism. A biblical understanding of manhood and womanhood is for our joy!

Jordan

Jordan