INTRODUCTION
God cares for women as much as He does men. Yes, women are as significant to the home, church, and society as men are. In Christ, women enjoy equality in spiritual position and blessings before God as men do. This does not mean, though, that there is to be no difference in men and women in their appearance and responsibilities. There is the reality which needs to be obvious in the church and society today: Men and women were obviously created by God differently!
KNOWING HER RIGHTFUL POSITION
Men and women were created for different roles. The Bible affirms that men are to be the leaders in the home, church, and state. Women were not created to rule these divine institutions; men were. Even the five-fold ministry of Ephesians 4:11 was so designed in the Scriptures for men, and not for women.
In the beginning, man and woman were co-equal in their position before God. But when Eve fell in transgression when she listened to the serpent, the covenant was changed. The woman was now to be under subjection unto the man as evident in the succeeding scriptures:
I TIMOTHY 2:14-15 - "And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety."
GENESIS 3:16 -"Unto the woman He said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire [shall be] to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee."
EPHESIANS 5:22-24 - "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so [let] the wives [be] to their own husbands in every thing."
The prophet Isaiah was condemning Israel when he said that women ruled over them (Isa. 3:12). The prophet Elijah was also condemning Ahab because his pagan wife Jezebel was overpowering him. Samson was turned out of the will of God because he listened to the dictates of Delilah. And Adam himself failed God because of listening to his wife Eve.
In the church, according to the Bible, no woman is qualified to be a pastor or a deacon or in any other leadership position over men. Who says that? God Himself said it through His New Testament mouthpiece, the Apostle Paul.
1 Timothy 2:11-15 clearly
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. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not
deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the
transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if
they continue in faith and charity and holiness with
sobriety.""
1 Corinthians 14:34-37 states:
"Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it
is not permitted unto them to speak; but [they are commanded] to be under
obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing,
let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak
in the church.""
How could a woman
possibly be a pastor of a church when she is forbidden to teach or to have
any authority over men?
Women can only become pastors if churches willfully and openly reject the Bibles teaching. Unfortunately, churches today, even the Pentecostals, are often infected by worldly temperament. Women Liberation has invaded the churches. Thus, the rebellion of women in the world is provoking similar problems in the churches, and we find women desiring and demanding leadership roles in many churches.
God is a man, and the church is a woman. Therefore, the woman ought to be under subjection the man as the church is under subjection to Christ, and not vice versa.
WOMEN IN THE 5-FOLD MINISTRY?
The MAIN ISSUE can be summarized as follows: "Can a Woman be ordained to the pastoral ministry?"
If you believe the Bible, the answer is a solid NO!
The Bible speaks very obvious on this subject leaving no room for speculation and confusion, or even, debate. The problem is that churches today too often are looking to sources other than the Bible to justify their vain convictions. The result is an intoxication of ideas that reject the authority of Scripture.
Though women may serve in the church in various capacities as long as those capacities do not violate the principles of authority and order and male leadership, then that is all right. Women may be in spiritual authority over other women and children but not over men.
I do not negate the fact that there are many women that have great abilities. But it is important to remember that this issue has nothing to do with worth or ability. It has everything to do with order and authority. God has placed the family unit, and the very Church Itself, in proper order.
1 Corinthians 14:40 states, Let all things be done decently and in order. Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Women may serve with great results in the church however not as Pastors, Elders or Deacons. Jesus chose twelve men to be the foundational leaders of His Church, and the apostles were bid to choose seven men also to be deacons.
To ordain women as Pastors/Elders/Deacons is a violation of the Word of God and due to either a lack of scriptural understanding, or simply an attempt to make the Bible say what meets man's carnal desire. We must not allow cultural pressure or political correctness to dictate to the Church its authority structure.
Since the qualifications listed in 1 Timothy 3 also state that a deacon must be the husband of one wife (1Tim. 3:2), it is therefore clear that the office of a deacon should be held by males.
A very important scripture concerning who is to be an Elder or Pastor is the following one; 1 Timothy 3:4-5 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) This passage clearly links the authority of a man in his home to the authority of men in the Church. It is clear that God also put men in charge of His Church. God has established his authority structure and has clearly place men in leadership over women.
WHAT BROTHER BRANHAM TAUGHT US:
Here are a few doctrinal issues and nuggets concerning "WOMEN PREACHERS", as gleened from some of the 1110+ sermons of Rev. William Marrion Branham.
1. A WOMAN CAN SING, TESTIFY, SPEAK IN TONGUES, PROPHESY, BUT NOT
TO TEACH NOR TO PREACH
"The question was
if the woman has got a gift of tongues and she wants to speak, I believe that
when that time comes on, she has a right to speak out in the gift
of tongues, but not to preach or to usurp any authority over men. When
she's a preacher, of course she is over men."
THE.CHOOSING.OF.A.BRIDE_ LA.CA V-2 N-28
THURSDAY_ 65-0429E
"One wanted
to know if it was wrong for women to testify, or to sing, or give messages
in tongue, interpretate the messages, or prophecy in the church.
No, it isn't wrong; it's a--as long as it comes in the place in order.
See? The church is in order, and only when... The real, true way to do it
is for those who speak with tongues and things or messages are given before
the message from the pulpit, never during that time; 'cause the Holy Spirit's
moving just from one place at a time, as Paul spoke of there.
But women are gifted with prophecy, and gifted with tongues and interpretations,
and everything but being preachers. They're not to be preachers.
They're forbidden to preach in the churches (That's right.), take the place,
or be a teacher, or anything in the church. But as far as gifts,
the woman has all those, can occupy one or any of those nine spiritual gifts
according to I Corinthians 12, and is under no bondage that her message should
not come forth in its place."
QUESTIONS.AND.ANSWERS_ JEFF.IN COD SUNDAY_ 61-1015M
2. A WOMAN MUST NOT CUT HER HAIR NOR INVADE THE PULPIT
"Now I know you
ladies don't like this kind of preaching, but sister, you are dead wrong in
what you are doing. The Bible forbids you to cut your hair. God gave
it for a covering. He gave a command for you to wear it long. It
is your glory. When you cut your hair you signified that you left the headship
of your husband. Like Eve you walked out and went on your own. You got the
vote. You took men's jobs. You left off being females. You ought to repent
and come back to God. And if all this wasn't bad enough, a whole lot
of you took the idea that you could invade the pulpits and the church offices
that God reserved for men and for men only. Oh, I touched a sore
spot then didn't I? Well, show me one place in the Bible that God ever ordained
any woman to preach or take authority over a man, and I will apologize for
what I have said. You can't find that I am wrong. I am right, for I stand
with the Word and in the Word. If you were Spiritually rich you would know
that is true. There is nothing true but the Word. Paul said, "I suffer
not a woman to teach nor to usurp authority over the man." You can't
possibly take a place amongst the five-fold ministry of Ephesians 4 and not
take authority over men. Sister, you had better listen to that Word.
It was not the Spirit of God manifesting in a Spirit-filled life that told
you to preach because the Spirit and the Word are ONE. They say the
same thing. Somebody made a mistake. Somebody was fooled. Wake up before it
is too late. Satan fooled Eve, your mother; he is fooling the daughters
now. May God help you."
THE.PATMOS.VISION_ JEFF.IN ROJC 69-130 SUNDAY_ 60-1204E
3. THE WOMAN , NOT THE MAN, WAS DECEIVED IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN
"She (Eve)
persuaded him (Adam) out of the will of God and caused him to do something that
he should not have done, and, by it, caused death to the whole human race. That's why the Bible forbids her to teach, or to preach, or to handle
God's Word, in any manner.
I know, sister, many of you say, "The
Lord called me to preach."
I'm not going to argue with you. But I'm going to tell you, the Word
says you not to do it. "She shall not teach, or usurp any authority,
but to be in silence."
"Well," you say, "the Lord told me to do
it."
I don't doubt that one bit. Did you hear my Message the other night
about Baalam? Balaam got the first, straight-cut decision of God, "Don't
do it." But he kept on fooling around till finally God told him to go do
it.
God might permit you to preach. I don't say He
didn't. But it's not according to His original Word and plan. "For she is to be under obedience, as also saith the law." It's true.
Therefore, she's not supposed to do it."
THE.TEN.VIRGINS.AND.THE.HUNDRED.AND.FORTY.FOUR.THOUSAND.JEWS_ JEFF.IN
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4. SHE SHALL BE SAVED IN CHILDBEARING
"Oh, don't you see,
that's why Paul said a woman should never preach the Gospel.
She was--she was in the... She was the one that was deceived. "I suffer not
a woman to teach or to usurp any authority, but to be in silence. (See?) For--for
Adam was first formed and then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the
woman was deceived, her being in the transgression." Said, "Notwithstanding,
now, she's not lost; she shall be saved in childbearing (if she's got a husband),
and so forth; she continues on in faith and sobriety and all holiness with such,
she'll be saved. But never permit one to teach or to usurp authority." See?
Paul said, "Don't you do it." Said, "Now, I think I have the mind of the Lord,"
he said. THYATIREAN.CHURCH.AGE - CHURCH.AGE.BOOK CPT.6 5. A REAL WOMAN IS A JEWEL "So, but now, a good woman is a jewel in a man's crown. She should be
honored. She... My mother's a woman, my wife is, and they're lovely. And I've
got thousands of Christian Sisters who I highly respect. But if--if they can
respect what God made them, a motherhood and a real queen, that's all right.
She's one of the best things that God could give a man, was a wife. Besides salvation, a wife is the best thing if she is a good wife. But if she isn't, Solomon said, "A good woman is a jewel in a
man's crown, but a--an ornery one or no-good one is water in his
blood." And that's right, it's the worst thing could happen. So a good
woman... If you've got a good wife, brother, you ought to respect her
with the highest. That's right, you should do that. A real woman! And,
children, if you've got a real mother that stays home and tries to take care of
you, keeping your clothes clean, sends you to school, teaching you about Jesus,
you should honor that sweet old mother with all that's in you. You should
respect that woman, yes, sir, because she's a real mother." 6. BEING A "DOMINATING FEMALE" IS
ANTI-CHRIST "Now a
woman is NOT meant to have an iron disposition. She is, according
to the Holy Scripture, to be submissive to the male. That
is commanded of her. Woman who is truly female, all female, will be of that
disposition. Not a door mat. No real male makes a female a door mat. But she
will want to be under authority and not rule over the male, for he is the
head of the house. If she breaks that image that God made for her,
she is perverted. Any male that lets the woman take authority has
also broken that image and he is perverted. That
is why a woman CANNOT WEAR THAT WHICH PERTAINETH TO A MAN (Deut. 22:5) OR
CUT HER HAIR (1 Cor. 11:6, 15). She is never to wear garments that
pertain to a male or cut her hair. When she does she is intruding into the
male domain taking authority and perverting herself. And when a woman
invades the pulpit which it is COMMANDED SHE MUST NOT DO, she shows what spirit
she is of. Being a dominating female is antichrist and the seeds of the Roman
Catholic Church are in her though she may deny this ever so vehemently.
But when it COMES TO THE WORD, Let God be true and every man's word a lie.
Amen."
They said, "Why, the... Why, the prophets over there prophesied and
told us that we should preach."
He said, "What? Came the Word of God out of you, and came it to you
only? If any man thinks himself to be a spiritual or a prophet, let him acknowledge
that what I say is the commandments of the Lord." See? That's right.
He knowed what he was talking about.
But said, "If he be ignorant, just let him be ignorant. That's
all. See? If he won't listen to it, well, just let him go on; he's headed right
straight down to the gully. See, but just go ahead." But there, them two spirits...
Reason... Like they got women on the police forces, out on
the streets. That's a disgrace to the American flag to put them mothers
out there on the street and tens of thousands of men without a job.
Why, it's a woman's nation; it's a women's place; a woman will take over. It's
woman worship. It's that Catholic dogmatic spirit, worshipping a woman
for a god. Here's that just... It's just setting right. Don't you see the setup?
There's nothing that God could've give a man any sweeter than a wife, a real
wife. But when she gets anything beyond that, she's--she's out. That's exactly. God never intend women to work in any these places and to do them kind
of things like that. Them women, you're--they're to have children and
raise their children. They're all little preachers, every one of them,
but they have their own pastoral at home with their kiddies, bringing up their
children. All right."
MY.LIFE.STORY_ LA.CA FOOTPRINTS.BOOK SUNDAY_ 59-0419A
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" In--in Tucson,
Arizona, we got a woman judge there in the city. That's the
reason the city is so polluted. And we got... A woman ain't got no
business in politics. She ain't got no business in the... over any authority
in the church.
Her place is a man's queen at home. Outside of that, she has nothing.
And we know that to be the Truth. You'll never find... I know that sounds
old-fashioned, but I'm responsible.
And I know that, after my going away from this earth, them tapes and them
books will be living on, and many of you young children will find, in the
days to come, that this is exactly the Truth, because I speak it in the Name
of the Lord."
AND.KNOWETH.IT.NOT_ JEFF.IN V-2 N-10 SUNDAY_ 65-0815