Should Women Be Ordained Into The Ministry?
We have always assumed within the Church of God that it does not really matter what the Sunday keeping churches believe. Since we have already proven their doctrines to be false, it was understood among the churches of God that their doctrines presented no threat to the truth we believe.
However, this simplistic view has overlooked the fact that not everyone within the church is actually being led by the Spirit of God. Romans 8:14 tells us, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." Paul would not have needed to state this verse in this way if the Spirit of God led all of the people in God's church.
Sadly, in God's church today there are very few people that are led by His Spirit. One reason this problem exists today is because the church lacks a Godly ministry that is blameless, that will command God's people to serve only Him. The result is that we are plagued with a situation resembling ancient Israel at the end of the time of the Judges when, "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes." (Judges 21:25)
Moses warned Israel of this when they were about to enter the promised land. Moses commanded them saying, "These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which the LORD God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth. Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree: And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God. Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes." For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which the LORD your God giveth you. Deuteronomy 12:1-4, 8-9.
Well brethren, we have not come to "the rest and to the inheritance" yet either! Instead of rejecting the world as they were commanded, Israel came to embrace the world. They became just like the pagan nations they were commanded to destroy! With that example before us, why would God's church allow itself to become "paganized" by the doctrines of corrupt worldly churches? They are nothing more than the Synagogue of Satan! The doctrines of these churches will have an effect on God's church IF we allow them to. God's church needs a strong, Godly ministry to teach His people between the Holy and the Profane. God simply will not accept that which is profane!
The worldly doctrine of women preaching and being ordained into a "ministry" has crept into the Church of God. The lack of converted leadership in the church has allowed and even encouraged this to happen. Women's conferences designed to "empower" women are encouraging men to let their wives "explore their spiritual gifts." The result is women song leaders and women preachers! There are even women wanting to participate in the Laying on of Hands ceremony! It is only going to get worse!
This belief is so easy to disprove in the word of God that it is shameful that there are people deceived by it! There are people within the Church of God that simply will not read the Word of God for what it says. They feel "compelled" to give their own private interpretation of the Scriptures. The Apostle Peter said very plainly, "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 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." (2 Peter 1:20-21)
The word prophecy is G4394 προφητεία propheteia From G4396 (prophecy); prediction (scriptural or other): - prophecy, prophesying.
Prophecy's meaning ranges from inspired preaching to foretelling world events. Peter tells us that no one can give his or her own private interpretation of the Holy Scriptures. Since it was not given by the will of man, it is not subject to the private interpretation of man!
So lets look at what the Scriptures say about women preaching in church and being ordained as ministers. In 1 Timothy 3:14-15 Paul tells us the purpose of his letter to Timothy. "These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."
What were some of the admonitions Paul told Timothy to follow in the church of God? "Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 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". (1Timothy 2:7-15)
Paul says he is speaking the truth in Christ and he is not lying. Men and women within the Church of God should be careful how they conduct themselves. Men are not to be given to argumentative discussions or angry behavior. They must pray with hands that are clean and holy because they are in this world but not of it. Women should be dressed modestly. A woman's character should be shown by how she conducts herself, not by costly clothing or expensive jewelry. These admonitions are good for any Church of God, as are the rest of the admonitions!!!
Women should be in subjection to their husbands and not be loud. They are not to teach, nor are they to usurp authority over the man which means that they should not act on their behalf as Eve did. Eve acted in her own behalf by taking the lead and discussing the two trees with Satan with Adam present. As a result, Eve was deceived by Satan the devil, Adam was not. Paul is comparing women leading church services as being in the same context as Eve's leading the discussion with Satan. Women are not to usurp the lead at church services any more than Eve should have taken the lead in speaking and reasoning with Satan! Eve usurped Adam's authority and decided (at the prodding of Satan the Devil) to eat the fruit which was contrary to God's command. Adam was standing right there and should have stopped Eve, but she decided to eat the fruit and then persuaded Adam to eat it! What a shame it is for women to desire to take the lead over their husbands. Eve should have been silent just as Paul says women are to be in Church!
Should we allow Eve's sinful actions in God's Church today from women that listen to and act on the same prodding of Satan the Devil? In the world we see women handling Church services and being ordained. Surely we see that Almighty God has no part in the sinful actions occuring in spiritually dead churches! Neither will He take part in His own church when it seeks to be like the world!
Since man was made first, he is the leader. God created authority in His family. Paul states in 1 Corinthians 11:3, But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. We would all do well to remember the responsibilities God has given to us. We must remember that Adam did not fulfill his responsibilities either. If the men took the lead in church services (opening prayer, closing prayer, song leading, sermonettes, sermons) it would not be left for someone else to do!
Paul says in 1 Timothy 3:1-5: 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, (not the wife of one husband) vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 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?)
There is no doubt that God wants a man to take care of the church. The Scriptural record contains several stories of women sacrificing themselves and serving the churches for the good of others. But they were never ordained to lead a congregation. Paul's words are as true today as when God inspired him to write them down. In 1 Corinthians 14:33-35 Paul explains: "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 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. "
Paul was not just dealing with a regional problem where there was some hardheaded women trying to run things as most proponents of female ordination believe. Paul said in verse 33 above, "God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. " These commands were for all the churches!! Let's not be deceived by those whose private interpretation of scripture teaches that a woman can usurp the authority of man. Only men should be ordained into the ministry to lead and teach. People that teach contrary to this true doctrine have no regard for the truth!
