As we continue down this trail of truths, there must be an explanation for all those popular verses of scripture, which some brethren herald as absolute proof, of the Lord’s desire never to use a woman in any position that causes her to instruct or spiritually guide the activities of a man.
All I ask is we agree initially on one fact: THE WORD OF GOD WILL IN NO WISE CONTRADICT ITSELF. If we can agree on this basic principle, then a divine unveiling of the truth is eminent.
Let us deal with each of these sayings to determine if they will stand the test of all scripture.
THE MAN IS THE HEAD OF THE WOMAN, therefore, a woman could never pastor a church. The head of the church must be a man.
This mindset is apparently taken from the Corinthians letter.
I 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.
Now when we dissect this passage, we find the word used there for man is “Aner” (indexed 435 in your Strong’s, Vines or Thayer’s.) It is the same word for husband. There is no other word in the Greek for husband. Likewise the word woman is “Gune” which is the only word in the Greek for woman or wife. (Index #115 in Strong’s, Vines and Thayer’s).
Paul was addressing social and domestic issues as they focused on marital relationships in the church. His implication is: Christ is head of the Church and the husband is the head of the wife.
Because there are some who will not receive this explanation, Paul makes it very plain in his letter to the church at Ephesus.
Ephesians 5:22-23
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husband, as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church.
Beloved, this is the only logical explanation of these verses. Paul never implied the pastor of a church was the head of every woman in the assembly.
There is no way the pastor of the church can place himself as the head of another man’s wife. To be the head of implies possession or ownership, one’s own property or lordship.
When a man or woman takes the position of Lord over God’s Church, he or she is in error and danger of divine judgment. Peter makes this point quite clear in his writings to the elders.
I Peter 5:2-3
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
No, beloved, the church is not the private domain, territory, dominionship or empire for any man or woman. The pastor is to only take the spiritual oversight, thus channeling the message, power and developmental work of the Holy Ghost in that assembly. His or her authority is purely spiritual and given only in the Holy Ghost. He or she is to direct that congregation to the Father, develop its weaknesses into strengths and assist in the perfecting work of the 5-fold ministry.
Ministry has never been more freeing.
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