I believe God calls women to preach. And I believe this because the Bible is careful to clarify God's call and the Holy Spirit's anointing upon women. I happen to be part of the Church of the Nazarene which has, from it's beginning, affirmed the calling of God in the life of women to preach, teach, and lead in the church. They were committed to this not because of cultural trends or popular fads, but because it was Biblical truth.
As you read Scripture, it is clear that the frequency of women preaching, prophesying, or leading is less than that of men. There may be many factors that would influence that trend, but you cannot deny that God calls and speaks through women. The issue has never been about certain quotas of men vs women prophesying, but whether or not God does in fact speak through women in that way.
Some examples of women who ministered...
In the Old Testament there were women who served in various types of leadership positions. From Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, to Deborah who led the Israelites into battle, the Bible is clear that women were both leaders and called by God. What is worth noting about both of these women is that they were also referred to as prophetesses (see Exodus 15:20 and Judges 4:4). They were women who prophesied. They were preachers. They spoke on behalf of God. It's a bit troubling to note that they would not be allowed to fulfill their calling in some churches and denominations though it is clear in God's Word that they obeyed the leading of the Holy Spirit. Biblically God often combines positions of leadership with preaching/prophesying.
Jesus' ministry is rife with teaching, instructing, and inclusion of women. Although he does not include a woman among the twelve disciples, this is poor evidence for Jesus seeking to exclude women from a call to be His disciples. His homogeneous group of male disciples is an indication that Jesus' concern for a sense of spiritual affirmative action concerning women is non existent. The kingdom of God obviously includes all people, of all races, of every economic level and social status in the world that have acknowledged Jesus as Lord. However, it may be that our push and emphasis on the "diversity" of our clergy is more in line with culture than with Christ.
Controversial or not, God clearly used women in every facet of the early church as well. Though culturally this may not have been accepted, the early church did not regard the gender of an individual as a determining factor for the filling of the Holy Spirit and God's ability to speak through them. In Acts 1, we are specifically told that, in addition to some of the men in the upper room, women have gathered for the prayer meeting too.
Peter's sermon at Pentecost refers back to the Old Testament prophet Joel's promise that in the last days God would pour out his Holy Spirit on men and women. This outpouring/anointing of the Holy Spirit would enable men and women to prophesy/preach!
Acts 18 gives us another glimpse of a husband and wife named Aquila and Priscilla who heard Apollos preach and took him aside for further teaching. A woman and her husband were instructing another preacher.
In Acts 21:9 we are told that an evangelist named Philip has four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
In Romans 16:1, Phoebe is referred to as a deacon of the church in Cenchraea. While some translations use the word 'servant' instead of 'deacon' the Greek word is literally deacon. The issue that can be debated here is whether the 'Deacon' is a formal title or a general service that every believer is to give to church.
A woman named Junia was commended by Paul in Romans 16:7 as someone who was imprisoned at the same time he was, but was "outstanding among the apostles" or, some translations say, "of note among the apostles." A female apostle.
Some objections to women preaching...
There are some who are already referencing the verses that forbid women to do certain things in the church. To be Biblically true to Scripture, we must embrace all of God's Word. Let's look at them too.
1 Timothy 2 is among the most often referenced and quoted when arguing for the exclusion of women preaching or teaching in the church.
1 Timothy 2:11-15 (ESV) "Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. [12] I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. [13] For Adam was formed first, then Eve; [14] and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. [15] Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control."
It's a pretty straight forward passage that plainly says "I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet."
The problem arises when we take this one passage as definitive interpretation of all circumstances in every church at every time. If it is read and interpreted in the context of all of God's Word (as every passage of Scripture should be), then we come to what would seem to be a paradox. Sometimes the Bible highlights, encourages, and even promises the coming of the Holy Spirit for women to preach/prophesy, even giving specific examples. Other times, as in Paul's first letter to Timothy, the Bible forbids women the ability to teach/lead in the church. Because of these seemingly contradictory passages we are forced to hone our interpretive ability.
The Conclusions we must come to is as follows:
There are times when God specifically calls and works through women. There are also clearly times when God requires their silence. The issue of women preaching, prophesying, teaching, leading, etc. is not a blanket statement of every woman (or every man for that matter) allowance or restriction to preach. There are times when women are called and utilized by God to speak and lead in His church. There are other times when God requires their silence.
We must acknowledge...
1. In the Old and New Testament, the Bible gives us examples of women who prophesied, led others (including men), and did so under the leadership of the Holy Spirit (at God's calling).
2. There were some instances when women in particular circumstances were not allowed to lead or teach in that setting. Only Conjecture could come up with reasons why Paul tells Timothy to forbid it, but the fact remains, there are some circumstances where women preaching or teaching was restricted.
3. The fact remains that there are many more Biblical examples of women who prophesied and were used by God than there are restrictions. Neither the restrictions to teach or the encouragements to preach apply to every woman. Not every woman is called to preach in a the formal sense, just like not every man is called to preach. There are some men who are not called to preach. There are some women who are not called to preach. There are some women who are called to preach. There are some men who are called to preach.
4. The responsibility of the church, the body of Christ, is to identify those people, whether male or female, who have the call of God on their life. Do they have the anointing of the Holy Spirit? Do they have the gifts & ability to communicate the Gospel? Do they themselves live holy lives that are evident to all around them?
Ultimately we must conclude from Scripture that someone's gender is not, in itself, either a qualification or a disqualification for the calling of God. God continues to pour out His Spirit on men and women today just as He promised through the prophet Joel.
So ladies, if you are sensing God's call... preach! Preach always under the anointing of the Holy Spirit!
Also check out the following articles...
Why I like the Church of the Nazarene.
10 Reasons I Became a Feminist.
My Ordination Means Something.
As you read Scripture, it is clear that the frequency of women preaching, prophesying, or leading is less than that of men. There may be many factors that would influence that trend, but you cannot deny that God calls and speaks through women. The issue has never been about certain quotas of men vs women prophesying, but whether or not God does in fact speak through women in that way.
Some examples of women who ministered...
In the Old Testament there were women who served in various types of leadership positions. From Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, to Deborah who led the Israelites into battle, the Bible is clear that women were both leaders and called by God. What is worth noting about both of these women is that they were also referred to as prophetesses (see Exodus 15:20 and Judges 4:4). They were women who prophesied. They were preachers. They spoke on behalf of God. It's a bit troubling to note that they would not be allowed to fulfill their calling in some churches and denominations though it is clear in God's Word that they obeyed the leading of the Holy Spirit. Biblically God often combines positions of leadership with preaching/prophesying.
Jesus' ministry is rife with teaching, instructing, and inclusion of women. Although he does not include a woman among the twelve disciples, this is poor evidence for Jesus seeking to exclude women from a call to be His disciples. His homogeneous group of male disciples is an indication that Jesus' concern for a sense of spiritual affirmative action concerning women is non existent. The kingdom of God obviously includes all people, of all races, of every economic level and social status in the world that have acknowledged Jesus as Lord. However, it may be that our push and emphasis on the "diversity" of our clergy is more in line with culture than with Christ.
Controversial or not, God clearly used women in every facet of the early church as well. Though culturally this may not have been accepted, the early church did not regard the gender of an individual as a determining factor for the filling of the Holy Spirit and God's ability to speak through them. In Acts 1, we are specifically told that, in addition to some of the men in the upper room, women have gathered for the prayer meeting too.
Peter's sermon at Pentecost refers back to the Old Testament prophet Joel's promise that in the last days God would pour out his Holy Spirit on men and women. This outpouring/anointing of the Holy Spirit would enable men and women to prophesy/preach!
Acts 18 gives us another glimpse of a husband and wife named Aquila and Priscilla who heard Apollos preach and took him aside for further teaching. A woman and her husband were instructing another preacher.
In Acts 21:9 we are told that an evangelist named Philip has four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
In Romans 16:1, Phoebe is referred to as a deacon of the church in Cenchraea. While some translations use the word 'servant' instead of 'deacon' the Greek word is literally deacon. The issue that can be debated here is whether the 'Deacon' is a formal title or a general service that every believer is to give to church.
A woman named Junia was commended by Paul in Romans 16:7 as someone who was imprisoned at the same time he was, but was "outstanding among the apostles" or, some translations say, "of note among the apostles." A female apostle.
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| Phoebe Palmer, a teacher and preacher in the holiness movement of the 1800's. |
There are some who are already referencing the verses that forbid women to do certain things in the church. To be Biblically true to Scripture, we must embrace all of God's Word. Let's look at them too.
1 Timothy 2 is among the most often referenced and quoted when arguing for the exclusion of women preaching or teaching in the church.
1 Timothy 2:11-15 (ESV) "Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. [12] I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. [13] For Adam was formed first, then Eve; [14] and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. [15] Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control."
It's a pretty straight forward passage that plainly says "I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet."
The problem arises when we take this one passage as definitive interpretation of all circumstances in every church at every time. If it is read and interpreted in the context of all of God's Word (as every passage of Scripture should be), then we come to what would seem to be a paradox. Sometimes the Bible highlights, encourages, and even promises the coming of the Holy Spirit for women to preach/prophesy, even giving specific examples. Other times, as in Paul's first letter to Timothy, the Bible forbids women the ability to teach/lead in the church. Because of these seemingly contradictory passages we are forced to hone our interpretive ability.
The Conclusions we must come to is as follows:
There are times when God specifically calls and works through women. There are also clearly times when God requires their silence. The issue of women preaching, prophesying, teaching, leading, etc. is not a blanket statement of every woman (or every man for that matter) allowance or restriction to preach. There are times when women are called and utilized by God to speak and lead in His church. There are other times when God requires their silence.
We must acknowledge...
1. In the Old and New Testament, the Bible gives us examples of women who prophesied, led others (including men), and did so under the leadership of the Holy Spirit (at God's calling).
2. There were some instances when women in particular circumstances were not allowed to lead or teach in that setting. Only Conjecture could come up with reasons why Paul tells Timothy to forbid it, but the fact remains, there are some circumstances where women preaching or teaching was restricted.
3. The fact remains that there are many more Biblical examples of women who prophesied and were used by God than there are restrictions. Neither the restrictions to teach or the encouragements to preach apply to every woman. Not every woman is called to preach in a the formal sense, just like not every man is called to preach. There are some men who are not called to preach. There are some women who are not called to preach. There are some women who are called to preach. There are some men who are called to preach.
4. The responsibility of the church, the body of Christ, is to identify those people, whether male or female, who have the call of God on their life. Do they have the anointing of the Holy Spirit? Do they have the gifts & ability to communicate the Gospel? Do they themselves live holy lives that are evident to all around them?
Ultimately we must conclude from Scripture that someone's gender is not, in itself, either a qualification or a disqualification for the calling of God. God continues to pour out His Spirit on men and women today just as He promised through the prophet Joel.
So ladies, if you are sensing God's call... preach! Preach always under the anointing of the Holy Spirit!
Also check out the following articles...
Why I like the Church of the Nazarene.
10 Reasons I Became a Feminist.
My Ordination Means Something.
