Riff's Christian Journal

Is It Biblical?

In many Christian denominations they allow for the ordination of women to the position of Pastor. It is happening quite frequently. The question that must be asked, and answered Biblically, is this. Is it sound Biblical Doctrine for a woman to be a Pastor, or in any position of authority in the Church?

There is a chain of command in the world. In 1 Corinthians 11:3 we read:

But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

So, we see here that, in the world, the chain of command is God – Jesus – Man – Woman.

Having seen what the order, or chain of command, is for the World, the next place we should look is what does the Bible say about the qualifications of being a Pastor (Bishop, Overseer). Then we should look at the role of women, not only in the home but also in the Church. In all of this we seek answers from the Bible.

So, what are the qualifications of being a Pastor?

In 1 Timothy 3: 1 – 7 we read this:

This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

In Titus 1: 5 – 9 we read this:

For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you— if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

As for the role of woman, let us look at what the Bible says about this.

In 1 Corinthians 14, speaking about the order in Church meetings, in verses 34 & 35 we read:

Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.

Then in 1 Timothy 2, in talking about men and women in the Church, we read in verses 11 & 12:

Let a woman learn in silence with all submission.  And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.

Then, looking at the women’s role in the home we can read these verses.

In 1 Timothy 5:  14 we read:

I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

In Titus 2, in speaking of the qualities of a sound Church, we read about women in verses 3 – 6:

the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

Then in 1 Peter 3: 1 – 6 we read:

Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.

Now think of this. It is God who has given these commands and not man.

Basically we see that in the World, the Church and in the Home there is a chain of command. That chain is that God is first then Christ, then man, then woman.

Also, in the Church, as far as worship order goes and positions of authority, we see that man is to be in those positions of leadership. That includes being Pastors and Teachers. Women are to be silent and not be in any of those positions.

The same basically goes for the home. Yes, the woman is to manage the home but the man is the one in the position of being responsible for the household and the woman is to be submissive to him.

Now I know there are many verses where the woman worked alongside or assisted the man in teaching, evangelizing, etc. but there are no instances where the woman was the one in the postition of authority or leadership for any of this. Woman always works alongside the man and assists the work that he does. It is not where the man works alongside the woman and assists her. You won’t find that anywhere in the Bible.

So, who do you want to believe? If you believe that the Bible is the final authority then you would have to agree, from the verses that you just read, that for a woman to be in a position of leadership, a position of authority or a position of being a Pastor is not Biblical and is just plain wrong. They are in disobedience to the Word of God.

If you don’t want to believe the Bible, then where does your trust lye, in whose authority will you believe? To finish, then, is it Biblical for a woman to be a Pastor? If you believe what you just read then the answer you will have to give is an unequivocal NO!

It is not to man you must answer, but to God…