What Say Ye FR? Should a woman be allowed to teach Scripture to men?

Herald Sun ^ | 8-21-06 | n/a

[Bob J]

In earlier news it was reported that a Baptist Sunday school teacher of 54 years was let go from her position because "My belief is that the qualifications for both men and women teaching spiritual matters in a church setting end at the church door, period," the Pastor was quoted as saying.

Apparently in a letter sent to the teacher earlier in the month they qouted from First Timothy Two, 11-14 "A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, she must be silent."

This news was posted on FR here and here.

It's an interesting topic considering the current discussions regarding Sharia law and the treatment of women in Islam. Some FReepers were shocked and others appeared to support the policy based on scripture interpretation.

What is your opinion?

[rwfromkansas]

I don't really care what they consider themselves. It is what they are.

[Accygirl]

"This is an issue of legitimate authority within the local church and frequently the pastor-teacher has the authority and responsibility to enforce."

Women were leaders in individual house churches in early Christianity. Enough control for you???


"If that authority is being usurped or discussed behind his back, then the issue is gossip and those women who don't like being corrected are merely making their situation more miserable as gossips. "

Considering that women are evil and sinful gossips, then why does the Catholic Church have three women Doctors (St. Catherine of Sienna, St. Teresa of Avila, and St Therese, the Little Flower). These ladies' writings on Catholic theology are considered to be as important as Aquinas.

"The instances you reference document that women do not have the gift of pastor-teacher, but one will have to study Greek to comprehend those meanings. If the student disobeys their pastor-teacher, then that issue has priority to resolve before furthering the discussion."

Most Biblical scholars, all of whom have studied the original Greek, would concur. Furthermore, from a historical standpoint, it would make sense that women would take an active role in organizing and leading the early Church, especially in the context of Paul's missionary travels. Women took a very active role in religion in the Hellenistic world, especially in organizing and financing private household "cults."

[Torie]

Men can steal more, in such venues, because in more fundamentalist circles, men still tend to control the money, both behind the pulpit, and in front of it.

[jerry639]

Sorry to disagree with you but in our church they do attend.

[ReformedBeckite]

Is this an overt invitation for another TULIP dogpile?

The stronger the sh**, the better the flowers grow. Don't know if dog sh** does much good though.

[MikefromOhio]

It also says that God judges us no different if we are female or male and that we are all the same in Jesus Christ our Lord and savior.

[ican'tbelieveit]

You assume a lot. I am in a fundamental church.

[Iscool]

It also says that God judges us no different if we are female or male and that we are all the same in Jesus Christ our Lord and savior.

No difference as far as salvation is concerned...

Totally different area than we are discussing...There's no way around it...No scripture to justify a woman Pastor...

[MikefromOhio]

you think...

I believe differently.

Sorry.

And I won't debate it with you. I can't and won't be impartial so anything you say will be a waste of time.

[Iscool]

And I won't debate it with you. I can't and won't be impartial so anything you say will be a waste of time.

I'm not looking for a debate...I'm pointing out what the bible says...

[MikefromOhio]

Just tell me when you stone your son for disobeying you ok?

[Tamar1973]

You're right. Most of the time, the men can't or won't fill various teaching positions in the church so they have to find a woman to do it.

Maybe we need to reverse the roles in the families, send the wife out to bring the paycheck home and let the man sit at home and take care of the kids and house that way he could study the Bible more.

What a whiney load of male BS. There are just as many women out there working in the workplace these days as men and somehow Christian women find the time to study their Bibles and lead out in teaching Sunday School/Sabbath School, etc when called upon by their church to do so.

[ASOC]

Thanks

I love these threads, hundred of replies all arguing with someone they have never met (face to face)

And I love to throw in questions like - since women sew alot, would they know how many angels can dance on the head of pin?

[Free Baptist]

It is not an argument as to whether both partook. One partook being deceived and one partook NOT being deceived; knowledgeable about what he was doing -- NOT deceived but with full intent and deliberation. Genesis 3 doesn't contradict 1 Timothy 2:14, where it plainly tells you that Adam was NOT deceived about what he was doing when he ate. Do you believe 1 Timothy 2 as you believe Genesis 3? BOTH are true.

[Free Baptist]

"That's not the kind of Baptist church I grew up in. One person one vote, for all those in Christ. Pretty much the same way that the decision for the new disciple was made in Acts.
"Well, there we never threw lots. Maybe we need to take another look at that."

I should say!

Well, you could come to the conclusion that God would have you to cast lots in local church decision making. Are you willing to accept that as a method?

There is absolutely no instruction in the New Testament to practice democracy as per what we do in the political world.

I believe that if we were to think through why we have votes in churches, we would conclude that it is the result of the world's rights and suffrage movements, and is not often Spirit led.

When the male heads of households speak, as they should, as the heads of their homes (a biblical principle -- 1 Cor. 11:3), and if those heads of households study and pray together, you can have a "spiritual REPUBLIC."

If decisions are being made in a church business meeting where the majority of people voting are women, then you have a very high probability of violating 1 Timothy 2:12 -- the women usurping the authority in the church over the men.

[ReformedBeckite]

What a whiney load of male BS.

touchy, touchy arn't we, you sound like my sister and mom quick to argue and state things as fact which arn't in did true. You also sound like something a Christian who doesn't live in the mainstream of Christianity might say, you also sound like something a city slicker might say. Ok now that I've slammed you lets get down to your statements.

There are just as many women out there working in the workplace these days as men.

There might be a lot more women out there in the work force then there was 50 years ago, but no there still is to many of them sitting at home, home schooling there kids while their man works 12 hour days and still can't pay the bills. A white collar worker might be able to cut it, but the blue collar working men are fining it harder to support the family on blue collar wages. I've seen too many legalistic women who think it's their God given duty to stay home as if it was the 11th command just after the ten commandments. For some reason I haven't found that command in my Bible. Maybe 50 years ago the women staying at home was an asset, but not anymore unless she is running a business at home, an exception. Fortunately that mentality though is slowly disappearing.

As far as women studying the Bible at home, that's Ok but I sure don't want someone like you teaching me at Church what the Bible says.

[Quix]

Thanks for your kind words. They can be in short supply on such threads! LOL.

God's best to you and yours.