Posted on 03/10/2023 5:11:53 AM PST by metmom
Leading in church can often feel like a partner sport, like tennis or fencing, especially if you’re a woman. It can be easy to get discouraged if you’re a single woman and the only available position for you in church seems to be childcare, but that’s not an area you feel skilled in or called.
It’s worth looking at two of the single ladies in the Bible and how God used them. Most people have at least heard of Miriam, Moses and Aaron’s sister. She aided in Moses being rescued from infanticide shortly after he was born, and she later became a leader among the Israelites. After the entire nation escaped Egypt and crossed the Red Sea, we’re told, “Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing” (Exodus 15:20, ESV).
That may seem unimpressive, but please recall that the Bible says the number of men was over 600,000 (see Numbers 1:17-46). With women and children, the population was probably close to two million people. This was an epic worship service Miriam was leading!
Fast forward hundreds of years, and we’re introduced to another prophetess: the widow Anna. She was waiting in the Temple for the Messiah to come, and she was one of the first to recognize Jesus for who he truly was. “She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:37-38). In many ways, Jesus’ ministry on earth was publicly announced first by angels and then by a woman.
Years later, Paul would write strong praise of another single woman who was an enormous help to the early church. “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well” (Romans 16:1-2, ESV).
Please know that God wants to use your time, gifts and presence to bless the church. Being single or widowed will never mean your talents can’t be used to edify the body of Christ!
The Return ping
I’m guessing now wouldn’t be a good time to ask for a sammich.
Why do you not mention that God rebuked her, do to her pride God gave her leprosy and only Moses prayer saved her after she was sent out of the camp.
Interesting that the super-mouthy and pushy “church ladies” are the most destructive to a ministry. (Just an observation after decades of living deep in the church culture.) Also, some of the most effective prayer warriors and behind-the-scenes, humble members are women.
I didn’t write it.
Ask the author.
You’re right.
I also found retired ministers in a church can be very distructive. My former church, UCC, had six of them.
We left for a variety of reasons but six retired ministers and one minister was a bit to much. It was like having seven bosses at the same time.
bkmk
True - but none of these women led worship - and certainly none of them were priests. The Bible says in Genesis 3: “Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” In other words, you will desire to be your husband, but he must rule over you.
Paul agrees in his letter to Timothy (1 Timothy 2: 12-15): “A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.”
Paul was preventing us form believing this was just a teaching based upon local customs by going back to “the beginning” for his prof text.
The church is being ill served by putting women in positions which are not permitted by the word of God.
The church is being ill served by putting women in positions
which are not permitted by the word of God.
************
That could said of many other sectors of society. And imo
it isn’t limited to just women as men are deceitful also.
I agree.
We steer clear of churches which have women pastors.
Agreed.
Thank you.
“I also found retired ministers in a church can be very distructive.”
When Dad retired from the ministry, he and Mom chose to live in the town where they grew up, and attend the church of their youth. Before settling in to the church, he had a long talk with the current pastor, and volunteered to attend a different church if it would be easier. New Pastor wanted them to stay, so they did.
It worked out well. Dad never stuck his nose in, but was happy to “fill the pulpit” for New Pastor during vacations, illness, etc.
That sounds like a perfect relationship between the current pastor and a retired pastor. Your point is well taken about “sticking one’s nose in where it is not wanted.”
Our retired pastors tried to run the show.
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