What should men be doing and........

Thanks for your comments.
You have a different view than many SBC pastors in OK several years ago.
Anne Graham Lotz spoke at a conference. Most listened to her, but a number either turned their chairs around or walked out.
Stated reason was because she was a woman and had no business preaching.

Karen

 

I agree, although i personally prefer men teaching mixed adult bible studies. I myself teach junior high kids, i also counsel couples and women but never single men or husbands alone.

 

What should be done?? Or what IS done??

What should be done is---defy church bylaws and simply NOT fill the position--if there are no scripturally qualified men. I'd rather not fill the position---call it a "phantom"(ghost) position--than to fill it with someone who is not filled with the Holy Ghost---that---my dear ladies is possibly the most dangerous, idiotic, rebellious thing that a church can do!!

But churches do it all the time---pity!!

 

Karen, I'm just curious. Did these men not know that Lotz would be at this conference? It seems to me that they should have not gone to the conference if they did and felt this way. I don't have a problem with the ones excusing themselves, but the ones that turned their chairs around were just rude IMHO.

I also feel there is a fine line between teaching and preaching at times. I rarely feel what my pastor does is preaching. He is a magnificent teacher.

Bitsy

 

This seems to be pretty much the crux of the issue. Fill the postition regardless. I do think it's wrong. I also think that when we get just anyone to fill the position because they are willing, able, capable (or we've just overworked them so much they no longer have the strength to say no) that we have denied the one who should be in the job with several things: struggle, conviction, committment, and later satisfaction and fulfullment.

 

Thanks Karen.

 

hmmm, awaiting Tiny's answer. The Bible is clear that there were women deaconnesses. I think some would rather just rip that part of the Bible out, though. Dont fit our mold.

 

I think we often confuse the terms of preaching, teaching, and testifying. And a pulipt has nothing to do with these different areas.

Now when I choose a Church I choose it based on my standards as I understand the Bible and Holy Spirit direct me, and I don't care what the other "Baptist" churches or local Calvary Chapel (or whatever) are doing in their pulpit. I'm concerned with keeping my spirit broken (because I tend to get prideful and self-righteous) and serve God in the best capacity I can. But I do have an opnion on this subject.

I'm a hardcore IFB (weird to use an acronym) but I've been at churches that had women stand in the pulipt to share their mission work, their testimony, sing a special, but never to stand in the place as a Pastor to lead the flock. I do believe this is reserved for a man..."a God choosen, God following man." We have Ladies Retreats that are with Ladies only and Ladies bring the devotional and call it "preaching." But this is different than preaching from a pulpit at Church during a Church service.

As far as service goes, we have tried to encourage our couples to serve together in everything from Nursery, to Sunday School, to Visitation. We try not to break up the couple unless the need requires them to teach seperate classes and God has given them the desire to approach the Pastor to fill a need in the ministry. My wife and I teach youth in our Church and while I do most of the teaching, I have sat under the teaching of my wife (and other women throughout my adult Christian life) and have made my wife a part of the process because she is always involved in my counselling and sometimes has to teach sensitive subjects when we divide the class for teachings aimed at young men or women.

Those that are sensitive about this issue of women pastors or women preaching...need to get themselves out of the way and let God adjust our attitudes. For those defensive of the Pastorship, need to realize that many times that God has used (and allowed) women to hold a position of authority due to the lack of men stepping up into the roles and that God will protect or punish those who use his pulpit improperly (I'm reminded of the hand writing on the wall because they misused the Temple's utensils). But either way you find yourself you should be listening to God's leading and should be striving to win souls for him instead of letting the devil distract us with all this fluff and disagreements because we are pretty stuck on our opinions and so those who are truly affected are either Babes in Christ or unsaved who are turned from God due to this squabbling.

God Bless!
~~Martin

 

Blackbird,(gasp), certainly you don't mean that women aren't fill with the Holy Spirit? Or are you just implying that a woman who might seek the office of deacon or preacher(not pastor) is in rebellion and has lost that indwelling? But can a person lose the Holy Ghost just because of the sin of rebellion?

On another note, would you follow this route even to the death of the church? </font>[/QUOTE]Failure to fill a certain position does not spell the death of the church----filling positions with those unqualified does!!!

 

amen, blackbird!

 

The church I am currently at has deaconesses.. but it is not an "ordained" office.. they attend women's needs that men would have a difficulty doing.. They help the female baptism candidates get ready for baptism, they counsel younger women, they prepare the communion sets, When someone dies, they handle the flowers, food, etc. It is a serving position.

I see no cantradiction here.. by 2 offices, I meant 2 ordained offices.