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wild (but not uncultivated) musings of a Canadian unschool momHome | Archives | contact Prophets, Women Pastors, and Biblical Living5:11 PM - Dec. 14, 2007 - Add to the Wildness
Somebody asked me what biblical tests I was referring to when I purposely got snarky about women pastors and people who call themselves prophets in my 8 Obscurities Tag. Please note: I am highly curmudgeonly today due to an ill-advised overindulgence in corrupt used-car salesmen yesterday. Therefore, I both bark and bite until further notice, none of which should be taken seriously. Here's the long answer to the question. (NB: When I say "etc.," that means, get out your concordance and find the other references for yourself. It'll do your heart good.) Well, biblical test #1 is: are you letting Scripture interpret Scripture, or using personal experience to interpret Scripture? If we look at the idea of prophecy as that which is "God-breathed" (the Greek of 2 Tim 3:16, translated "inspired"), then all the Scriptures are things spoken and/or written down by God's prophets. I love it--it's like saying God whispered in their ear, not just laid a creative-writing mood on 'em. Peter tells us how to ground our understanding of Scripture: 2 Peter 1:20-21 (NASB) But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. It applies particularly to future things, and generally to all the words of God. We do need to test ourselves as to whether we're taking Scripture in its own context or in ours. Women pastors--the direct instruction is: 1 Tim. 2:12 (NASB) But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. People like to argue that it's Paul's personal interpretation, rather than a divine directive, because of the words, "I do not allow." That doesn't change the fact that it's written within the canon of "God-breathed," inspired Scripture. So it comes down to whether your walk of faith is based on letting the Bible define your life's context, or whether you prefer to let your experiences, emotions and preferences moderate and interpret the plain words of Scripture. I do that way too often. It always gets me into trouble. Hence my 8th comment bemoaning the lack of obedience in my life. Also, to allow women as heads of the church breaks the symbolism of gender and violates the direct instructions of 1 Timothy for church officers. We know that: Galatians 3:28 (NASB) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Nevertheless, we're given specific and different roles, though not different levels of importance in God's eyes. Eph. 5:22-33, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus and 1 Corinthians form the bulk of this teaching, with other supporting references elsewhere. Ephesians explains the huge significance of these roles, starting with a foundational discussion in Ch. 1, actually. These roles are designed as a picture to non-believers of Christ's relationship with individual believers (marriage roles) and with the assembly of believers (church roles). It's all about relationship, not rules or status. I think that's what people tend to miss. Done wholeheartedly, and without legalism, these things should create a powerful testimony and an "outreach on autopilot" to our communities. Seriously, within the bounds of Christian humility, respect and love, maintaining gender roles is not a hard thing to do. God's yoke is easy, and His burden is light. He doesn't make the Christian life complicated. We do. As far as prophets, which was actually what I had primarily in mind, God gave specific instructions in the Bible for how people can tell a true prophet from a false prophet. Deut. 18:21-22 (NASB) "And you may say in your heart, 'How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?' When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him." Jeremiah 28:9 (NASB) "The prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then that prophet will be known as one whom the Lord has truly sent." 2 John 1:9-11 (NASB) Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds. ETC. ;~) Perhaps the most frightening warning to those who put a lot of stock in their experiences of dreams or altered states of consciousness is Jer. 23, starting in verse 25, and just keep reading. God is not just our big buddy who tells us cool secrets and makes us feel special. He's holy and all-powerful, and we don't even breathe without His sustaining. (Job 12:10, Rom. 5:18, etc.) I am a transgressor of God's purity, and I was totally hostile to Him at one point in my life. My lungs still work. That is love. We can put that together in a whole-Bible context with Titus 1:2 ("...God, who cannot lie...") and other passages (Ps. 12:6, Ps. 19:7, 2 Tim 2:13, etc.) which talk about the absolute truthfulness and faithfulness of God. Many Old Testament prophets described things which didn't happen in their lifetime, but they also described many things which did come true in very specific detail. This demonstrated their God-given credentials regarding even things which are still future even to us. Which brings us back to personal experience: Scripture interprets Scripture, and Scripture interprets our personal experiences, so that we can know the path God has for us personally. 2 Peter 1:3 (NASB) seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 2 Tim. 3:16-17 (NASB) All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. Psalm 119:105 (NASB) Thy word is a lamp to my feet, And a light to my path. John 3:21 (NASB) "But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God." 1 Thess. 5:19-22 (NASB) Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil. Acts 17:11 (NASB) Now these [Bereans] were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so. James 1:17 (NASB) Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow. So, to flip back to the other aspect again: If a woman says she "feels called" to the pastorate, there are two options. Either the feeling is from the Lord and lends light to our understanding of the "light to our path," breathed out by the Father of lights with whom there is no shifting shadow (ooh, yeah, let's talk about that nice term "grey areas"); or, the woman comes to the light of Scripture to "make certain of His calling and choosing you" (2 Pet 1:10). The Bible's directives interpret the feeling of calling and guide the woman until she finds the field of calling which does not contradict God's Word. Would I be a pastor if not for these verses? Yeah, I'd have thought about it. Turns out, though, my actual calling is the intensive, INTENSIVE spiritual discipling of four younglings within my own home. They are meant for something. What that is, is none of my business. It's His. My job is swordmastery instructor to these four children of the High King. When that's done, I'll see what He has for me next. It's an adventure, and I love it. This is my specific, unique relationship with Jesus Christ--based on what He says to me, not just my feelings, dreams or perceptions. Imagine being so absorbed in God's Word that it fills your sleeping thoughts as well as your waking ones: Psalm 16:7 (NASB) I will bless the Lord who has counseled me; Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. Psalm 139:17-18 (NASB) How precious also are Thy thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with Thee. That's what I want. Long answer, but I hope it gives you lotsa food for thought. Discussing it should be fun and joy-filled. It's totally cool stuff, and I firmly believe God loves for us to get to know Him better as He answers our questions. Lucky for this skeptical curmudgeon. Jeremiah 33:3 (NASB) 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.' James 1:5 (NASB) But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. Psalm 119:130 (NASB) The unfolding of Thy words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. ---------- © Copyright 2005, 2006, 2007 Lazy Creek Online. This blog content is not authorized for reproduction outside of the HomeschoolBlogger.com hosting site and Lazy Creek websites. Violations may be reported to Cathi-Lyn Dyck at: www.Lazycreek.net
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