They Like Jesus but Not the Church Study 4: "Is the church Male-Dominated, Does it Oppress Women"
Here are the scripture notes and two primary views for your study: Please comment back with your conclusion(s) (partial or complete).
Two Primary Views: (remember that there are various degrees to both views)
Complementarian: The viewpoint that women can serve in many ways in the church, but that leadership roles, such as elder, minister or primary teacher, are restricted to men.
Egalitarian: The viewpoint that women can serve in any leadership role of the church including minister, primary teacher or elder.
Scriptures:
1 Timothy 2:11
I Corinthians 14:34
In conjunction to the above two, what do you do with:
Miriam (Exodus 15:20; Micah 6:4)
Deborah (Judges 4:4-7)
Philip's four daughters (Acts 21:8-9)
Females praying and prophesying (1 Corinthians 11:5)
Mary (mother of Jesus) and other women (Acts 1:14)
Phoebe, the servant/deaconess (Romans 16:1)
Priscilla (Acts 18:24-26)
Mary, mother of John (Acts 12:12)
Lydia (Acts 16:14-15)
Labors equally together in the work (Romans 16:12; Philippians 4:2-3)
Junia (Romans 16:8)
Acts 2:17
Galatians 3:26-4:7
Also do some study of the New Testament word "prophesy"
A few places to look on the web for help:
www.biblegateway.com
www.bible.org
www.biblestudytools.net
http://www.ccel.org/wwsb/
Remember the Goal: Can you intelligently, articulately, loving express or explain your view to someone who may not be where you are at the present time?
At the end of the day God is still God, and He is good!
1 comment:
Well I would say that Phoebe is probably the most interesting to do the word study since diakonos refers to three different words in the english language - to serve (servant), deacon, minister. The confusion is how these words were misused throughout history and eventually become the norm...(we seem to do a lot of that). I came across this excerpt from Jack Lane:
This is one example of "church speak," a pseudo-language and a form of mind conditioning used by the clergy and thought-molders of many churches, cults and organizations. A word (such as "minister") would be used often, but every time the word is used it is assigned a meaning other than its normal meaning. Constant repetition solidifies the altered meaning into people's minds. Over the years, the church members would hear the word hundreds of times, and would accept that word with its altered meaning, instead of understanding the word with its original meaning. People would always associate the "official" definition of the group leader whenever they hear the word. (Charges of brainwashing in various churches and cults have arisen because of this widespread practice.)
The fact of the matter is, the word "minister" has never meant "the man in charge." It means "one who serves." In British Commonwealth countries, the heads of various bureaus and departments are called ministers (Minister of Finance, etc.), not because they are in charge of those departments, but because they serve the Crown in that capacity.
1 Tim 2:11 is the exact same issue where subjection, obedience and submit are of the same greek word Hupotasso(v) and hupotage(n).
So in answer to the question...
If someone visitng the church asked me why women do not participate in the worship service, I would say, our elders are the shepherds of this family and even though I believe otherwise about women's roles in worship and other church activities, I have chosen to obey their guidance in my respect to God. I always have the option of leaving if I felt I wasn't able to serve God as He wills.
Maybe someday ... In Christ's Love jeanette
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