Women in the evangelical churches...?

Question

I feel as though the evangelical church movement (for the most part, but not all) has been unfair to women and has taken the Bible out of context concerning their place and treatment in society.

I would like to know how women feel about this, are you in agreement or do you feel as though you have been treated fairly.

Excellent answer Searcher, but I am curious do you feel like much of that same bias towards not allowing women to be ministers or speak in church still happens today?

And if so, how has it affected you?

Answer 1

I grew up in an evangelical church, and much of my beliefs are based upon their Biblical beliefs. Churches like the Assemblies of God, maintain a strong Bible basis, but also are open to women ministers. They believe that if a woman is truly called by God to be in ministry, that woman should follow that calling. The reason is that, each person is given different gifts, and if God gives the woman the gift of preaching, it's her duty to follow the Holy Spirit's leading.

When you look at the verses about let the women maintain silence in the churches, it was based on something that is not easily understood in our day and age. This is what I was taught about this scripture passage. Back in those days, women and children sat on one side of the church and men on the other - they didn't sit with their husbands. So, could you imagine the chaos that rose up based on the fact that a woman hollered over the wall to their husband with a question? Any preacher, or speaker for that manner would be disturbed. Women also were not educated in those days. Women did not go to school and could not read. If a woman in those days was not educated, how could they teach the men? It was very unfair treatment of women by our modern day American standards.

Answer 2

For every office of ministry within the Church, God chooses both men and women (Galatians 3:28). Both female and male believers in Christ are kings and priests unto God (Revelation 1:6, 5:10). Before, under the Old Covenant, God chose only men to act as kings and priests, however this doesn’t mean men are closer to God or better than women. The role of priest was given to men just as the role of mother was given to women.

In 1 Timothy 2:12, the author said that he (not God) forbade women to teach men. In the Bible we see that God called many women to be leaders and teachers of men, women and children: Deborah was a military leader, prophetess and judge, Huldah and Isaiah’s wife were prophetesses, Junia was an Apostle, Priscilla, Nympha and Lydia were Pastors, Euodia and Syntyche were involved in evangelism, Philipp’s four daughter were prophetesses, Phoebe was a Church Leader and Evangelist and Mary, Martha, Joanna, Mary Magdalene, Susanna, and “many others” were disciples of Christ.

In the Church, God calls many Christian women to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors (or “shepherds”) and teachers of men, women and children.

1 Timothy 3:2 says that an elder or overseer must be the husband of one wife. This means that elders are limited to having no more than one spouse. It is not saying that all elders must be men or that all elders must marry.

1 Corinthians 14:34-35 does not forbid women from public speaking in the Church. It’s an instruction to not interrupt the preacher while he or she is preaching during the service. If a woman or man missed or didn’t understand something in a sermon, they should wait until the end of the sermon to ask their spouse or a fellow brother or sister in Christ or do their own study. The main lesson is to not interrupt the service.

Adam was created before Eve but he was not superior to Eve in any way. Eve was deceived (1 Timothy 2:14), they both sinned and Romans 5:12 says that it was through Adam that sin entered the world.

The husband is given by God the role and responsibility of being the head of the home (1 Corinthians 11:3). This means he is required to provide (necessities and protection) for his family (1 Timothy 5:8) and has to see to it that everything in the home is running smoothly. The wife is given the ability to bear children and she has the responsibility of helping her husband take care of the home. Husbands are not to be dictators over their wives and wives are not to be subservient to their husbands. The husband isn’t responsible for speaking on behalf of the wife or teaching her anything but both parents are required to love, teach and bring up their children in the discipline of the Lord (Proverbs 22:6, 29:15-17; Titus 2:4; Ephesians 6:4).

1 Corinthians 11:4-16 speaks of women covering their heads but this was a cultural issue not a Christian one.

Ephesians 5:22 instructs wives to submit to their husbands, however, the verse before says that ALL Christians (both male and female) should equally submit themselves to one another:

Ephesians 5:21
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Both husband and wife must respectfully submit to each other. Neither is to be a dictator over the other.

Husbands are to love their wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it (Ephesians 5:25). If the husband isn’t loving and righteous, the wife should not submit to him because as Christians, we are to obey God and not men.

In Matthew 19:4-6, Jesus described holy matrimony and although this is good, it’s not for everyone. The Lord Jesus Christ said some remain single to dedicate their whole lives to God (Matthew 19:12). The Apostle Paul said it’s good to be single and living for God (1 Corinthians 7:27, 8, 32-35) and to desire to remain single and serve God is a gift of God (1 Corinthians 7:7).

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The truth about Jesus Christ can be found only in the Holy Bible. Three days after the Lord Jesus Christ died for
our sins, He resurrected from the dead (Luke 24:1-8; Acts 10:40; 1 Corinthians 15:4) and 40 days later, He ascended into Heaven (Acts 1:3; Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:9-11).

Without God, the spiritual part of the human being is dead (Ephesians 2:5, Colossians 2:13). The sin of our first parents (Adam and Eve) caused the separation between God and man. Romans 6:23 says the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Sin causes us to be separated from God which results in spiritual death. Christ, the 2nd Person of the Triune Godhead was made flesh (through the immaculate conception) and paid the price for our sins by dying on the cross so we could through faith in Christ as our Saviour be instantly redeemed and united to God and have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit who teaches us, comforts us and grants us fruits to live in righteousness and gifts to help and edify the Church. There is no redemption or unity to God apart from receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as one’s Saviour and Lord.

REDEMPTION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH

Because mankind is incapable of meeting God’s standard of perfection necessary to abide in God’s presence (Romans 3:19-20,23), God sent His Son Jesus Christ to pay the total debt for the believer’s sins and mercifully credits to his account Christ’s righteousness (Romans 3:21-28,5:1-11; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21). Jesus’ gracious act of atonement was complete and covers all sin (Colossians 2:13-14; 1 John 1:9). Salvation is not based on good deeds but according to the mercy of God (Titus 3:4-5). Believers are justified by faith; it is a gift by God’s grace (Romans 4:3-8; Ephesians 2:8-9). A true, living faith will result in a desire to live a holy, loving life of good works (Ephesians 2:10; Galatians 5:6; James 2:14-26), but failure to be absolutely successful at righteous living does not negate the believer’s justified status.

If you sincerely say this prayer, your sins will be washed away, you will be redeemed to God, be saved from eternal torment and inherit the Kingdom of God:

"Dear Jesus, I am a sinner. I repent of my sins. Please forgive me and save me by your shed blood. Come into my heart. I want to receive you as my own personal Lord and Savior. Amen"

https://victoryinjesuschrist.wordpress.com/