Women at Work: Culture, Context, and Issues in a Local Congregation

 

In our previous two articles, we considered the biblical evidence in favor of women in ministry. Our intent was not to avoid passages that appeared to serve as prohibitions, but to reveal the abundance of evidence of women serving as leaders, preachers, teachers, and even pastors within the earliest days of the church. With that evidence in mind, we now turn our attention to passages that, at first glance, appear to be prohibitions from women preaching, teaching, or pastoral positions or authority within the church.

There are two passages that often serve as the beginning and end of the conversation about how women should or should not function and/or serve in the church. They are 1 Timothy 2:11–12 and 1 Corinthians 14:34–35. This week, we will focus our attention on 1 Timothy. It reads:

“A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.”^[1]

If we take this verse alone, without considering the literary and cultural context, it is easy to understand how the prohibitive positions against women preaching, teaching, and leading developed. But, when we consider Paul's original audience and the issues these communities were facing at the time along with the entirety of what these letters communicate, we see these verses have different intentions and applications.

Paul begins his letter by urging Timothy to protect the church from false doctrine and those who would teach it. He writes:

“Stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies.”^[2]

It is clear that some in Ephesus were struggling to let go of what they had been taught in the past and were mixing their old beliefs with their new Christian faith. Among these, were certainly some prominent women, who often played an important role in the spread of the Christian faith in Paul's own experience. Many had likely been loyal worshipers in the cult of Artemis and others, particularly those on the higher end of the socioeconomic spectrum, had possibly served as priestesses. Compounding the issue, most women in the first century were uneducated. These women were easy targets for false teachers and were often used to perpetuate the false doctrines they were learning.

In this light, the prohibition is not against women teaching. Rather, it was meant to stop those who lacked proper understanding from speaking falsely. It surely was not that Paul was attempting to completely silence women within the church. In fact, no tradition or church we've ever heard of takes the most literal interpretation of this text and keeps all women from speaking at all in a local church service. Rather, we understand that what Paul is communicating is clearly situational and contextual. It is our opinion that Paul is not intending to completely silence women in this passage. Nor is he prohibiting any woman from ever leading or teaching in a local church. Instead, in light of the cultural realities the church in Ephesus was facing, Paul was prohibiting those who were not properly equipped and educated from speaking out of turn. Rather, Paul encouraged them to know their roles as novices, to be attentive and silent so that they might learn and be equipped to speak rightly.

We have already briefly referenced the struggles with the cult of Artemis in Ephesus, where the letter was directed. Ephesus was the home of the great temple of Artemis. It is said to have been one of the wonders of the ancient world; its ruins can still be visited today. Contrary to popular belief, Artemis was not a fertility goddess. The evidence and experts on the subject suggest Artemis was the goddess of midwifery (which shines some light on Paul's seemingly random comment about women being saved through childbearing^[3]). Ironically, only women were allowed to serve as clergy in the cult of Artemis and men were prohibited. These positions of leadership were not earned; they were purchased. When one served as a priestess, they were given the honor of adorning the idol of Artemis for worship. These women would wear all the finest garments and jewelry they could muster and would dress their goddess in like manner. This explains why Paul encourages women to:

“dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyle or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds as are appropriate for women who profess to worship God.”^[4]

As an added note, we find it interesting that those who insist women should be prohibited from pastoral leadership fail to maintain the same energy concerning women wearing braided hair, gold and pearls, or expensive clothing to church.

In this letter, Paul is attempting to correct culturally specific patterns of leadership and worship. He is not saying that women should never have authority over men. The original Greek word communicated “domineering” or “lording power over others,” not simple leadership. Paul wasn't attempting to prohibit women from leading, but to prevent them from continuing a damaging, domineering power dynamic that is inconsistent with the example of Christ and the teaching of Scripture.

One additional thought: In an earlier article, we discussed the ministry of Priscilla. Her mention in Acts 18 can help us understand Paul's message to Timothy in the Ephesian church. Paul met Priscilla and her husband Aquila in Corinth (we will return to Corinth and the passage mentioned in our next article). This trio lived, worked, and taught side by side as they traveled to Ephesus. Paul left Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus, probably because they had the pastoral and teaching skills necessary to address the challenges about which he warned Timothy. They encountered Apollos, who was described as having deep knowledge of Scripture. Unfortunately, his understanding was incomplete. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they pulled him aside and “explained to him the way of God more adequately.”^[5] Apollos wasn't intentionally spreading false teaching, but at that time he needed someone to provide further information so he could speak rightly about the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is interesting that Priscilla, a woman, took the lead in providing vital theological education to this man so he could better preach, teach, and lead in the church.

Again, if we let the biblical evidence shape our interpretation, Paul entrusted a trustworthy and well-educated woman in Ephesus to help navigate the challenges the local culture was creating within the church. He entrusted Priscilla not only to teach the believers, which included men and women, but to provide instruction to a man so that he might more properly communicate the message of Christ.

In our humble opinion, an interpretation of 1 Timothy that results in permanent gender prohibitions in church leadership misses the point. The issues being dealt with, particularly as it relates to women, were false teaching and improper practices seeping into the church from the cult of Artemis and those who were uneducated teaching false doctrine. Women teaching or leading is not the issue at all! In fact, in the broader context of 1 Timothy, Paul's desire is to make sure both men and women act in appropriate ways and expand the reach of the gospel with grace and humility together. He's not issuing a permanent prohibition but addressing a temporary issue in a particular place.

There is a wealth of evidence in support of women in ministry. With every article we write, we find there is more to be shared. We look forward to future articles and encourage you to consider our previous 2 offerings, if you haven't already!

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[1] 1 Timothy 2:11–12  ↩

[2] 1 Timothy 1:3–4  ↩

[3] 1 Timothy 2:15  ↩

[4] 1 Timothy 2:9–10  ↩

[5] Acts 18:26  ↩

Women at Work: The Example of Jesus

Mary Magdalene Proclaims the Resurrection

I am returning to this blog challenged by my long-time friend and colleague, Jeremy Myers.  These next few articles may have a different feel and flavor as I (Lee) am experimenting with a new method of co-writing.  Jeremy and I have many years of ministry experience (close to 50 between us) which has led us into many practical and theological conversations. Recently, our discussions have turned to the topic of what the Bible teaches about women in ministry. This is a topic in which our understanding has grown and developed through many years of study.

We thought it would be beneficial if we partnered together to compose a series of articles laying out a biblical perspective on this subject. The underlying question we will consider is this: What does the Bible teach about women preaching, teaching, leading, and/or serving in pastoral roles? It is our hope to speak with a shared voice as we engage this question together.

In our view, the logical place to start is with the “pioneer and perfecter of our faith,” “the Word made flesh,” and “the Truth” incarnate, Jesus Christ Himself.1 What does His example reveal about women in ministry? More specifically, what was His approach to women preaching and teaching the truth to others, including men? Rather than starting at the beginning of His life and ministry, we’re going to start at the end, with the seminal moment of the Christian faith, the resurrection.

The first person to preach the gospel of the resurrected Christ was a woman. Jesus Himself entrusted her with the message and charged her to declare the good news. Mary Magdalene, and possibly a few other female friends, hurried back and declared, preached, and taught the most important truth of Scripture… to men. John 20:17-18 tells us, “Jesus said, ‘Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: ‘I have seen the Lord!’ And she told them that He had said these things to her.”

Why did Christ not only allow but instruct Mary, a woman, to perform this task? According to some, Scripture prohibits such a thing. (A prominent seminary president recently suggested women shouldn’t even talk about the Bible on a podcast.) Christ did have other options available to Him. He could have told Mary to fetch the disciples without revealing His identity or any other details. He’d done so with others. He could have instructed her to find James, Peter, and the faster-footed John, and send them back to the tomb so that He could reveal the truth to them so that they could then preach to others. But, no! Jesus empowered this blessed woman to go, inform, and instruct Christ’s male disciples concerning what is arguably the most important truth in all of Scripture.

The reality, though, is this is not the first time Jesus pursued this course of action.  In John 4, Jesus encountered a Samaritan woman at a well. Without deep-diving the whole conversation, this meeting was counter-cultural and would have been extremely socially unacceptable.  Jesus met and spoke to this woman by Himself. That fact alone would have been seen as incredibly inappropriate. Not only was she a woman, she was a Samaritan, and one with a poor reputation in the community. Jews disliked Samaritans so much that they would go miles out of their way to avoid even stepping foot on Samaritan soil. Jesus told this woman that He was the Christ, invited her and, by extension, all Samaritans who would, to “worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth.”2 The woman went back to town and shared this revelation and invitation to meet the Messiah with all who would listen; “Come and see…. Could this be the Messiah?”3 We’re told that many people believed because of the message this precious woman preached to them.4 Again, Jesus could have prevented her from sharing or speaking, but he didn’t. Multiple times in the gospel of Mark, Jesus strictly warns people not to share the miracles Jesus had performed or the things they had witnessed.5 (In a stroke of irony, these prohibitions are usually given to men, not women.) If only men were to be entrusted with the important task of preaching, teaching, and speaking the truth, why did Jesus not only allow these women to go without warning, but instruct and empower them to do so?

Luke 10 tells the story of Mary and Martha. When Jesus arrived, Martha was busy serving and entertaining while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet to listen and learn. When Martha asked Jesus to send Mary back to the kitchen to help with the “women’s work,” Jesus told her, “Mary has chosen what is better.”6 Mary’s choice to sit and learn was affirmed by Jesus. This was likely not exclusively for her own benefit. Rather, she was likely part of the crowd of disciples Jesus intended to send into the towns with the message of the “good news” of God’s Kingdom. This is the same posture demonstrated by Mary Magdalene when she called Him “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). It wasn’t accidental that women presented the good news of Jesus to others; He had been intentionally teaching and training them for that very task.

We started at the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry, but we’d like to share one final example from the beginning, or rather before. As a baby, Jesus was presented at the temple. Scripture tells us of a prophetess named Anna. Upon meeting Jesus, she “began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.”7 This special woman had the distinct privilege of serving as a precursor to not only the Marys and the woman at the well, but to all men and women who would confess and proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ to all.

In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus issued what is often called the Great Commission. It reads, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” While these words were spoken to the eleven remaining disciples, I’ve never heard a preacher or teacher apply them exclusively to them. Nor have I ever heard them restricted on the basis of gender, age, or any other factor. Rather, they are applied equally to ALL followers of Christ. Which only makes sense when we consider that this great commission is simply building off of earlier commissions.  From His birth to His ascension, women were part of proclaiming the “good news” of Jesus.

The life and ministry of Jesus clearly demonstrated that the good news is meant for everyone. It is for Jew and Gentile (and Samaritan), men and women. He blessed, enabled, and empowered women to carry and present His message to those who needed to hear it, including His own disciples. While this may not be overwhelming evidence, it is quite compelling, and more than a little encouraging. It is also just the beginning of our exploration of what the Bible has to say about the subject. Next week, we will turn our attention to several examples of women who served in ministry throughout the New Testament.

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1 Hebrews 12:2, John 1:14, John 14:6

2 John 4:26 & John 4:23

3 John 4:29

4 John 4:39

5 Mark 1:44, 5:43

6 Luke 10:42

7 Luke 2:36-38

Talking about Bruno...

 We don’t talk about Bruno….but maybe we should.  WARNING!  This may contain spoilers so if you have not seen Disney’s Encanto, you may want to return after watching it, but if you don’t mind or have already seen the movie or have the song now stuck in your head as an ear worm, proceed.

 

Amidst family scandal in the movie Encanto, Bruno uses his gift to shine light on unfortunate happenings with his family.  When things have reached their limit to handle, he is cast away to make life easier on everyone else.  But the reality is that he never leaves.  

 

Often times this is the way we handle tough topics as the church or as families, it’s just easier for all of us if we don’t talk about them.  But the reality is that even if we don’t talk about them, they remain, and often times, can cause more trouble ignored than if they are brought into the open.  We believe that God is light and truth and through Jesus darkness flees.  We don’t have to hide from sinful topics, but can trust God to shine light to reveal the truth as we seek Him. And if sin is revealed in us or others, we can trust Him to purify us from it.  (see 1 John)

 

I have been reading recently about young people who have walked away from the church or their faith.  A Sticky Faith survey found that 70% of former youth group kids had significant questions about faith while they were in high school.  As you read this, you may resonate or you may feel ill equipped to answer those questions, but findings show that those exploring their faith don’t need answers as much as they need the space to explore their questions.  

 

I believe this is why Deuteronomy 6:6-9 urges parents to impress the foundations of faith (the law) on their children with consistency.  This isn’t always formal teaching, but discussions when you’re sitting, walking (or driving), with your mouth and with what you do.  Ask questions and invite your kids to ask questions about life and faith.  

 

Throughout Israel’s journey from slavery to the promised land, they set up pillars, or reminders that would spark questions from their kids to ask “why is this here?” What are those reminders or question starters for your family?  What space are you making for your kids to ask questions? Even if you don’t know the answer,  you can say “I don’t know… but lets explore this together, or …but I do know that God knows, or God is good, or God is faithful because…” 

 

When we don’t talk about hard things, the questions don’t go away, they just simmer and doubts brew.  But if we allow the light of God to shine on those conversations and invite them, we trust God with the outcome and ultimately with the faith and formation of our kids.  

 

What are the things you don’t talk about?  Why is that?  How can you open the door to questions your kids may want to ask, but are afraid to?  What visible reminders are you placing in your family’s path that causes them to ask about God?  Do your kids see you read your Bible or pray?  Do they hear how you process difficult situations?  Do they notice that God has made a difference in your life and have opportunity to hear about it?  My prayer is that the light of Christ shines in your family’s life and that the Bruno-like questions aren’t stashed away, because even if you don’t say them out loud, they are likely looping like a catchy song in your kids minds.

Valentines Day

 We are approaching Valentine’s Day and this seems to evoke strong feelings  across the spectrum either from those that go all out with romantic dinners, flowers, and chocolate to those who have coined it as “singles awareness day”.  Our family seems to take a more moderate stance on the day.  Growing up, I had a mentor who made a big impression on me.  Every time we met, he would say something like “Me and ______ are still dating…”  The funny thing, though, was that “_____” was his wife.  One thing this taught me was that when you are married, the fun and romance of dating doesn’t end, and regular date nights are really important to nurture a friendship and intimacy, even after you have kids or have been married for years.

 

Carmen and I have tried to carry this into our relationship, and schedule at least one date night a month, which has come to look like a movie or board game after kids are in bed, since COVID has kept us from going out or getting a babysitter.  But the other thing, is that we have found that the pressure of this one day to demonstrate our love is not isolated to a single day of the year, but shared all year long.  

 

So…..Valentines has become a fun family day for us.  We have made heart shaped pancakes or waffles for breakfast, made or bought a fun dessert (this year our local ice cream place Austin’s has ice cream pies!), and eaten heart shaped pizza while watching a new movie.  One of the things this has taught our family is that love doesn’t have to be centered around romance, but can be celebrated through the love we show family and friends.  Also, it opens the door to discuss how we show love with our kids.  

 

As I read in Exodus about the importance of keeping feasts, and their significance in remembering different aspects of God’s character, his rescue, provision, and blessing, I am reminded that our celebrations as families are times to teach and remember.  This doesn’t mean you and your spouse can’t get a sitter and have a special night out, but how do the conversations around your house about this day point to God, His love for us, and the love we demonstrate to others as a result?  How do we communicate God’s beautiful plan for marriage in a way that sets our kids up to have godly expectations and practices as they begin to date and prepare for marriage?  (even if that is well beyond what your parenting mind can imagine, the patterns we demonstrate now, set the foundation for expectations later).  As you prepare and celebrate the day, ask about love, where does it come from? How can we show love to our friends, family, and neighbors? 

 

Let each celebration be an opportunity to look toward God as we teach our kids to know God and live for Him!

2020 Favorite Things

 As 2020 comes to a close, many of us are ready to wish it good riddance, others aren’t so optimistic about 2021, but one thing is for sure.  This journey has not been without some good.  Sure there is lots to lament, but as we get to the end of this year, I think about the extra time that we have had at home with our kids.  We as a family have been able to grapple together through difficult news stories, process losses and sadness, and built new habits in the spaces where we may have been sprinting to and fro before.

 

A recurring theme has shown up this year has been joy in suffering.  As we have read the stories of scripture, we are reminded that we are not the first generation to suffer, we are not the first people to feel lonely.  In the midst of famines, wars, enslavement, bitterness, and sorrow, the Word of God repeats that God is faithful, God has not left his people, and the God who saved Israel from Egypt is the God who fulfilled His promises to Abraham and Sarah and is the same God who brought Jesus to life after the crucifixion.  We are assured that that same power that resurrected Jesus gives us life today.  It is because we are constantly reminded of the faithfulness of God to rescue and be present in the most trying of situations that we can experience that same joy today in our difficulties.  

 

Through 2020 our family enjoyed a number of tools that I’d like to offer to you:

·      Youversion Bible App- Carmen and I used “The Bible Recap” 1 year plan, and as we have journeyed through Advent with the youth and young adults we have enjoyed “BibleProject Advent Reflections”.  I have also used the verse of the day stories for a quick encouragement and devotional reading.  For teens and tweens, there are kids reading plans they can share with friends, when isolation is setting in, a great social alternative is reading scripture together.

·      Phyllis Tickle Divine Hours for regular prayer.  You can get these daily prayers for free online at annarborvineyard.org.  I have worked to translate these into more kid friendly language, send me a message if you’d like a copy.  

·      Every Moment Holy- prayer book.  Offering scripturally ground prayers for the moments you might not readily think about praying for.  I particularly liked their prayers for the first cup of coffee and for a student starting a school day.  You can get some of their prayers for free or order at www.everymomentholy.com .

·      The NLT One Year Bible.  Actual scripture with some devotional thoughts with some redactions to make it readable for a preteen.  

·      The One Year Children’s Bible is great for younger kids.  Whether you read it together or they read it themselves, this covers the whole of scripture in a format (and with pictures) that kids can grasp.

·      Finally, the D6 app you can get at www.newbaptistchurch.com/family-life gives great application to the lessons kids are learning in Sunday School each week, plus we love the discussion questions at dinner.

 

None of this is to heap guilt or a feeling of not doing enough, and we don’t use all of these things at once, just want to offer tools that we have found helpful to connect with each other and with God to find joy through this season.  These habits we build now in the lives of our children will remind them of God’s faithfulness throughout their lifetime and prayerfully will span generations.

 

Let us rejoice!  A savior has been born and through him we can experience new life, not just in 2021, but every day as we walk with Jesus.  I’m praying for you and am available anytime you have questions or even suggestions about resources you’ve found helpful to your family!

With Excellence

The past few months have been full of house remodels for our family.  I grew up in a construction family so have had a lot of opportunities to learn how to do home projects.  I have jokingly said, practicing carpentry and wearing sandals are just ways I’m trying to be more like Jesus.   

I have learned many lessons from construction.  Asking one friend how he got so good at drywall, he said the key to a good drywall finish comes from paying attention to the details in 

framing a wall.  No wonder I had to apply 42 coats of mud and sand for days, I thought “rough carpentry” was supposed to be “rough” and then you covered up the flaws with drywall.  How wrong I was.  I feel like Jesus said something about the value of a good foundation in a story about houses built on rock or sand.

 

I was working in my closet the other day finish sanding when a spot was giving me trouble.  My first thought was “it’s a closet, no one is ever going to see that.”  But then I began to think about Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”  How would I treat Jesus’ closet?  Would “good enough” do?  

 

Thinking about a work ethic, I look to God and see that when God works, it is good, majestic, and glorious.  He creates masterpieces!  I have yet to read in the Bible that God said it is “good enough.”  

 

Now I am not God, so sometimes my walls aren’t plumb and my cuts aren’t square.  But I am challenged to consider my work ethic as excellent or just good enough.  As parents, these are great stories to share with our kids.  What lessons are they learning from us and the way we work?  Are we pointing to a majestic and glorious Creator as we work or showing a way of “good enough”?  

 

Oh yeah, I painted over that flubbed spot in the closet.  I’m still on this journey of being challenged in my day to day walk with Jesus.  Thank God I’m still a work in progress that he is making good! (Philippians 1:6)  Reflecting on God's Word and applying it are tough, but each step draws us closer to what we are becoming.

Find the Waypoint

It’s time to write an August article for our church newsletter and this has normally been my time to talk about back-to-school kickoffs and such.  However, this year is not normal.  This month has been somewhat turbulent for me.  At the beginning of July, I was ready to start a new phase of meeting together, my plans were moving toward a new phase of a new normal, when we hit the brakes with an increase of COVID cases.  With this yo-yo of decisions, I feel like I have been a yo-yo of emotions. Can you relate?  With schools making plans for the Fall, the questions seem to still outweigh the answers. 

 

Our pastoral staff had a big discussion about how to deal with chaos in general. Our conversation boiled down to being faithful to what God has called us to do.  One way I think about this is a lesson I learned early as I began to hike and explore the woods.  I learned that, if I ever get lost and cannot find a familiar spot to stop, think about where I’ve come from. Look for any markers that might give me a sense of direction, and if necessary, head downhill and find water. Follow the water in the same direction until it leads to a town or road or something that helps you get home. 

I was reading Psalm 46 and the Psalmist says “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore, we will not fear though the earth gives way…”  When everything feels like or maybe is in chaos, God is present to help and protect us.  Verse 4 says “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.”  Where God is, there is the waypoint, the presence of stability and steadiness that brings us home when we are lost, that rescues us when we are in trouble.  This Psalm has a contrast of chaos and peace.  The chaos of the world and peace found in God.  One of my favorite verses is found in verse 10 “Be still and know that I am God.”  

 

What a great lesson, in the chaos, in the unknown, in feeling lost or wandering, stop…be still… find the waypoint, the thing that can give you a sense of direction, something that is steady that will rescue.  That waypoint is not a thing, but the one true God who is present.  

 

During this season, we have opportunities to hold onto the firm fortress which is our God.  We might not have exact answers for a new school year, or when we are meeting for Sunday School or kids and youth activities, but we do know one thing: God has not left us, God is here in the midst of every circumstance.  

 

How can I know this?  Well the Bible is chocked full of stories of God’s faithfulness.  Moments of lost people (or nations) being found.  Impossible situations miraculously made possible by God.  The more I read the Bible and talk about these stories with my family, the more we look for God to turn dire situations of hopelessness or loss into hope and life.  That is who God is.  When everything is crumbling, God is a still river that faithfully guides us to safety. 

 

There is a lot we miss doing during this season, but one thing cannot be taken away, and that is our ability as individuals and families to be still with God.  To read the Bible and memorize it.  To pray and watch for what God is doing in and around us and to join in that work to be a blessing wherever we are placed.  These are the areas we can be faithful in, no matter what.