I just had a passionate and inspiring conversation with one of my favorite women. My friend, a passionate and inspiring woman herself, always stretches me with her compassionate and thoughtful intensity and her heart for people and ministry. When we talk, we always walk off the beaten path to the thicker parts, the important parts, because it's as if we can't even help ourselves. Two intense women on the phone will always find a way to try to solve the problems of the world!
I don't even know how we got on the subject, but we started talking about leadership and sexism in the church. We both have received callings in our lives for ministry, and we met in college where we were being equipped in these callings. Our life journeys have taken us to different places on the road, though. She is pursuing a calling of leadership in the church, and I no longer am. My friend is discouraged. She has been in many leadership roles in the church and experienced sexism so much that she feels that the church is hierarchical and views women as the lesser sex. I think many (maybe even most) people view the church like this as well, so I thought I would take just a moment to get on my little box here and share my own view with the 7 of you.
Before I do, though, I will pause for a brief moment to share how many times I misspelled the word "hierarchical": six.
Okay, moving on.
I think this issue is important and one that relies on perspective. 15 years ago, I was pursuing a career in church leadership, and for reasons I both know and don't know, I've never been fully raised up or released to be a full-time church leader (pastor, minister, etc.). My life has taken many twists and turns since then, and throughout the journey, my perspective has changed. I used to be fairly progressive and believed that women should be empowered to do anything in the church that a man could do. I don't believe that anymore. Not because women are a lesser sex but rather because women are the more honored sex.
It is clear that God has always honored and revered women because of the way He treats them. He has always given them an honored place in history; it is humankind that has been guilty of sexism, not God. The Bible is full of examples of incredible women who furthered God's work on earth because He raised them up to do so. (Great examples: Deborah, Esther, Abigail, Lydia and my favorite, freaking Rahab.) In fact, when Jesus was raised from the dead, the first witnesses of the gospel were not men but
women. He entrusted His good news to women first and required that the gospel be spread by a man listening to a woman. This happened within a culture that would not allow women to testify in court because a woman's testimony was "not reliable!" The gospel and the church transcends and transforms culture! Here, it makes women so important in the church that the good news was given to them
first and the ministry of sharing it with the world was given to them
first.
The good news spread because of women. So God does not keep women out of the work of the church; He was the one to raise them up in the church in the first place.
But full time church leadership is extremely stressful. I'm talking about eldership that guides, directs, teaches, and disciplines. The inner as well as outer demands on the person in this position are absolutely enormous. It breaks the back of the soul. God requires a sacrifice from His servant leaders that is so taxing and difficult, and frankly, it's one of the hardest and most thankless jobs on earth. (Only one other job compares with it in my mind, and that's parenthood.) I think that God loves women so much that He doesn't want us to have to do put up with the crap that pastors have to put up with. The attacks from the evil one, from church members, from the world ... God loves women so much that He wants to protect us from that. He gives the grunt work to the guys.
I don't believe this is sexist at all but actually rather beautiful. I think we see a type of this in the way that God made us in our romantic inclinations. "When a man loves a woman, she can do no wrong ..." and all that. Okay, so the song wasn't written by St. Paul or anything, but the truth is, a man works very hard to love his woman and when the love is true, all the sacrifices he makes are for her. A true man never works for his own gain but rather for the gain of those he loves. In this lies his true strength and power.
If our full time pastors and elders truly looked at themselves as servants, then the act of serving is an act of loving and honoring. Everything they do is for the glory of God and the gain of others. If men, who are called to be the head of their home as Christ is the head of the church, are to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave His life for her, then it is logical to conclude that these same men - married or not - should give their lives in leadership of the church for all. And God says, "Ladies, I love you so much that you are off the hook for this one. Let the guys sweat it out." It doesn't make me think that God loves girls less; it makes me wonder if God loves girls
more.
Now for the disclaimers. Yes, I think that women can and should be ministers in the church. The first ministers of the gospel, again, were the women at the tomb, and so they are our examples. I know of many women who have staff positions at churches who teach, lead and manage ministries. Being an elder or pastor is a different role, though. No, I do not believe that a conservative view of women in church leadership automatically means I believe that women should not be allowed to speak in church or that they should cover their heads. Context, people. Babies and bathwater.
So, there you have it. I do apologize for the lack of Scripture references; I admit that I'm lazy. I'm just thinking off the top of my head here.
