women and the church

Youths oppress my people,
    women rule over them.
My people, your guides lead you astray;
    they turn you from the path.

The above is what God said to Isaiah in chapter 3.  If God has declared it then we have a choice. We can choose not to believe it, or we can choose to believe it.  In this verse we see that the people had women ruling over them and God was not pleased.

Likewise the apostle Paul said the following

Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

Note he did not confine it to the local situation that Timothy faced. Indeed he reminded Timothy of the creative order.  To put it another way, what Paul was saying is that Adam was not deceived, Eve was because women are more intuitive that men.  Feelings can and often do deceive and for that reason in the church women were not permitted to hold authority over men, nor to teach.  It is these two things we have to concentrate on. 

Today we use the term, “Leadership” It is a somewhat vague term.  In most churches the treasurer is part of the leadership.  The fabric convener (the early church did not have fabric, ie buildings) is part of the leadership and there is a whole host of other positions that the early church did not have.  They neither teach, nor have authority over men for their spiritual wellbeing.  In fact they are more like deacons.

The usual approaches to what Paul said, it to ignore it, or to confine it to Timothy’s local situation.  However Paul did not do that it was s command from God.  So where does the debate come from?  It comes from the same lie that the devil told Eve, “Did God Say”.    In this case, Did God say you were not permitted to teach men or hold authority over them in church ( note it is confined to church)  The answer is yes he did, but there are those who are deceived into believing God has called them to do just that, when it is written down that they are not.  God means what he says and one day he will judge us.  If we fight against his word then we can expect that God will not be pleased.  Today it seems to me that many women feel Called of God (even if they are in fact not) because what Paul revealed does not suit their ambition and that is what drives it.  It has nothing to do with being called by God.
Furthermore, I think the debate is fuelled by a wrong attitude to God. For many years, in order to reach out to people, the gospel was watered down and made more palatable.  Less offensive.  God was your friend.  Indeed for those of us who are saved he is our friend. However he is also holy and just and mighty and a whole host of other things including just.  How do we think he will judge those who rebel against what he has revealed and encourage others to do likewise?  He is not our buddy or pal, he is to be revered and worshipped and obeyed.