Women Preachers

by Micky Galloway

On November 30, 2014, Lauren King was introduced as an “intern minister” at the Fourth Avenue Church Of Christ in Franklin, TN. See the link [https://vimeo.com/114312987] for a thorough review by Greg Gwin. Perhaps you would be interested in visiting the Fourth Avenue Church of Christ website for an update on their current activities [https://www.fourthavenue.church/]. It has long been argued that, “We need a changing religion to keep up with a changing world.” Some say, “The Bible cannot meet the needs of modern man. It is archaic and outdated. We need a new approach to solve the problems of a scientific age.” Still others say, “The Bible is old-fashioned and steeped in backward, prejudicial ethics. The moral hang-ups and inhibitions of a 2000+ year old book cannot provide the moral standard for a progressive society.” When we disregard Biblical teachings on one subject why not all subjects? The Scriptures teach, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12). I’m not sure we understand just how far this can go, but there is evidence of it on the Fourth Avenue website.

Miss King, who was a student at David Lipscomb University, said that the Lord, “made it clear through a lot of discernment and through a lot of prayer that I was supposed to pick up a preaching emphasis …” You might wonder how the Lord “made it clear” to her. She went on to say, “A lot of the ways that I’ve been perceiving the Lord’s voice is through having peace when I walk through open doors. If I have an unpeaceful heart, then that’s not really where I’m supposed to be, but if I’m in a place where I have peace about where I am going, then that’s the Lord telling me, ‘Yes.’” (Now you know. mg)

This issue is greater than women preachers. The issue again is respect for divine authority; respect for God’s word. HOW does the Lord speak? Does He guide us by a peaceful feeling? Is it different for different folks? Does He tell you something He has not told the rest of us? Does He tell you something that conflicts with what He has already said upon the pages of sacred Scripture?

Consider how God spoke in the past. (1) God led Noah to build an ark wherein he and his family were saved from the flood (Hebrews 11:7). God “said unto Noah … Make thee an ark of gopher wood … and this is the fashion which thou shalt make it” (Genesis 6:13-16). The text continues, “And Noah did according to all that the Lord commanded him” (7:5). How did God lead Noah to build the ark? He spoke to him in a language Noah understood, giving detailed instructions, and Noah followed (did) all that God commanded. (2) God led Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldees, but how? Abraham received instructions from God and his faith resulted in obedience (Hebrews 11:8-9; Romans 10:17; Genesis 12:1-4). God led Abraham by speaking to him and Abraham obeyed. (3) God also led Israel out of Egyptian bondage, and through the wilderness (Deuteronomy 8:14-15; 29:4-5). In doing this He used the instrumentality of Moses and Aaron. “Thou leddest thy people like a flock, by the hand of Moses and Aaron” (Psalms 77:20). God confirmed His leadership and His appointed agents by many miracles. God led Israel by choosing and equipping Moses who spoke God’s will to the people and they obeyed. (4) Consider also, that Christ made disciples by teaching them. He commanded and they obeyed (John 1:43; John 6:44-45). Jesus led people by speaking truth to them and they followed him. This is the same way that God led Abraham and Israel in their day.

God speaks to us through His word. Those who believe the Bible is inspired of God recognize the teaching of the Bible is God’s word for all of us. What the Scriptures say about women’s role must be taken just as seriously as what the Scriptures teach about redemption. Granted, many women are more intelligent than men. Also, many are more devoted to the Lord than many of the men. We are not concluding that women are inferior to men! This subject is NOT about the value or equality of women, but it is about different roles.

What do the Scriptures teach? Certainly, Peter quoted the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy, “And it shall be in the last days, saith God, I will pour forth of my Spirit upon all flesh: And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams: Yea and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days Will I pour forth of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy” (Acts 2:17-18). Men and women were involved. We know that the daughters of Philip were prophetesses (Acts 21:9). We also know that women prophesied because rules were given as to how they were to dress when prophesying (I Corinthians 11:5).

We err when we assume that all prophets (even women) did their work publicly in the assembly of the church. Some prophecies were delivered privately. Agabus (a prophet), delivered a message to Paul directly (Acts 21:10-11). Paul limited the number of prophecies that could be given in one assembly. If a congregation had many prophets, only two or three could speak in any given assembly (I Corinthians 14:29). Prophets therefore exercised control of when they prophesied, “For ye all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted; and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets; for God is not (a God) of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints” (I Corinthians 14:31-33). In this context of the church assembled, Paul said, “let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law. And if they would learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church. What? was it from you that the word of God went forth? or came it unto you alone? If any man thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are the commandment of the Lord” (I Corinthians 14:34-37). The source of Paul’s information was the commandment of the Lord!

This was not time sensitive or applicable only to certain cultures. In the previous verse Paul said these same things were taught, “in all the churches of the saints” (I Corinthians14:33; cf. I Corinthians 4:17; 7:17). Paul wrote the same thing to Timothy as he preached in Ephesus, “And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence” (NKJV I Timothy 2:12).

What we feel does not constitute divine authority! Miss King suggests that she had “been perceiving the Lord’s voice … through having peace.” We cannot supplant what God has said in the Scriptures with subjective feelings! Paul was at peace when he held the garments of those who stoned Stephen. “And I said, Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: and when the blood of Stephen thy witness was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting, and keeping the garments of them that slew him” (Acts 22:19-20; cf. Acts 8:1). Yes, he was at peace while “breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1). To King Agrippa he said, “I verily thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And this I also did in Jerusalem: and I both shut up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, and when they were put to death I gave my vote against them. And punishing them oftentimes in all the synagogues, I strove to make them blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto foreign cities” (Acts 26:9-11).

Miss King did admit that, “… in the beginning all this would have been really uncomfortable …” Perhaps, it was because she was guided by feelings more than what the Bible says. There is no divine authority for women preachers.