Women in the Bible

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At 08:49 AM 11/19/97 -0800, Bro Brad Young wrote:

>>I agree.  If there is no man to do the job, God can use a woman.  If
there is no woman available, He could use a donkey.  If there was no donkey
available, He could raise up stones.  God will use a woman if that is the
best option available to Him, but women and men should not be considered
equal insofar as pastoring/preaching/teaching is concerned.  If a woman is
married, she should be in subjection to her husband.  If she is unmarried,
and there is no man available to do the job, then I think that it is fine
until God raises up a man to do the job.<<

I think that's *generally* correct.  However, I don't think that
God would call a female to the ministry and then un-seat her from
her ministry when a male finally responds to the call and is obedient.

I think that at the time that the bible was being scribed, *women* 
were *property*.  And as *property* they really didn't have place or
rights to speak up in an assembly.  They were basically an *accessory*
to men.  Whether they be wives, girlfriends, concubines, etc..... they
were property and they were told to keep their silence (much like *children*
of today as they should behave during church).  

The role of women in the ministry, IMO, should be increasing.  Doesn't
a man that's been ordained and has had hands laid on him for blessings
and guidance, also have his spouse laid hands on as well to further enhance
his ministry?

Face facts.... there are people that *women* can reach with the apostolic
pentecostal oneness message that *men* will never ever ever ever reach.
Whether it's their softness, their delivery, their personality, or whatever...
it's absolutely necessary that women be ministers in the church.  If that
female is a minister and is married, that doesn't usurp the authority she
has over her husband (be he a minister or not).  He still might be *head*
over her, but she might be accountable for his salvation if she is his
pastor/minister (which I've heard of such a case just like that here in
Indy this last weekend).  I think, if anything, the garden variety male
saint that has a pastor/minister as a spouse has to be an extreemly meek
and temporate individual.  He's got to realize that it's not for him to
necessarily *pipe* up with the spiritual matters when his spouse is around.
It's not him that's necessarily on *center stage*.  It'd probably be a very
humble individual that doesn't mind to see God move through the workings
of his wife.  And that being moreso than God moving through his ministry.

Also..... where did the term *layman* come about?  Wasn't it the Roman
Catholic church (or some kind of organized religion) that elevated the
platform, raised the pulpit, put them up higher to look *down* on the
congregation?  The annointed/exhaulted ones remain on the platform, while
the laymen remained in their seats.  Doesn't scripture say *We are a 
peculiar people, a royal priesthood."  It doesn't say "We are a peculiar
people,  Men are a royal priesthood and women are lessor."

As I see it, the *minister* is no different (other than the call of God)
than you or I.  They are flesh and bone, they are a servant.  If they are
lifted up in prestige, they might as well become an idol to worship.  If
God exhaults them because they've humbled themselves and they serve, serve,
serve the saints ... that's o.k.  I think *recognition* is o.k.  But a 
*favored status* because of the position and/or title is just a little out
of whack.  My mind goes back to the ministers that have held such a status
like Swaggert and Bakker.  Don't think that oneness pentecostals don't have 
the same *favored status* aimed at their giants as well.  It happens.  And
they've probably not fallen because there's not been an investigative 
newsteam trying to uncover something.

Talking about *accountability* (to God and man), what would happen if
there was an IRS audit of the oneness apostolic church here in the states?
How many churches out there keep *books* that can verify where every penny
comes and goes?  How many just has a savings/checking account where all 
funds are dumped and spent?  What would happen if this occured?  If the
tax laws changed unfavorably for the church, and the *tithe* of the saint
has to become *reported* income (to the church/pastor) whereby it's taxed
like all other incomes, what would happen?  What if parsonages were to
become *taxable* revenue?  What if cars *given* to pastors/ministers were 
considered income and they now were considered a taxable one-time large 
*gift*?  The equivalent happens on game shows one can watch on the boob
tube.  Look at Jeopardy.  Someone can leave there with $25,000 or more with
a single win.  If they stretch it out over several times, they could probably
win $100K or more.  I think a great *cry* would be heard in the land if the
tax laws were modified to effect these changes.  I'm just saying .... 
"what if ...".  those in *elevated* status, would be under a huge burden
of debt (because of the perks and such) because they can't account for where
the money comes and goes.  And neither can their church.  There's going to
come a rude awakening someday.  Maybe this will be the very thing that 
drives the church *underground*.

Bro "sorry for the extremely un-edifying post" Tyler



--
Bro Tyler Nally <tnally@iquest.net> <tgnally@prairienet.org>

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