Written by Cherise Merten

It used to be that whenever I was in Hamilton, I would visit a charismatic church. I liked it there. The music felt great and it was noisy. There were also some really nice people with whom I hung out and I often visited their cell groups.

Although these cell groups would study books and comment on them, they also encouraged me to read my Bible, which I did. Suddenly, God's Holy Spirit was doing "a number" on me as I was reading. And also suddenly, I felt a little, no, very uncomfortable at the services.

I was reading the Pastoral Epistles and this is what I discovered:
(1 Timothy 2:8-13)
8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
I had always heard in this church that this referred to everybody as often "men" meant both men and women, but here it was addressed to MEN. Their hands were lifted in total surrender to God!

9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. "In like manner," according to the sense of this passage of Scripture, would mean in the same spirit of humility. Godly women were to be modest and allow their beauty to be from their godliness. "Wow," I said, "that ought to be ME." But what I saw around me was not humility; it was immodesty, flashiness, and ... pride. This sense of pride came from the illusion that their "brand" of Christianity was superior to others, as was stated repeatedly from the pulpit!
But before I go to the next verse, I need to point out something else I discovered:

1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (1Timothy 3:1-7)
I looked up the word, "bishop." It was the same word in Greek as elder and as ... pastor. The pastor is to be an under shepherd to Jesus Christ and he is to be a man.

But this church had some women who were pastors. In verse 2 of chapter 3, it states that he was to be the "husband of one wife." There's no getting around it. The Bible does not allow for a woman who is a pastor in the church. Was it because there aren't any good female preachers? No, not at all. the rest of the verses cover it:

11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

Men were created first, so they were ordained to have responsibility over women (and other men). To teach women the ways of the bible. If a woman wants to teach why not teach over other ladies, but NOT men in the church. Please note that this did not refer to ordinary men/women interactions, but only referred to the roles of women in the church and spiritual authority..... Verse 11 sounds demeaning, but it really isn't; we, as women, learn much more when we are silent, and besides, we have two ears but only one mouth. Most men I know have bigger mouths than women, especially my Dad! LOL!

To play this out further I found this cross reference, and at first, I thought this was too harsh:

(1 Corinthians 14:33-35) 33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church...
36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?

Verse 34 says that women are not permitted to speak. It can't be referring to speaking as speaking, because then, if asked a question I'd be commanded to give someone the "silent" treatment and THAT can't be right! The key comes in the phrase, "under obedience." I remember my Dad saying to keep quiet unless asked or spoken to. The Greek would bear this out. Speaking, here, is referring to making a speech, or what we would know as PREACHING!

To be fair to verse 35, I can't talk to a husband as I am single, but I can seek council from my Dad. This often forces my Dad to be the priest of the home the way he ought to be! When a women seeks council with her husband she is showing him she respects him as well as forcing him to be the priest of the home the way he ought to be!

Referring to preaching, then, Paul asks in verse 36: "What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?" Apparently, in the Corinthian church, the women would preach as oracles of God and would often come up with some "new revelation from God!" I noticed with alarm that history is repeating itself. Paul gave the church just enough revelation; they did not need more. Our Bible, today gives us a FULL revelation; we do not need more! It was the men's responsibility to share God's word with the congregation whether they wanted to or not! The confusion came in as everyone was competing for the right to preach, with a slightly different message with slightly different doctrine each time!!! God is not the author of confusion; the devil is!

In the Timothy passage I had another problem. These passages sounded like a man trying to put down women!

1 Timothy 2:14-15:
(14) And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
(15) Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
I could understand that verse 14 could refer to a character trait. Just like we all have a sin nature, women tend to be more easily to be deceived; I am no exception to THAT rule, although I'm sure there are some. This verse goes along with verse 13.

But verse 15? What's THAT all about? This being saved in childbearing was not referring to the doctrine of salvation. God gave men the role of responsibility, but gave women the nobility of Motherhood! We're talking about "saving face" from the reputation of being the "deceived one." Mothers shape both boys and girls into honourable men and women, with Dad's help, of course! In Grade 6, a lot of my friends thought it strange when they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up and I answered, "a mom."

My Dad once visited a lively charismatic church in Dundas that was recommended to him. It was communion Sunday. The communion was distributed by their female pastor. My Dad, whom I have NEVER known to turn down the Lord's Supper, turned this one down. This woman pastor then made a special point to administer the host to my Mom, in the face of my "intolerable" Dad. He had the grace to not confront her until after the service.

This woman refused to listen to what the Bible says and proceeded to say that things have changed with the 21st century. "We all love Jesus here!" she said, to which my Dad replied that if they did they would pay more attention to doctrine as contained in Scriptures the unchangable nature of which Christ highly honoured. Exasperated and frustrated with my Dad, she replied that she was called to be a pastor (no matter what the Bible said or did not say – HER WORDS!) and that her role model was Deborah, the judge of Israel!

So, what about Deborah? This is a fascinating story. Read carefully:

(Judges 4:4-10; 12-16; 22-23.)
4 ¶And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Beth–el in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgement.
6 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh–naphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the Lord God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulon?
7 And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.
8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.
9 And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.
10 ¶And Barak called Zebulon and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.

12 And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor.
13 And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon. *
14 And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the Lord hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the Lord gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.
15 And the Lord discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet.
16 But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left. *
22 And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.
23 So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel.

Notice here in these verses that:
Deborah was called to be a prophetess (verse 4). A prophet would convey what God is communicating. (They did not have the complete canon of Scripture that we have today.)
The fact that "she judged Israel at that time" was only because "the children of Israel came up to her for judgement." (verse 5)

Her response in being forced into this role was to call for Barak (verse 6) and after this, when they refer to Deborah, Barak was always around to be co-judge. In verse 9 Deborah herself says it is not her job but his: "I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman." Barak neglected his responsibility as a judge but he was still a judge and you can't change that. His reluctance and lack of faith in verse 8 caused first credit to be given to Deborah. So history will bear out that the judge at this time in the history of Israel was "Deborah and Barak."

The one who actually won the victory was God: Hath not the Lord God of Israel commanded, saying, ... I will deliver him into thine hand (verses 6,7); ... the Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman" (verse 9); this is the day in which the Lord hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the Lord gone out before thee? (verse 14); And the Lord discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak (verse 15); So God subdued ... Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel (verse 23).

With theses verses stated clearly about the role of women, there is something wrong when people know what the bible says and they will still go against it. This is called rebellion and that is called, in the Bible, worse than witchcraft.