As a result of something that happened this past week-end, I thought I would pause and change the trajectory of my messages for this week!
On Sabbath mornings, Ruth and I attend the first service in the Pioneer church from 9 to 10; then the Sabbath School lesson from 10:30 to 11:30 in the Seminary; and to cap it all, a contemporary service at One Place from 11:45 to 1:00. One might think that we would suffer from spiritual indigestion - but we do not!
This past Sabbath morning we listened to a sermon presented by a young lady from the Washington Conference who is doing her MDiv at the Seminary. I have been blest by many women preachers at One Place, but this Sabbath it was outstanding! I was spiritually and intellectually rewarded by her delivery and by her exegesis!
I understand that there are about 434 students currently doing their MDiv at the Andrews Seminary. Of these, approximately 10% are women - that would be somewhere in the 40s. It takes courage and conviction for these young Adventist women to study for the ministry these days! There are so many other areas of interest that would be easier to enter.
Andrews University is a General Conference sponsored institution and the Seminary would be included. One would think and hope that leadership would be happy to promote these young women and to welcome them into ministry. After all, they are the product of their own institution!
We are thankful that there are many leaders of the church in North America and in every Division of the world field who see God at work and who are prepared to pray for these women and to find a place for them to serve the Lord! Let us thank God for that.
Some of us have been hesitant to accept women into the ministry. We have believed that only men were priests in the Old Testament and thus only men should be ministers of the gospel and pastors in New Testament times. The Roman Catholic church has always only had men function as priests - in line with the Old Testament. Have we perhaps unconsciously imbibed Babylonian wine and become a little intoxicated?
Priests in the Old Testament were indeed men. But the New Testament indicates that a change has taken place! Hebrews 7:12 reads, “For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.” The context points to a change in the law of the priesthood. Verse 11 indicates that the Aaronic priesthood has passed away and the order of Melchizedek has taken its place. And the great priest of this order is Jesus Christ Himself! No longer do we need earthly priests - our High Priest has taken their place!
Aside from the great truth that Christ is our High Priest, there is another sense in which the New Testament tells us that all believers may be priests! Peter writes, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). This privilege is open for all believers - men and women, and has been adopted by Protestants as the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers.
Another example of a possible misunderstanding between the Old and the New Testaments is the question of circumcision. Genesis 17 makes it clear that circumcision is a sign of the everlasting covenant. And circumcision is not only for the descendants of Abraham; it is also for foreigners. Fast forward and the gospel explodes to the Gentiles.
What now? Do we hold on to Genesis 17 and demand that the new converts be circumcised? The leaders of the Jerusalem church believed that this was indeed the case and controversy ensued. The Jerusalem Council was called and in Acts 15 the delegates had to deal with the crisis. After much discussion the church was led by the Holy Spirit to take a decision that seemed to run counter to Genesis 17. Gentile converts would not be required to be circumcised! In fact in Galatians 5, Paul states that those who insist on promoting circumcision are in bondage!
Jesus Christ is the One who initiated the Christian Church and upon His ascension He gave gifts to the church. “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. For the equipping of the saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11, 12).
In looking at that list we have somehow concluded that when it comes to evangelists and teachers, and even prophets, they may be men or women. But when it comes to pastors, they can only be men! It seems somewhat strange logic. Does the Holy Spirt really operate in this selective manner?
There were two phenomena which the New Testament church inherited from the Old Testament. These were slavery and the subordination of women. While not God’s ideal, it appears that God allowed these to exist in man’s fallen condition. This is very much in line with God’s toleration of Israel’s desire to have a King. God never forces His will on men. He allows us to learn from our choices - whether they be good or bad!
In the New Testament there are still traces of these two phenomena. In Ephesians 6:5-9 Paul gives counsel to bondservants and masters; “Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ” (Ephesians 6:5). As far as women are concerned, Paul even counsels, “Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but they are to be submissive, as the law also says” (1Corinthians14:24).
Did God really intend that slavery and the submission of women should dominate the Christian era for centuries? Evidently, many sincere Christians really believed that slavery was God’s will even until the 1800s! The civil war in the USA was fought basically because dedicated Christians believed that God still approved the doctrine of slavery based on Scripture.
Interestingly enough, the belief in the inferiority of women has clung to the Christian church just as slavery has, perhaps even a little longer!
In a passage in Galatians, Paul lays the foundation for the eventual eradication of slavery and for the equalization of men and women in the mission of the church. “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26-28).
Slavery could not withstand the leveling process of the gospel! Neither could the latent force of women for the mission of the church be held in eternal restriction. The heart of the gospel would break the bonds that held humankind and the church bondage.
The great example of Christ Himself would eventually add to the stimulus. Christ surrounded Himself with women in His earthly ministry! The first evangelist He sent forth was the Samaritan woman. And her credentials for ministry were not impressive! The risen Savior used Mary Magdalene as His messenger to tell the disciples the good news, “go to My brethren and say to them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God” (John 20:17). Christ still uses women to tell the good news of a risen Lord and the coming King!
There is a prophetic word which announces that in the latter times men and women will combine to announce the good tidings. Is this not the time when we should see the fulfillment of these words? “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh, your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days” (Joel 2:28, 29).
Let us not stand in the way of the Spirit! Let us have open hearts and open minds and let us welcome the workings of the Lord. A call to ministry does not come from man, and so let us be ready to recognize that call whether it comes to a young man or a young woman. Both need our prayerful support!
And finally, one’s heart and mind are richly blest when we actually listen to a dedicated woman presenting God’s message. That woman could be Raewyn (Hankins) Orlich, Rochelle Webster, Deirdre Solomon or Emily Ellis of the Washington Conference. It could be any of hundreds of women serving the church around the world. May their tribe increase and may each one of them receive strength and courage to face the onslaughts of the Enemy and to do God’s will.
Hello there, being I was at same semon, as they been real good. Anyway I feel whoever brings the word of God does their homework on it, should not matter if it's woman or man. It's all about fellowship with God. Eric great story again, I may float around on the studies after semon maybe where you're at. Have a good week.
Hi uncle Eric
Thanks for this clear, proven, super obvious take on women’s ordination. It boggles the mind how anyone could possibly even think otherwise. Not to mention all the heartbreak and broken dreams of so many of our women who have stayed the course only to face rejection and no calling to any position of pastor. We seriously need to consider Christs words as stated by you. Lots of love to you and aunty Ruth.