Silenced

This topic has been coming up regularly in my life. I am a natural born leader, it is how God created me. He also made me female. He gave me a voice to preach the gospel and so I find myself talking about Jesus all the time. It is what I do.

Godly wisdom comes from His Word and this is something I have dedicated my life to study. I do this academically, professionally, and personally, and have for over 30 years. In my free time, I continue to listen to sermons from pastors all over the world and other Godly leaders, I read all sorts of books on theology and Jesus. I want all that God has for me, and I do not care if he uses a male or a female to get that information to me.

I shared a couple weeks ago how I discovered that my name in Hebrew is Deborah. I have been doing some intense study on this Bible character as a result. She was a judge in Israel, she was respected and trusted to have the Word of the Lord for the people. God used her to deliver the people from oppression. Men answered to her and respected her as a leader appointed by God.

When I read the gospels, and see how Jesus interacted with the people, it is quite amazing how many times miracles and words were given to women. The first evangelist was the woman at the well (see John 4), and the first person that proclaimed the Good News of the resurrection, was Mary Magdalene (see John 20). Jesus came to redeem everyone, and to raise women up to be co-heirs with Christ and the equal image bearer of God.

I think it is amazing how many women were leaders in the early Church. Mary-Jesus' mama, Mary-John Marks mom, Lydia, Priscilla, Tabitha/Dorcas, and several others. When the Holy Spirit came, it fell on all of them. They all spoke in tongues and prophesied to fulfill what was prophesied in Joel (See Acts 2). We are still in the time of the presence of the Holy Spirit and this still applies today. In the first sermon that Peter gave, he says specifically that sons AND daughters will prophesy (v.17), men and women will receive an outpouring of the Spirit (v. 18).

Did you know there are modern day Pharisees? People that take one passage of the Bible and base everything on it? For example the Great Commission:

"Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20

Now most readers would take this is as the last earthly command of Christ and if they desired to become more like Christ, would set their hearts and minds on doing this very task, immediately. But a Pharisee would come in and say this was only for the 11 disciples and there is no need to preach the Gospel anymore. This is because they base the passage on verse 16, where it says Jesus spoke to the 11 disciples, therefore the message doesn't apply to them. In this frame of thinking, then nothing in the Bible was written to them, and nothing would apply.

This is actually the enemy coming in and twisting the truth, ever so slightly. People begin to follow the letter of the law, instead of the heart of the law-exactly why Jesus got so fired up with those darn Pharisee's (Matthew 15:8, Mark 7:6).

I find it incredibly hard to swallow that Jesus Christ died for everyone, to redeem them from their sin and restore their relationship with God... but you know, he only wants men to preach the Good News. <insert sarcasm> In fact, I have been told that I should not even speak of the Bible and Jesus Christ because a man might learn doctrine from me. All I can think is that sure seems like a convenient way to silence over half of the world's population.

As a mother of a son, this presents an even more difficult dilemma for me. Am I not to teach my son about Jesus? When does he become a man? Is it according to Biblical standards, where boys were considered men at the age of 12? Was the law only given to men, or did the women stand in the great assemblies too and hear the teaching that said they must speak of it all the time to their children (see Deuteronomy 6)? Why was Timothy's mother and grandmother revered by Paul for their faith that was given to Timothy if women are not to speak of faith issues to a man (1 Timothy 1:5).

In modern days, this presents even greater ramifications if Godly women are not to be in leadership. To make sure to follow this line of thinking to the letter of the law, you would not be able to post or share about your faith at all in the social media world, because men use that too. This would also mean that Christian female's would have to be excluded as law officers, teachers, professors, doctors, judges, military leaders, writers, political leaders, managers, CEO's and the like because they have been placed in positions of authority over men. (You know, like Deborah.) By bringing truth, hope, and the love of God to the hurting and broken, irregardless of gender, these women would be ultimately sinning by leading men. But Paul tells us in Galatians, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (3:28). Once again, this really seems like the enemy creating a lie to keep the best fighters off the front lines.

Paul, even in the passage in 1 Timothy 3 where it talks about deacons and elders, mentions women in leadership! "In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything." (v.11) The problem becomes the Pharisees that are only reading 1 Timothy 2:12.

Systematic Theology takes the entire Bible and see's what God wrote about the topic throughout. It also takes in consideration the culture of the times. For example, polygamy was common in ancient middle Eastern culture. This was not God's plan but God allowed it. If we read the context of the passage where Paul is silencing women, it has to do with education. Women in that culture were not able to read, they didn't have the benefit of going to church or school to learn about God, they were only able to learn from their father's, brothers, and husbands. Jesus and the power of his resurrection flipped the world upside down, to break the chains of bondage and set captives free. He did not die to keep women silenced so they do not accidentally teach a man about Him and give Him the Glory due his name.

I have a Deborah anointing on me. I have been called by Christ to live my life as a follower after him. The Holy Spirit has pressed Isaiah 61 deep into my heart as my mission and calling. I am a girl preacher, and I am not confused on Who called me nor will I be silenced in preaching the gospel to all people.