Does Your Church Ordain Women Priests?

These are not my views but from the Highest authority of the universe the founder and maker of man. Consider them carefully.

IT does not depend on which denomination you belong to in order to answer that question properly. If you think so, you are far from being right. Nonetheless, whichever group you associate with, has a profound impact on the manner you reason as regards to the topic at hand. It should be understood as earlier as this that the question of ordaining women pastors as we may call them, did not start today. It is an issue that has led to collapse in managerial responsibilities of major religious groups across the globe. Which way is the right way you may ask? Is there any directive from the Bible that we may follow? What is the Bible’s view of women as leaders? The excavator looks into all these concerns and comes up with a well thought answer that is not his but God’s.

 

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God’s Word the Bible does not give every directive as though it’s to a small child. In as much as we are God’s children, at times He deals with us according to our ability in our individual capacity. Taking up responsibilities in the congregation now, is not a dynasty as it used to be in Bible times. For instance, Eli and sons served as high priests and priests respectively representing their family until everyone ceased to be. Solomon succeeded his father David in the throne, but it was not so for Salomon's son. So in some instances, the Bible did allow for succession in the family royalty, but not at all times. Moses for example, the meekest man who ever lived, did not live to see any of his sons that Zipporah bore him to become leaders in Israel, but God directed matters otherwise to Joshua.

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Leaders back then represented Jehovah in their positions, but in spiritual offerings, there were anointed spiritual leaders who would do the job namely; high priests, priests and prophets and a few prophetesses like Hannah. However, in the 1^st century C.E, things took a drastic change for the best of the congregation. Starting with the gospel teachings, women were assigned a special position that would see them equal with their male counterparts in as much as equity was not the bone of contention. Women were allowed to preach as men were given the sole responsibility of taking the lead as heads. Therefore, women are only allowed to tell the good news of Jehovah’s Kingdom to the world, but men who are ordained as leaders do so in the congregation as teachers of the law. Not all men deserve this position of being elders in the congregation but those who meet spiritual standards mentioned in the book of 1^st Timothy 3:1-7, 8-13.

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Whereas the Bible directs men to pray before the congregation, women are advised to be submissive, silent; modest, be sensible and dress properly among other things. Thus, the Bible is more specific on their share in the congregation-1^st Timothy 2:8-11. Interestingly, the same book goes further to state categorically what women cannot do. “I do not allow them [women] to teach or have authority over men: they must keep silent.” Does this mean they are not regarded by the Bible? Not at all! Jehovah refers to all women who spread the good news as  a ‘large army’ that causes divisions among earthly kings and their armies, who upon experiencing divisions from within, fall apart.-Psalms 68:11,12. 

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Apart from spreading the good news to the members of the public, the Bible speaks favorably to women who have shown tremendous effort in helping their families grow. You may be aware of Eunice and Lois, mother and grandmother to 1^st century Bible student Timothy who later turned to be one of the pillars of Christianity. He was helped by these two strong ladies without the spiritual upkeep of a religious father. In the book of Proverbs, Solomon speaks of a capable woman who helps her family grow in many ways; how to buy and cultivate land, train her children, leading to praises from her husband and children. - Proverbs 31:10-31. 

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The same was emphasized by Christians who lived in the 1^st century when a new program of restructuring Christian teachings was in force. When the apostle Paul was writing Timothy his second letter, he admonished older women in the congregation, to teach young women on how to be good and responsible mothers and submissive wives to their respective husbands when their time comes. This is a course worth your time as a Christian lady. It is not meant to lower your dignity but to show the best position you occupy in the family and congregation structure that demand for the man to be the head. Men in turn should exercise their authority as directed by their head Christ Jesus. Why want more sisters?

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On top, a woman ordained pastor pre
siding over a congregation. Some denomi-
nations are now led by women pastors.

So, rather than engaging in wrangles as to whether women should be ordained as a priest or pastor, look up at Biblical examples of women who did  a great deal of work to assist Jehovah’s people in totally different faculties. For example, if you are a lady yearning to take lead among others or even among men, think of these examples: Sarah, Esther, Rebecca, Abigail, Rahab; Hannah, Ruth, Elizabeth, Mary, Triphosa, Lydia; Lois, Eunice and Dorcas just to mention a few. All these able ladies served God diligently but not as leaders. 

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In summing up the whole issue of church leadership that was then laid by the head of the Christian congregation Jesus Christ, the apostle Paul who turned an ardent follower of Christ’s teachings; after his miraculous conversion into ‘the way’ while heading for Damascus, issued this divine warning to Timothy. “Whoever teaches a different teaching and does not observe the true words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the teaching of our religion, is swollen with pride and knows nothing. He has an unhealthy desire to argue and quarrel about words, and this brings jealousy, disputes; insults, evil suspicions and constant arguments from people whose minds do not function and who no longer have the truth. They think that religion is a way to become rich."- 1^st Timothy 6:3-5 GNB. Don’t be among these.