THERE are mindsets fixated on a notion that whatever superior knowledge proves, they are not willing to listen and probably change.
One may hold values based on falsehoods, assumptions and heresy but won’t shift if and when the truth shows up.
Certain opinions and beliefs are held without proven facts and tested truth.
Religiosity and tradition bar minds from the truth only found in Jesus Christ.
Many quote Jesus but don’t believe in Him and His Word.
Let us talk briefly about women in ministry.
Many have used Jesus and the twelve disciples as an example for ministries or denominations not to include women as ministers or pastors.
Jesus Who was (is) God in humanity was(is) a male. His twelve disciples were males.
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There were women ministers apart from the twelve.
They say that since Jesus’ ministry had male bishops/pastors, it’s a model for the modern church to follow.
Let’s agree with their understanding.
I always say don’t ever defend God, let Him in His Word defend Himself. He’s more able than us.
Basic logic demands that we treat theories without bias.
For starters, using Jesus to deny anyone by race, gender or age can be disastrous. Before we delve more, here’s His advice.
We read Matthew 23:13, New International Version, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.”
Sometimes people make rules and regulations or dos and don’ts by human tradition disregarding the authority of the Scriptures.
Where Scriptures are quoted, the interpretation is skewed.
The words of Jesus are quite chilling according to Matthew 23:15, New Living Translation, “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell you yourselves are!”
Anyone wishing to minister on behalf of God should be sincere.
Before expanding on the model of Jesus and His disciples, let me quote Matthew 7:1-2, New King James (NKJV), "[1] Judge not, that you be not judged. [2] For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
We are going to judge fairly, equitably and justly. Jesus and His disciples were males not females. Fair and fine. No women. Accepted. Who were they? Jews in Israel.
So if we are going to use same scales, a bishop should be a male Jew in Israel.
The Gospel of Christ should not cross the borders of the historical Israel.
I hear some voices in Africa saying; yes, we told them Christianity is foreign and not for us. No. Wait till the end.
Why would a gentile (a Gentile simply means not Jew whether black or white) in Rome, Africa, Asia, America or Europe even try to stop a woman from preaching?
If we are going to use same measurement, if you are not a Jew in Israel, you don’t even have the qualifications to stop anyone because you yourself are not qualified in the first place.
We can argue further and prove that the message of the risen Lord or Christ to the disciples/apostles was carried by women.
Luke 24:10 tells us, “It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.”
There are many verses we can quote to dislodge mindsets which preach a parallel gospel. However, we want to find out how we all qualify to be ministers of the Gospel of Christ or His Grace.
Apostle Paul who is the most evident minister of the Gospel of Christ to the early church especially to the Gentile world writes in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
In Christ, the New Creation is born by the Spirit of God without gender.
The Spirit in born again believers both males and females is the same Spirit of the risen Christ.
Males may be preferred in certain cultural and traditional settings to reach out more effectively and females can function better in certain blocs.
But to come with arm-twisted verses to block one gender is mischievous.
Let’s see how non Jews outside Israel can minister.
By the time we’re done with this series, I trust many minds will understand the theology of the reconstructed Israel more fully.
As a Gentile outside Israel, I am preaching because of the New Covenant. We read the following in closing.
Ephesians 2:11-13, NKJV, “[11] Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh-who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands- [12] that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. [13] But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”
Please study it thoroughly. We’re going to continue from there next week.
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Grace and peace be multiplied to you through knowledge.
