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Women's Role in the Church

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Submitted By samuelg4
Words 2458
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Samuel Gibson
4/19/2012
Theology 202
Short Essay 3

The Role of Women in the Church

As I was talking to my friend Mary and see how passionate that she wants to be in the ministry in her church and I see that she has a lot of questions be for she commits. When you look at the “elders” and “deacons” in the church they have different jobs. As researching ‘elders” I came across a great article on Questions?org it takes about the duties of an elder in the church. The bible talks about at lest five duties and obligations of the elder. They stated on Questions?org “ The elders help to settle disputes in the church”. While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the Christians ‘unless you keep the ancient Jewish custom of circumcision taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.’ Paul and Barnabas, disagreeing with them, argued forcefully and at length. Finally, Paul and Barnabas were sent to Jerusalem, accompanished by some local believers, to talk to the apostles and elders about this question” (Acts 15:1 - 2,NLT).(gotQuestions?org, 2012). You can see that the elders make decisions in the church. The are right after the Pastors when it comes to making decisions in the church. The elders are senior advisors are ahead of everyone and right behind the pastor, and assistant pastor. The have a lot of power in the church and are very respected by the congregation. Whenever a conflict arises and the pastor and assistant pastor is not available the elders are next in line to come and make that decision. The second duty of an elder is to “Pray for the sick” “Is any sick among? Let him for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord” (James 5:14)( gotQuestions?org,2012). The elders pray for the sick and spend time with the sick and confront them. When someone is in the hospital the elder is the main one that comes and prays for the sick person. Yes the pastor do comes from time to time to see that sick person and pray for them but the elder is the main one that comes and prays for that person. The elder has specific qualifications that they have to met so they can come and pray for the sick because they living a sinful life. The third duty of elder is “They are to watch out for the church in humility”. “I exhort the elders who are among you, I being also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed. Feed the flock of God among you, taking the oversight, not by compulsion, but willingly; nor for base gain, but readily; nor as lording it over those allotted to you by God, but becoming examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a never-fading crown of glory” (1 Peter 5:1-4)(gotQuestions?org,2012). The Elders are leaders in the church and suppose to be a role model to the flock with is the (congregation). They are put on this earth to help the flock get to heaven and make sure they live on the straight and narrow. The flock entrusted to them by God. The elders suppose to lead by example not for the money or fame. The fourth duty that an elder has is “ They are to watch out for the spiritual life of the flock”. “Yield to those leading you, and be submissive, for they watch for your souls, as those who must give account, that they may do it with joy and not with grief; for that is unprofitable for you” (Hebrews 13:17)(gotQuestions?org,2012).The pastors and also the elders in the church are responsible for the spiritual life of the church. They are suppose to make that the congregation do not stray away from god. They are suppose to make sure the congregation life is on the right track. The Elders and Pastors are responsible for the souls of the congregation. The last duty that the elders do is “They are to spend their time in prayer and teaching the word”. “And the Twelve called near the multitude of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:2-4)(gotQuestions?org,2012). The elders suppose to pray for the sick and the congregation and teach the word. They suppose to be teachers,peacemakers,lead by example, and preaching and teaching leaders of the church. The elders has one of the important jobs in the church. The deacon is the second hand man right behind the pastor and elder. In gotQuestions?org they say “Elders and pastors are the “preach the word…reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2), and deacons are to be appointed to take care of everything else. In a modern church, this might include maintain, or volunteering to be the church treasurer. It depends on the need and the gifts of the available men. The responsibilities of the deacon are not clearly listed or outlined; they are assumed to be everything that does not include the duties of an elder or pastor, which is to preach, teach, and exhort. But qualifications for a deacon’s character are clearly outlined in Scripture. They are to be blameless, the husband of one wife, a good household manager, respectable, honest, not addicted to alcohol and not greedy (1 Timothy 3:8-12). According the word, the office of deacon is not honor and a blessing. “for those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus“ (1 Timothy 3:13)”(gotQuestions.org,2012). The deacon has a big job to do. They have a lot to live up too and live by. Yes an elder has more to live up too and live by because they are higher but a deacon has just as much to live up too and live by as the elder has too. Like the bible states they have to blameless, the husband of one wife, a good household manager,repectable,honest,not addicted to alcohol and also not greedy(1 Timothy 3:8-12). If they don’t live up to these expectations they are not doing their jobs. They live right and live what they are preaching. They cant preach and say that its wrong to drink if you a are drinking beer or alcoholic. They can’t say its wrong to go out there and cheat on your husband or wife you have someone on the side too while being marry. They have to live what they are preaching. When looking at Mary situation being a “elder” and “deacon” is not hard to live. If you live what you are preaching then you will not any problem being a “deacon” or “elder”. They biggest thing out it all is living right and living what you preach. If you live what you preach and stand beside the word then you are doing the promise that god promise you. While looking to see if a woman can become a elder or a deacon lets look at a couple of scriptures to see. Galatians 3:28 (NIV) says “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus”. Jesus is saying no matter if you are Jew or Gentile, neither slave nor free, neither male and female Jesus loves us all and we are all in Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:11-15 NIV says “A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve.
And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But woman will be saved through childbearing-if they continue in faith,love,and holiness with propriety”. This states that a woman learn in quietness and should live in the authority of man. He also saying that woman are permitted to teach the word of god or have authority over man. Because man was made first and he wasn’t deceived like Eve because she was deceived into eating a apple so she should not be put in authority over man. But woman will be saved when they give birth IF they have faith, love, and also holiness with propriety. 1 Timothy 3:2 NIV says that “Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife,temperate,self-controlled,respectable,hospitable,able to teach” This passage is saying that a Elder life must be reproach and they also must be faithful to his wife and also show self control and be wise and have a good reputation with the people. He must also love to have people at his home and also be able to teach. 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 says “Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allow to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church”. This scriptures talks about how women should be quiet in while in the church and they are not allow to speak but must be in submission. If they want to know something or ask about something about the church they should wait until they at home with their husbands for its disrespectful for a woman to speak in the church. As we look at Romans 16:1 NIV it states “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae”. This scripture was talking about when Paul told Phoebe to the church in Rome where Paul was telling the receive her of the worthy of a saint and to help her the same way she had help others. Romans 16:7 NIV states “Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was”. In this scripture Paul was telling the Romans to great Andronicus and Junia which was a couple and they was apostles and they was in Christ before he was. He was saying that you should respect them and received them. While looking at all these scriptures and to answer the question can a woman become a elder or a deacon the answer is no. A woman can not be a elder or a deacon because God did not give woman power to have authority over man because they are easily to get deceived and that they should give respect and authority to men and let them lead they shall follow not the other way around. They should not speak in church but to speak to their husbands about any questions that they have at home because it can start confusing up in a church. A woman should be a usher or Sunday school teacher in church but not a elder or deacon because god did not give them the power or authority to do so. When I look at these scriptures I agree everything that it says I do not go against God word. They bible states that woman should not be a elder or deacon but its women in the church that are elders and deaconess in the church. They say because they has been called by God. But the question is did they walk in their right calling. A lot of people has been called by God but did they really walk in their right calling. The bible states that a woman should not have authority over man because they are easily to be deceived. How women go and say they been called by God to become a Elder or Deaconess but they bible states they shouldn’t be. Women can be a minister or assistant pastor or something but nothing like an Elder or Deacon. They will always be limitations in the church for women and also in the workplace. The reason is because a lot of woman take power over the limit and use it for their advantage. The reason a lot of women has a lot of limitations in the church and also in the workplace is because some woman do not know how to used power in the right way and do not know how to think in some situations. Women can be in high positions in the church and also in the workforce but the mindset of a woman is totally different than a man’s on. Yes woman are smarter in some areas than man but woman can be deceived quicker and faster than a man does. Another reason is because people take advantage of woman more than man and women are quick to speak out and speak their minds faster than a man’s on that’s some of the reasons why women will always have limitations not only in the church but in the workforce. A woman can always help in theology, leadership, and also management in the local church is by being there for the pastor and for the congregation in the church. They can teach the word to lost souls and help make decisions with the management in the church and give their options. But they won’t be in charge with management in the church as the pastor and elder’s and deacon’s are in charge but they can give their input or option in situations. They can be leaders in the church like over the childcare department and children department or something like Sunday school and usher board but not management.
References
gotQuestions?org. (2012). What are the duties of an elder in the church?. Retrieved from http://www.gotquestions.org/duties-elder-church.html gotQuestions?org. (2012). What are the responsibilities of deacons in the church?. Retrieved from http://www.gotquestions.org/deacons-church.html

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