If Women Can't Have Authority Over Men in the Church, Why Are They Expected to Teach in School?

But the OPs point is, I think, these things are hypocritical. What's the difference between a college, that equips men to preach and church, none. Makes no sense whatsoever.

But the OPs point is, I think, these things are hypocritical. What's the difference between a college, that equips men to preach and church, none. Makes no sense whatsoever.

Re: Hebrew ezer kenegdo. In Genesis 2:18, the word "helpmeet" does not occur. The Hebrew expression ezer kenegdo appears, meaning "one who is the same as the other and who surrounds, protects, aids, helps, supports." There is no indication of inferiority or of a secondary position in an hierarchical separation of the male and female "spheres" of responsibility, authority, or social position.

The word ezer is used twice in the Old Testament to refer to the female and 14 times to refer to God. For example, in the Psalms when David says, "The Lord is my Helper," he uses the word ezer.

Click

and click again.

I would like to respond and help some people's point of views: In order to set the basic question "Are men in authority over women?" in a right place, we have to understand who is asked this question? First we have to study again to understand the creation and its components right the way the holy bible states. All creatures and everything in this world was made the way Genesis one describes, that's why when you enter second chapter, it start by confirming that the 'creation' was made in chapter one. In chapter 1 verse 27 it clearly says that God 'created' male & female at same time just like fish, animals birds, insects and trees in same style 'after his kinds' by His WORD just like the rest of creations, which means there were created all creed as ''after his kind''. In chapter two, God formed a man, this man was alone, and was made handmaiden and Lord God gave him His 'breath of life' totally different to chapter one those who were couples, fishes were couples, birds were couples, insects and animals and the rest too. God did something which the church of today never get its picture. God made a wife of this man from himself just to explain us the importance of oneness. Eve was part of Adam (Ephesians 5:23-32) and when she discuss with the Satan and said 'God said ....' she meant Adam said ..... So was from God to Adam to Eve, this is different to the Nations (Gentiles) in them a woman or man either one can be the head of the house. Its so much confusions since we the Nations (Gentiles) have a chance to enter the Kingdom of God , we came to the Kingdom with our Democracy ideas (Democracy is opposite to Kingship's ideology) we want to introduce 'equal rights' which associates TWO people. In church of today, the woman don't want to be women for God, they prefer to be men and do the responsibilities of men, count by yourself, if any woman talking about equal she will stand and quote the verses which God telling a man and she'll never discuss the responsibilities of a woman according the scriptures, because she like to become a man. This causes great tribulations in church movement of finding how to became ONE as Jesus's great prayer to his ''wife'' John 17:21-23. I answer the question: Once a woman (of God) is connected to her husband, she'll make her husband connected to God, and she'll do all her husband duties just like him Psalms 60:12, Romans 8:31.

The difference maybe is in the environment? Actual church is different than the training ground. Sometimes teachers are just good at training students. Just like coaches, they don't actually play.

That's an awfully convenient distinction, but let's run with it for a moment...

Jane Doe has a doctorate in theology and teaches in a denominational Christian college. She's a gifted instructor with a solid grasp of the Word who has taught generations of young men who have gone on to pastoral roles. Her local denominational church, where she has attended for decades, has an adult bible study class in which most of the attendees are "lay" Christians. She is by far the most knowledgeable teacher in the congregation, yet she is forbidden from teaching the class simply because of her gender.

But she doesn't actually "play".

It's only out of politeness that I hold back my sarcasm.

That's an awfully convenient distinction, but let's run with it for a moment...

Jane Doe has a doctorate in theology and teaches in a denominational Christian college. She's a gifted instructor with a solid grasp of the Word who has taught generations of young men who have gone on to pastoral roles. Her local denominational church, where she has attended for decades, has an adult bible study class in which most of the attendees are "lay" Christians. She is by far the most knowledgeable teacher in the congregation, yet she is forbidden from teaching the class simply because of her gender.

But she doesn't actually "play".

It's only out of politeness that I hold back my sarcasm.

Why is she forbidden to teach in class? Do you mean forbidden to teach in church as a pastor because of gender? To teach in school is different than to be a pastor in church. Teachers have different specialties. Pastors learn from different teachers. I hope you get what I mean.

I think Dino is just trying to clarify the very reason I wrote this post (and I'm thankful that he has.)

My main point in this thread was that I grew up in a denomination that thoroughly enforced only men having the authority in the church with an iron fist (and if that's what God is leading them to do, I'm not trying to knock that.)

But at the same time, at their Christian schools and colleges, it is somehow allowed and seen as normal to have women on the faculty staff of the college they rely on to bring up the next generation of teachers and (all male) pastors, and by this time, the males these women are teaching are full-grown men themselves.

My purpose it to try to point out these kinds of inconsistencies within churches, and ask: Why is this happening, and why is it allowed to go on in well-established denominations, because doesn't anyone else notice a problem with this?

I get what you mean. Preaching is a gift after all. If a woman has that gift, then God will definitely use her. I was actually reached out by a woman pastor. She was a good preacher. But the leadership of a man in the church is still different, strong is the right word, specially if he has the support of a wife. Even in the mission field, those who are single don't last very long.

The difference maybe is in the environment? Actual church is different than the training ground. Sometimes teachers are just good at training students. Just like coaches, they don't actually play.

Why would God allow Paul's opinion into his Word?

That's unfortunate, because it is not even consistent with what Paul wrote...

1 Timothy 2:12

KJV: But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
NASB: But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.
NIV: I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.

My purpose it to try to point out these kinds of inconsistencies within churches, and ask: Why is this happening, and why is it allowed to go on in well-established denominations, because doesn't anyone else notice a problem with this?

The key word in this is "I". It does not state what God allows or permits.

Hello,

I've seen the debate over whether or not women can be pastors/lead in the church many times, and have gone through many Bible studies in which this is discussed and examined. I also grew up in a church that did NOT believe women could hold positions of authority, unless it was as a deaconess to younger women in the church.

This is NOT meant to be a debate over whether women can be pastors at all.

Rather, I once read a post that addressed something that really sparked my interest, seeing as I grew up in Christian schools.

* If women are not allowed to speak or be leaders/teachers in the church, why are women relied on to teach Sunday School, vacation Bible school, and in Christian schools and colleges (such as what I grew up in)?

* Why do many of these tasks (geared toward children and young adults) seem to automatically be deligated as "women's work"? And yet, I would guess most parents in the churches I grew up in would not bring their kids to Sunday School if the entire Sunday School staff was all men.

I am certainly NOT saying ANYTHING against men who work in ministries that serve children--I'm just saying that when I've asked some parents how they would feel about dropping their kids off with an all-male Sunday School/children/teen church staff, they're don't seem to be entirely comfortable with the idea. But maybe this is only in the churches I've been in?

I have to wonder why it's so often thought that it's perfectly fine (even expected, and a spiritual duty) for women to teach and lead children, and young adults, but not full-grown adults? (I don't meant this as a debate or a criticism, but as an honest question.)

* Does that mean that once her students turn 18 (or 21, or whatever age is defined as being an "adult"), any spiritual leadership and authority she had over them the day before their "adulthood" birthday is now null and void, and does a male studen now automatically have spiritual authority over her, even if she's twice his age?

* If so, why are women allowed to teach at Christian colleges?

* And if a woman loses any spiritual authority over a man when he comes of age, what is being taught in churches to reinforce this? Are young men told that they now have spiritual leadership and authority over the women in the church once they turn that age?

* Will the men of the church tell their wives that they must follow and submit to the spiritual lead of any 18-year-old (or whatever the age of adulthood is seen as) on the ministry staff?

* Why is this topic never addressed whenever it's said that women can't hold positions of spiritual leadership in the church?

I would really like to see this discussed, as it always seemed to be glossed over.

Is a woman allowed to teach your male child/relative, but does he then have spiritual authority over her in the church once he becomes an adult?

Respectfully, your ideas are inconsistent.

Women are not forbidden from preaching anywhere in Scripture. Women are not forbidden from being pastors anywhere in Scripture. Women are not forbidden from being leaders anywhere in Scripture.

Women are forbidden from all these roles because men, using poor translations and poor hermeneutics, interpret a few select passages of Scripture, ignore others, and make broad practical doctrine forbidding women from these roles, but are quite happy (in some cases, not all) to let women fulfill these roles in both colleges and children's ministries. Yes, men generally lead differently from women, because men are different from women, but the differences are not relevant to the ability to lead.

By the way, I suggest you do some more reading about missionaries.

Yes woman are to be silent in their private affairs and ask there own husbands at home but women like men are sent out two by two with the gospel .The reformation has come the government is restored to the time period of Judges. Watch out for those Deborah's they can sting like a Bee when God sends them out.