Are women who pastor churches sinning against God?

This is a subject that isn't very popular within the realm of Christianity, it is hotly debated with more and more women taking what they believe is their rightful place in the pulpit. I believe it goes back to one of the five solas, sola scriptura. Do we really believe God's word is the sole authority and are we submissive to it? If you believe women have a right to preach, you do not adhere to sola scriptura.

We start with the Holy Spirit inspired teaching from the Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 2, 'I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.' Here Paul clearly states women are not to be in a position of authority, {which is what teaching is}, over men. Then he states two reasons why, 1. it goes out of the order of creation and 2. the woman was the one who fell into sin. A third reason is found in the phrase 'Exercise authority over', this phrase means 'to domineer, govern, acting as an autocrat – literally, self-appointed (acting without submission)'. Women who insist on teaching are in defiance of the God given command to be submissive, which is what verse 11 states, 'a woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness'. This applies to women of all ages, periods of time, from when Paul spoke this truth until Christ returns. If the time has come and women are now allowed to preach, where is the verse[s] to say so? Where is an example from God's word of a woman being permitted to preach/expound the word of God to a gathered body of believers?

I have discussed this topic with a gentleman who I believe may be from a Charismatic background, his response was Paul was not making a universal statement, he was speaking to women of his day. I find that hard to believe in light of the fact of the reasons behind why women are not allowed to teach, these reasons have not changed over time have they? I think not, even so, this pastor was not convinced, so I proceeded to 1 Timothy chapter 3 where the qualifications for the office of bishop/elder/pastor/preacher are laid out in verses 1-7, 'The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.'

These verses leave no doubt about the qualifications for elders, they must be men, as 'husband of one wife' indicates. This was not enough to convince this gentleman, his response was an opinion and not the word of the Lord.

I am amazed at the growing number of ordained ministers who are female and NO ONE approaches them and points them to their sin? Yes, I said sin, the sin of rebellion, isn't that what it's called when you blatantly disobey a command from God? Or do we pick which verses we'll adhere to and which ones we'll toss to the wind?

So what is the sin of rebellion? 1 Samuel 15:23 says this, "For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king."According to the word of God, rebellion equals the sin of divination, meaning what? From Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible, "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,.... Or divination (e), in whatsoever way it was exercised; for there were various sorts of it among the Heathens, and all condemned by the law of God, Deuteronomy 18:10. Now rebellion against God, or disobeying his commands, though in things otherwise, were they not forbidden by him, lawful to be done, is as heinous a sin as to be guilty of witchcraft, or any kind of divination forbidden by the law of God, and deserves as sore a punishment". - {from biblecc}

So what happened when Saul rejected the word of the Lord? God rejected him; is it any different today? Does God somehow overlook women who disobey the clear teachings of the Apostle Paul and insist on being in the pulpit based on silly excuses like 'we are all equal in God's eyes'?

It could not be more clear, women who insist on pastoring churches are in outright blatant sin, and we know that nothing sinful will enter into God's kingdom. God forgives all sin, but only if it is confessed and forsaken, that is what repentance is all about.
These women must have huge holes in their Bibles from ripping out pages pertaining to their sin of rebellion; this is no light matter. After all, it is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.


This post is not my opinion, here is what men of God, such as John MacArthur, say...





From R. L. Dabney, "“This common movement for women’s rights,’ and women’s preaching, must be regarded, then, as simply in­fidel. It cannot be candidly upheld without attacking the inspiration and authority of the Scriptures.” read the entire transcript here...


Biblical womanhood is taught here...


Women preachers is also addressed here...
As well as here...

And finally, commentary from Matthew Henry on 1 Timothy 2:12-14, " According to Paul, women must be learners, and are not allowed to be public teachers in the church; for teaching is an office of authority, and the woman must not usurp authority over the man, but is to be in silence. But, notwithstanding this prohibition, good women may and ought to teach their children at home the principles of religion. Timothy from a child had known the holy scriptures; and who should teach him but his mother and grandmother? Aquila and his wife Priscilla expounded unto Apollos the way of God more perfectly; but then they did it privately, for they took him unto them, Here are two very good reasons given for the man’s authority over the woman, and her subjection to the man, v. 13, 14. Adam was first formed, then Eve; she was created for the man, and not the man for the woman; then she was deceived, and brought the man into the transgression."

Historical Christianity agrees with the Apostle Paul, it is only in our modern day culture the Apostle's words are twisted and his authority questioned.