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228WhyGodMeantforWomentobeinLeadership.docx
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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//ABISOURCE//DTD XHTML plus AWML 2.2//EN" "http://www.abisource.com/2004/xhtml-awml/xhtml-awml.mod"><div> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:awml="http://www.abisource.com/2004/xhtml-awml/"> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="application/xhtml+xml; charset=UTF-8" /> <title> Abiword HTML Document </title> </head> <body> <p awml:style="header"> <span>1</span> </p> <p class="header" style="margin-right:18.000000pt" awml:style="header"> What Does The Bible Say About Women in Leadership </p> <p class="header" style="margin-right:18.000000pt" awml:style="header"> </p> </body> <div> <p> <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">Running Head: WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP</span> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align:center"> <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">What does the Bible Say About Women in Leadership</span> </p> <p style="text-align:center"> <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">Mariah Lawrence</span> </p> <p style="text-align:center"> <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">Grace Christian University</span> </p> <p style="text-align:center"> </p> <p style="text-align:center"> </p> <p style="text-align:center"> </p> <p style="text-align:center"> </p> <p style="text-align:center"> </p> <p style="text-align:center"> </p> <p style="text-align:center"> </p> <p style="text-align:center"> </p> <p style="text-align:center"> </p> <p> <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'"></span> </p> <p style="text-indent:36.000000pt"> <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">Church membership has been in sharp decline since 1998 in particular, with 70% of young adults then in church membership, to a mere 50% in 2018 (Jones, 2019). But half the population in our churches are not being allowed to teach and preach freely to contribute to our faith and its growth and study, due to what is believed to be clear biblical instruction to keep women out of leadership and under the authority of men. We all want to understand what the Bible</span><span style="font-style:italic;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">intends</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'"> for us to read and live out, but it is a very complex and difficult task when we need to consider the context of cultural influences, time period considerations, identifying the author’s intent, and interpreting the verse in light of its chapter’s purpose and the biblical message as a whole. There is a significant amount of complexity surrounding the issue of women in leadership within the Christian church and home. While some believe the Bible is contradictory regarding women in leadership, research indicates the Genesis story of creation and the fall depicts equal treatment of men and women, additionally there are many stories of God’s blessing on women in leadership and teaching mentioned throughout the Bible, and finally an understanding of context can disentangle the seemingly contradictory statements by Paul in Timothy 2:12 and 1 Corinthians 11:3.</span> </p> <p style="text-align:center;text-indent:36.000000pt"> <span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">Equal Treatment in the Creation and the Fall</span> </p> <p style="text-indent:36.000000pt"> <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">A careful reading of the Genesis story of creation and the fall depicts consistently equal treatment of man and woman in many different ways, and many examples will be considered here. In Genesis 1:27 it reads, “So God created human beings in his own image…. Male and female he created them” (NLT) showing they are both created in His image and in equality. In Genesis 1:28, God explicitly commanded both of them to rule over the earth, without any mention of male headship, a clear command to rule together. God spoke directly to each of them in this command and all others, showing man does not represent them. In verse 29 God speaks again to both of them and gives them plants for food. While God made man first, God observes in verse 18 “It is not good for man to be alone” and decides to make woman for the purpose of making man complete. Woman is called a helper for man, and this same word in Hebrew is used to refer to God many times in the Old Testament (Johnson, 2010). Because God chooses to make woman from the rib of man, she is made of the same stuff as man is. The two are “united in to one” in verse 24 indicating equality, contradictory of a hierarchy. Man is told to leave his parents in verse 24 and join his wife, the other way around may have indicated woman needing the mans covering. Both woman and man are present in Genesis 3:6 while the serpent deceives Eve in the temptation, both together eat the fruit in the fall, and both make a bad choice. They share the same experience at the same moment in verse 7, when together their eyes are opened, together feel shame and each sew coverings. Then in verse 8, they both hide from God and both feel guilt. In verse 9 God addresses each of them directly, showing again Eve is accountable to God and not Adam. They are shown to have an equal weakness when they both choose to pass the blame in verses 12-13. God responds to them individually in verses 16-17, holding each one personally accountable for their actions with his unique punishments. It is imperative to consider the fact that God was explicit in His command for them both to rule over the earth, and nowhere is there a command for man to rule anything over or without Eve (Payne, 2009).</span> </p> <p style="text-align:center;text-indent:36.000000pt"> <span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">Women In Leadership in The Bible</span> </p> <p style="text-indent:36.000000pt"> <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">There are many stories of God’s blessing on women in leadership and teaching mentioned throughout the Bible. Miraiam was described as a prophetess due to her musical skill and revelations from God in Numbers 12:1-2, and Micah 6:4 shares God’s word that He sent sent her Himself to help the people. Deborah was a judge of Israel, and is considered a prophet along with Samual. She achieved striking military victories due to her connection with God, and was deeply respected causing her military command to refuse to go to battle with out her! Deborah is an excellent example of what our churches could benefit from today if they weren’t stifling the leadership of women in their churches today(Grady, 2006). Huldah was such a wise and strong prophetess she had remained faithful during one of Israel’s darkest periods, and she was sought out by the King Josiah to speak for him to God (Grady, 2006). Esther’s bravery saved her people from Genocide in the book of Esther, and her wise uncle encouraged her to speak out. Phoebe is a Deacon in the New Testament. Priscilla is always mentioned before her husband by Paul because she is thought to be stronger and more recognized leader in her church (Grady, 2006). Phillip’s daughters are called prophetesses in Acts 21:9. It is important to not Lois and Eunice are commended by Paul in 2 Timothy 1:5 for training a man, Timothy. Julia is considered an apostle in the New Testament (Grady, 2006). Often times it is assumed these women only hosted, maybe making tea and cookies, but there is no reason to believe that is what Paul meant when he commended their work. If women today were encouraged to behave like these women of the Bible, Grady comments we would have an “entire army of women”(2006) to fight for Christ.</span> </p> <p style="text-align:center"> <span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">Context can Disentangle Timothy 2:12 and 1 Corinthians 11:3</span> </p> <p style="text-indent:36.000000pt"> <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">In 1Timothy 2:12 Paul says, “I do not let women teach men or have authority over them” (NLT). The Life Applications Study Bible points out that Paul did not forbid women from teaching, as also shown in the numerous examples listed above, rather the prohibition was specifically meant for the Ephesian women due to the temporary problems that church was experiencing with false teachers, and wealthy, badly behaved women (Johnson, 2010). The women did not have enough biblical knowledge of facts or doctrine to be able to teach. Those who insist 1Timothy 2:12 must be taken literally often do not take literally 1Timothy 2:9 when Paul tells women to not wear “braided hair or gold...or expensive clothes” (Johnson 2010).</span> </p> <p style="text-indent:36.000000pt"> <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">In correcting additional misunderstanding about the creation story, Paul instructs in 1Corinthians 11:3, “The Head of every man is Christ, the head of every woman is man, and the head of Christ is God” (NLT). In this verse “head” is meant as</span><span style="font-style:italic;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">source,</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'"> as in trail head (Bristow, 1988). Thus man is the source of woman, and Christ is the source of man. Paul begins his teaching in Ephesians 5:21 telling all believers “to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (NLT), this must be considered with all other statements, and not in opposition of it. Johnson (2010), points out, it is difficult to harmonize headship with “the ways Christians are generally told to be slaves to one another in love (Gal. 5:3), to consider others better than themselves (Phil. 2:3-4), and to look to the interests of others (Rom. 12:10); they are to put on humility to one another (1Peter 5:5) In none of these instructions does it make sense to an excepting clause- “but of course this doesn’t apply to your relationship to your wife…””(pg 151).</span> </p> <p> <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">The equal treatment of man and woman in the story of the creation and fall, outstanding female leadership throughout the Bible, and understanding the Biblical message as a whole, are inspiring reasons to believe the Christian church can overcome it’s recent sharp decline in membership with the help of the women they have been cutting out of it’s leadership. “Galatians 3:28 makes clear that all believers are on the same level in the church, and there is no hierarchy that places all women below all men, or every wife below her husband”(Johnson, 2010, p. 145).</span> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'"></span> </p> <p style="text-align:center"> <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">References</span> </p> <p style="text-align:center"> </p> <p style="text-indent:-36.000000pt"> <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman';color:#333333;background:#f5f5f5">Bristow, J. T. (1988). </span><span style="font-style:italic;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman';color:#333333">What Paul Really Said About Women</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman';color:#333333;background:#f5f5f5">. Harper & Row.</span> </p> <p style="margin-left:-36.000000pt;text-indent:-36.000000pt"> </p> <p style="text-indent:-36.000000pt"> <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman';color:#000000;background:#ffffff">Grady, J. L. (2006). </span><span style="font-style:italic;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman';color:#000000">10 lies the church tells women</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman';color:#000000;background:#ffffff">. Lake Mary, FL: Christmas House.</span> </p> <p style="margin-left:-36.000000pt;text-indent:-36.000000pt"> </p> <p style="text-indent:-36.000000pt"> <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman';color:#000000;background:#ffffff">Jones, J. M. (2019, April 18). U.S. Chruch membership down sharply in past two decades. In </span><span style="font-style:italic;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman';color:#000000">Gallup</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman';color:#000000;background:#ffffff">. Retrieved from</span><a href="http://Www.google.com"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman';background:#ffffff">Www.google.com</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman';color:#000000;background:#ffffff">.</span> </p> <p style="margin-left:-36.000000pt;text-indent:-36.000000pt"> </p> <p style="text-indent:-36.000000pt"> <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman';color:#000000;background:#ffffff">Johnson, A. F. (2010). </span><span style="font-style:italic;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman';color:#000000">How I changed my mind about women in leadership</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman';color:#000000;background:#ffffff">. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.</span> </p> <p style="margin-left:-36.000000pt;text-indent:-36.000000pt"> </p> <p style="text-indent:-36.000000pt"> <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman';color:#000000;background:#ffffff">Payne, P. B. (2009). </span><span style="font-style:italic;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman';color:#000000">Man and woman, one in Christ</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman';color:#000000;background:#ffffff">. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.</span> </p> <p style="text-indent:-36.000000pt"> </p> <p style="text-indent:-36.000000pt"> <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman';color:#000000;background:#ffffff">(2009)</span><span style="font-style:italic;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman';color:#000000;background:#ffffff">Life applications study Bible</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman';color:#000000;background:#ffffff">, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.</span> </p> <p style="text-indent:-36.000000pt"> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p awml:style="header"> </p> <p class="header" style="margin-right:18.000000pt" awml:style="header"> </p> <p awml:style="header"> </p> <p class="header" style="margin-right:18.000000pt" awml:style="header"> </p> <p class="header" style="margin-right:18.000000pt" awml:style="header"> <div> </div> <p awml:style="header"> </p> <p class="header" style="margin-right:18.000000pt" awml:style="header"> </p> <p awml:style="header"> </p> <p class="header" style="margin-right:18.000000pt" awml:style="header"> </p> <p class="header" style="margin-right:18.000000pt" awml:style="header"> </p> </p> </div> </html> </div> ">
