“…he must not be…”  (1 Timothy 3)

We have been writing on factors that must…not should or could, but must keep certain persons out of the pastorate. Let me say this before continuing, I have and more importantly, the Scriptures have no problem with women in ministry other than the pastorate.

Women can be preachers to women and even men that choose to hear her but not a pastor….preacher and pastor are two (2) different offices. All pastors are preachers and teachers, but not all preachers and teachers are called to the office of pastor.

Let me say this as well, a woman, humanly speaking, might be a better pastor than many male pastors…this is a truth that cannot be denied. However, God would not bless that pastoral office if a woman was in it. The pastorate is some what of a motherly office. But that does not change the Biblical fact that God calls and installs only men to the office of pastor.

There are women in the ministry and stay with the Scriptural bounds set forth in God’s Word.
*Joyce Meyer: Like her or not, agree with her or not (and I don’t on some of her teachings, but can Amen her on others) but Joyce Meyer teaches/preaches to women throughout the world and she preaches Christ crucified and Christ resurrected, and she preaches the power of the Blood and the Name of Christ Jesus. Christ is her Lord. Like it or not. This woman can out preach and out teach many a man I have known.
*Paula White: I cannot approve of this woman, her doctrine and her spirit is anti-Scripture.
*Beth Moore: A teacher of women, Yeah, there are some secondary issues that I disagree with but she is a help to many women and she is a servant of the Lord.
*Joni Erickson Tada: A speaker and a writer. She does not seek to usurp authority from men in the pastorate.  She is an inspiring servant of God AND sound in her theology, her doctrines of grace or calvinism is sound.
*Nancy Leigh Demoss Vermooth (sp?): A writer and speaker. Very sound and very helpful to woman and men. She does not seek to usurp authority.
*Rosaria Butterfield: This woman is a post-lesbian speaker on the subject of homosexuality and and Scriptural matters.
*The majority of women on TBN should be avoided like the plague that they are.
*Biographies of Christ-ian women of the past are extremely helpful. Idelette Calvin, Katharine Luther, Edith Schaeffer, Joy Lewis, Susanna Spurgeon, Sarah Edwards, Ruth Graham, Madame Guyon and many more.
*Kay Arthur: She is a good teacher and teaches how to learn.
*Janet Parshall: A radio Host on Moody Radio in the afternoon, excellent. Listening to this lady is time, wisely and v. well spent.
*June Hunt: Another radio ost that is helpful to anyone and is not a usurper.

I write the above so no woman can feel offended by God’s choice of men over women for the office of pastor. I will say this as well, “It is not good for man to be alone,”  the pastors wife, though not a pastor herself in any way shape or form, is a great help to the man. The pastors wife is an anchor, a rock. Spurgeon called his wife his sovereign. YES, YES, YES, I know those are terms used for Christ, but did not Christ compare Himself to a mother hen?

When we say the wife of a pastor is an anchor or a rock, we are not speaking irreverently, but truthfully and factually. My wife is an anchor, not to my soul but to my senses and feelings. When many things or persons oppose me for whatever reason, I know I can go to my wife and find someone to love me. Minister, if you have a problem with what was just written, SHAME!!!, SHAME!!!, SHAME!!! on YOU!!! YOU!!! and YOU!!! Does not Christ venerate and exalt His bride, the church?

Allow me to meddle…if you are the type that carries his Bible under his arm, has a puffed out chest, his chin up, and the sin of pride oozing all over and your wife is carrying the baby(ies) or dealing with the kids and carrying all the essentials, I have no time for you, you are already disqualified from everything I know to be Christ-ian and loving. If I were to allow the old man in me to come out, I would gladly knock you down and berate you for your spiritual pride and utter ignorance. But instead, I would, (DV), ask to speak with you aside of everything that is going on and have a discussion with you that you will never forget. You should not be surprised if I and a number of other MEN visit you at home to see how things are going. Am I talking tough? No!!! I am talking Shepherdese or pastorese or a dialect of preacherese. Don’t worry you’d understand all three (3) easily.

After reading this article and the article preceding this article, a woman should know that God does not see her as second (2nd) rate or less than, or inferior to anyone. God loves His daughter, Christ died for His little sisters, and He validates the wealth and worth of women as He keeps them in His company in the Gospels and in this contemporary world that belongs to Him.

As to new coverts: New converts are easily tricked by the machinations or the tricks of (s)atan. The new convert is especially vulnerable to being puffed up with pride and used by (s)atan to do great harm. As we said in the previous article, the new convert or the new creature in Christ or the new creation should be left alone with the Holy Spirit for a good amount of time before being thrown to the wolves and by wolves I mean pastors and ministers.

Let the new born be cuddled and loved upon by his new Heavenly Father. If you do otherwise, you are guilty of spiritual kidnapping and spiritual child abuse. In the previous article we wrote on the dangers and consequences of putting a new convert into public service. The dangers are many and are felt today. A new covert being put into the ministry is like the ice berg that took down the Titanic. There is apparent surface dangers but there are very many dangers and disasters lying beneath. These dangers do not tear apart a ship but persons and families.

The greatest harm done is the smearing of Christ’s Name and God’s Glory being spoken of in ill terms. Great harm is caused when the church ignores the Word of God. The question could be asked, The Word of God brought you to where you are, do you now, in spiritual pride and arrogance, close the Book of books?

Godspeed.