Question: Should Women Be in Ministry? (Part 5)

Question: Should Women Be in Ministry? (Part 5)
By Tommy Franks

As evidence of the equality of men and women, the Ten Commandments require children to honor both their father and mother: "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you” (Ex.20).

As time progressed, Jesus was born and women no longer had the freedoms and status they had enjoyed in the Old Testament era. Jewish society had become very much male-dominated. Women were considered to be inferior beings and were assigned almost the same status as slaves. They were not allowed to be educated, not allowed to take any leadership roles, and confined to mostly domestic duties.
Two women (Mary and Elizabeth) during the first century became models of faithfulness and virtue. Mary (the mother of Jesus) put aside her fears, doubts, and shame to take on the role of the mother of the Messiah. She simply placed her whole trust in God (Lk.1). Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist…also put her faith in God.

Jesus' attitude toward women was radically different from what was customary at the time. Women normally stayed home and attended to domestic duties. But Jesus allowed women to travel with Him and His twelve disciples (Lk.8).

Most Jews did not speak to Samaritans…and certainly not to Samaritan women, but Jesus did. Jesus had a long conversation with a Samaritan woman at Jacob's well that led to her conversion (Jn.4). Jewish women were usually not educated or allowed any active role in the affairs of religion…until Jesus came along. Martha's sister (Mary) sat at Jesus' feet in the role of a disciple while Jesus taught her. Jesus suggested that Martha do the same (Lk.10).

Mary Magdalene, Mary (mother of James), Joses, Salome, Joanna, Susanna and other women were prominent among Jesus' followers. Some remained with Jesus to comfort Him at the Crucifixion when all His apostles fled in terror (Mt.27). Mary Magdalene and other women were privileged to be the first to discover that Jesus had risen from the dead (Mt.28).

During the early Christian Church, women were treated as near-equals and were allowed to hold positions of responsibility. As I previously stated, many women (Jesus' mother, Mary, Dorcas, Julia, Lydia, Persis, Priscilla, Phoebe, Tryphena, and Tryphosa were important in the early Christian Church (The Book of Acts).

Paul affirmed the equality of all Christians. There was no difference based on birth, status or gender. All had the same privileges and blessings as children of God.
“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus…There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female” (Gal.3).

Why did Paul write the following? “As in all the churches of the saints, women should be silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as the law also says. If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home…For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church” (1Cor.14).
Answer: (Will be found in Part 6)