One of the problems with Christianity is the divisions. I had mentioned in a sermon last month that there are over 45,000 denominations worldwide. Baptists alone can’t even get on one page. Baylor University lists 22 major types of Baptist churches in North America. Each one has its own understanding of Scripture, and so rather than agree to disagree on secondary issues, a new denomination often gets formed. In 2021 Baylor’s list only had 19 “major types” of Baptist Churches on their list. When does it end?
When you are affiliated with a specific denomination, and they promote something that you do not necessarily agree with, your name is still attached to that decision, and that denomination, for good or bad. I don’t see denominations in Scripture so you can’t say that the denomination is “always” right.
I do not believe that there is one “right” denomination, but I have been Southern Baptist for many years because I align with a majority of their beliefs. They have a statement called the Baptist Faith and Message that was revised in 2000, and I affirm all that is in there. I don’t necessarily agree with their push toward throwing more support towards higher populated areas and mega-churches to obtain greater numbers, but I understand their reasoning. So, I remain Southern Baptist because I believe they are doing as much, if not more, as any denomination out there to promote the gospel.
If the Southern Baptist Convention were to go in a direction that was contrary to my understanding of Scripture, that would create a dilemma. Obviously my first question would be, is my understanding of Scripture correct, and if I determined that it was, I would wonder why they went that direction. If it was for financial or numerical reasons, I would struggle with that.
All of this has been going through my mind lately because of the debates going on within the SBC right now. While I personally hate the political side of church, I am tied to the decisions that they make. As a Southern Baptist Pastor, I am labeled with the decisions of the Southern Baptist Convention. One of the major hot buttons right now is the role of women in the church, and can they be ordained as pastors.
While it’s often a misunderstood topic, and people tend to twist what is actually being said with their own agenda, confusing the issue further. It is a valid question with well meaning people on both sides of the issue. For me, I would have to answer “No” for a few different reasons, and I believe those reasons can be backed up with Scripture.
The main reason that I would say “No” can be found in the passage right after the proof text that people tend to use. 1 Timothy 2:11-12 is the passage that most people will use to say that women should not be ordained. It states…
11 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.
While that verse in itself could be viewed in a cultural context, when we look at the next two verses, Paul gives a broader reason.
1 Timothy 2:13-14
13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.
Paul goes all the way back to the order that God had established, and to the fall itself. For Paul, it’s not a cultural issue, it is an order issue.
As we look throughout Scripture there are established orders, even within the Godhead. Jesus clearly submits to the Father, not because He is less God, but because there is an established order. Genesis 2:18-25, the woman was created as a helpmate to man, Ephesians 5:22-23, 1 Corinthians 11:3, Colossians 3:18-19 and 1 Peter 3:1-7 all establish the Man as head over the woman. So, in my understanding, I see that as God’s established pattern.
That does not in any way indicate that a woman is inferior to man, just that they have different roles.
A second concept that we see in Scripture that leads me to lean toward only allowing men to be ordained as pastors is the requirements. When Paul is writing to Timothy this is what he says.
1 Timothy 3:1-2
If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife,
Paul constantly references “He” in verses 1-7, and that they need to be a husband. Husband implies a male, and Paul’s references to managing the home would also be a male responsibility. Paul’s instructions to Titus are very similar in Titus 1:5-9.
Other observations that we see in Scripture, while Jesus did tend to elevate the status of women, he did not choose one as one of the twelve, and He was not above breaking cultural norms. Even when Judas was replaced, he was replaced with a man, a woman was not even in consideration. The church council was all men. There is never a clear example of a female pastor, elder or overseer in the New Testament. Considering that there were multiple elders per church, if women in leadership was from God, why was it not part of the early church?
A personal observation that I will readily admit is not biblically, but rather just what I have seen. Men in general are less likely to follow or submit to a woman, even if that is in a Spiritual context. There are studies that show that a majority of men see church as a “girl” thing to do. And so the ordaining of women just helps promote that stereotype. Other studies indicate that fathers have a higher influence on children remaining in church into adulthood. Knowing that, and seeing the decline in church attendance as a whole shows a developing pattern. Most denominations supporting women pastors are in decline, while those holding to the traditional male model overall are tending to remain steady, or declining at a much slower rate. While it may just be a personal observation, it says something to me.
While I don’t believe that women should be in the role of a pastor or elder, that doesn’t mean that I believe that they are not valuable. Personally, I believe that our church would struggle without all that our women do. All that it actually means is that we have different roles, and that we should remain in the roles that God has established for us. I’ve never understood why it is, that we feel the need to use our cultural norms and the things around us to try to reestablish what God has already made clear, and what has worked for the last 2000 years.
I obviously know people who will adamantly disagree with me on this issue, and I acknowledge their right to disagree, and they can worship however they want. Ultimately, I answer to God for what I believe, and what I teach, so I have to teach the way that I understand it.
So those who disagree, I would ask them to acknowledge my right to believe what I believe and respectfully agree to disagree. We should not “force” our views on anybody, that is not Biblical. What would I do if my government, or denomination were to force me to accept things that go against what I believe to be His clear teachings in His Word? My conscience wouldn’t allow me to do it, I would be forced to resign.
And that is why there are so many denominations.
Thank you for reading this, as always, I would encourage you to spend time in His Word, in prayer and in the fellowship of other believers. And if you haven’t visited already, I would encourage you to come visit our little church on the hill, it’s worth the drive.
Bro. Jason
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