Some can.
Some can't.
Some should.
Some shouldn't.
Yup. I just couldn't resist, after seeing the one about women come up so much. There are many qualifications for a pastor or any leader in the church. Thought maybe we should revisit what it takes for a person to be a leader according to the Bible, since there are many other attributes than just gender to argue.
As for your question? Absolutely!, since GOD called 12 men to lead His church setting THE foundation,
and as you said, there are some qualifications already spelled out, in black/white., no confusion there.
__________________ You can tell more about people
by what they say about others...than by what others
say about them.
As for your question? Absolutely!, since GOD called 12 men to lead His church setting THE foundation,
and as you said, there are some qualifications already spelled out, in black/white., no confusion there.
Here is just a thought, we make so much about pastors but they are only mention in two books of the bible Jerimiah and Ephesians. Why is the same word translated shepherd in most all the rest of the NT scriptures. Any one that does a study on shepherds knows they are not a ruler they are just an overseer. They are a guide, protector, nurturer (binding up wounds etc) further a good shepherd does not force feed the sheep. He leads them to green pastures and good water. Does this sound like the role of the Pastor in most churches today?
__________________
Study the word with and open heart For if you do, Truth Will Prevail
God called 12 men to be His disciples. One of them crucified Him. 10 left Him to die alone. One denied Him three times. There were women who followed Him too. Oddly, they are mentioned repeatedly, never given a title other than 'the women', and were given a choice of following and serving Him that in cases may have been more personal than the calling of some of the 12. And Jesus often taught through their example. (Mary at Jesus' feet, the alabaster box, the woman at the well, the woman with two mites, the woman in adultery)
Ah, we are already off topic. Qualifications of leadership?
God called 12 men to be His disciples. One of them crucified Him. 10 left Him to die alone. One denied Him three times. There were women who followed Him too. Oddly, they are mentioned repeatedly, never given a title other than 'the women', and were given a choice of following and serving Him that in cases may have been more personal than the calling of some of the 12. And Jesus often taught through their example. (Mary at Jesus' feet, the alabaster box, the woman at the well, the woman with two mites, the woman in adultery)
Ah, we are already off topic. Qualifications of leadership?
One of the points I was trying to make Jesus called 12 they all were part of the leadership of the early church in Jerusalem, not just one man. Contrary to mans traditions. The point I am trying to make is
1. God did not put one man over a church.
2. the authority that some (most) talk about the ministry suposed to have is not scriptural.
3. therefore the calling of the ministry can include men and women.
4. as for some one that is an acctual leader (authority) in the church of which are plural. We are given two list of qualifications for them Timothy and Titus. Decons and elders are not offices of the ministry as some tend to put out there.
__________________
Study the word with and open heart For if you do, Truth Will Prevail
Here is just a thought, we make so much about pastors but they are only mention in two books of the bible Jerimiah and Ephesians. Why is the same word translated shepherd in most all the rest of the NT scriptures. Any one that does a study on shepherds knows they are not a ruler they are just an overseer. They are a guide, protector, nurturer (binding up wounds etc) further a good shepherd does not force feed the sheep. He leads them to green pastures and good water. Does this sound like the role of the Pastor in most churches today?
Sadly, the answer to the question in bold is NO!
The churches fortunate enough to have a shepherd, instead of a "brutish pastor" as talked about in Jeremiah, are churches that are blessed indeed.
On another note about qualifications:
Have you ever noticed how the qualifications of being MARRIED and RULING THEIR OWN HOUSE WELL is nicely glossed over by those that argue against women pastors?
There are single men that are pastoring as well as men that stand a much better chance of ruling a household pet rather than ruling a household. Such men, according to the Word of God, are NOT qualified to pastor yet nothing is said about it.
__________________
"The only thing worse than murder in the desert is to know where the water is and not tell it!"
All very good thoughts. Godsdrummer, sorry I missed your post by seconds while posting myself. Ladyrev, maybe that's why so many men prefer dogs over cats! That way they can rule something well-a cat would never give them a chance!
As I was saying earlier God did not give anyone (man or women) authority over his church which is his Body, its his body and he is the head. But just as Moses deligated others to help with judgeing Israel in the wildreness. The church chooses elders and or decons to rule the day to day functions of the local body. These must prove themselves by their lives qualifications for these are found in ITimothy and Titus. As for those given gifts of Apostolship, prophets, teachers, healings, mirracles those God sets in the church not man.
These are all gifts from God not callings per say. At least this is how I am comming to see things. Men are appointed elders and decons these are not ministers in the way we call ministers today. Then God places in the church the spirit of shepherds, prophets, teachers, apostols, workers of miracles, healing, gifts of tongues etc. all these can be either men or women. I hope I am making sence. Because this is completly differant from the way it is in almost every church today.
I have heard many say if there was not a leader then there would be caos. Not so God is not the author of confusion we are just either afraid to let God direct our services or to proud to step down from our position of authority and admit we could be wrong. One last thing I beleive we get our idea of pastor or ministry from the Roman Catholic church. The idea that we need to have someone "called of God " to interpret scripture because the lay person does not have enough of God to understand scripture.
Just a few more thoughts to ponder.
__________________
Study the word with and open heart For if you do, Truth Will Prevail
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