Author: Ken Lytle
As I research the method the North American Division Theology of Ordination Study Committee used to address the issue of women’s ordination, I can see that the liberals were given an unfair advantage in presenting material. Instead of providing a fair playing field for prayerful study, the liberals in our NAD leadership “pushed” their rebellious agenda to the forefront for consideration.
I have watched the videos and keep hearing superficial arguments about why we should embrace women’s ordination.
- Because EGW was a women
- Because we are trying to restore what was broken at the fall of Adam and Eve
- Because the Holy Spirit will be poured out on both men and women in the last days
Let us please connect the dots using the Bible and history when it comes to women and prophecy.
- Yes, EGW was a women
- Yes, EGW was asked by God to be a prophetess (messenger)
- Yes, the Bible teaches that women can be prophets (Debra, etc.)
- Yes, women can and will be used by the Holy Spirit to communicate heavenly messages and prophecies in the last days
This is Biblical. If the Bible says it, it is good enough for me. As a follower of God, I must have faith in His Word.
When it comes to leadership structure in a world of sin, we need to realize that our Creator God is the one who chose to place men in a position of authority in the home and church. This does not mean that men are superior to women. We are all equal as human beings. It just means that God, in His great wisdom, developed a gender role system to bring order in sinful chaos.
Here are eight passages that clearly show what God intended for home and church leadership…
- “And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression” — 1 Timothy 2:14.
- “Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you” — Genesis 3:16.
- “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord” — Colossians 3:18.
- “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet” — 1 Timothy 2:12.
- “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything” — Ephesians 5:22-24.
- “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” — Ephesians 5:25.
- “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life…” — 1 Peter 3:7.
- “This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil” — 1 Timothy 3:1-7
Please prayerfully read and understand what God has written in His Holy Word!!! Instead of trying to overturn God’s Word when it comes to the consequences of sin, we need to embrace the Word for what it says and faithfully trust our Creator. When Jesus returns in the very end of time, He will restore all things according to His will (not our will).
Please contact your church leaders and ask them to stay true to God’s Word. If we stand up and speak up for Jesus, His endtime Church is begin to shake like never before.
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More to Study:
- The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
- Women in Ministry Website
- Ordination Truth Website
- How Money Got Us Into Trouble
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Ron
November 6, 2013
I understand your position, however I don’t see anywhere in your evidence where a women cannot be ordained in the work. If you are true to your evidence, then you must also be against women teachers, principles, Sabbath School teachers or any leadership position where a women must teach a man or have authority over a man such as in a business environment or any women in politics and etc. I don’t believe that you can adequately argue this point without settling these issues first.
Cameron Rogers
November 6, 2013
Your verses prove absolutely nothing about women’s ordination:
1. Just a fact from Genesis. Does this mean woman are more sinful and unfit to be called by God?
2.Applies to marriage, there was not even a church then.
3. Again, wives/husbands, not Pastors/Members
4. Fire all the female Sabbath School teachers, church school teachers, female supervisors at work etc. Good luck on that crusade!
5. Christ is head of the church… nothing on women in leadership here.
6. All about love – does pushing women down unfit for leadership show love?
7. The average women is physically weaker than the average man, but we are heirs together – praise God.
8.The advice applies equally to men and women except the specific gender reference, but the Bible is full of “he” “him” “man” etc phrasing that we all agree means men and women alike.
Ken Lytle
November 7, 2013
Hmmmmm….. It’s interesting to see how quickly people can throw away or twist God’s clear Word of truth. The Bible says what it says and that is good enough for me. The clearly states that men are to be leaders in the home, which then qualifies them for church leadership. This has nothing to do with making one gender superior to the other. The heart of the matter is… Healthy Homes equal Healthy Churches.
Cameron Rogers
November 10, 2013
Sorry Ken, but compiling verses on various topics – but none on ordination – and than SAYING these verse make your point is not good enough. The Bible says nothing directly about ordination in the Adventist Church (and nothing about a lot of other things). So we must fall back on Biblical principles, EGW comments, and common sense. You seem to start from a preconceived idea that woman should not lead, but ignore that many woman are leaders both in the secular and spiritual realms,
GS
December 30, 2013
Thank you Ken, some Adventists even think it is ok to remarry for reasons other than the only reason Jesus and Ellen White gave which is adultery so why would they accept the bible Truth on Women in the role of Minister in the sacred desk as Paul wrote to Timothy and Titus. Incidentally, one of the qualifications is that the person MUST BE a husband and have his children in subjection. Ellen White emphatically supports this in the following showing that our Ministers should not only be married but have children who are in subjection:
The apostle Paul writes to Titus: “Set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: if any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God.” It would be well for all our ministers to give heed to these words and not to hurry men into office without due consideration and much prayer that God would designate by His Holy Spirit whom He will accept. {5T 617.1}
Said the inspired apostle: “Lay hands suddenly on no man.” In some of our churches the work of organizing and of ordaining elders has been premature; the Bible rule has been disregarded, and consequently grievous trouble has been brought upon the church. There should not be so great haste in electing leaders as to ordain men who are in no way fitted for the responsible work–men who need to be converted, elevated, ennobled, and refined before they can serve the cause of God in any capacity. {5T 617.2}
The gospel net gathers both good and bad. It takes time for character to be developed; there must be time to learn what men really are. The family of the one suggested for office should be considered. Are they in subjection? Can the man rule his own house with honor? What character have his children? Will they do honor to the father’s influence? If he has no tact, wisdom, or power of godliness at home in managing his own family, it is safe to conclude that the same defects will be carried into the church, and the same unsanctified management will be seen there. It will be far better to criticize the man before he is put into office than afterward, better to pray and counsel before taking the decisive step than to labor to correct the consequences of a wrong move. {5T 618.1}
In some churches the leader has not the right qualifications to educate the members of the church to be workers. Tact and judgment have not been used to keep up a living interest in the work of God. The leader is slow and tedious; he talks too much and prays too long in public; he has not that living connection with God which would give him a fresh experience. {5T 618.2}
Truth is based on what Jesus quoted, “It Is Written.” Satan lured Eve to eat the fruit when he challenged her with God keeping something from her and suggesting something that God did not say. Our leaders in general are no different than in the days of Jesus while there are a few who are True to His Word.
Amen.
Frank Peacham
November 7, 2013
I wonder, can a woman pastor have a healthy home, with her husband as spiritual leader? Would her pastoral gifts conflict with her role as a mother and wife, or enhance it? It seems to me that ministry gifts are very female in nature—mercy, kindness, listening to others, and compassion, are gifts that men learn nevertheless are more natural to Christian women.
Ken Lytle
November 7, 2013
The problem is that we have not taught our men how to lead. Once we do this, we then need to give them permission to lead. I know a female pastor on the east coast who is very dominant in her relationship. They “pastoral” couple went as far as changing both last names at time of marriage… fusion of both last names. I always wondered what was wrong with the “female pastor” taking her husband’s last name. Why did she feel that it was not fair for her to change her name and take the name of the man she loved. Now the couple is thinking about having a child. In a healthy situation, the mother should stay home with the child until the he or she is older… cooking healthy meals for the family and providing a balanced Christian home. Instead, mothers are going to work and dumping their kids in daycare and not providing healthy home cooked meals. Adventist women need to read what the Spirit of Prophecy has to say about what it means to be a wife and mother.
Cameron Rogers
November 10, 2013
Did EGW stay home and cook and not work when her kids were young? Check her biography. We don’t live in the 1950s anymore.
Ken Lytle
November 10, 2013
It is important to use all of EGW if you are going to use her. The White home was dysfunctional and fragmented for many years because of the sacrificial path they chose to follow. God does not call everyone to sacrifice their families like James and Ellen did. If the wife/mother is not a professional homemaker, her family will usually be unhealthy and undisciplined (as in teaching children to be self-disciplined, respectful, etc.). Why should children be raised in daycares and in front of TVs when Christian mothers could stay home and raise them in a Christian home?
Brett
November 22, 2013
The Bible doesn’t say exactly not to smoke cigarettes. There isn’t one verse that says, “thou shall not smoke”. But you know it’s not right. The Bible leads us along and we come to the conclusion based on several verses. Same with women ordination. There isn’t a specific verse that says they shouldn’t be pastors but we know it’s not right based on many verses.