Should you leave a church if it
utilizes a woman
pastor?
Opinions will vary when it comes to answering the question of whether or not we should leave a church if it allows women to preach and teach from the pulpit. So, I can give you my opinion. I would leave my church if it started to have women preach from the pulpit.
I would leave because I would no longer be able to trust the leaders of the church to properly interpret the word of God. For me it is simple. It would not matter how many friendships I had developed in the church. It would not matter if I was being used in the church. And, it would not matter that people might look down on me for leaving. But that's what I would do. I would not be able to trust their teaching any longer and I would fear that the door to liberalism had been opened.
Is this an overreaction? You may say so, but I do not believe it is. We must remain faithful to Scripture and this requires that we act. If I believe that women are not to teach and exercise authority in the Church, and that the pastorate is reserved for elders who are husbands of one wife, then how could I in good conscience sit under the teaching of those who would contradict such clear Scripture? I could not. Let's look at what it says.
- 1 Tim. 2:12-14, "But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. 13 For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. 14 And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being quite deceived, fell into transgression."
- 1 Tim. 5:17, "Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching."
- Titus 1:5-6, "For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might set in order what remains, and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, 6 namely, if any man be above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion."
We can see that Paul did not allow women to teach or exercise authority over a man, and elders preached, and that they were to be the husband of one wife. This is what it says, so shouldn't we believe it?
Husband of one wife
The term "husband of one wife" needs to be examined. Does this mean that if a man is not married then he is not qualified to be an elder? The historical context of Paul's writing was that people got married very early. Marriage was a natural and normal condition of life and it was assumed that people were married by an early age, often in their mid to late teens. Also, polygamy was a common practice at a time. It is in this context that Paul is speaking and he says that the elders to be the husband of one wife. Why? Because Adam had one wife, Eve. That is the pattern that God set up and that is the pattern that needs to be followed.
So, what happens if an elder's wife dies? Is he suddenly disqualified from being an elder? It would not seem so. Instead, what Paul is getting at is that the elder, who is naturally assumed to be male, is to be the husband of one wife. That is, he's not to be a polygamist.
Conclusion
We Christians must take the word of God seriously. Sometimes doing this means that we have to act in a manner contrary to what others may believe. So be it. Since I have examined this topic very thoroughly, I am convinced that the office of elders/pastor is for men only, the Scriptures clearly teach this, and that those who would contradict it could not, in my opinion, be trusted to interpret other areas of Scripture. Therefore, I would leave the church if it began to have women pastors.
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