This is question #4 of a 10 question discussion/debate between Mike Seaver and Cheryl Schatz on the issue of women in ministry. The discussion will take the form of five questions posed by Cheryl Schatz with answers by Mike Seaver and then five questions posed by Mike Seaver with answers by Cheryl Schatz. Each question and answer session will be followed up in the next post by one response each from both Mike and Cheryl. Links to the questions and the responses will be at the bottom of this post.
#4 Question by Cheryl Schatz:
God has given us the authority to use our gifts for the benefit of the body of Christ in 1 Peter 4:10, 11:
1 Peter 4:10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
1 Peter 4:11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
If God has gifted a woman with the gift of speaking "the utterances of God" in the strength of service that God supplies, by what authority does man have to forbid a woman from using that authority for speaking the utterances of God? Please show a verse that instructs all pastors, elders, leaders to single women out and stop them from using their utterance gifts?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#4 Answer by Mike Seaver:
I don’t think there is a verse. I think that woman who have a speaking gift are to use it for God’s glory in the way God designed them to. If God gives the gifts, I think that it is okay for him to set parameters on the gift though. Just like He does with tongues and prophesy (1 Cor. 14). 1 Timothy 3:2 says that an overseer is the “husband of one wife/woman.” He is the teacher of the church (or one of the teachers) and in the qualifications it speaks to men. So, I think gifted women should use their gifts, but I just don’t think they should teach men (1 Tim. 2:12). They are to teach other women (Titus 2:4-5).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cheryl's response and Mike's rejoinder will follow on August 26th, 2009.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Links to previous segments of the debate:
Questi0n #1 and Mike’s answers
Responses to Question #1
Question #2 and Mike’s answers
Responses to Question #2
Question #3 by Cheryl and Mike's answers
Responses to Question #3
3 comments:
"1 Timothy 3:2 says that an overseer is the “husband of one wife/woman.” He is the teacher of the church(or one of the teachers) and in the qualifications it speaks to men."
So, widowers and single men, like the apostle Paul, are not qualified to teach the church?
"I think gifted women should use their gifts, but I just don’t think they should teach men (1 Tim. 2:12). They are to teach other women (Titus 2:4-5)."
Following this line of reasoning then only women could ever teach women and we would need a verse stating "now, you married men teach the women" - sorry all you single men and widowers who have a gift for teaching.
Good thoughts Kay!
With regards to 1 Cor 14 and God setting parameters for the use of gifts, is not Paul's point in 1 Cor 14 that gifts be used to edify and build up the body of Christ? I assume that these parameters apply to the use of all gifts, that they should be used in love and mutual edification.
So how are we to understand women not teaching men as a parameter, if indeed it is one? There appears no reason for it, it appears to go against other scripture and against what is at the heart of 1 Cor 14 (& 13) - that gifts be used in love and mutual encouragement (with no mention of gender!).
Same to you Dave.
We see that a woman was praying and/or prophesying when the church met together in 1 Cor. 11:2-16 or else Paul wouldn't have addressed head covering issue. Apparently, she was being led by the Holy Spirit and not still "being deceived" and "in the transgression" like Eve.
Post a Comment