This narrow way

Today I’m tackling what can be a controversial subject (although it shouldn’t be, Scripture is very clear) that’s been brought to the forefront again this week with the action taken against Saddleback Church, and four other churches, by the Southern Baptist Convention. The subject is the ordination of women as pastors.

Saddleback was among five churches with female pastors who were deemed “no longer in friendly cooperation” with the denomination at a meeting of the SBC Executive Committee in Nashville on Tuesday.

The Lake Forest, California, congregation ordained three women from the stage in May 2021, a decision that rattled some Southern Baptists who believe the role of pastor is reserved for men. Then last year, Saddleback selected Andy Wood as Rick Warren’s successor and the church’s lead pastor, and his wife Stacie Wood came on as a teaching pastor.”

Full disclosure, I was raised in Southern Baptist churches, my father was ordained as a deacon in a Southern Baptist church, I was saved in a Southern Baptist church, and spent many years under the teaching of some great men of God who were Southern Baptist pastors. It’s not something I’m at all ashamed of or shy away from. Southern Baptists have taken a lot of heat over the years but they’re one of the few, if not the only, major denomination still standing up for what the Bible says.

That said, let’s take a look at the Scriptures, beginning with 1 Timothy 2:12.

“But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.”

Paul also adds the qualifications for overseer in the church, also translated as bishop or elder.

“An overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife…” 1 Timothy 3:2.

Then 1 Corinthians 14:34, 35:

“The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.”                                                                                                                                                                 

Seems clear to me. So, where’s the controversy? Why is the SBC getting blow-back from not only the usual secular suspects shouting, Sexist! Misogynist! Patriarchy! but from other so-called religious leaders as well? Well, for one it’s not a popular stand to take in a culture that’s all about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Rick Warren’s response to the action taken by the SBC was, let’s just call it, interesting.

“Hours after the decision, Warren posted on Instagram saying, “Friends worldwide: We’re so touched by your love! Kay & I love you back! We’ll respond to SBC in OUR time & our way thru direct channels,” going on to list his reach through newsletters, radio, and social media, where the Purpose-Driven Life author has 11 million followers.”

Sorry, Rick. God’s not in the social media business and couldn’t care less how many followers you have. God is in the truth business, and the Bible says what the Bible says. Kim Kardashian has 345 million Instagram followers, maybe we should check with her and get her views on the subject.

Warren also had this to say:

“I could talk to you all about what I believe about the gift of pastorate as opposed to the office of pastorate, but I’m not here to talk about that,” Warren remarked…”

He’ll be addressing the hair splitters convention next week, I’m told.

The SBC isn’t saying, and the Bible doesn’t say, that women are somehow second-class people. Far from it. Throughout the Bible women have significance. Ruth, Rachel, Hannah, Deborah was a Judge, Esther was a queen, Miriam saved the life of Moses, Elizabeth, Martha, Mary Magdalene, and of course Mary, Jesus’ mother. All very prominent and all very important in God’s plan and/or Jesus’ life on Earth. Just not as the pastor of a church.

Finally, there’s the old slippery slope. The United Methodist Church began ordaining women pastors in 1968. In April of last year, a UMC church in Illinois unanimously certified a drag queen to be ordained as a minister. Once the church starts down the road of attempting to appease the whims of the popular culture there’s no turning back. Kudos to the Southern Baptist Conference for taking a stand.