Introduction
The role of women regarding preaching has been a topic of debate and discussion because there are various views that range from complete involvement of women in preaching to the complete prohibition. But, now the modern trends promote the concept of the equal roles of ministry for women and men, and it is also evident from the biblical verses. Christianity has allowed women to preach. The role of women as preachers should be encouraged because it is the order of God and all people are bound to obey His order. In this paper, the reasons for why women should be preachers are described in detail in the light of Christianity.
Explanation
God has made women in a way that they are naturally compatible for the public speaking as a whole, and particularly for pulpit preaching. There is no distinction in the roles of males and females; even God has not instituted any distinction between the roles of males and females. It can be analyzed from an example of Adam and Eve, who enjoyed complete equality of collective hardship and collective leadership. However, God has introduced the idea of the male headship for the better governance and management of home, and not for the management of the churches and the covenant communities. The New Testament also suggests that Christians should try to create an ideal of the total equality, and eliminate role differentiation based on the gender. The study of Bible indicates that in the Old Testament there was in fact a female priest as a minimum. However, God has himself predestined Eve a preacher and priest. God has dressed them as priests by using the skin of animal in the Garden of Eden. The importance of women as preachers can be analyzed from the fact that Prophetesses Marian, Huldah, and Deborah have exercised leadership and headship roles over males.
Moreover, Rose of Viterbo is also an example of the fact that, women preachers are encouraged in Christianity. Rose is known for her exile, her inspiration and authority to speak. In order to preach Rose spoke to the groups of people. She gathered people in church and on the streets. She instructed them to pray and also revealed prophecies and teachings in front of them for the purpose of educating them. She got authority and inspiration in order to preach and speak from the mystic vision and from her prophesy capability. Further, Rose preached against the political rivals of the church, and became a spokesperson for church. Rose delivered variety of speeches; she preached daily and conveyed Good news to people. She also spoke against the heretics because of the conflict of interest with them; she revealed their mistakes and corrected them. Thus, Rose addressed to various people and gatherings, and made it clear that no legal restrictions can be imposed on women if they want to preach at the public level. Additionally, Rose was exiled from her home due to the political reasons, but even then she continued preaching, remained faithful with the public, and influenced them with her teaching.
Despite the restrictions and prohibitions, Christian women have continued preaching, which include teaching, singing, prophecy, and writing. Most of the priest, however, failed to preach and educate people properly, but women performed this task effectively. An example of this fact is Blanche of Castille, who educated her son in a very effectual manner; she taught him how to have faith on God, and how to love God. She provided the company religious people to her son so that he became aware of sermons and prayers. This proves the fact that women are good preachers and they should be encouraged for preaching.
Moreover, in the beginning of the nineteenth century British women were not allowed for preaching and governance as they were not educated. Males were given high respect and importance for preaching others. Women were considered to be naturally loving, friendly, and religious, while men were regarded as strong, practical, and quick. Women were deemed to be better suited for the house and family, and men were preferred for participating in work, business, and political activities. But, later on the economic situations and the change in ideologies modified the lives of women. They played significant roles within their families and societies, and preached others. They participated actively in the public as well as political activities. It can, however, be realized from the work of the revolutionists that the in spite of the fact that women were deprived of the ownership of property, the married women participated actively as legators and consumers. The participation of women in the affairs of church increased, which created awareness that women also have ability to lead others.
The encouragement of women preachers can also be considered from the fact that Pentecostal Christian females are also given the authority to preach and speak in the church. In the late nineteenth Century, They were given permission in the International Pentecostal Holiness Church to preach and speak with the power and authority. This collective, exceptional, and religious power is, however, still practiced by women in the International Pentecostal Holiness Church.
The role of Black women as preachers is also noteworthy. In the nineteenth century, African American women have played significant role, they described the ill effects of slavery, created awareness about the civil rights, and conveyed the messages of trust, faith and hope in order to encourage their followers. Among the African American women, the names of Jarena Lee, Rebecca Cox Jackson, Amanda Smith, Elizabeth, Sojourner Truth, Ida Robinson, Quinceila Whillow, Rosa Horn, Ella Whitfield, Mary Evans, and Florence Randolp, etc, are significant. These women continued their preaching in the 19th and 20th century and explored new opportunities for women in order to assure their progress in the polity of church.However, most of the Black women wrote autobiographies, for representing the images of pious, progressive, and confident women who can be best preachers as they remain resolute in their religious beliefs, and are bold in raising their voice regarding the moral standards such as traditions, race, religion and society.
Still, there are many people who believe that women are not suitable for headship positions in the churches, because increasing participation of women in affairs of church is an indication of the end of apostasy. According to Ron Riffle, today, people who previously conservative Protestants are holding dominant positions in the churches, and they are bearing unavoidable pressure from women desiring to become pastors. But, it is scriptural for women to be pastors or preachers, and the ultimate decision regarding female pastors can only be made after analyzing the scriptures. God has awarded the knowledge related to Scriptures to the Ministers of Gospel. In Christianity, Pastor is a term that is used for a spiritual leader guiding a group of people or believers, who are organized in the form of a church.
However, Preacher is a term that indicates Ministers of Gospel, who are responsible for spreading faith, light, and Gospel, encouraging, and creating discipline in the lives of adult males, women, and their children. So, this is pointing out towards the fact that ministering is associated with men, and women are excluded from being pastors and preachers. Riffle explained that God has assigned the task of spiritual leadership to males, and women are not allowed to give instructions in this regard as God has ordered them to adopt calm and submissive nature. Riffle provided an example that God has assigned the responsibility of preaching to the son of Aaron so that he can serve as a priest, and no woman was selected for this purpose. According to Riffle women are suitable for the headship position in the church because of the fact that they are women.
Furthermore, Zac Ponnen also considers that the preaching of women is not justified in any way, it is just the act of Satan, who is deceiving women and encouraging them to compete with men. But, God likes women to act in submission to males such as their husbands. Man is considered as the head of women, so women should respect his head. Ponnen provided an example of Eve that she committed a mistake in the Garden of Eden, she did not consulted her husband before taking the ultimate decision, and Satan succeeded in deceiving her. So, God ordered that the Christian wives should remain submissive to their husbands. beautiful and pious heart, tongue, and hands are the characteristics of a noble and submissive wife. The glory of a woman is to help her husband and be a good mother of his children.
Ponnen, further indicates that In the New Testament age, God has not called a women as prophet, apostle, shepherd, evangelist, and a teacher. However, prophetesses were there mentioned in the old covenant, but there just a prophetess named Jezebel in the New Testament, who was the false prophetess. The New Testament indicates that women can prey as well as prophesy in church, but her head should be covered. Women are not allowed to preach, and increase in the female preachers in the 21st century is reflecting a shift and great distance from the God and His teachings. God just prefer those women who remain within their boundaries, and express the true charm of the womanhood and good human being throughout their lives.
The Bible, however, also indicates this fact that there were female leaders and apostles in the New Testament. This can be considered from examples that Phoebe was a female minister, and Junia was remarkable female apostle. Further, there are many examples of Christian female writers, who have effectively preached through their extraordinary writing skills. An example of such female is Hrotsvit who was a capable poet and writer. Through her work and revered dramas, she has presented woman as loyal, sincere, and brave. She has rectified the negative comments regarding women that were put forward by the Roman Poet. The works of Catholic women writers has emphasized abilities and dignity of women. The work of these writers clearly explained that there is an equal worth of male and female before God, so women should not discriminated for preaching on the basis of sex.
Furthermore, a significant increase in the number of female mystics and religious teachers can be found in Medieval Europe. These females have strengthened the Christian thought. More and more women became aware of the teachings of God, Christ, angels, and Saints. Ultimately, they found their way and a voice in the teachings in Churches. Moreover, work of another Christian woman named Stein is noteworthy in this regard. Stein was a prominent translator and writer, she mostly preached through her writing, which were related to women. Her several articles were published between the years 1928 and 1933, in which she wrote about the rights of women in the society. Her articles are still unmatchable. In her articles, she created an awareness regarding contributions of women and demanded fair treatment for them. She described that women can bring this world out of crisis, and identified that the progress of western civilization is because of the active preaching of Christian women.
Moreover, J.Lee Grady has explained the reason of defending women preachers. She describes that most of the Christians are of the view that Bible has forbidden the women for the pastoral preaching. But, as a matter of fact Bible supports the leadership of women. An example of this fact is that Paul has expressed unity with two female leaders named Syntyche and Eudia. He, however, never restricted women from preaching in the church. Further, Grady is of the view that more women are required now in the ministry because the churches need the perspectives and views of women. This can be understood from an example that a both parents, i.e., father and mother are essential for a child, in the same manner directions from both males and females are required in the churches, so that male-dominance can be prevented in the churches.
Additionally, it is not possible to address the problems of women that they are facing today without allowing them to come forward and take leadership positions. If present era is considered, the problems of sexual abuse, genital mutilation, and sex trafficking, etc are constantly increasing, and it is not possible to overcome these problems effectively without empowering women. Women are supportive to men, they assist them in each step, and they do not present any resistance and hurdles in the work of men. However, a good Christian woman also does not consider men as their rival, so men and women both are the heirs of the kingdom of God. Hence, women should not be undermined.
Bertha Barrett Jackson has indicated in the book that she faced opposition when she started preaching. But, she remained firm in her decision, and suggested that women who want to teach and preach should adopt same attitude, because God has not imposed any restriction of female for preaching. She answered the opposition that she would preach God’s words, covey message of God at any location, anytime, and God would assist me in this regard. She explained that God has blessed women with spiritual gifts, but he has left the use of Gift on us, now it is upon us, how effectively we are using the spiritual characteristics. Bertha has encouraged women to come forward by exposing the fact that the churches preventing women to preach have no knowledge regarding religion i.e., Christianity.
Conclusion
Most of the studies reveal that Christianity does not restrict the role of women as preachers. God has also encouraged women to teach and preach and facilitate others with the knowledge. There are many examples from the Christian history that are indicating that women preachers have played an essential role by preaching and pave the way to the progress. So, the churches and people should not discourage females from preaching. They should be facilitated for preaching so that an educated and pious society can be formed.
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