When you hear about a church with a female pastor, do you immediately picture rainbow flags flying from the steeple and liberal-leaning slogans posted on the welcome sign?

I don’t blame you.  With so many churches, Christian leaders, and even large Chrisitan denominations embracing unbiblical theories on gender, race, and “reproductive justice”, it is smart to be skeptical of any church that seems to be operating outside of what we are used to. In this age, where many in the church “call evil good, and good evil,¹” the wise Christian must exercise discernment when selecting a shepherd to follow or flock to join. It is a decision that can have eternal consequences!

Scripture warns us that “there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies.²”  Sadly, we also know that “Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.³” We see this happening in churches that mislead their flock by conflating Christ-like love with radical gender ideology.

So be discerning!  If we allow bias, fear, or stereotypes to guide our decision-making, we may become blind to God’s direction, and rob ourselves of all that God has for us.  In melding all female pastors and Bible teachers into one box, we may be missing out on significant portions of God’s kingdom. 

Jesus specifically told people to “Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”⁴

The truth is that many female pastors are Biblically sound and conservative leaders.

“How is this possible?” you may wonder.  After all, many denominations teach that women are forbidden from preaching, which may lead you to think that a woman pastor, by her very existence, is taking liberties with the Bible and diverging from sound teaching.  Is this true?

Jesus came to earth to become the great equalizer, to break the religious bondage that, for millennia, excluded people from intimacy with God.  In his letter to the Galatians, Paul says definitively, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”⁵ 

In his letter to the brothers AND sisters in Corinth, Paul explains that there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit – God’s Holy Spirit – distributes them to each one, as He sees fit.⁶

These scriptures tell us that followers of Christ are all equal, and that the Holy Spirit will use whomever He chooses, however He chooses.  When we determine for ourselves that women should not preach, we are putting limits on what God can do.  Are these ideas coming merely from human tradition?

“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”⁷

It is our challenge to properly discern whether a leader or church is Biblically sound and leading people toward Jesus and away from destruction. 

Scripture gives us the criteria for exercising what Jesus called “right judgment.”

1. Judge them by their fruit, not their gender. “By their fruit you will recognize them…every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.”⁸ 
2. Ask: Is the church “affirming” of unbiblical lifestyle choices?  Acceptance is not the same as affirmation.  Acceptance is Christ-like, affirmation is destructive.
3. Don’t conflate truth with a feeling.  Often, we equate God’s presence with a good feeling, almost like a type of high, and conclude that a church where we get this feeling is a Godly church.  Beware of letting your feelings be your guide.  Sin often feels good – but leads to bondage!  Seek the Lord with all your heart, soul, AND mind.
4. Read the Bible.  Ask for His help, and the Holy Spirit will teach you all you need to know.⁹  
5. Ask: Does the church seem to have an affinity toward the world?  Christ followers are commanded to love people, not the world.  Actually, scripture says that “friendship with the world means enmity against God. Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”¹⁰

It is my belief that a bias against Godly women in church leadership grieves the heart of God. Embracing a bias against women perpetuates the dogmatic religious exclusion that He sent His son to break through His death on the cross.  When Christians fully operate in their gifting, the whole body benefits.  Let us not put limits on what God can do!  His ways are higher than our ways, and He will call whom He chooses.¹¹

References

1.  Isaiah 5:20
2. 2 Peter 2:1
3. 2 Peter 2:2
4.  John 7:24
5. Galatians 3:28
6. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
7. Colossians 2:8
8. Matthew 7:16-17
9. John 14:26
10. James 4:4
11. Isaiah 55:9

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