Al Mohler is a very gifted and intelligent conservative theologian. He has however recently descended a slippery slope concerning the ordination of women. Recently he posted a blog concerning the Church of England‘s announcement that in this past year they ordained more women into the priesthood than men. This is particularly concerning to Mohler as he believes, “The issues of women’s ordination and the normalization of homosexuality are closely linked.” But, how a woman in church leadership will lead to the acceptance of homosexuals somehow escaped me.
He went on to explain that the “interpretive games” which allow a women to serve as a priest are the same which allow homosexuals into the priesthood. He could not be farther from the truth! A simple survey of scripture will result in several references to the condemnation of homosexual practice. There are however no such scriptures which make being a woman a sin. Romans 1:18-27 states that homosexual practice, not femininity, is a sin worthy of judgment.
Furthermore the scriptures restricting women in the church are very clearly culturally driven. Even Paul had a hard time being consistent! In 1 Timothy 2:11-14 he forbids women to speak at all, while in 1 Corinthians 11:5-7 he asks only that their heads be covered when they pray or prophecy. These two passages reveal the different cultural situations at work in the early church. Furthermore there are several references to the veiling of women, a practice the majority of evangelicals have foregone. Why have we considered the veil a transitory cultural statement while the preceding verse concerning women’s roles as immutable law?
That women were active in the early church is undeniable. Acts records several women in service including Lydia in Philippi who was a strong leader, Dorcas was an influential servant (aka deacon) and, Priscilla was a very intelligent co-teacher with her husband. Paul also mentions several women in ministry worthy of note in Romans 16.
Women are not foreigners to ministry! While I might not presently be prepared to defend a woman’s right to the pulpit, I will readily defend a woman’s right to serve in any other category of ordained ministry. This is not an interpretive leap! The greater leap is to ignore women in ministry, both in scripture and the present church, by employing a hermeneutic of ignorance. This is the same great leap of ignorance and turning a blind eye to the text required to bless homosexual practices.
There needs to continue to be a healthy discussion in all churches regarding the role of women in ministry. It is a hotly debated and emotionally charged issue – we need not complicate it with unnecessary frustration. These issues of women in ministry and homosexuality are separate, let us keep it that way.
