INSIGHT

I love the Bill Cosby Show. He is one of our greatest “Father-figure” TV role-models of all time. Some may say Father Knows Best or Marcus Welby (for those of you who are old enough to remember) are enduring images of strong solid father-figures. But as an African American, Leave It To Beaver just didn’t do it for me. I couldn’t identify with many of their problems and way of living.

However, the Huckstables…now there’s a family that transcended the color barriers and lines. Cliff and Clair were able to create a role as two professionals (Cliff as a Doctor and Clair as a Lawyer) raising children and doing it with flair. I raise this show up because, in part, the reason it did so well amongst black and whites was - they both were professionals and contributed equally to the parenting role. While Clair was indeed the MOTHER of the house, the show did little to diminish or destroy Cliff’s role as a strong black father who is also a professional. In fact, it was reinforced by showing that Cliff’s father was alive and equally worthy of praise for his job of raising a son who is now a father and Doctor.

One of Cliff’s all-time favorit lines (to Clair - his loving wife and abled Attorney), or Cleo (his son trying to find his own way) was: “Just because you say it, doesn’t make it so.” He would use this line as a way of enlightening his wife or son to the reality that somethings are because God said it, and that fact alone means it’s the end of the story.

TROUBLING TRENDS IN PREACHING

Such is also the case amongst a growing and equally troubling trend within the Christian Community. The trend of Women professing a calling to be Preachers, Apostles and Pastors; Deacons, Elders and Trustees. There are several wonderful resources on this topic I’d like to recommend (Dr. Timothy J. Winters: The Way We Were; and Dr. John MacArthur: Twelve Extraordinary Women). These are foundational books to quickly get the Christian (lacking understanding on this topic) up to par and developing one’s understanding about what God has to say on this matter.

Of course, the Bible is the BEST source of all to read and glean an understanding on this important topic; however, the recommended reading are supplements and were written with the intent of explaining in simpler terms what the Bible has already spoken about this matter. Anyone truly desiring to understand what God has to say on this matter are encouraged to ask God, whom James says will give to you liberally and not grudgingly. But he says you have to ask NOT wavering in your request or you’ll be like ’a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed’ which it’s better to not even ask God with that kind of spirit. James ends with this admonishment: “A double-minded person is unstable in all their ways.” 

BIBLICAL PROSPECTIVE

So, having set the ground-work, let’s see what God has to say about WOMEN Preachers. First, you should understand a few fundamentals regarding our journey together; this is not what D’Adran Bryant is saying about this, this is GOD talking through his Word. The sad thing about this concept is, there are many Pastors and Preachers I hold in high esteem and have a tremendous amount of respect towards, but they share a DIFFERENT prospective from God’s Word. I am a called, Licensed and Ordained preacher. I preacher the entire Word of God. Why this is important to you? Because there is no part of the Bible I am excluded from preaching. More over, there are parts that I have not gleaned insight or a deeper understanding of to preach on, but that does not mean I won’t preach on it. Plainly spoken - There ain’t nothing I won’t preach if given to me by the Holy Spirit. Which leads me to the my point regarding the fundamentals I mentioned: How do we know that God is saying what I’m preaching? The Preacher/Pastor’s role is to open the bible and ‘Make plain’ what it reveals. HE does not speak ‘outside’ of the text, or speak ‘into’ the text, but rather simply elaborates on what ‘Thus says the Lord’ in a way for even a child to understand.

So, it’s important that we agree that Preachers are called by God. Doesn’t matter what the WORLD says, the bible says God calls preachers out from amongst the called. Who are the ‘called’ the bible speaks of? Christians. Christians are called out from the world to repentence. We are then told to go make disciples. But God then calls out of the Christian pool (as it were) Preachers and Pastors. This is very important because from this understanding we will draw out WHO God calls to Preach and Pastor.

GETTING THE FOUNDATION LEVEL

Another important Fundamental is the term PROPHET. The modern-day translation is ‘One who speaks forth’ or Preacher. Preacher is rooted from the word Herald - which means to publicize or proclaim. From the Biblical focus these Heralders were MEN who were called by God to ‘speak forth’ on behalf of God. You will see in the Old and New Testament that God operated within his on set boundaries and theme that Man is the Head, given headship over the woman and the WOMAN serves primarily as a helpmate to her husband. On occasion, you will see them also serving in roles of a support person or helper; be it to Jesus himself, God or man. No-where in the bible will you see a woman acting independently of the Holy Spirit or contrary to God’s Word. However, equally important, no-where in the Bible will you find a woman Heralding (Speaking Forth) except…in a few select circumstances that we will review. When they did speak - it was in a very limited capacity and not for an extended period. In fact, you could say it was an ON THE SPOT statement or something that was already known. This is different from a Prophet who usually spoke as the mouth-piece of God and backing his word up with signs and miracles. Also accompanying the Prophet would be revelations, NOT KNOW until he spoke it to the people, king or person. 

You will have (five individuals with the title of Prophetess in the Old Testament and 2 in the New Testament) those of which we will talk about, did function for a SPECIFIC amount of time and for a distinct purpose. This was not unusual nor out of line with the scriptures. They did not operate as teachers or usurp any man’s authority (as we will learn in scripture further along). PART I