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JAMES RONDINONE PUBLICATIONS
JAMES RONDINONE PUBLICATIONS
Category:
Religion
Publisher: James Rondinone Publications
ISBN-10: B08QLHR1KM
Type: Non-Fiction
Pages: 150
Copyright: December 12, 2020
ISBN-13: 9798580983127
Price: $1.99 (eBook)
We have been told from the pulpit that only men have been called to the leadership positions of the church. Uncovered truths and new translations have changed this perspective.
This book is about a biblical topic that is probably as controversial now as it was when Christ walked the earth.
What it has to do with is whether a woman can be called by God to any of the leadership positions in the church.
The traditional perspective that a woman is to be subservient to church authority; to her husband in the home; and the conjecture to males in the leadership positions of society has permeated culture for thousands of years.
I believe there is a worldwide audience of men and women in church, the political realm, and the home that would be interested in finding out if there is an alternative view to this biblical perception that would present a convincing case by providing both circumstantial and direct scriptural evidence that would support a women’s ordination in the church, her rightful place in the home, and her capacity to assume leadership roles that have for so long been against cultural norms.
Could an argument be made that might support such by providing both circumstantial and direct Bible scriptural evidence?
Join me in the search for the truth in this matter.
We will begin a thorough study by looking at those Jews who were called to the service of the priesthood, followed by some of the other positions of leadership such as Judges, Kings, and Prophets of the Old Testament, and ending with looking at those who were called to the leadership offices of the New Testament church, while including all that is in between.
In connection with this, we will revisit the many reasons that have been used in the past to support the conjecture that only males are called, such as Adam being created first by God; Eve being formed from his rib and being made to be his help meet; the husband designated as the head of the home; Jesus only appointing males to be his disciples and the slogan that this is the way it has always been.
You’ll find this study enlightening, thought-provoking, and with the presentation of earth-shattering direct evidence that will turn traditional views about this subject on their head.
Amazon.com - https://amzn.to/2RB0Y7D Website - https://makingtheonerightchoice.com
Excerpt
INTRODUCTION
This subject is a topic that has resonated with me since I went to Bible College in the early eighties. The President of the Bible college believed that the calling to an office leadership gift (e.g., apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor-teacher) was gender-specific – for males only. He did make an exception for this, however, stating that if a man had a call on his life to be a pastor and he chose not to pursue it, and there was no other male in the periphery that was called, then God could raise up a woman to be placed in this position. He also believed that the offices of apostle and prophet were no more.
There probably were as many as 100 branch ministries or churches of various sizes that were affiliated with this Bible college. Whatever was taught from the pulpit was advocated to be taught in all of the branch ministries. I’m sure that the effect of any doctrinal view is far-reaching in the sense that when you have a worldwide ministry with many members, there are views that are espoused, which are expected to be followed by its members, whether or not they agree with them.
Probably, in most worldwide churches, it’s possible that there may be at least one doctrinal view that some of its members have second thoughts about. For instance:
● The Catholic Church believes that the Scriptures forbid women to hold the position of a priest although they do allow a place for the women in the church, being that of a nun.
● The Episcopal Church believes that members must confess their sins publicly before the group during worship service so that they can receive absolution (the assurance of God’s forgiveness) from the priest.
● Some Born-Again Christian Churches advocate that a believer can lose their salvation.
● Some Seventh Day Adventist Churches believe that Jesus is not God, but an angel.
● The Church of Latter-Day Saints believes that Noah’s Ark was built in Missouri, USA.
● Buddhism believes in reincarnation.
● The Jehovah’s Witness group believes that the Holy Spirit is not God, but a life force.
● Christian Science believes that sickness does not exist.
● Islam believes there is no original sin.
● The Unitarian Church believes there is no continued human existence after physical death.
Interesting perspectives, aren’t they?
I have no official position as to whether the Bible is gender-specific concerning the calling of a Christian to an office-gift in the New Testament Church. I hope to have a better understanding of this topic after this undertaking. Since much of the contention in the church seems to question whether a woman can be the pastor of a church, we will initially focus on this idea. If it is confirmed that she can be, then we could assume that she also could be called to the office of an apostle, prophet, or evangelist. If it appears that we can derive very little information to confirm this, then we will look to see if there are any indications that a woman could be called to any of the other leadership positions.
Before we begin to look at Scriptures that speak about gender as relating to a person occupying the office of a pastor, let’s take a look at the conjecture that there are two ways to formulate a perspective on any biblical topic. What would be the reasons that would support such divergence? Let’s find out in the next chapter.
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