good response
thank you

"Joseph R. Terrell" <pastor@...> wrote:
Dear Harry,

Your question brings up the question of "What is a minister?" A minister 
is, essentially, a servant, someone who does work for someone else. 
Certainly every member of the Lord's church is a minister, for we are to 
serve one another in love. Not all teach, and not all teachers teach 
publically; but all are given gifts to serve.

In some respect, all should be ready to teach in some capacity for we are to 
be prepared to give an answer for the hope that lies in us.

In the teaching ministry, the role of women is often a stumbling block. It 
cannot be denied that women are not to be in any official capacity in the 
organizational structure of the church which would make them teachers or 
rulers of men. But no argument can be made against them teaching children 
and other women. If this seems an inferior job to that of teaching men, it 
is only an mere appearance and not reality. Who can be a more important 
teacher than the one who teaches a person the very first things he learns 
about the gospel?!

It is sad that the church has allowed the world's view of gender dictate its 
approach to this matter. Due to a male chauvinism, the role of women in 
society and church has been considered inferior to that of men. When 
feminism came along, they did not change that erroneous assumption: 
Instead, they tried to "elevate" women by putting them in traditioanlly male 
roles. They gave tacit agreement to the male chauvinistic model by trying 
to gain glory for women by turning them into men. The better way would have 
been to elevate women by demonstrating the excellency of what they 
traditioally have done. I, for one, have deep respect for the ability of 
women to teach chidlren. There are not very many men who have the 
temperment (read "patience") to deal with the all-day-every-day work of 
rearing children. Those men who think teaching children is an easy matter, 
should just try to teach them the gospel...try to instruct them in the 
abstract ideas of grace. I teach the kids here for one week each summer 
during VBS. I love doing it, but that is about enough. Thank God for women 
with gospel wisdom and a heart to teach the little ones the truth all year 
long! I am so often reminded of Paul's words to Timothy that his faith was 
first found in his MOTHER and grandMOTHER. Who do you think taught Tim the 
gospel?

Another area of teaching ministry suitable to women (one I do not see 
happening hardly at all) is a ministry to young women. Someone needs to 
teach them how to conduct themselves in the assembly of the saints. I know 
we thnk that the young will not listen to the old. maybe that is because 
the old to often dictate to the young rather than seek to embrace them. But 
I do know that teenagers desperately want to grow up, and they get little 
wise instruction on how to do so. A real, self-assured, godly minded women 
could be a great benefit to the younger women. Young women need to be 
taught modesty. I know some purposfully dress to attract lustful attention, 
but I do beleive some are just naieve, and someone needs to plainly explain 
to them that they must not come to church with bare midriffs, low necklines 
or short skirts, and not explain it to them in a condescending, tsk-tsk way, 
but just explain to them how a man's mind wrks, and that they need to show 
some respect for themselves and the men who come for worship and most of 
all, for the God who made them.. Most dads feel embarrased to do it. many 
moms have an adversarial relationship with their daughters. How good then, 
if there is within the church one or more of that sort of woman who is 
mature but not "old-minded" who has the courage and personality to connect 
with younger women, who could say, "Let's go clothes shopping...." and use 
the opportunity to teach a young woman how to present herself in the 
assembly of the saints.

And young women need someone to teach them how to be good wives and mothers. 
(BTW, I realize the need for a corollary ministry for young men).

And all this "ministry" need not be some official thing with meetings duly 
scheduled and put on the church calendar, but what we might call NATURAL 
ministry; just day-to-day involvment in the lives of others.

And this raises another point...why is it we are so anxious to divide the 
membership of the Lord's church by age. Is it any wonder that the young do 
not learn from the old when they are never in the same place? Why is it 
nearly every church has activities segregated by age all the time. It is 
good sometimes, but I would be delighted to see whole church gatherings with 
folks of all ages enjoying one another's company.

Ah well, so much for my romantic notions fo how things ought to be: but 
maybe I'll try to implement some of them.



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "H Dorrington" 
To: 
Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2005 6:50 PM
Subject: [soundofgrace] Are all Christians ministers?


>I am in a discussion with someone on another list who is refuting my claim 
>that all Christians are ministers. Now I do not mean that all Christians 
>are elders and pastors but I believe we are all to minister unto others, 
>both our brothers and sisters in Christ as well as to the world. Part of 
>our duty as salt and light and with the great commission.
>
> Am I wrong? What Scripture do you believe teaches your view? And if you 
> hold to all Christians are ministers then how do you harmonize that with 
> Paul's teachings in 1Cor where he basically tells women to sit down and 
> shut up and ask their husbands when they get home?
>
> Harry
>
>
>
>
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