LRC, Houston - the weekends-free church in Houston, Texas

What’s the church have to say about women? Wrong question!

What did Jesus have to say about women and what was His interaction with them? That’s a far more important question. Unfortunately the church does not have a very good track record in that area, among others. One has to remember that it wasn’t until about 90 years ago that we living in this nation, the land of the free, would even allow women to vote! The 19th Amendment to the constitution corrected that. The church though still places great restraints on women.

The debate still drones on in denomination after denomination as to whether a woman can teach, especially to men, or simply share. Like what’s the difference here? Can a woman be a deacon, an elder, ordained as a pastor. Why are we asking these questions? What do you think Jesus would say, what would He do?

What DID He do?

In John chapter 4 we have the story with Jesus carrying on a conversation with the woman at the well, who had been married five times, was living with another man, and god-forbid, He was ALONE with her. The shame of it all. Didn’t Jesus know that you don’t counsel a woman all alone, even if not in a closed office. Can’t you hear the wagging tongues if a pastor today was caught in such a situation? Four chapters later (John 8:11), He’s telling a woman caught in adultery that He doesn’t condemn her and he tells her to go, be free, and sin no more.

What’s up with all of this?

When you read the Gospels you see that women were traveling with his ministry and you get the sense that they are doing more than fixing supper, washing the dishes, and ironing clothes. Did these women have husbands? God-forbid that they were all single. Historians and scholars also say that at least 9 of the 12 disciples were teenagers. So, how’d they handle their hormones in such an environment for anywhere from 1-3 years? I know, I know, we don’t want truth, reality, facts. We want to sanitize the whole scenario and make it something it wasn’t.

But, let me get back to the central point again.

Jesus was accused of eating with sinners, prostitutes. He was a wine bibber, a glutton, and you name it; however, he was never accused of any sexual improprieties. And at the heart of what I want to say and convey is that Jesus HONORED women. They were vital to His ministry. They financially supported, spiritually uplifted, and emotionally embraced His ministry. And He treated them much differently than the church does today. Why is that? Why?

And if there was ever a message here, it should speak volumes to Muslims and other religions that make women 3rd or 4th class citizens, if citizens at all. And I hope it’s a wake up call to the church in America. Patriarchy is becoming an ancient relic; however, it’s subtle trail, like a passing comet, still covers us with the debris of arrogance and elitism.

So, can we begin to treat women in ministry like Jesus did?