Can a woman be a pastor?  Please provide me with verses that back up your answer.  Be blessed.

Sincerely,
Lady In Waiting

Dear Lady In Waiting,

No.  Pastors (Eph4:11) – also known as elders or bishops (Tit 1:5-7) – are always men.  The qualifications for pastors are given in 1 Tim 3:1-7 and Tit 1:5-9.  One of those qualifications is that he must be “a husband of one wife” (1 Tim 3:2, Tit 1:6) – that clearly rules out females from becoming pastors.

Is it right for pastors to ask people for money for prophecies?

Sincerely,
Read My Palm

Dear Read My Palm,

Absolutely not!  Especially since God specifically says that we have the perfect and complete Bible, so there are no more prophecies (1 Cor 13:8-10, Jas 1:25).  Televangelists that promise healing miracles, local preachers that profess to have visions, and any others of their ilk are charlatans and liars.  They are no different than Simon the magician who tried to buy the gift of God for money… they are diseased in heart and enslaved to iniquity (Acts 8:19-23).  The word of God is in the Bible and free and available to everyone… anyone that tries to sell it to you is a false teacher.  Accept nothing but the Bible; don’t let anyone add to it, and don’t let anyone take away from it (Rev 22:18-19).  We have everything we need to know about life and godliness within the pages of the Scriptures (2 Pet 1:3).  There is no need for additional prophecy because God has handed down to us once and for all His Word to the saints (Jude 1:3).  Don’t give a penny, or even a greeting, to those who would use the Gospel for greedy gain (2 Jn 1:10-11).

(This is a follow-up question to “Women Preachers”)

We are to remain silent and ask our husbands?  What about women's Bible study groups where we ask someone other than our husband a question?  Aren't we also, according to John, to cover our heads?  Is this not just a cultural bias of the time in which this was written?  There is no precedence that has made it past the Nicene council as to what books are canonical and which are not.  Did Jesus not love Mary Magdalene (and kiss her on the ...?), that somehow got written off as a prostitute, so that males can continue to dominate?  Why should it be that because God chose to make me a woman that I am second class to a man?  Why should it not be that He created me to be just as smart, capable, and able to lead as a man?  Doesn't God only care about our spirit and not our anatomical parts?

Sincerely,
The Feminist

Dear The Feminist,

Before we address your question, let’s get one thing straight – the Bible is complete, and there aren’t any books left out.  Read “Books of the Apocrypha” to better understand that topic.  If we don’t at the very minimum agree that the Bible is written exactly as God intended, we have no common ground with which to have a sensible discussion.  There is ZERO reason to believe that Jesus had a relationship with Mary Magdalene… that is just apocryphal mumbo-jumbo.

Now, on to your question regarding men’s and women’s roles.  You have a lot of disinformation that is coloring your question.  God doesn’t treat women as second-class citizens – they are equal heirs of salvation (1 Pet 3:7).  Women don’t need to have their heads covered – their long hair is their covering (1 Cor 11:15).  Women are also welcome to ask questions in Bible studies – the command of 1 Cor 14:34-35 pertains to the church assembly, not individual classes.  Men and women are created different, but equal.  God has designed men and women to complement each other – Adam and Eve were a pair that were incomplete if separated (Gen 2:20).  God doesn’t care about our gender… He cares about whether we are willing to fulfill the role He has given us in this life.

What does God's Word say about a woman preaching in the church?

Sincerely,
Chatty Cathy

Dear Chatty Cathy,

It says she can’t do it.  1 Cor 14:34-35 makes it clear that women are not supposed to be in leadership positions during the church assembly.  Women have a zillion different roles within the church, but leading the public assembly isn’t one of them.  Men have the responsibility of preaching, teaching, and leading the worship services (1 Tim 2:12).  In today’s politically correct atmosphere, this can be hard for some to swallow, but as Paul said, “We have no other custom” on this topic (1 Cor 11:16).  There is simply no Biblical precedence for women preachers.

My mother, a very good christian woman, went on to be with the Lord about a year ago.  This happening, I started attending her church.  The pastor there resigned.  He has been preaching at local churches.  I have been going to hear him.  He is truly a man of God.  My mother’s church doesn't currently have a preacher.  I am a new christian; I have prayed about this, and my question is: am I wrong to go to where he is preaching?  I don't feel wrong, but I have others who tell me that I have “preacher religion”, but I don’t know where to go.  Can you give me some insight?

Sincerely,
Visiting

Dear Visiting,

There is nothing wrong with going and visiting other faithful congregations to hear a preacher speak (you called this man a ‘pastor’; if all he is doing is preaching, he is a preacher – not a pastor).  Go right ahead and visit as long as you consider three principles:

1. He is a sound preacher that is faithfully preaching the truth and nothing else.  We recommend reading “Preacher Interrogation” and comparing his preaching to the simple questions we lay out in that article.
2. You are remaining a faithful and involved member of a congregation.  The Scriptures don’t ever give examples of “roving” christians.  Christians are supposed to be active and involved in helping a local congregation to grow, flourish, and serve God (Eph 4:16).  We are supposed to be servants in a local church (Rom 16:1).  If you are always visiting, you aren’t really involving yourself in the life of a local congregation.  There is a balance.
3. Make sure that the church you are attending is faithfully following God’s Word.  Not all churches are equal.  Jesus warned that there are many false teachers that are “wolves in sheep’s clothing” (Matt 7:15).  We recommend you read “Finding A Church” and compare the verses in that article to the behavior of any congregation you attend.

If you consider these principles found in the Scriptures, you will make a healthy decision.