Deborah and the Ordination of Women

 

When Church Tradition Gets in the Way of God's Calling

The Seventh-day Adventist Church has spent years debating the question of whether women should be ordained to the gospel ministry. It is a debate that has produced strong opinions on both sides. But perhaps we need to step back from the arguments, the policies, and the church politics and ask a much simpler question: What does the Bible tell us about the way God uses women?

Before we get too caught up in the word ordination, we should remember what ordination actually is. Ordination does not give someone the Holy Spirit. It does not create spiritual gifts. It does not make a person capable of preaching the gospel. It does not make someone more valuable in God's eyes. And it certainly does not create God's calling. At its most basic level, ordination is the church's public recognition and setting apart of someone for ministry. The certificate is produced by people. The calling comes from God.

That distinction matters. Because if we begin to treat the piece of paper as though it is what gives someone authority to serve God, we have placed the emphasis in the wrong place. A piece of paper cannot make a person a spiritual leader any more than a driver's license makes someone a good driver. The document recognizes something; it does not create the ability.

Ordination, as practiced by the church today, also has a history of church tradition and organization behind it. That does not mean every aspect of ordination is wrong. Churches need organization, accountability, training, and standards. But we should never confuse a human system of recognition with a command that God Himself has clearly established. When tradition and Scripture appear to be in tension, Scripture must have the final word.

Deborah Should Make Us Think

Consider Deborah. Her story is found in Judges 4 and 5, and it is difficult to describe her role as anything less than significant spiritual leadership. The Bible says that Deborah was a prophetess and that she was judging Israel. The Israelites came to her for judgment. She communicated God's direction to Barak, and she accompanied him when he went into battle.

Think about that for a moment. Deborah was not simply performing a supportive role in the background. She was functioning as a prophet and judge among God's people. She was providing spiritual direction and leadership at a critical moment in Israel's history.

And where is the argument about whether Deborah had the proper human credential?

It isn't there.

God called her. God used her. And Scripture records her ministry as part of the story of God's deliverance of Israel.

Deborah's story does not prove that every question surrounding modern church organization is automatically settled. But it does establish something we cannot simply ignore: God has used women to exercise significant spiritual leadership among His people.

And Deborah Wasn't Alone

The Bible gives us other examples. Miriam was called a prophetess. Huldah was a prophetess whose counsel was sought during one of the most important religious reforms in Judah. Esther was placed in a position where her courage and influence helped preserve God's people.

In the New Testament, Priscilla participated in teaching Apollos, a man who was already a capable preacher. Paul commended Phoebe and described her as a servant of the church at Cenchrea. Junia is mentioned favorably in Romans 16:7. And Mary Magdalene was entrusted by the risen Jesus with the announcement of His resurrection.

That last example deserves special attention. Jesus could have chosen anyone to deliver the first resurrection message to His disciples. Yet Mary Magdalene was given that privilege. She went and told the disciples that she had seen the risen Lord.

Jesus did not seem concerned that His messenger was a woman.

What About Spiritual Gifts?

The New Testament teaches that spiritual gifts are given by the Holy Spirit. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12 that the Spirit distributes gifts to believers "as He wills." The emphasis is on the Spirit's distribution of gifts, not on human beings deciding who is worthy to receive them.

Peter, quoting Joel at Pentecost, spoke of God's Spirit being poured out on "your sons and your daughters" and declared that God's servants—"menservants and maidservants"—would receive the Spirit.

The early church was entering a new era in which the gospel was going to the entire world. The Holy Spirit was not restricted to one social class, nationality, or gender.

So perhaps the question we should ask is not simply, "Is this person a man or a woman?"

Perhaps we should ask, "Has God gifted this person? Has God called this person? Is this person faithfully proclaiming Christ? Is this person demonstrating Christian character and producing spiritual fruit?"

Those are much more substantial questions.

We Must Be Careful With Church Tradition

There is nothing wrong with tradition simply because it is tradition. Every church has traditions. Some are useful. Some help maintain order. Some preserve valuable lessons from the past.

But tradition becomes dangerous when we can no longer distinguish it from Scripture.

Jesus Himself warned about this problem. In Mark 7:8, He said, "For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men."

The principle is important. Human traditions must remain under the authority of God's Word.

This is especially important for a church that has historically emphasized Sola Scriptura—the Bible as the ultimate authority. If we are going to insist that Scripture is our foundation, then we must be willing to examine our practices by Scripture, even when the answer challenges long-established customs.

The Issue Isn't Whether Women Are Valuable

Sometimes discussions about women's ordination become unnecessarily emotional because people hear the question as an attack on men, women, pastors, or the church itself.

It doesn't have to be.

Recognizing the spiritual gifts and calling of women does not diminish men. Giving a woman an opportunity to serve does not take away the calling of a man. God's kingdom is not a competition for a limited number of spiritual positions.

Paul's picture of the church as the body of Christ makes this clear. Different members have different functions, but all are necessary. The purpose is not to determine which member is more important. The purpose is to fulfill the mission.

The real question is whether we are allowing God's people to use the gifts He has given them.

What Are We Afraid Will Happen?

Perhaps this is where the church needs some honest reflection.

If a woman is already preaching the gospel, teaching Scripture, counseling people, leading people to Christ, baptizing believers where permitted, serving her congregation, and demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit, what exactly happens when a committee places a certificate in her hand?

Does she suddenly receive the Holy Spirit?

No.

Does she suddenly become gifted?

No.

Does God suddenly recognize her?

No. God already knew her.

The certificate may represent the church's recognition of her ministry, but it does not create God's calling.

And if God is already using someone, we should be cautious about allowing human procedures to become an unnecessary barrier to that person's service.

Keep Jesus at the Center

There is an even bigger danger in this debate. We can become so focused on who is allowed to hold a particular position that we forget why the church exists.

Jesus gave His followers a mission: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).

The world does not need more arguments about church paperwork.

The world needs Jesus.

There are people who are lonely, frightened, addicted, grieving, confused, and searching for hope. There are people who have never opened a Bible. There are people who think Christianity is nothing more than a collection of rules. There are people who desperately need to hear that God loves them and that Jesus died for them.

The church has a mission.

If God has given someone the gifts, character, training, and calling to help fulfill that mission, we should think very carefully before placing unnecessary obstacles in the way.

A Final Thought

The question of women's ordination is not ultimately about a piece of paper. It is about how we recognize God's calling.

Deborah did not need a modern ordination certificate before God could use her. Miriam did not wait for a committee to determine whether she could be a prophetess. Huldah was sought out because people recognized that God had given her a prophetic message. Mary Magdalene was commissioned by the risen Christ to carry the news of His resurrection.

God has always been capable of calling people in ways that challenge the expectations of their culture.

So perhaps the Adventist Church should keep asking the hard questions—not just, "What have we always done?" but, "What does Scripture actually teach?"

Not, "Who holds the certificate?" but, "Who has God gifted?"

Not, "Who deserves the position?" but, "Who is faithfully serving Christ?"

And not, "How can we protect our traditions?" but, "How can we most faithfully accomplish the mission Jesus gave His church?"

Ordination may be a useful way for a church to recognize ministry. But we should never allow the recognition to become more important than the calling.

The paper comes from people. The gifts come from the Holy Spirit. The mission comes from Jesus. And ultimately, the church belongs to Him.