I would like to address a few points from the article “Is There a Place for Female Professors at Seminary?” by John Piper. I don’t want to be so naïve and presumptuous to call this a “response to” or “open letter”, since the chances of John Piper ever hearing of this writing by lil’ ol’ me, are… just none. Nevertheless, my biggest concern is the effect that this type of message may have in women within my small circle, and how it could negatively influence the health of the Body of Christ. In short, I believe women need to be encouraged to develop their gifts for the glory of God, not limit them… at least, not any more that the clear plain and simple words of Scripture do. (“Do not go beyond what is written.” 1 Cor. 4:6)
About John Piper.
First of all, let me say that I highly admire and respect John Piper. He is one of the few Christian leaders that has been successful in preaching the word faithfully for years, while keeping himself clear from scandals and moral stains. In spite of his fame, he is still humble, he is an example of someone not given to luxurious excesses, and has been brave in going against the culture when he has seen the need to stand up for racial reconciliation in our cities, and moral character in the political arena.
With all that said, I also believe that we ought to be wise in discerning the degree of truth in what anyone says, whether great or low. As John (the Apostle) writes in his 3rd letter: “do not imitate what is evil, but what is good”.
As speakers, Bible teachers and people on places of public speech prominence (including the internet) we ought to be mindful of stating clearly the difference between our opinion (which may be great, good, bad, etc), and what is Scripture (clearly, plan reading unquestionable).
Furthermore, as hearers, the idea that anything said by someone so highly respected must be right, is at best unwise; at worst idolatrous. We must be Bereans and judge everything against the word of God.
With that said, let me share a few points:
- Yes to Complementarianism
Although I tend to stay away from labels, for the sake of this discussion, I believe there is a very strong case to support the tenets of Complementarianism, in so far as the role of Pastor within a local church, and the family. Complementarianism is generally defined as “.. men and women have different but complementary roles and responsibilities in marriage, family life, religious leadership, …”.
When you look at the usage of the Greek word for ‘elder’ In the New Testament, it is very reasonable to conclude that Pastors are to be males only, for various reasons, none of them being inability or inferiority in the part of females. Likewise, I believe it is very clear that the role of a husband as the leader (servant leader, mind you) of the household, and ultimate responsible party, is indisputable.
- Seminary is not a church.
However where I get off the bus so-to-peak, and let John Piper alone is starting at this point:
“I am going to answer this question as best I can on the assumption that the Bible teaches that churches should be led by a team of spiritual, humble, biblically qualified men (1 Timothy 2:12). In other words, I’m going to base my argument about the seminary on the assumption of complementarianism, which I think is not merely an assumption but a well-founded historic understanding of Scripture.”
Notice that he starts at a true statement from a clear Biblical passage about the church (“the Bible teaches that churches should be led by a team of … men”), to an inserted assumption that seminary should work under the same premise.
Two problems:
A. Seminary is not a church.
The church was:
– Announced by Jesus in Matthew 16:18
– Established in Acts 2, and first called “the church” (‘Ekklesia’, ‘gathering’, ‘assembly’ ) in verse 47.
– Described in its unique characteristics (organization, leadership, discipline structure) in many other passages.
Making seminary of the same level and significance of church, would demand, (aside from Biblical support), the consistent application of other church biblical requirements (discipline? Tithing? Sunday gatherings?)
B. Seminary is an educational institution
On the other hand, seminary is not an institution established by the New Testament. Seminary is a modern development brought up by the convergence of formal education and religion training. Although very useful (mostly), seminary is neither a formal biblical institution, nor a biblical requirement for pastorship. (see: Acts 20:17-38; 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9).
I think the shaping done by “models and mentor” Piper refers to –the character formation of a future pastor (seminary student) is more greatly done by the influence of the Holy Spirit through godly men and women, rather that necessarily an institution.
Now, is knowing scriptures absolutely necessary? Yes! is learning the Bible and being encouraged a good thing? Yes!. Do we have examples of this? Absolutely!. Here three examples:
* Right after Paul and Silas were freed and the Philippian jailer converted, the gospel was preached and soon after “…they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.” Acts 16:40
This went on to become the church in Philippi, to whom Paul wrote the letter of Philippians.
* “24 At that time a Jew named Apollos came to Ephesus. He was an educated man from Alexandria. He knew the Scriptures very well. 25 Apollos had been taught the way of the Lord. He spoke with great power. He taught the truth about Jesus. But he only knew about John’s baptism. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. Priscilla and Aquila heard him. So they invited him to their home. There they gave him a better understanding of the way of God. ..” 1 Corinthians 2
* “28 The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, 29 “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” 30 Then they went out of the city and came to Him… 39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.”,” John 4:27-42
- The logic behind women teachers in seminary
Now that we have demonstrated that seminary is neither a biblical requirement nor a biblical institution, why could a woman not be instrumental in teaching future church leaders in many areas? Languages, history, counseling, prayer, exegesis, soteriology, technology; these are by and large knowledge areas that can be very critical for a pastor to know and understand, and that many women can be even more capable that men in teaching. The idea of a woman not being able to teach, let’s say, Counseling, to a future pastor, because she has never been nor will ever be a pastor herself, makes as much sense as:
– an attorney not being able to teach a workshop on Health Regulations to a class of future doctors, or
– a rabbi not being able to teach a course on Religious Cultures to a class of future Army officers, or
– an IT technician teaching PowerPoint to a class of future Science teachers.. and so on…
Just in the same way, what Bible passage prohibits women from teaching (again, outside of the pastor’s position) the Word of God and the many related aspects related to it? None that I can find.
In summary: God gave gifts to both men and women. Let’s let women feel free to explore and develop their God given potential in using their gifts in teaching and serving –even without being the pastors, for the building of the church.
In a society and time so marked by biblical illiteracy, imagine what would happen if more and more of our wives and mothers and daughters and teen girls, and female college students found their call, received the support and had the environments to develop their skills? Why not give it a shot?
- “Think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, … or ministry, …..” Romans 12
- “7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom … the word of knowledge … faith … healings …” 1 Corinthians 12
- “7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. … 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,” Ephesians 4
- “10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, … If anyone ministers, ..” 1 Peter 4