“Women can’t preach?! What about Deborah?”

    By Elizabeth Prata

    SYNOPSIS

    The text discusses the debate surrounding women’s roles in church leadership, emphasizing that women are biblically unqualified to pastor. It challenges modern fanciful interpretations of scripture, advocating for adherence to the plain scripture of the Bible. The author argues against female pastors, citing specific biblical passages and historical context while encouraging women to fulfill their rightful roles in accordance with scripture.


    It really is amazing how much push-back and how fierce the criticism is whenever someone says “women aren’t biblically qualified to pastor a church.”

    Even John MacArthur’s remark about Beth Moore, which was SIX years ago, and he has passed on now, still gets traction. He said “go home”. This was because Moore preaches, usurps, is divisive, and is generally mouthy. Beth Moore would do well to go home and tend to her family, which is exactly what Titus 2:2-5 says women should do.

    But expressing biblical thought or verses means nothing to people who rely on feelings and emotions for their basis. Many of these people have a world view instead of a biblical view. Reasoning with professing Christians who are fighting the biblical commands is pointless. They wave away the scriptures offered. In some ways I’m impressed with the number of creative ways they try to get around the clear commands of scripture as they espouse and defend their errant notions.

    As for us, rather than be cowed into silence by the rumbling and roving horde, as Christians we must always speak God’s truth. It’s more important than ever.

    No, women are not qualified to be pastors. Women are not to lead men in church. It has nothing to do with ability. Many women are gifted with teaching ability. Of these, many are fine with teaching other women, one of the roles God smiles upon. The ones who insist on teaching men, though, are kicking against the goads, because God has said ‘no.’ He set out qualifications for various demographics; children, young, old, men, women, teachers/leaders, and so on. Not even all men are allowed to pastor, either.

    All this will be old news and a well-worn path for those familiar with the Bible and obey its word. But as I mentioned above, it bears repeating to an increasingly rebellious “Christian” world.

    Here are some resources that explain the issue:

    No, Deborah Wasn’t a Pastor: A Word to Those Still Arguing for Female Church Leadership by Virgil Walker
    The Church Doesn’t Belong to You
    Let’s begin with something foundational: The Church isn’t yours. It’s not mine either. The Church is Christ’s Bride—purchased with His blood (Acts 20:28). That means He determines its design
    .

    Deborah Wasn’t Your Pastor
    One of the most misused defenses for women pastors is the example of Deborah in Judges 4. Here’s what you need to know: Deborah was a civil leader, not a shepherd of God’s people in the local church. She operated during a time of national rebellion and male passivity. She rebuked Barak for failing to lead like a man (Judges 4:9). She didn’t preach sermons. She didn’t shepherd the flock. She didn’t hold the office of elder.

    Read more at the link. It’s good.

    Virgil has been on a roll lately. He’s fire. He published this essay recently as welll:

    The Jezebel Spirit Still Preaches: How Soft Men Empower Loud Women in the Church

    In the Church, I’ve seen pastors hand off the pulpit—especially on Mother’s Day—so they could look relevant, progressive, or just avoid confrontation. It wasn’t humility. It was abdication dressed up as virtue. I’ve watched churches praise strong women while neutering their men. And I’ve heard Jezebel speak—only now, she wears a mic and gets booked at conferences.

    Speaking of women who preach on Mother’s day to the church and speak at conferences, a sad situation has arisen with the normally solid Answers in Genesis/Answers for Women Conference.

    I made the following comment on the Answers for Women Facebook page under their post that asked What are some biblical traits of a good woman? I said,

    “AIG Answers for Women mission statement says in part: “Our dynamic speakers proclaim the truth and authority of the Bible amid growing compromise” … so why do you have Heidi St. John as a listed speaker when she is a rebel who preaches Sunday Services in church? How can women grow in truth from a woman who violates the scripture she proclaims to love? Is Answers for Women compromising on the women preaching issue?”

    As of August 1, 2025, Heidi St. John is a listed speaker for the Answers in Genesis women’s conference, to be held in spring 2026.

    Pastor Gabe Hughes and the voice behind “When We Understand The Text) WWUTT? wrote this on his blog a while ago: Bad Examples of Women Pastors (But Great Examples of Godly Women), saying,

    Over the weekend, a friend got into a discussion over this topic with a feminist, and the feminist retorted with a list of names — women of the Bible who were more than just “helps” but, in her view, were qualified to be pastors. That list was as follows: “Deborah, Hannah, Miriam, Ruth, Esther, Jael, Proverbs 31, Wisdom personified as woman in Proverbs 8 (present with God at creation), Phoebe, Lydia, Prisca, Mary, Mary Magdalene, [were] all just there ‘to help’?” This is a very common tactic when arguing for why women deserve to be pastors: throw out the name of a woman from the Bible. Boom! But that name is always taken out of context.

    Pastor Gabe/WWUTT? also published this 90 second WWUTT? video-

    Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote this in his book Studies in the Sermon on the Mount,

    “In many ways the root trouble, even among good Evangelicals, is our failure to heed the plain teachings of Scripture. We accept what Scripture teaches as far as our doctrine is concerned; but when it comes to practice, we very often fail to take the Scriptures as our only guide. When we come to the practical side we employ human tests instead of Scriptural ones. In stead of taking the plain teachings of the Bible, we argue with it. ‘Ah yes’, we say, ‘since the Scriptures were written times have changed’.

    “Dare I give an obvious illustration? Take the question of women preaching, and being ordained to the full ministry. The apostle Paul, in writing to Timothy (1 Tim 2:11-15), prohibits it directly. He says quite specifically that he does not allow a women to teach or preach. ‘Ah yes’, we say, as we read that letter, ‘He was only thinking of his own age and time; but you know times have changed since then, and we must not be bound. Paul was thinking of certain semi-civilized people in Corinth and places like that’. But the Scripture does not say that. It says, ‘Let the women learn in silence with all subjection, but I suffer not a woman to teach nor usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence’. ‘Ah, but that was only temporary legislation’, we say. Paul puts it like this: ‘For Adam was first formed, the Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding, she shall be saved in child bearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety’.

    Paul does not say that it was only for the time being; he takes it right back to the Fall and shows that it is an abiding principle. It is something that is true, therefore, of the age in which we live. But thus you see, we argue with Scripture. Instead of taking its plain teaching, we say that times have changed-when it suits our thesis we say it is no longer relevant’. . . .If you want to avoid terrible disillusionment at the day of judgment, face Scripture as it is. Do not argue with it, do not try to manipulate it, do not twist; face it, receive it and submit to it whatever the cost.”

    That was David Martyn Lloyd-Jones, from his book, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, 1971 edition, All one volume.

    Michelle Lesley published this on her blog: Weak Women and the Idolatry of Personal Experience, saying,

    Do you follow someone like Joyce Meyer, Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, Christine Caine, Lysa TerKeurst, or Paula White? These women all say that God “called” them to do what they do, which includes preaching to and instructing men in the church setting. Do you believe them when they say God “called” them? If so, you’re believing their supposed experience over the crystal clear Word of God in 1 Timothy 2:11-3:7 (and plenty of other passages) which expressly forbids women from instructing men in the Scriptures or holding authority over men in the church.”

    S. K. Lareau at Chapter 3 Ministries has begun a new series called Titus 2 Straight Talk. It focuses on the role of women as per Titus in chapter 2. She said, “#Titus2StraightTalk is a new series of posts that will be appearing here on Facebook and on my IG and X accounts. They are short posts that will share snippets from my articles on chapter3min.org and ministry. Straight talk about marriage & more! Look for more!” 

    Ligonier takes a look at female roles in this sweet devotional, “Female Authority” Be sure to read the Coram Deo at the end 🙂

    “Our look at 1 Timothy 2:11–12 cannot ignore this setting, but we must not assume that the passage’s cultural context means that its teaching is invalid today. Many people disagree, saying that Paul forbade women to hold authority over men in the church only temporarily and that women may now serve as elders. To answer this position we must look at what else the Bible says on the subject.”

    Ladies, we have plenty to do in service to the King. Desiring what is forbidden is no different than Eve desiring what God forbade in the garden. It’s a test of obedience. The fact that we MAY serve Him at all is a blessing. That this mighty God wants to grow us in His likeness and to give us good and holy work to do is a gift. Embrace it, rather than looking over the fence and saying, “No, I want THAT!”

    Now why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46).

    Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will follow My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling with him. (John 14:23)

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