CHRIS ROSEBROUGH: UNQUALIFIED WOMEN (AND MEN) TEACHERS

F4F | Karena Carrasco In Unqualified Rebellion Against God (youtube.com)

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. (James 3:1).

Karena Carrasco head of Kidz City Daycare at Chooselife Church (Hobbs NM) is not only unqualified to teach, she is also scripturally unsound. I agree with Rosebrough that Carrasco's "sermon" on "divine power and influence" is utter nonsense. Carrasco: "When Jesus spent time with the Father there was always something different about His countenance.. To have His divine life you have to abide in the vine, that's where power is going to come from.. when you spend time with Him not just your insides change but your outside changes.."  Her justification for teaching this nonsense is the transfiguration of Jesus in Luke 9: 28-36.  

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:16).

In the New Testament, the office of elder, overseer, and shepherd (pastor) refers to the same teaching office within the church. (Acts 20:28; Titus 1:5,9; 1 Peter 5:1–2; Ephesians 4:11). Although Carrasco has not set herself up as a "pastor" per se, teaching sermons to a mixed congregation is to assume the role specifically reserved for those holding the office of an overseer. The fact that the leaders of Chooselife Church have sanctioned Carrasco makes them culpable and puts them in direct rebellion against God.

Rosebrough's use of 1 Corinthians 14:34-38 is not the best passage to demonstrate his point. Most teachers explain these verses in terms of problems specific to the Corinthian Church which faced challenges relating to cultural norms, immorality, division, and the misuse of spiritual gifts. Since Paul acknowledged that women were "praying and prophesying" in 1 Corinthians 11:5, these verses cannot be taken outside their specific context without creating an internal contradiction within Paul's writings.

As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But all things should be done decently and in order. (1 Corinthians 14:34-38).

In his excellent series on Women in Ministry, Mike Winger refers to "the strict view" i.e. "the utter silence view" which does not allow a woman to speak in any public meeting whatsoever.1  The Greek word “σιγάω” (sigáo),  means “to be silent” or “to refrain from speaking”. An alternative view of sigáo has been suggested in contexts where refraining from certain types of speech is appropriate or required as against "silence" in the strictest sense. Winger quotes Professor Anthony Thiselton who was my professor at Nottingham University. 

Thiselton: "The speaking in question denotes the activity of sifting or weighing the words of prophets, especially by asking probing questions about the prophet's theology or even the prophet's lifestyle in public."

Meyer: "ἃ γράφω ὑμ.] (the things I write to you) refers to the whole section regarding the πνευματικοῖς. To refer it, as Billroth and Olshausen do, to the command that the women should keep silence, does not harmonize with the introduction εἴ τις … πνευματικός, and involves the awkwardness of only this intervening matter being thus confirmed with such solemnity, and the principal and far more important section not at al.."2  

The judging prophecy view   

Mike Winger points out that the context of 1 Corinthians 29ff concerns prophecy, and he makes the an interesting case for tying 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 back to verse 29 which is split into two parts - speaking and judging: Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. (1 Corinthians 14:29).  Winger reasons that when a question arises about whether a prophecy is true or false, the natural arbiters would be the overseers whose function is to uphold sound doctrine. This view therefore excludes women from judging prophecy.      

In contrast to 1 Corinthians 14:34-38, 1 Timothy 2:12-14 is transcultural and refers to the order of creation. These three verses present an irrefutable case against women elders/teachers. 

 

1 do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. (1 Timothy 2:12-14).

Some denominations seek to overcome the difficulty of people of any gender speaking inappropriately by conducting rigidly structured church services. However, this strategy is no fail-safe against Satan's determination to introduce false teaching into the church. Satan simply changes tactic and deceives leaders into promoting false teachings such as baptismal regeneration (Lutheran), limited atonement (Calvinism), skewed eschatology etc. 

 

The widespread apostasy we are witnessing in many churches today is off the scale, but I do not believe that we are living in the apostasy referred to in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 which is directly linked to the man of lawlessness aka the Antichrist. When the Antichrist is revealed the rebellion/apostasy will be on an entirely different level. (Matthew 24:9-12; Revelation 13:7; 12:17).

Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.. (2 Thessalonians 2:3).   

As Rosebrough points out, any church with a woman pastor/elder/teacher is in open rebellion against God. It seems reasonable to suppose that the rank apostasy occuring within many churches is a precursor to the rebellion of 2 Thessalonians 2:3. 

Many who hold the position of overseer are unfit by reason of their ungodly lives and their obvious incompetence as teachers. The scriptural qualifications are being openly flouted in favour of man centred teachings that accomodate itching ears. (2 Timothy 4:3).

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:1-7).

Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Timothy 4:16).

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15).

1. 5 Views on “Women Keep Silent" (1 Cor 14:35-36): Women in Ministry part 11 (youtube.com)
2. 1 Corinthians 14 Meyer's NT Commentary (biblehub.com)

THE SPIRITUAL BANKRUPTCY OF MORNINGSTAR MINISTRIES AND THE NAR

The Billion Soul Harvest ALREADY FAILED - 100% PROOF (youtube.com)

Sean Christie (Revealing Truth) recently posted this re-released interview between false prophet Bob Jones and Rick Joyner (MorningStar Ministries) regarding his trip to heaven in 1975 and the fictional "billion soul harvest". New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) churches took Jones' false prophecy on board wholesale and have been repeating the "revival mantra" ever since. 

Jones: "..in the next ten years is one of the most awesome times of your lives. I also see the harvest beginning, it will be over a billion youths coming to the Lord.. He (God) said I would live to see the glory of God again and it would never end.. in the next ten years your preparation is to bring in the glory of God.. the next ten years you are going to come into your main purpose which means the greatest worldwide bringing into Christ of all time.. one billion youths, they will come to the glory.. it is not long in coming, there is just three to four years of preparation for it.." 

Jones' rambling "prophecy" is quite difficult to follow, but he says that the "billion soul harvest" would happen after three or four years of preparation from the date of this video (1983?) and that he would live to see it. Jones died in 2014. 

Amazingly, many professing Christians would rather believe the word of an imbecile than the scriptures which talk about an end-time rebellion. Even more amazing, Rick Joyner reposted the prophecy on the 13th of August 2024 despite its obvious failure!1

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men. (2 Timothy 3:1-9).

Sean Christie observed that Jones completely skews Jesus' teaching about the harvest. Jesus' parable of the harvest refers to the gathering of the weeds to be burned at the end of the age. (2 Corinthians 11:13-14; Matthew 7:21-23).

He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’” (Matthew 13:24-30)

Rick Joyner, who belongs to the Roman Catholic Knights of Malta*, has had significant involvement with false prophet Todd Bentley over the years. A notable instance is "the Charismania Day of Infamy" on June 23rd 2008 during the Lakeland Revival. C Peter Wagner and other NAR "super-apostles" Bill Johnson, Rick Joyner, Che Ahn, John and Carol Arnott commissioned Todd Bentley.2 Following Bentley's dramatic downfall, Joyner was involved in restoring Bentley back to leadership even though he was utterly disqualified. 

Revival Alliance: "A council of three has also been formed to give oversight to the restoration process. Rick Joyner, Jack Deere, and Bill Johnson will give oversight as needed."3

The latest scandal to hit MorningStar Ministries is the resignation of CEO and president Chris Reed amidst allegations of sexual misconduct.4 

The sick NAR pantomime is spiritually bankrupt and the false teachers/prophets associated with it should be marked and avoided! (Romans 16:17).

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1).

*(268) Fake Evangelist, Knight of Malta, Rick Joyner - YouTube

2 More Lawsuits Filed Against Morningstar for Alleged Mishandling of Abuse (julieroys.com)

1. Bob Jones' Prophetic Vision (youtube.com)
2. https://youtu.be/YEwsG4lsXq4
3. Northwest Prophetic: Public Statement on Todd Bentley from the Revival Alliance
4. President of MorningStar Resigns, Then Admits Sexual Misconduct (julieroys.com)

JOEL KORYTKO: ARE THE COSMIC DISTURBANCES METAPHORS?

Did Jesus' Prophecy Fail? It's Not Conditional or a Failure @InspiringPhilosophy @maklelan (youtube.com)

Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. (Mark 13:30).

Question: Did Jesus' prophecy fail or was it conditional?  

I like Joel Korytko's answer to this conundrum i.e. "these things" refer to the destruction of the temple in 70AD and not the coming of Jesus Christ.

And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,“Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” (Mark 13:1-4)

But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.. “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things (the destruction of the temple) taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. (Mark 13:23,28-31).

Another interpretation is "this generation" does not refer to the current generation, rather it applies to the future generation that will experience the things previously mentioned; "all these things" seem to indicate the imminent return of the Son of Man. ..no one knows the day or the hour etc. (Mark 13:32-37). 

According to Joel Korytko, Jesus' use of Old Testament language regarding cosmic disturbances does not refer to Jesus coming because of their limited geographical context. He sees Jesus' language as metaphoric descriptions of tumult and chaos in society. Korytko's understanding of these OT passages does not factor in their near/far fulfillment.

“But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. (Mark 13:24-27).

The oracle concerning Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw.
Behold, the day of the Lord comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it. For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light. I will punish the world for its evil,and the wicked for their iniquity; (Isaiah 13:1,9-11).

My understanding is that the OT passages regarding the cosmic disturbances represent "the day of the Lord" (the day of His wrath). The language expands beyond the local situation in Babylon into a global context. 

Keil and Delitsch: "The day of Jehovah's wrath is coming - a starless night - a nightlike, sunless day. "Behold, the day of Jehovah cometh, a cruel one, and wrath and fierce anger, to turn the earth into a wilderness: and its sinners He destroys out of it. For the stars of heaven, and its Orions, will not let their light shine: the sun darkens itself at its rising, and the moon does not let its light shine." The day of Jehovah cometh as one cruelly severe ('aczâri, an adj. rel. from 'aczâr, chosh, kosh, to be dry, hard, unfelling), as purely an overflowing of inward excitement, and as burning anger; lâsūm is carried on by the finite verb, according to a well-known alteration of style ( equals ūlehashmı̄d). It is not indeed the general judgment which the prophet is depicting here, but a certain historical catastrophe falling upon the nations, which draws the whole world into sympathetic suffering. 'Eretz, therefore (inasmuch as the notions of land generally, and some particular land or portion of the earth, are blended together - a very elastic term, with vanishing boundaries), is not merely the land of Babylon here, as Knobel supposes, but the earth. Verse 10 shows in what way the day of Jehovah is a day of wrath. Even nature clothes itself in the colour of wrath, which is the very opposite to light. The heavenly lights above the earth go out; the moon does not shine; and the sun, which is about to rise, alters its mind. "The Orions" are Orion itself and other constellations like it, just as the morning stars in Job 38:7 are Hesperus and other similar stars. It is more probable that the term cesiil is used for Orion in the sense of "the fool" ( equals foolhardy).."1

Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming; it is near, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! Like blackness there is spread upon the mountains a great and powerful people; their like has never been before, nor will be again after them through the years of all generations..  

The earth quakes before them; the heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. The Lord utters his voice before his army, for his camp is exceedingly great; he who executes his word is powerful. For the day of the Lord is great and very awesome; who can endure it? (Joel 2:1-2,10-11).

"And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. (Joel 2:30-31).

Gods judgement on the nations

Draw near, O nations, to hear, and give attention, O peoples! Let the earth hear, and all that fills it;
the world, and all that comes from it. For the Lord is enraged against all the nations, and furious against all their host; he has devoted them to destruction, has given them over for slaughter. Their slain shall be cast out, and the stench of their corpses shall rise; the mountains shall flow with their blood. All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll. All their host shall fall, as leaves fall from the vine, like leaves falling from the fig tree. (Isaiah 34:1-4)

When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slaved and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” (Revelation 6:12-17).

Can the Lord's return happen at any time? 

This is the erroneous "imminence" doctrine of the pretrib rapture camp. The man of lawlessness (the Antichrist) will be revealed and the great tribulation must occur before the coming of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 24:21; Daniel 7:25). All three synoptic gospels affirm the Son of Man will return immediately after the cosmic disturbances. (Matthew 24:29; Mark 13:24-25; Luke 21:25-28). 

Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. Matthew 24:29-31)

Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, (2 Thessalonians 2:3).

1. Isaiah 13 Keil and Delitzsch OT Commentary (biblehub.com)

Further Links

Celestial Disturbances Archives | ESCHATOS MINISTRIES (alankurschner.com)
7 Pretrib Problems and the Prewrath Rapture (Full Movie) (youtube.com)

ROD PARSLEY AND HIS DAUGHTER ASHTON PARSLEY LEAVE ME SPEECHLESS!

This shocking video is one of the worst examples of spiritual abuse I have ever seen!

Rod Parsley's daughter Ashton Parsley aka "daddy's little ghoul" recently let rip on the congregation of World Harvest Church Columbus Ohio because some said they were considering leaving. This unspeakable outburst should seal their decision!

Rod Parsley's behaviour towards his employees is despicable beyond words!

Abusive Behavior of Rod Parsley Leaked In An Audio Recording (youtube.com)
More abusive behavior of Rod Parsley leaked in a video (youtube.com)

Prophetic News Radio-Rod Parsley Meltdown and his Spiritual Abuse (youtube.com)

Rod Parsley Babbling Nonsense at 2022 Dominion Camp (youtube.com)

For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. (Titus 1:7-8).

Sent by 

VLAD SAVCHUK'S DEFENCE OF FALSE PROPHETS

Shocking Prophecies! Trump's Assassination Predicted! (youtube.com)

Demon slayer Vlad Savchuk is one of Benny Hinn's protégés along with Isaiah Salvidor and David Hernandez.1 Below is Savchuk's defective endorsement of false prophets Brandon Briggs and Kim Clement and his flawed defence of fallible prophecy. 

False prophet Brandon Briggs: "..this bullet flew by his ear and it came so close to his head that it busted his eardrum..  He fell to his knees during this time frame and he started worshipping the Lord. He got radically born again during this time frame.."

This is not an accurate prophecy from Briggs due to the unreliable elements involved. Savchuk and others have attempted to shoehorn this "prophecy" into the factual events, but it does not meet the biblical criteria of prophecy. We know that the bullet actually wounded Trump's ear, and as far as we know his ear drum was not perforated. It was observed that Trump ducked, but there is no evidence that he fell on his knees and started worshipping the Lord, and there is certainly no evidence that Trump was born again during this incident. Briggs continued to "prophesy" about Trump being re-elected and a US economic collapse.2  

Savchuk is also impressed with false prophet Kim Clement (1956-2016) who was famous for his Trump prophesy in 2007. Clement was closely associated with Word of Faith (New Apostolic Reformation) false teachers. He was a self-appointed modern-day prophet who was very outspoken, but a number of his prophecies proved to be false. One such false prophecy was that he claimed that America's Without Walls debt would be cleared by 2012. In 2011, the Without Walls Central Church vacated the Lakeland building, as a result of debts and went into bankruptcy.3 Clement stated "God told him" the debt on the Tampa Christian Center (Paula White) would be cleared by the middle of 2010. By October 2012, the Tampa property was under foreclosure proceedings by the Evangelical Christian Credit Union after failure to pay loans.4 On the surface the Trump prophecy appears quite impressive, but when you investigate further it is problematic. Clement: "I do not believe that you must be born again to obtain salvation". (Doctrinal Statement 2002). (Deuteronomy 18:0).5 

The sons of the prophets 

Savchuk assumes that "the sons of the prophets" referred to in 1 and 2 Kings were "growing in their prophetic ability". In other words, they "experimented" with prophecy. Savchuk: "That suggests to us that these were the people who were growing in their prophetic ability, not at the same level as Elija and Elisha. Therefore some people in the prophetic are growing in the prophetic and we have to give them grace.."  (13:25 mark) 

The phrase "the sons of the prophets" (2 Kings 2:3,5,15 4:1; 1 Kings 20:35) refers to men who were students or disciples of Old Testament prophets, sometimes referred to as "the school of the prophets". The sons of the prophets probably owed their existence to Samuel. (1 Samuel 19:20). These students were devoted to God and served Him under the authority and teachings of Samuel, Elijah, and Elisha. Given that the sons of the prophets followed the teaching and example of three faithful prophets who were 100% accurate and did not compromise, it is inconceivable that they "experimented" with prophecy in the same way that many charlatans do today. Such an obtuse suggestion reflects the absurdity of the NAR movement and the false teachers loosely connected with it.

Then the sons of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the LORD will take your master away from you today?”
“Yes, I know,” he replied. “Do not speak of it.” (2 Kings 2:3).

NAR "prophets" have a terrible track record with their emphasis on dreams, visions, and extra-biblical revelation. Savchuk: "Why would you want to judge a prophecy if the prophets are infallible?" The instruction for other prophets to judge what is said is a safeguard against false prophets so that true believers can mark and avoid them! (1 Corinthians 14:29 cf. Romans 16:17).

And the LORD said to me: “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds. (Jeremiah 14:14).

I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied. (Jeremiah 23:21).

1. Generational Gap - Pastor Vlad on Benny Hinn Monday Service (youtube.com)
2. WATCH: The moment Trump was shot in right ear at rally (youtube.com)
3. Without Walls Central Church - Wikipedia
4. Paula White - Wikipedia
5. False Prophet Kim Clement Endorsed by Paula White! (youtube.com)

DAVID HIND ONE CHURCH LEICESTER: WOMEN AND LEADERSHIP

Women & Leadership | David Hind (Aug 2024) (youtube.com)

The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him. (Proverbs 18:17).

This post challenges David Hind's recent attempt to defend the role of women in church leadership. Hind has a vested interest in egalitarianism since he and his wife Susan are joint senior leaders of One Church in Leicester which is an AG Pentecostal Church with strong New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) associations.

Firstly, it is important to understand that this subject has nothing to do with women reaching their "full potential" and similar emotive arguments based on human standards. (2 Corinthians 10:4; Galatians 1:11). These kinds of arguments focus on ourselves e.g. "your best life now" as often articulated by false teacher Joel Osteen. (Philippians 2:3). Furthermore, arguments should not be based on culture. Biblical wisdom and worldly wisdom are antithetical. (1 Corinthians 3:19; 2 Corinthians 1:12). As Christians, our focus should be on God's will regardless of worldly considerations. (Matthew 6:10). Our concern should be: What is God's blueprint for church leadership?          

Christians should not be too quick to jump on the egalitarian bandwagon in this critical debate since it has huge implications for marriage and church life. The reality that men and women are equal in value and dignity and yet different in function and role is strongly asserted in the scriptures. Just because there have been/are abuses by ungodly male leaders does not invalidate God's Word. (Ephesians 5:25; Colossians 3:19).  

The main debate on the subject of women in ministry focuses on two positions: egalitarian and complementarian. Egalitarians reject the historic and literal reading of the scriptures that demonstrate distinct roles and purposes for men and women from creation. I recommend Mike Winger's series for those who want to look further into this subject: Women In Ministry Archives - BibleThinker. Winger is what is described as a "soft complementarian". In other words, he views the biblical role of "elder" to be prohibitive for women, but he rejects other restrictions placed on women as unnecessarily restrictive and biased. Winger demonstrates that in many cases, egalitarian scholars/teachers fall woefully short of sound hermeneutic standards and use arguments that are unsustainable biblically. The onus on Christians is to be Bereans if we are to avoid accepting views based on insufficient evidence, poor reasoning, inconsistency, and eisegesis. (Acts 17:11). 

Jesus' attitude toward women was groundbreaking in that he showed honour and respect towards women unknown in the culture of His time. This post does not challenge the view that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are available to men and women. Nor does it dispute evidence that in the early church women were evangelists*, prophetesses, and deaconesses, and that these roles are legitimate for women today.  

* The term "evangelist" or "apostle" is often overstated to include single instances of women conveying a specific message to men. (Matthew 28:7; John 4:1-42).  These instances do not demonstrate that women held ongoing positions of authority over men within the church. 

I will work through Hind's points below. 

* Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church. (1 Corinthians 14:34-35).

Most teachers explain these verses in terms of problems specific to the Corinthian Church which faced challenges relating to cultural norms, immorality, division, and the misuse of spiritual gifts. Since Paul acknowledged that women were "praying and prophesying" in 1 Corinthians 11:5, these verses cannot be taken outside their specific context without creating an internal contradiction within Paul's writings.

* Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. (1 Timothy 2:11-14).

This passage is transcultural. The plain reading of the text is unmistakable. Paul is careful to maintain gender roles as ordained by God in the creation. (Genesis 2:20). Paul follows the ruling with two reasons. 1. The order of creation and the pre-fall reality - Adam was formed first; 2. The post-fall reality - Eve was deceived and became a transgressor before Adam. 

* Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her. (John 20:17-18 cf. Matthew 28:7-8).

Hind mentions that Jesus' resurrection was witnessed by a woman and claims that she was an "evangelist" to the disciples. Mary was extremely privileged to be the first person to see Jesus following His resurrection. However, it should be noted that this did not make her an "apostle to the apostles" as some claim and she did not later become a church leader.            

* Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house (Colossians 4:6). Egalitarians base their argument on the presumption that Nympha was an elder simply because the church met at her house. 

* For I brought you up from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. (Micah 6:4).    

It is a mistake to class Miriam as a leader of Israel. Do we build a doctrine on single verses of scripture? There is no indication that Miriam had any authority over the men of Israel. Apart from this single reference in Micah 6, it is always Moses and Aaron who are referred to jointly, never Moses Aaron and Miriam. (Exodus 4:10-17,7:10). When Aaron and Miriam opposed Moses, it was Miriam, not Aaron, who became leprous due to the Lord's anger. (Numbers 12:1-16). Moses followed his father-in-law's advice and appointed men as judges over the people."..look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. (Exodus 18:17-27). 

Pulpit Commentary: "Miriam, the prophetess, who led the praises of the people at their great deliverance (Exodus 15:20), and who probably was charged with some special mission to the women of Israel (see Numbers 12:1, 2)."1

Matthew Poole: "Miriam; a prophetess, to be assistant to her brothers last mentioned, to be example and counsellor to the women: God furnished them with magistrate, priest, and prophet."1

Barnes: "Moses, Aaron, and Miriam together, are Lawgiver, to deliver and instruct; Priest, to atone; and prophetess Exodus 15:20 to praise God; and the name of Miriam at once recalled the mighty works at the Red Sea and how they then thanked God."1 

 

* When Priscilla and Aquila heard (Apollos), they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. (Acts 18:26).

Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, (Romans 16:3).  

Christian Research Institute: "Complementarians see Priscilla as one of numerous women who were fellow workers with men in the early church. Yet their prominence does not undermine the essential principle of male authority."2 

* Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. (Romans 16:7).  

The phrase ἐπίσημοι ἐν τοῖς ἀποστόλοις "men of note among the apostles" is an ambiguous expression that can be legitimately translated in two ways: they were well known to the apostles (ESV), or, they were among the apostles (NIV). The Greek text leans in favor of the ESV translation. Apart from Romans 16:7, Junia is not mentioned either in the New Testament or in the extra-biblical writings of the time. Got Questions: "Later writings are conflicting and inconclusive in determining the true identity of this individual. With the existing information, the syntax of the Greek language provides the best means of understanding what Paul meant when he wrote that Junia was outstanding (or 'well known') among the apostles."3 John Chrysostom was a fourth-century church father who referred to Junia as a female apostle. There is some debate about the name Junia/Junias, and it is by no means conclusive that Junias was a woman. Bible Hub: "Paul's kinsman and fellow-prisoner: Romans 16:7 ((here A. V. Junia (a woman's name) which is possible)."4 Apart from this issue, Paul's use of the term "apostle" is fluid. An apostle could be one of the original twelve. (Galatians 1:17-19). In Paul's case, he was appointed as an apostle by Jesus Christ post-resurrection. (1 Corinthians 15:7). The generic use of the term "apostle" refers to individuals who were sent out to be messengers/ambassadors of Jesus Christ. Given that this is the only albeit ambiguous reference to a possible female apostle in the New Testament it would be over-ambitious, even presumptuous, to make a case for women apostles in the sense of authoritative apostles where no female apostles are mentioned elsewhere.

*  Hind challenges the complementarian view that the apostles chosen by Jesus were all men. He claims that this is a pre-resurrection situation and that post-resurrection roles have expanded to include Gentile men and women who are now allegedly released into leadership. There is no evidence to support this theory. Paul's explicit instructions about appointing male elders negate Hind's claim.

This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task. An overseer (episkope), then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money.. (1 Timothy 3:1-4).

Hind's incompetent interpretation of Biblical Greek is on par with his other teaching skills! 

Hind "The word here for an elder is a masculine word in Greek, 'presbuteros'." (19:00 mark)

The noun overseer in 1 Timothy 3:1-2 is episkope it is not presbuteros. 

Strongs: "επισκοπης noun - genitive singular feminine

episkope ep-is-kop-ay': inspection (for relief); by implication, superintendence; specially, the Christian episcopate -- the office of a bishop, bishoprick, visitation."5

Titus 1:5 has the noun presbuteros. Strongs: "4245 presbýteros – properly, a mature man having seasoned judgment (experience); an elder. The NT specifies elders are men. (The feminine singular, presbytera, never occurs in the Bible.) [The feminine plural, presbyteras, occurs in 1 Tim 5:2. It refers to aged women, i.e. not women with an official church office or title.]"6  

My question: How do we get a gender-neutral definition from "the husband of one wife"? 

Polygamy is an unlikely explanation for the phrase "husband of one wife". Meyer: "μιᾶς γυναικὸς ἄνδρα] This expression cannot here be properly referred to polygamy; for, although polygamy might at that time be still found among the civilised heathen, and even among the Jews (comp. Justin Martyr, Dialog. c. Tryph.; Chrysostom on the passage; Josephus, Antiq. vii. 2), it was as a rare exception. Besides, there is an argument against such an interpretation in the phrase ἑνὸς ἀνδρὸς γυνή, 1 Timothy 5:9; for similarly such a phrase ought to refer to polyandry, which absolutely never occurred.."7  

* There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28).

Galatians 3:28 is typically used by egalitarian scholars to control the meaning of other passages. As Winger puts it, this verse is their "silver bullet".

Significantly, the Greek conjunction kai (male and female) is used in this verse, whereas the adverb οὐδὲ is used for "Jew nor Greek.. slave nor free". Scholars generally agree that "male and female" refers back to Genesis 1:27. Some egalitarians (Stendahl) argue that Paul obliterates the gender distinctions in Genesis 1:27 in this verse by making a distinction between original creation and "new creation". However, this argument fails since others (Witherington) have noted that Paul upholds gender distinctions elsewhere. (e.g. 1 Timothy 2:9-11; Ephesians 5:22-33; Colossians 3:18-19). This verse does not obliterate gender roles; rather it confirms the inclusion of the three groups cited into one people in Christ. 

Sonship status defined by Paul

Paul's inclusive definition of "sonship" (males and females) has four specific applications:

1. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.

You are a son, you are also an heir. (Galatians 3:29).

2. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Full participation as sons "in Christ". (Galatians 3:26).

3. So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 

Justified by faith. (Galatians 3:24). 

4.  And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God.

A true internal relationship with God through the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 4:6-7).

We cannot legitimately stretch Paul's definition of "sonship" to include function and roles. Those who do so go outside the context and create a new category from 'status in relationship to God and the kingdom' to 'status in relationship to one another in every aspect of the church'. This is a huge departure from the context of the passage and ignores other passages that do talk about functions relating to gender.8

* But I want you to understand that the head (kephalē) of every man is Christ, the head (kephalē) of a wife is her husband, and the head (kephalē) of Christ is God. (1 Corinthians 11:3).

Strongs: "kephalé - Usage: (a) the head, (b) met: a corner stone, uniting two walls; head, ruler, lord."9

Hind argues for "source" as the definition of kephalē rather than "head". It should be noted that "source" is not acknowledged as a possible interpretation of kephalē in any major lexicon. The definition "source" originated with a short article by Stephen Bedale in 1954. His definition attracted a firestorm of criticism from scholars which continues to this day. Interestingly Bedale's definition of kephalē did not remove the connotation of "authority over". Arguments regarding "source" as a nonauthoritative definition are based on ignorance.

Bedale: “That is to say, the male is κεφαλή [head] in the sense of ἀρχή [beginning] relatively (sic) to the female; and, in St Paul’s view, the female in consequence is ‘subordinate.’ . . . But this principle of subordination which he finds in human relationships rests upon the order of creation, and includes the ‘sonship’ of the Christ himself . . . while the word κεφαλή . . . unquestionably carries with it the idea of ‘authority’, such authority in social relationships derives from a relative priority (causal rather than merely temporal) in the order of being.”

Zondervan Academic: "Whether or not one accepts the argument about the word’s meaning, at no time did Bedale imply that his interpretation removed the metaphorical connotation of 'authority over'. Given how prominent his article has become in some circles, it is strange how rarely his actual exegesis of 11:3 is recounted."10 

* But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. (1Corinthians 11:2-16).

This passage appears to be a cultural situation. However, the principle of male headship has not changed. I recommend Alan Parr's short video on this subject: Do Christian Women Have to Wear Head Coverings Today? (youtube.com)

* Hind also mentioned "leaders like Esther". Esther was prominent, but she definitely came under the male authority of Mordecai! 

A common practice of false teachers is that they take verses out of context and/or they read more into a text than it actually says i.e. they go beyond what is written. (1 Corinthians 4:6; Proverbs 30:6). One of the qualifications for teachers is that they can rightly divide the word of truth. (1 Timothy 2:15). The subject of women in leadership is not just an interesting discussion, it is a weighty subject with far-reaching implications that can set the course of the church on an opposing trajectory to God's revealed will. Those who decide to do their own thing and flaunt God's blueprint for marriage and church leadership are abusing their positions and are on a collision course with God Himself. (Matthew 12:36; Galatians 6:7; James 3:1).     

There is much more research on this subject which goes beyond the scope of this post. Winger's series is comprehensive and he exposes many more egalitarian inconsistencies.

1. Micah 6:4 Commentaries: "Indeed, I brought you up from the land of Egypt And ransomed you from the house of slavery, And I sent before you Moses, Aaron and Miriam. (biblehub.com)
2. A Woman’s Place: The Evangelical Debate over the Role of Women in the Church - Christian Research Institute (equip.org)
3. Was Junia/Junias a female apostle? | GotQuestions.org
4. Strong's Greek: 2458. Ἰουνιᾶς (Iounias) -- Junias, a kinsman of Paul (biblehub.com)

5. Strong's Greek: 1984. ἐπισκοπή (episkopé) -- a visiting, an overseeing (biblehub.com)
6. Strong's Greek: 4245. πρεσβύτερος (presbuteros) -- elder (biblehub.com)
7. 1 Timothy 3 Meyer's NT Commentary (biblehub.com)
8. 7-The-Egalitarian-Silver-Bullet-Gal-3-28.docx - Microsoft Word Online (live.com)
9. Strong's Greek: 2776. κεφαλή (kephalé) -- the head (biblehub.com)
10. The head of the woman is man? How to understand… | Zondervan Academic

Further Link

If Your Church has a Female "Co-Pastor" Leave NOW...Here's Why! (youtube.com)

MICHAEL BROWN: DESPERATE TO DITCH THE NAR LABEL!

NAR: Myth or Movement? - AG Roundtable (youtube.com)

Michael Brown's false accusation against Holly Pivec and Doug Geivett is that they have caused an unnecessary division within the body of Christ due to their widespread deployment of the NAR label. According to Brown, they have falsely identified people who are not necessarily associated with the movement with their "broad brush approach". Brown's incredible complaint is that they have damaged reputations and demonized and exaggerated the activities of innocent people.

Brown: "I will have people who will not go near my ministry, whatever good we could give or however we could help them because 'I am part of NAR' it is this boogeyman.. it is this thing that has been created that I don't believe exists.. In one way or another, it has come out in an alarmist way and thus an exaggerated way that people that are really not related are put in one group that the worst construction on certain things is put extreme examples are used.. This NAR thing that's been created I don't believe exists..  to see how we can help the body discern better without demonizing, without exaggerating, that's the concern.. "

The reality   

In reality, there is overwhelming evidence that the NAR label is ubiquitous within and without the movement. C Peter Wagner coined the term "New Apostolic Reformation" and became the "Presiding Apostle" of the International Coalition of Apostles (ICA). Ché Ahn used the label in his book Modern Day Apostles which had the endorsement of Bill Johnson, James Goll, Shawn Bolz, Patricia King, Cindy Jacobs, and Lou Engle. The International Coalition of Apostolic Leaders (ICAL)  also uses the label: "This is why it is vital that existing members of ICAL find ways of creating National Coalitions in nations, regions and cities around the world. The AIM Strategy can help make this happen as we endeavor to bring legitimacy to the New Apostolic Reformation."1 Bethel Church in Redding: "Watch as Kris Vallotton and Dann Farrelly discuss the five-fold ministry, denominationalism, mentorship, the New Apostolic Reformation, and much more."2  

In the UK Emma Stark is the Core Leader of the British Isles Council of Prophets (BICP). The BICP are unmistakably NAR having associations with many US NAR "prophets". Simon Braker claims to be an "ordained prophet" and is also part of the BICP. Braker attended the Wagner Leadership Institute.3   

The core teaching of the NAR is that the church must be governed by present-day apostles and prophets. Chris Vallotton (Bethel Church Redding) is one of the worst offenders. He falsely claims that if believers are not under apostolic authority then God will not answer their prayers. 

Brown admits that such claims are abusive, but he does not reject or condemn Bethel Church or any other ministry outright. He suggests that the leaders involved in these ministries may need to revise their language or they may need correction, but in his eyes, they are bona fide leaders within the body of Christ. Brown claims that many leaders associated with the NAR do not use the term "office" to describe alleged present-day apostles and prophets and he relegates this as "old language". He now prefers the term "ministry functions" as more appropriate language. I view this as damage control rather than a genuine concern about the inevitable damage these people inflict upon their followers. 

A number of false teachers claim "the office of the prophet" to maneuver themselves into positions of authority by alleging they are directly commissioned by Jesus Christ. Biblically there is no such thing as "the office of the prophet". Prophecy is identified as a gift of the Spirit in the New Testament. (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).  

Emma Stark: “The office of the prophet is a gift from Jesus, not the Spirit, mainly listed in Ephesians, 2 and 4, and is part of the governmental structure of the Church. It is more responsible for words that steward leadership, nations, tribes, regions, which are about correction, direction and understanding seasons of time.”4

The assumption that believers can direct decrees and declarations towards situations or circumstances is not how Jesus taught His disciples to pray. The New Testament teaches petitionary prayer. (Matthew 6:7-13; John 16:24; Philippians 4:6; Ephesians 6:18; 1 Timothy 2:1 etc.)

The paradox of "prophets" who make proclamations and declarations or give prophetic utterances in the first person of the Lord while at the same time admitting that they are fallible typifies the reductio ad absurdum of the entire movement. By definition, if someone speaks in the first person of the Lord, they claim to speak the very words of God Himself who is infallible. (Deuteronomy 18:22; Jeremiah 28:9).

Geivett: ".. it's puzzling to me when a prophet says.. 'Thus sayeth the Lord but maybe not' and I'm concerned about that. I'm concerned about the effect that has on the church, and it is prolific.."

The critical question (2:32 mark)

Brown: "So you've quoted Che Ahn, you've quoted Chris Valloton,  one known as an apostle, one known as a prophet. In your view would you use the term 'false apostle' like Paul does in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15  'such are false apostles' and he says they are 'servants of Satan', or Matthew 7 where Jesus says 'beware of false prophets they are wolves in sheep's clothing'. Would you consider these men to be true believers who are falsely called apostles and prophets, or would you say in your mind they are false apostles, false prophets?"

Geivett: "..what's needed is a deep fundamental restructuring of the underlying theology that's what we're proposing"   

I was rather surprised by Geivett's response to this question. While he affirmed that the track record of "prophets" is so poor that they are not to be believed, he stopped short of saying that they are "servants of Satan" or "wolves in sheep's clothing".

Geivett's corrective solution i.e. the fundamental restructuring of the underlying theology is rather puzzling. How can you restructure something rotten to the core? Can a bad tree bear good fruit? (Matthew 7:19). The NAR false prophets and apostles do not handle the scriptures correctly, they have disqualified themselves and they have ruined their own reputations. (2 Timothy 2:15 Titus 1:9). 

I admire the work of Pivec and Geivett and I have found their work to be very accurate and thorough. However, I differ with Geivett's assessment of false prophets. The biblical language used about false apostles, prophets, and teachers unquestionably identifies them as "wolves" and "ministers of Satan" in the same sentence in some instances. I am perplexed by Geivett's view that we need special discernment to identify false apostles and prophets in these terms.  

  

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.(Matthew 7:15).

I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.. (Acts 20:29-30).

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

Brown either doesn't understand or deliberately downplays the danger of this nefarious movement by suggesting "a minor terminological adjustment" due to what he describes as "the tremendous fallout, division coming to the body, good people being hurt other ministries being misunderstood.."  Brown is very concerned about his associates' reputations, but he does not seem overly concerned about the tremendous damage inflicted upon the body of Christ by NAR false prophets and apostles. 

Ironically, the very slogan they once boasted about has come back to bite them and has become a byword! The term New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is here to stay and like it or not their leaders are stuck with it! Praise the Lord!

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. (Galatians 6:7).

1. AIM Strategy — International Coalition of Apostolic Leaders (icaleaders.com)
2. Bethel Church | Redding, CA
3. Council Members | British Isles Council of Prophets
4. In conversation with a modern-day prophet | Article | Woman Alive