God Calls Me Pastor

I’ve hesitated to write this. No, not because I’m worried about the controversy, frankly, some days I feel like just existing is controversial these days. The hesitation is less about avoiding controversy and more about desiring to be kind. Yes, kind even to those with whom I greatly disagree and some of whom are even actively against me. You can do that you know? So, let’s start out with a few facts.

I preach.

I teach.

I pastor, shepherd, those God gives me to be pastored.

I lead, both men & women.

Some call me a theologian (although that’s still a moniker I struggle with). Let’s just say I’m a student of theology.

And also, I am a woman.

All of these things are equally true. I didn’t choose to be a woman, that’s just what God made me. Similarly, I didn’t choose to be a pastor, that’s just what God made me. Sure, there’s active participation from me in that role & calling, but at the end of the day, if I’m being honest, God crafted, designed, and called me to preach, teach, and shepherd. Those are the good works He prepared in advance for me so I can do them. To neglect living that out would be to actively reject and ignore God’s design, desire, and direction in my life. Should I do that simply because religious tradition has said women aren’t allowed behind pulpits?

Listen, I know that you think you’re “standing with scripture” and that you feel like “the Bible is very clear” on this topic. Hear me when I say, I understand. I’ve heard the verses, candidly, I probably know them better than most. See, I tried to use them in my argument with God about this calling. I said to Him, “Um, haven’t you read your own Bible? Women aren’t allowed.” For some reason, this did not dissuade Him. And so, I did what us scripture obsessives do, and I studied. 1 Timothy, 1 Corinthians, Ephesians 5, Genesis 3, and all the verses I had heard my whole life as proof text for my disqualification. And you know what? I actually found far more in scripture to fortify my calling than to prohibit it. I am not going to waste my time here dismantling the bad doctrine, though I could if I wanted to. That’s not why I’m here.

I’m not writing this to prove anything to anyone. I’m not trying to correct people’s bad beliefs. I’m not fighting for my right to hold power or “authority” in church or over a man. I couldn’t care less about power over anyone. I’m not demanding to be called something. You can call me whatever you want (for some of you that might be a four-letter word).

So, what’s the point of this then?

Consider this my plea to the church, that we would live as people of covenant and not curse. You see, it was the curse of sin and death that set man and woman at odds with one another. We read in Genesis 3 God’s explanation to Eve of the results of her sin, “You will want to control your husband, but he will dominate you.” The power struggle between man and woman is a result of the curse. It is sin and death. And think about it, why did this curse come? It was as a result of them eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They took in a mindset of measuring and what was the result? Disunity. Struggle for power and control. Broken companionship. Death to partnership. Is this great divide over women in ministry not continuing to live in a cursed measuring mindset?

But we’re not cursed anymore, we are children of covenant. Should that not change how we relate to one another? Or do we not know that we are people of reconciliation with a ministry of reunion? Paul has stuff to say about that (yeah, that same Paul from 1 Timothy).

For the love of Christ controls us, since we have concluded this, that Christ died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised. So then from now on we acknowledge no one from an outward human point of view. Even though we have known Christ from such a human point of view, now we do not know him in that way any longer. So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come! And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation. In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:14-19 NET)

Not only were we reconciled to God but also, we have received the ministry of reconciliation through Christ. We are called, not to relate to one another through a human point of view (mindset of measuring), but rather, we carry reconciliation in our hearts and, therefore, how we relate to one another as men and women should reflect this reconciliation. Maybe we don’t know what that word means? In English it means to “restore to harmony.” In the original Greek the word used means, “restoration to the divine favor.”

So, let me ask you, do you really believe that favor with God is about hierarchy? I mean, really, honestly, do you believe that? Do you believe that the God of the universe, who stepped down into our world, in the skin of a helpless and vulnerable baby; Who tread this earth in tattered sandals with dusty feet; Who, on His way to death, took the time to get on His knees, half-naked, in front of those following Him and wash their feet; do you really believe that His design is for hierarchy? That Divine favor is anything less than full equality?

There’s a lot I don’t know, but of one thing I am certain— the cross changed things. His resurrection life in us changed things. Yeah, between us and Him, sure, but also between us and one another. At least it should, if we really are people of Christ, children of covenant. If we know our identity as God’s kids, it should certainly impact how we relate to one another, as brothers and sisters.

Like I said, if you don’t want to call me a pastor, that’s fine, you can call me what you want.

But God calls me pastor.

And I will continue to preach the gospel. In living rooms, in coffee shops, and yes, even behind pulpits.

And I hope, sincerely I hope, that I get to do that in partnership with my brothers. I hope God keeps bringing phenomenal men into my life to teach me things and who learn from me. I hope, with deep yearning and desire in my heart, to continue this great ministry of reconciliation, just like Dad taught me.

For you are all sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 2:26-28 NET)