Chapter 2 - A Female Priesthood
If you could only have one chapter of the entire Bible with you on a deserted island, the 6th chapter of John's Gospel would be a great choice. In reading his words, you would discover the Triune nature of God, the human incarnation of Jesus, and, dare I say ... the overthrow of our modern Church ? Yes, I am writing about nothing short of a revolution. But this chapter raises an important question of our time -
Why can't women be priests in the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches ? Many women are asking to be ordained priests. The Anglican church does so. My own wife was ordained a priest. The question of the female priesthood began to concern me. I felt I should be able to justify my own wife's ordination.
The foundational instruction for a male-only priesthood, as purported by certain denominations, is that Jesus chose 12 male Apostles. In his letters, the Apostle Paul forbids women from having authority over men, or even speaking in the Church ! They are to remain silent, and ask their questions at home. I admit, before God explained things to me, I labeled Paul a New Testament Pharisee.
Is the male race singularly qualified for this vocation and thus predisposed to have authority in the Church because God is male ? Does God display His favor for the male race by choosing only men to be His Apostles ? Has God declared the woman his subordinate and silent helper, even if that means she must be a quiet slave ? Does a man's biology declare him to be a more fitting vessel as priest ?
But isn't God the one sanctifying the bread to become the Body of Christ, and wine to become the Blood of Christ ? Surely women reading Psalm 108 find the echo of a familiar cry :
"Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom? Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our hosts? Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies." Psalm 108 : 10-13
I thought to myself, the priesthood is the pre-eminent display of righteousness, that man can do nothing good. Only God can do good, and no man, or woman, can boast. Superiority is not a matter between man and woman, but between all living creatures and the Creator.
Furthermore, doesn't Jesus say, we are all children of God ? No one in the church is above us, even if one may be called elder, deacon, or bishop. "And call no man your father upon the earth ; for one is your Father, which is in heaven." Mathew 23 : 9 Even Paul himself says, "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love." Ephesisans 5 : 1
The Old Testament commanded the Israelites to obey 613 commandments. The New Testament, as specified by Jesus, asks of us: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Mathew 22 : 37-40
I thought I was really sure of a lot of things before writing this book. But when I began seeing inspirational understanding of the Bible suddenly and continuously come to me from the Holy Spirit, I began taking notes. Initially, I set out to prove to the world, the right of women to be priests. What I ended up discovering, is nothing short of a revolution, and the end of a 2,000 year old era.
