Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 1/6/2007

Question
Hi in my school we have been learning about priests but something is troubling me. It is the fact that they can only be male but why? We are supposed to be equal in Gods eyes. This leads me to another question, is there a hell because when people where much more religious then we are today they believed in it and if I'm not wrong Jesus told a parable about it but to oppose this as I said we are suppose to be equal. Do you see why I am confused?  

Answer
Hi Marta,

Thank you for these great questions!  It is easy to get confused about religious issues when you are learning from different and conflicting sources.  The best way to get things correct is to go to the source of all religious truth... the Bible itself.    We hear little trite sayings like we are all equal right?  This is not a Bible verse... let us see what God teaches.... not what we think that He should have taught.

1.  Should there be women pastors?

1 Timothy 2:11-12
11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

There it is!  There is no debate... no re wording it... if you are going to believe ANYTHING the Bible says... then you have to believe it ALL.  Since it is clear that women are not to lead or teach men, then women cannot pastor churches.  Does that mean that God hates women? NO!  When is a train most free?  Is it free when it jumps its tracts and crashes down the hill side or is it the most free when it is confined to its tracts functioning just as it was designed to function?  Of course  it is most free when it functions as it was designed to function.  This will sound sexist in todays society, but women were not designed to Pastor.  They are great for nurturning positions such as teaching children, but not teaching men spiritual things.  I believe that their are many smarter women than men, but God's Word, our absolute authority for faith and practice, forbids it.

There is a Hell.  Jesus tells us details about it... and warns us not to go there.

Luke 16:19-30
19  There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Matthew 5:29-30
29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.  30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Society often tries to water down what is in the Bible, but it still is in there.  Jesus died on the Cross in our place so that if we believe in Himm, we do not have to go to Hell.

John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

You could simply ask Jesus to save you from your sin and trust Him as your Savior if you want to.

Romans 10:9-10,13
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

I hope that this helps you.

In Christ
Pastor Don