What About Successful Female Preachers?

What About Successful Female Preachers?

“I am not saying I agree with women pastors, I am just saying why would God use them if it was wrong? I guess I need to come to my own understanding of it all. I will continue to pray about it. Also, why does the Word tell us in the last days both me sons and daughters will prophesy in Acts 2:17?” one woman asked me.

Why is Joyce Meyer and so many like her being used by God if women aren’t supposed to be preaching the Word of God and these women have no problems teaching men or standing behind pulpits in churches on Sunday mornings? God is clear that women are not to teach nor be in authority over men. Elders and deacons (the leaders and teachers in the churches) are to be the “husband of one wife.” Women are told to be silent in the churches and if they have questions to ask their husbands at home. So if these are all biblical truth, why are there so many successful women preachers?

Since when do we look at worldly “success” and proclaim it must be the will of God? Since when do we neglect the clear teachings of God and look at people who are directly disobeying it and determine His will by their behavior instead of what God has to say about it? What is “success” any ways? Big crowds? Lots of money? Popular books? TV shows? Are any of these successful in God’s eyes? Does He care about any of these things? No! He cares about us believing in Him and living in obedience to His clear commands. How can these women preachers teach this when they are clearly living in disobedience to His Word?

In fact, many of these false teachers are making “merchandise of you” just as the Word states about false teachers. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not (2 Peter 2:3). Haven’t you noticed that most of these famous female preachers are very wealthy due to their ministry? Off the top of my head, I can’t think of one truly biblical famous male preacher of the Word that lives an extravagant lifestyle, can you?

Concerning the verse in Acts, prophesy doesn’t mean getting up in front of a church service and preaching the Word of God since God’s Word doesn’t contradict itself. According to some of the commentaries, this event has already taken place, “And your sons and your daughters – Your children. It would seem that females shared in the remarkable influences of the Holy Spirit. Philip the Evangelist had four daughters which did prophesy, Acts 21:9. It is probable also that the females of the church of Corinth partook of this gift, though they were forbidden to exercise it in public, 1 Corinthians 14:34. The office of prophesying, whatever was meant by that, was not confined to the people among the Jews: Exodus 15:20, ‘Miriam, the prophetess, took a timbrel,’ etc.; Judges 4:4, ‘Deborah, a prophetess, judged Israel’; 2 Kings 22:14. See also Luke 2:36, ‘There was one Anna, a prophetess,’ etc.” (Barnes’ Notes).

“…fulfilled in Anna the prophetess, Luke 2:36, and in the four daughters of Philip, Luke 21:9″ (Matthew Poole’s Commentary).

(I have previously written about the verse in 1 Corinthians that refers to women prophesying in the church.)

I have never felt the need to “hear” from God directly as many of these female preachers do. I study His Word consistently and try to live my life according to what He has clearly asked me to do. If there’s something I want to know about doing that’s not forbidden in the Word, I step out and begin doing it, like writing this blog, and know that God will be the one who opens and closes doors for me.

Undoubtedly, every single time I write about this topic, I am accused of preaching and doing the exact same thing I am teaching against. Writing for a blog is not preaching! For one thing, I am not in a church as I write for this blog and secondly, I am not standing in front of a church on a platform and teaching a group of men and women and thirdly, I am teaching women what the Lord instructs me to teach them. Then these same people scold me for not teaching men their roles. The fact that I have to even explain this shows the ignorance of many today.

Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
1 Corinthians 14:34

13 thoughts on “What About Successful Female Preachers?

  1. Like Andrea above, I appreciated the line you brought up about being made Merchandise of these people through their covetousness. Very eye opening.

  2. Getting so tired of women pushing the female preacher card. Just because they are successful doesnt mean they are right. They tickle the ears. Thats about the only reason they are sucessful.

  3. Dear Miss Lori,

    I have a question pertaining to women preachers. Often, when taking the train, I see a woman preaching at men, women and children alike, telling them they are sinners and need to repent. How should I address this situation as, like you, I do not feel it Biblical for women to preach publically. I am not married, nor do I have a father any longer, so am unable to seek Biblical wise male counsel. What would you do in this situation? Should I strike up a conversation and discuss how the Bible implores women to stay silent? Is there a pamphlet that may be helpful that you recommend?

    In regards to this post, I don’t think it matters whether or not they are making money, as they are clearly sinning. S, for me, the matter is moot. “For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.” ~ 1 Timothy 6:7

    Love and Prayers

  4. Thank you, Lori for explaining this.

    I used to never miss a certain woman’s meetings on t.v. She made me laugh and I thought, understand the Bible better. Then I started paying closer attention to what she was preaching about.
    She would laugh about leading her husband and arguing over household decisions.

    She also led a Bible study in her home for both men and women . When her Pastor spoke to her and said her husband should be leading it, they quit the church.

    I finally realized I was going against everything I knew was right. I stopped watching immediately.

  5. We can’t go around rebuking people that we don’t know, Aiesha. I am sure there intentions are good; they want people to repent and believe in Jesus Christ. They aren’t in church nor do they have any authority over men. We are absolutely to share the Good News of the Gospel with all who will listen but instruction in the Word (doctrine) to men should be done by men preachers and elders.

  6. Yes, I used to listen to her and enjoyed her a lot, too, Linda. She knows the Word and understands our new lives in Christ but she clearly manipulates and ignores Scripture that instructs her that she should not be doing what she is doing. She’s missing out on a lot of time with her grandchildren, too.

  7. How about leading bible study in church. Most bible study in churches are scripted and so some pastors or leaders do ask workers in the church to lead and this could be a female. Is this right?

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