Margaret Court, who is now a pastor at Victory Life Church in Perth, wrote an open letter to Qantas in yesterday's West Australian saying she was disappointed that Qantas chief Alan Joyce had become an active campaigner for same-sex marriage.
Court wrote that she believed in the traditional definition of marriage as stated in the Bible.
"Your statement leaves me no option but to use other airlines [where] possible for my extensive travelling," she said.
Nick Ryan, Sunday Mail (SA) “If the Bible’s direction that marriage is purely the union of a man and a woman is set in stone, then all its other directives must be, too.
That means no more prawns wrapped in bacon, no more menstruating women in church, no wearing of clothing woven from two kinds of fabric and the sacrificing of children to prove that you’re taking this stuff seriously. It means living in whale bellies as a solution to the housing crisis, never looking over your shoulder for fear of turning to salt and accepting that all life on Earth was saved from a great flood, thanks to an old man’s floating orgy. And perhaps most awkward of all for Mrs Court – a pastor in the Victory Life Church – it means heeding the word of St Paul when he says in 1 Timothy 2:12 “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, she must be silent.”
GRAHAM RICHARDSON THE AUSTRALIAN
Margaret Court’s comments on gay marriage the last straw: “She is also way out there with her own brand of happy clapping born again Christianity which makes Brian Houston and his Hillsong Church look like a bunch of pikers,,,,, demonstrated such a lack of civility”
Bromby Lecturer in Biblical Studies, Trinity College; Lecturer, University of Divinit
“Note to Margaret Court: the Bible isn’t meant to be read that literally: In the New Testament, Jesus said nothing about homosexual relationships or marriage, except that people should not divorce. This teaching is widely ignored by many Christian denominations today……[In Galatians it says] “there is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28), he presents an ideology profoundly disruptive of patriarchal family structures, gender roles and hierarchy
Indeed, if Court applied the literalism with which she reads Genesis to the whole of the Bible, she’d find herself in hot water, since 1 Timothy 2:12 explicitly forbids women teaching or having any authority over men. This kind of culturally bound ideology is precisely why biblical scholars and mainstream Christian churches do not adhere to a literal interpretation of this ancient and diverse text.
Nor does the Bible condemn what we understand to be loving, mutual LGBTQI relationships today. There is nothing like the contemporary concept of sexual orientation in the biblical text. Where the Bible does appear to condemn homosexual acts it condemns same-sex acts that are rape, adulterous or represent imbalanced power dynamics, such as an elite male with a youth.
Concepts of family and marriage have evolved and changed throughout human history, including within the church. Modern Christian families can be made up of gay couples, straight couples, single people in community, childless adults, foster parents, step-parents, grandparents and biological parents. It is their faith that makes them Christian, not their family structure nor sexuality.
Many Christians are not represented by the views we’ve recently heard from Margaret Court”
Clearly the media has had a field day with Mrs Court! No longer do the media see themselves as objectively reporting on matters, they have become juror, judge and commentator. The power and their perceived authority on all matters should not be underestimated. However in this Margaret Court saga, there are two main issues I want to address
Firstly: 1 Timothy 2:12 (NIV), the point the Christian lecturer picked up on….
12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.
I am seriously disappointed that the Bible College lecturer would bring this up. But this scripture does raise its head quite often. And to address this point I would like to look at some key woman prophets, apostles, spiritual leaders and church leaders in the Bible, both Old and New Testament. This is important because it shows women in places of authority in both civil and spiritual roles throughout the bible. It underscores the role of woman in authority and in itself destroys any suggestion by this lecturer that Margaret Court should not interpret the bible as she has. Also I would like to look at this verse in Timothy and show how people “perish for lack of knowledge”!
Let’s look at some woman leaders in the Bible:
Deborah
Judges 4:4-10 (NIV)
4 Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading[a] Israel at that time. 5 She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramahand Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided. 6 She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor. 7 I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.’”
8 Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”
9 “Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh. 10 There Barak summoned Zebulun and Naphtali, and ten thousand men went up under his command. Deborah also went up with him.
She was a prophet
She was leading Israel
She gave the commands and led the 10 000 men into battle
Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.
She was a song leader! The Song of Deborah : Judges 5:2-21 (NIV)…………..3 “Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers! I, even I, will sing to[a] the Lord; I will praise the Lord, the God of Israel, in song…………..31 “So may all your enemies perish, Lord! But may all who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength.”
You know in Colossians 3:16 Paul writes; Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
The singers and musicians are the ones that Pauls says teach! Look at the Timothy verse again?
Miriam
What about Miriam another prophetess who sang the song in Exodus 15:21 (NIV)
21 Miriam sang to them:
“Sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea.”
In Micah 6:4(NIV) 4 I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery.
I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam.
Note: “I sent Moses to lead you …..and Miriam! So they were leaders! They were prophets! Well what is a prophet I found this definition “a prophet is a person who speaks God’s truth to others” or
Clearly, then, a prophet is an authorized spokesperson for God! So too then can Margaret Court and other woman church leaders be an authorized spokesperson for God
Huldah:
What about the story of Huldah the prophetess. She changed history!
2 Chronicles 34:14-24 (NIV) The Book of the Law Found
14 While they were bringing out the money that had been taken into the temple of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord that had been given through Moses. 15 Hilkiah said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord.” He gave it to Shaphan.
16 Then Shaphan took the book to the king …..
19 When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes. 20 …….21 “Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the remnant in Israel and Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that is poured out on us because those who have gone before us have not kept the word of the Lord; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book.”
22 Hilkiah and those the king had sent with him[b] went to speak to the prophet Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath,[c] the son of Hasrah,[d] keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the New Quarter.
23 She said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me, 24 ‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people—all the curses written in the book that has been read in the presence of the king of Judah.
Josiah was a good King and he found this book about halfway through his reign. Josiah did not ask for help from any of the male priests or the Head Priest, but instead he chose Huldah, a woman and prophet who lived in Jerusalem. “Huldah is not chosen because no men were available,” She is chosen because she is truly exceptional among the prophets.” Thus, Huldah interpreted, and authorized, the documents that would become the foundation and core of the bible!
There are many others in the OT, but let’s look at the New Testament. Keep in mind we are dealing with a very patriarchal society
What about Junia?
Junia:
Romans 16:7 (NIV)…. Note PAUL writes 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among[a] the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.
“The fourth-century bishop of Constantinople, John Chrysostom, said of Junia, “To be an apostle is something great. But to be outstanding among the apostles—just think what a wonderful song of praise that is! . . . Indeed how great the wisdom of this woman must have been that she was even deemed worthy of the title of apostle”
Early Christian theologians including Jerome all accepted Junia to be female. The role of woman however became problematical, the German text was altered to male form, Martin Luther thus used Junias in his translation and so today we still see translations as Junias not Junia We still have papyrus from year 200 confirming the Junia as being female. She was outstanding among the apostles! By the way one definition of an apostle is an “important early Christian teacher or pioneering missionary.”- i.e. a teacher!!
Phoebe
In Romans 16:1-2, Paul writes, “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon in the church in Cenchreae. I ask that you receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and give to her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.”
A deacon is a leader in the church?
Now let’s look at this controversial verse 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.
I would like to set the scene
Artemis was the most worshipped deity in Asia and possibly the world at this time. She was the supposed Goddess of Fertility, virgin priestesses, Hundreds of eunuch priests and religious prostitutes served her.
Paul has had a run in with this group already
Acts 19:23-31 (NIV) The Riot in Ephesus:23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. 24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. 25 He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all.27 There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”
28 When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia, and all of them rushed into the theatre together. 30 Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him.31 Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theatre.
Paul then writes to Timothy in Ephesus
Paul declares his primary reason for writing to Timothy right at the beginning of his letter. After a customary greeting he writes:“. . . stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. 1 Timothy 1:3-4 (NIV )
And in 1 Tim 4:7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.
And he writes this controversial verse:1 Timothy 2: (NIV)12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. And in 1 Timothy vs 8 ….. Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. 9 I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.
11 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man;[b] she must be quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15 But women[c] will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety…..Or
1 Timothy 2:12King James Version (KJV) 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
A few pointers
His use of the word “I” as in “I do not permit…” is accepted as applying to a specific situation which applies to Timothy at the time. This is reinforced by the use of woman as in singular (not women) as used in the previous verse which denotes a general instruction. So it does not apply to all women, it is applying to a specific situation, which I will explain in a minute…
Jerome who translated the bible into Latin in about 400AD also had a part to play in this. The word for authority used “authentain”, vs authentia is uniquely found in this verse in the NT, and relates to a controlling influence associated with a commission or act of violence
New priests of the goddess Artemis would undergo bloody rituals that took place once each year in this period of history. They became eunuchs! The Roman authorities were strongly opposed to these activities and so, in 1st Timothy 2, when Paul tells all to live at peace with the Roman authorities (verses 1 & 2)), tells men not to be angry (verse 8), and tells women not to teach or “authentein” a man (verse 12), I believe he is prohibiting the false teaching of extremes associated with Artemis Goddess worship and the control by the priestesses.
It is also important to remember that offerings made to Artemis were meant to appease the goddess of fertility so that she might “save” women in childbearing, that’s why Paul says women will be kept safe in childbirth (see 1 Timothy 2:15). Rather than looking to the goddess Artemis, Paul encourages women to seek salvation in Christ, through faith and holiness. Artemis mythology also taught that life and purity came from women, while evil came from men. Paul reminds the Ephesians that a man (Adam) was also a source of life, and that it was wrong for Eve to eat from the forbidden tree (see 1 Timothy 2:13-14). (Ref1)
So prior to Jerome’s translation, 1 Timothy 2:12 would probably not have been understood as a prohibition against female authority. It is more likely– a prohibition against women teaching or instigating ritual violence against men because of the worship of Artemis at that time.
Just to finish off doesn’t Jesus say?
Luke 19:40 (NIV)40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” If the stones can cry out"… cant women speak out?
The fact that we are even in this kind of situation debating with the Pharisees of Universities and the Sadducees in the press does it not remind you of Isaiah 1
Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth!For the Lord has spoken:
“I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me.
3 The ox knows its master,the donkey its owner’s manger,
but Israel does not know,my people do not understand.”
So ladies…. Rise up and sing and declare God’s glory, speak out against inequity and evil as Margaret Court has done. But (and this applies to men too) don’t usurp authority; lead like Deborah, Huldah, Junia, Ester, Phoebe, Priscilla and so the list goes on. I remember saying to my girls ….“If you want to become an astronaut- do it, don’t let anyone stop you!” Ladies don’t be restrained by anything, become a Captain Kirk… go where no man has gone before! You have the power!
Indebted to :
Who’s Who Among Biblical Women Leaders June 06, 2012 by Rachel Held Evans : https://rachelheldevans.com/blog/mutuality-women-leaders