Deborah: A Woman Leads Because of Men’s Neglect
Scripture Readings: Judges 4:1-24 (text); Hebrews 11:32-33
July 10, 2016 (ZCRC Pasig & BSCC) • Download this sermon (PDF)
Dear congregation of Christ: Most Christians are familiar with three of the twelve judges of Israel: Samson, Gideon, and Deborah. And for many evangelicals, Deborah is often used as proof that the Bible supports women pastors, elders and deacons. Our text, of course, tells us that Deborah is both a judge and a prophetess.
In a recent General Assembly of a confessional Presbyterian denomination with which our federation has a fraternal relationship, it was approved to appoint a Study Committee on women in ministry. This particular denomination left the very liberal church for the very same reason: women are not to be ordained as pastors, elders or deacons. Now they are starting to go back full circle.
But we have seen from many decades ago that all liberal mainline Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopalian and even Reformed denominations now ordain women in church ministry. Some of them even ordain homosexuals and lesbians!
So is Deborah a paradigm or pattern on which to ground the practice of ordaining women to church ministry? Our church and our federation, the United Reformed Churches in North America, do not believe so. If so, why is Deborah appointed by God to be a prophetess and a leader in Israel? Wasn’t there a single man in Israel qualified to be a judge and prophet?
Our theme today is “Deborah: A Woman Leads Because of Men’s Neglect,” under three headings: first, Barak Lacks Faith and Leadership;second, Deborah Fills the Need for Willing and Faithful Men; and third, Barak is Negligent, But Still a Model of Faith.
Read the rest of the sermon here.